“Seeking out treasure is one of the great joys of my work as an interior designer. A stall at an antiques fair isn’t a pile of old junk, these items are raw ingredients needing TLC so they can be given a new lease of life. Could a chair be sanded back to reveal its beautiful grain, or painted in vibrant colours to match a room’s scheme? Perhaps an old chandelier can be polished to reveal its patina and hung in a Victorian hallway? The possibilities of vintage pieces are endless and a great way to create a unique interior vision.”

“My own home was built in the Edwardian period, but I combine pieces from a range of eras, thinking more about colour and texture than whether pieces match. I collect items from my travels – often the brocante markets of France – and I believe that every home should be a lifetime’s work, documenting the owner’s journey through the world.

Here are my top tips to sourcing rare and unique pieces in the local area.”

Sunbury Antiques TW16

Kempton Park racecourse hosts bi-monthly antiques fairs, but the organisers have added Sandown Park and Wimbledon to their event locations giving you even more opportunity to source a bargain! It’s a rummaging paradise for anyone looking for interesting and unusual pieces for their home. Stalls range from selling smaller accessories such as ceramics and homeware to larger items of furniture. They have an onsite courier service for those without transport. Celebrities and designers are regularly spotted here, hunting for rare gems of sustainable treasure.
sunburyantiques.com @sunburyantiques

Think Vintage KT4

Prepare to lose yourself for hours at Think Vintage in Worcester Park. Half of the warehouse is dedicated to vintage clothing sold by the kilo, but my favourite part is the second-hand furniture. Stock changes regularly and furniture is cheap; perfect for an upcycle project, especially if you are a beginner. I bought this mango wood chest of drawers for £15 and after sanding and oiling its beautiful grain has been revealed. The folks running Think Vintage are open to requests if you’re hunting for something specific.
think-vintage.co.uk @thinkvintagewarehouse

Owl & The Elephant, Surbiton

Don’t fancy doing the hard work yourself, but want to bag a rare gem? This vintage furniture and accessories shop is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2024. Liz and husband Mark source and restore pieces themselves with a focus on Industrial, Mid-Century and Scandinavian designs. They currently have French antique Tambour cabinets for sale which would add a sense of rustic charm to a home office or dining room. Their vintage kilim rugs are stunners and would sit perfectly in an entrance hall with a parquet flooring.
owlandtheelephant.co.uk @owlandtheelephant

Interestingly Different SM5

A social enterprise based in Carshalton, Interestingly Different is a shop which showcases products created and upcycled by adults with learning disabilities. Their quirky and colourful pieces of furniture sell quickly, so don’t delay. This unusual hallway chair caught my eye. It’s currently on sale for £165. As well as selling furniture, this community-focused shop has a range of homeware and gifts including ceramics, bath and beauty products all carefully curated and sourced from other social enterprises across the UK.
interestinglydifferent.co.uk @interestingly_different

Give upholstery a go

Upcycling projects sometimes require reupholstery, a skill which can be learned through watching YouTube videos and Instagram reels. I’m a fan of Interior Design Masters contestant Jessica Dupreez. They are an upholsterer and incredibly generous in sharing their skills on Instagram. I adore this headboard which Jessica reupholstered. Good fabric is expensive, and I recommend looking out for reclaimed material in charity shops and at car boot sales. Shops such as Fabric Land in Kingston will usually have a sale section where you might be able to bag a bargain offcut!
@jessicadupreezdesign

Hannah Ashe creates interiors inspired by nature and is passionate about bringing calm and tranquillity into the home to enhance well-being.

hannahashe.co.uk @chez_hanny