Vintage Home Show Blog
Vintage Home Show Blog
Our Midcentury Musings
Our Midcentury Musings
Meet the Trader
Meet the Trader
25 October 2018
Meet Lynn & Brendan Hawthorne their business is called Kitsch Katz. They are from Wednesbury, in the heart of the Black Country, West Midlands. And they sell mainly at fairs, including Stockport Vintage Village, but have made the Vintage Home Shows our main outlet.
Why did you choose to sell Vintage/Mid Century?
We were young and skint when we had our first home in 1982. New furniture was very expensive, so an uncle took us to auctions and we bought a wardrobe for £5, which is where our eclectic taste began! Selling was a natural progression from collecting and we love to sell things we like so we share our enthusiasm with customers
What kind of items do you like to buy or specialise in?
We love '60's & '70's funky homewares, anything from glass & ceramics, textiles & technology, pictures & lighting to small furniture. However, to live up to our name, we can't resist a bit of kitsch!
What kind of preparation goes into trading at a vintage home show?
Preparation is everything! We choose specific pieces for each fair, trying to match the 'personality' of each venue, ensuring that everything is in the best condition it can possibly be. We pack carefully, then loading the car is an art form, like a massive game of Tetris!
If you could own any vintage item, what would it be?
Lynn: I would dearly love 'Eva' by Bjorn Wiinblad. I love his designs, but really covet one of the bigger pieces
Brendan: I would love to add a Vox Phantom XII from 1966 to my guitar collection, but don't tell Lynn!
Name your most rare or unusual find?
Our most unusual find is actually coming to Coventry with us on 28th October. It's a large ceramic pot, with a different grotesque face on each side. We call it the Janus vase, after the Roman god of new beginnings, but it has no maker's mark and we can't find anything else like it. It's unique and fascinating
You will find Lynn & Brendan at our Midlands Show near Coventry at Sports Connexion this Sunday 28th Oct and also check them out here on Facebook and Instagram as Kitsch Katz
Meet the Trader
Meet the Trader
24 October 2018
Meet Emma Shaw who is from Hebden Bridge, she runs Light Fandango
Why did you choose to sell Vintage/Midcentury?
About 20 years ago I inherited some fantastic mid-century furniture from my grandparents, which basically helped me furnish my first house. The washing machine didn't last long (!) but I grew to love the Danish 3 piece suite, bought in 1969, that I still have in my sitting room. About 5 years ago, after trying unsuccessfully to find a lamp shade to suit the decor, I decided to buy some vintage fabric and make one myself. And that's where Light Fandango began.
What kind of items do you like to buy or specialise in?
I make lamps and lampshades from vintage and vintage-inspired fabrics. I have a real passion for fantastic designs from the 50s-70s and am always on the lookout to increase my fabric stash - from vintage Heals fabrics from designers such as Barbara Brown, to European brands like Dekoplus and Marimekko. To complement them I refurbish vintage lamp bases and add a few trinkets - vases, glassware etc to help show them off (and because I can't stop buying these things when I come across them!).
What kind of preparation goes into trading at a vintage home show?
A lot of time and effort goes into making new shades and choosing fabrics to match up with the bases I have available for each show.
If you could own any vintage item, what would it be?
Always changing - at the moment, the fantastic coffee table and stools set that I didn't buy from the lovely Fiona on the stall next to me at the Vintage Home Show in Manchester last week!
Name your most rare or unusual find?
My best fabric purchase was a huge pair of curtains made from Cascade fabric (designed for Heals in 1972 by Evelyn Redgrave). It took me months to begin to create lamps from them - I felt such a responsibility to make sure they were perfect and did justice to the amazing design.
Find Emma at the Vintage Home Show Midlands this Sunday at Sport Connexions near Coventry and also here Facebook: Lightfandango & Instagram Light_Fandango
Meet the Trader
Meet the Trader
18th October 2018
Meet Tim Gilbert & Chris Collier who run their business called Squound. They are based in 20th Century Stores in Stockport selling magnificent mid-century furniture and homewares.
Why did you choose to sell Vintage/Midcentury?
We bonded over our mutual passion for 1960s & 1970s furniture and decorative items, having both amassed huge collections of amazing things. We decided it was time to stop collecting and show off / share our passion with a wider audience.
What kind of items do you like to buy or specialise in?
We particularly love Scandinavian cased glass, European ceramics & Danish furniture. We get excited by bright colours, geometric patterns and high quality detailing. Certain shades of orange and yellow especially grab our attention.
