Love The One You Have
Over the Christmas and New Years break I spent a lot of time flicking through old interior design magazines from my ever-growing collection (if you’re a regular reader of the Journal, this will come as no surprise)! Whilst I was mostly browsing for pleasure, I also found myself gathering inspiration for the topics we discuss in the Journal, especially when it comes to home and interior design.
Through our series Trendy or Timeless, where I sift through old magazines to determine which design related trends have stood the test of time, I’ve definitely become more aware of the trend cycles and those common threads that do seem to pop up more regularly in home/interior design.
One of the themes that really stuck with me as being truly timeless is the combination of old and new. It goes without saying that purchasing anything second-hand is an infinitely more sustainable option than buying new, but it can also be such a great way to bring character and personality into your home. It’s also easy to look past the potential of pieces we already own, whether that’s an old couch cushion or a piece of artwork, sometimes simply relocating or re-styling something in your space can make a huge difference.
So, today I wanted to share some of the inspiration that I’ve gleaned from both my excessive magazine collection and the time I’ve spent in so many amazing and eclectic homes over the years. If you’re stuck on how to decorate a space in your home, or simply looking to perfect an unfinished area, I hope this can plant a few seeds of inspiration…
Knick Knacks & Decor
From decorative vases and plant pots to family heirlooms and knick knacks with sentimental value, these small details are often what makes a house feel like a home. It can be easy to discount items like these and tuck them away in the maybe I’ll use this someday pile, but with a bit of thought and consideration, they might just be the final piece of your styling puzzle.
Over the years, we’ve collected many knick knacks and decorative items that hold sentimental value or simply caught our eye at some point along the way. One of the areas in our home that brings me the most joy is our bookshelves, along with displaying our collection of books, this area is the perfect spot to dot some of these smaller items around, bringing the shelf to life and telling the story of our family.
We also have similar small vignettes of sentimental or aesthetically pleasing decor on window sills and side tables. The key to giving these items purpose in your space is to avoid clutter, but instead consider each piece, the colours, textures or story behind them and display them in small groups. Play around with height, asymmetry and storytelling and don’t be afraid to shuffle things around whenever the mood takes you!
Light Fittings & Lamp Shades
Inspired by our latest listing at 111A Karori Road, I wanted to mention the inclusion of vintage light fittings or shades in a space. Especially if you enjoy an eclectic aesthetic for your home, the addition of vintage lights can bring so much texture and warmth to a space. They’re also relatively easy to source at second-hand stores or through TradeMe / Facebook Marketplace.
I especially loved the art deco style lights at 111A Karori Road, each one with different character and charm, but all working together so cohesively. On the topic of lights and lamps, finding an old table or standing lamp at an op shop and switching out the shade / adding a warm bulb is one of the most cost effective and impactful ways of bringing some life, warmth and moodiness to your space. The more lamps the better, I say!
Pottery & Crockery
Buying plates and cups second-hand might not be for everyone, but don’t discount the personality and character that vintage pottery and crockery can bring to your kitchen and dining room. Whilst the majority of our plates, bowls and cups are from local NZ potter Paul Melser (check him out - his work is just stunning) we have also accumulated several vases, jugs and decorative pottery pieces from second-hand or vintage stores and I just love the way they complement our Paul Melser collection.
One of my most recent purchases is a tiny vintage jug from the Wellington City Mission store which is perfect for watering our mini herb garden and looks so cute sitting on the kitchen windowsill!
Utilising eclectic second-hand pottery and kitchenware pieces is also a great way to bring pops of colour and different textures into your kitchen in a cost effective and sustainable way. Myself and Bella (a big fan of anything vintage or mid-century) have frequently admired our clients collection of vintage plates and pots at 19 Moir Street.
Frames & Artwork
Artwork can be one of the most impactful things to bring an interior space together, but also one of the most expensive. Searching for unique and charming art pieces second-hand can be a great hack to save money and create little vignettes or gallery walls in your home that tell a story. If you don’t have the ability to hunt through op shops regularly, sites like TradeMe and Facebook Marketplace can also be great places to find preloved artwork.
Another great decor hack is finding secondhand frames and using those to display artwork you already own. I can’t tell you the amount of times we’ve purchased a beautiful art print only to have it sit in a cupboard for an embarrassingly long amount of time because the task and cost of getting it framed has stayed on the back-burner. It’s amazing how many unique and good quality frames you can find at second-hand stores for a fraction of the price, and if you find one that’s not quite the right size, purchasing a mat board for your existing piece of artwork is a small and worthwhile cost.