(posted 7664 days ago)South London Press
In search of tattered treasures
Apr 25 2003
By Gabrielle FaganYOU can be forgiven for regarding rusty tins, old doors and even bottle corks as just a load of old junk.
You may even scoff at those who forage through flea markets, car boot sales and auctions, hoping to find value in other people's discarded goods. But a new book reveals not only would you be totally wrong, but you're are missing out on the year's most fashionable interior accessories - vintage treasures.
It seems no stylish home is complete without something faded, wrinkled, weathered and downright aged - and that doesn't mean a relative.
We are talking about stylish decorating with antique or rescued pieces going through to downright quirky items. But some skill is required to prevent your home resembling the set for an episode of Steptoe And Son - simply shabby rather than chic.
Author Lauren Powell ably and imaginatively demonstrates, in Tattered Treasures - Stylish Decorating With Flea Market Finds, how to display those finds to the maximum decorative effect.
Powell was first drawn to street markets when seeking antique plates and it led to her long-standing romance with tattered treasure.
She says: "Years ago I bought my first antique plate and proudly displayed it on a stand. Finding it opened my eyes to the beautiful things you can discover by simply looking beyond perfection and seeing the possibilities.
"Now I love the thrill of the hunt, especially when I'm searching for just the right item to add to a collection. One of my favourites is beautiful china, and I love using mismatched pieces to create unusual place settings."
China may sound a little pedestrian, but Powell doesn't confine herself to the obvious.
She points out: "Old, interesting looking doors can be so lovely that they are art in themselves. Just rest them at an angle in a corner of a room, or place them flat against a wall and they will add character to nooks and crannies. Weathered shutters or doors can be hinged together to make stunning screens or room dividers."
In that vein a window sash frame - complete with cracked, and peeling paint - makes a highly individual frame for photographs.
She also uses groupings of ornamental pieces - both wood and tin - that once graced cornices to make a striking wall display. Carved ornaments, often found in architectural salvage yards, are turned into sculptural works of art and grace her home.
She suggests: "Why buy a standard candlestick when you could make a highly individual one by converting a turned wooden balustrade or porch spindle? These simply have to be cut to size, and embellished with a tassel, cord or trim."
Powell is also skillful at giving relics a 'makeover' that heightens their appeal and doesn't detract from their character.
"Any wooden furniture or cabinetry piece can become a one-of-a-kind painted piece. Embellish it with writing such as poetry, lines from a favourite book or Bible verses."
She advises practising on a template the same size, to test spacing and writing, before marking the item. The surfaces need to be sanded, primed and prepared in the normal way before decorating and the final result varnished.
But perhaps it is using ordinary items in extraordinary ways which is the most inspiring aspect of the book. One of the most intriguing examples of this is a collection of miniature chairs - from children's size to dolls house size - grouped and glued in a cascade down a wall.
A similarly eye-catching effect is achieved with antique woven baskets hung from a metal millinery stand that once held hats in a department store.
She shuns a traditional display case in favour of an ornate antique picture frame, and adds shelves within it to show off a collection of tiny ornaments.
Wine corks, perhaps from memorable family occasions and inscribed with the relevant date, have been gathered and glued on an old plain frame to make a distinctive setting for a photograph.
Powell believes: "Photograph frames should be as interesting as their contents. I have gathered a vast array of painted, peeling or even gilded frames which I can decorate with a variety of buttons, beads and seashells. I love groups of frames and vary the heights of my collections to add depth and interest."
She even finds a use for empty glass household bottles and tin cans. She uses decorative wine bottles to hold washing up liquid, and bath oils, and presses cans into 'pop art' style vases. Refreshingly there is nothing precious about Powell.
She says simply: "Anyone can do this. Just learn to look at the things you love with an artist's eye. See things not for what they are but for what they could become - and don't take decorating too seriously."
And just in case you fear you may become a 'clutter queen' - overwhelmed by too much tat and not enough treasure - she has a final and sensible word of advice.
"Stay on track when bargain hunting by carrying photos of rooms and fabric swatches with you - looking at a photo of a room makes it easier to imagine an item in it, and fabric swatches help with co-ordinating colours."
So it could be time to join the treasure hunt and track down some treasures to transform your interior.
SOUTH London is brimming with markets and shops for those keen to get their hands on an antique bargain or two. Here are just some of the places to visit:
* Behind the Boxes - Art Deco, Kirkdale, Sydenham (020-8291 6116)
* Bermondsey Antiques Market, Abbey Street.
* Blackheath Antiques, High Street, Lewisham (020-8690 7171)
* Chris Baron Interiors. Streatham Hill (020-8671 8732)
* Creek Antiques, Greenwich South, Greenwich (020-8293 5721)
* Crystal Palace Antiques Warehouse, Imperial House, Jasper Road, Crystal Palace (020-8480 7042)
* French Antiques, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich (020-8299 6466)
* Gilded Furniture, Vauxhall Walk, Kennington (020-7735 1244)
* Garratt Lane Antiques, Tooting (020-8947 7005).
* Greenwich Market.
* Old Mill, Bromley Road, Catford (020-8697 8006)
* Spread Eagle Antiques, Nevada Street, Greenwich (020-8305 1666)
* The French House, Queenstown Road, Wandsworth (020-7978 2228)
* Vauxhall Antiques Warehouse, Sail Street, Kennington (020-7793 7739)
* Wallace Antiques Limited, Tranquil Vale, Blackheath (020-8852 2647)