What kind of preparation goes into trading at a vintage home show?
A lot of time and effort goes into the visual aspects of the show; the selection of items to showcase, the display and presentation and our branding. Plus promoting key pieces to create interest.
If you could own any vintage item, what would it be?
Chris always wanted a plastic letter C in his favourite typeface Stymie Bold Italic from an old shop sign and Tim always wanted a rare glass table lamp by Uno & Östen Kristiansson for Vittsjö Luxus, Sweden. Both of which have been realised!
Name your most rare of unusual find?
We found a stunning, rare tambour door credenza by Axel Christiansen, Odder, Denmark being used in a rented property as a TV unit with the tenants having no idea how valuable it was!
Tim & Chris can be found on instagram.com/squound & facebook.com/squound and also via their etsy shop etsy.com/uk/shop/squound
Meet the Trader
Meet the Trader
16th October 2018
Meet Simon Grover from Whitchurch, Shropshire. His business is called Whittaker & Gray which he started 5 years ago.
Why did you choose to sell Vintage/Midcentury?
Love great design, clean lines, functionality, innovative materials
What kind of items do you like to buy or specialise in?
Furniture from sideboards and chests of drawers to desks, chairs and sofas
What kind of preparation goes into trading at a vintage home show?
1. Spend ages looking for the right pieces
2. Spend ages cleaning, re-finishing and polishing
3. Lots of heavy lifting!
If you could own any vintage item, what would it be?
A Citroen DS in mint condition
Name your most rare of unusual find?
A hand made, scratch built model of St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.
Simon can be found at the Manchester Show 21st October and our 2019 shows. Also via his website www.whittakergray.co.uk and instagram: whittakerandgray and facebook: @whittakergray
Meet the Trader
Meet the Trader
16th October 2018
Meet Jared River Guest (River) is from Ludlow and runs Sixth link. He started his business in school at age 16 and was helped along by his mother and her fabulous interior business in Bridgnorth.
Why did you choose to sell Vintage/Midcentury?
Always had a interested in recycling and reusing and I loved ercol furniture the shape and style and my love grew exponentially!
What kind of items do you like to buy or specialise in?
Furniture is my main specialist area but I like to pride myself in having a good understanding and knowledge of ercol and chairs.
What kind of preparation goes into trading at a vintage home show?
Having a unit that I sell a lot of stock from in Ludlow it's difficult to know what you are going to have a couple of weeks before a fair, so I now tend to buy specifically for the vintage home show and people view my other items on Instagram.
If you could own any vintage item, what would it be?
Elda armchair by Joe Colombo. Not even any contest.
Name your most rare of unusual find?
Some of the studio pottery, I sometimes wonder what people were thinking but these tend to be the first things to sell! We all like something a bit different or unique!
Jared can be found at our Manchester Show 21st & Midlands 28th October and you can also find him on Instagram & Facebook @sixthlink and via www.sixthlink.co.uk
Meet the Trader
Meet the Trader
3rd October 2018
Meet Gill Ford Born in Hull. Now living nr Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. Her business is called Midcentury Home Stores, which she started in 2013. An interesting fact about Gill. At the last Vintage Home Show in Manchester she proposed to her partner Jenni, seen here in the picture
We are expecting an invite and are already planning the hat selection!
Why did you choose to sell Vintage/Midcentury?
I have been interested in Mid-century design for years and in particular ceramics. It seemed a no brainer to open a shop selling the things I love. It is much easier to sell something if you have knowledge about it and a love for it. Of course, there is a down side... sometimes its very hard to part with things. It does mean though that our house is like an ever-changing gallery.
What kind of items do you like to buy or specialise in?
I specialise in selling ceramics from the 50s-70s from all over the world. I have a particular interest in 60s/70s Belgium Pottery... I love the bright red and orange glaze which they uesd. It was a complete contrast to the predominantly muted British colours of the time. I also adore Scandinavian design. The ceramics are decorated with some wonderful designs and yet are still incredibly practical and useable today.
What kind of preparation goes into trading at a vintage home show?
In the lead up to the show I consider what stock I have. I like to make sure I have plenty of new items for each show. I have quite a few regulars, so I always consider what might interest them. I put a big effort into presentation and planning the layout of my pitch. I always put a short description on each item, so buyers know a little about what they are purchasing. I usually start labelling and packing up my stock a week or two before a show.
If you could own any vintage item, what would it be?
That’s a very difficult question.... it would definitely be something ceramic. I would love to own something by British potter/artist William Newland.
I think it would have to be one of his amazing bulls.
Name your most rare of unusual find?
Can I pick two!!! The first is one of my earliest finds and amazingly it was from my local second-hand market. A fantastic 1960s ceramic bull by German born American artist Marianna Von Allesch. The second is a more recent online purchase. It’s a rare 'Wuzu' bird plate designed by Tibor Reich for Denby in the mid-50s.
Gill will be trading at our Manchester Show on Sunday 21st October and you will find her at the far end of the main hall in her usual spot.
Find out more about her and what she sells via Facebook page: midcenturyhomestores & Etsy
Meet the Trader
Meet the Trader
3rd October 2018
Meet Stephen Hale from Chorlton, Manchester his business is called The Modernist and he started his business 5 years ago as a hobby business at weekends.
Why did you choose to sell Vintage/Midcentury?
Out of love.
What kind of items do you like to buy or specialise in?
Vintage posters: film, travel, sport, etc, from 1920-1980.
What kind of preparation goes into trading at a vintage home show?
Framing, packing car, pricing, buying, going to auctions, looking for stock online, research.
If you could own any vintage item, what would it be?
A Matisse painting worth millions of pounds
Name your most rare of unusual find?
A Josephine Baker poster from the 1920s - bought for £150, sold at auction for £1600 (a very rare event - usually profits are much tighter, if any at all!)
Stephen will be trading at our Leeds Show this Sunday and you will find him in front of the stage in his usual spot in the main hall.
He will also be joining us at the Manchester later this month. Find out more about him and what he sells via Facebook page: Modernist Mid-Century . He Hopes to have a bigger online presence soon, he also sells posters on ebay
Meet the Trader
We are keen for you to know more about the people that make the Vintage Home Show such a successful event-Our Traders, without them we are literally nothing!
When you visit our shows, you are buying from small independent businesses from across the UK who really care about what they are selling to you. Over the few weeks we want you to meet the faces behind the stands at our shows.
Meet the Trader
We are keen for you to know more about the people that make the Vintage Home Show such a successful event-Our Traders, without them we are literally nothing!
When you visit our shows, you are buying from small independent businesses from across the UK who really care about what they are selling to you. Over the few weeks we want you to meet the faces behind the stands at our shows.
2nd October 2018
Meet Richard Perry who is from Codsall, Wolverhampton in Staffordshire. His business is called Ginger's Vintage & Retro Home .
Richard has been buying Mid-20th Century for himself and his home for years. He then started buying and launched his business 5 years ago.
Why did you choose to sell Vintage/Midcentury?
I love the lines and the style of mid-20th furniture
What kind of items do you like to buy or specialise in?
I love Ercol and Danish Furniture
What kind of preparation goes into trading at a vintage home show?
You never stop preparing, out looking for stock all the time, then refreshing it, getting it upholstered and wiring lamps making lampshades it's endless, once all that's done fill the van pack it nice and tight, to make sure you don't undo your hard work, then off you trot.
If you could own any vintage item, what would it be?
Eames original lounge chair and foot stool
Name your most rare of unusual find?
Haven't found it yet but I never stop searching!
Richard will be trading at our Leeds Show this Sunday and you will find him on the stage in the main hall. He will also be joining us at the Manchester & Midlands Shows later this month.
Find out more about him and what he sells via Ginger's Vintage and retro home Facebook and Instagram
Rattan Revival
Rattan Revival
10th June 2018
Rattan and bamboo are big news in interiors over the past couple of years. This boho, jungalow, 70's style is ever popular and often teamed up with house plants to get the look.
Ever since the 1920's the weaving of natural materials has been a method to create tables, chairs and shelving to use in the home.
Victoria Baths-Our 6th year at this amazing venue
Victoria Baths-Our 6th year at this amazing venue
3rd June 2018
What a gem in the North of England's social history and we are so lucky to use it 3 times a year to set off all off our exhibitors finds.
When it opened in 1906, Victoria Baths on Hathersage Road, Manchester, was described as "the most splendid municipal bathing institution in the country" and "a water palace of which every citizen of Manchester can be proud." Not only did the building provide spacious and extensive facilities for swimming, bathing and leisure, it was built of the highest quality materials with many period decorative features:- stained glass, terracotta, tiles and mosaic floors.
Victoria Baths served the people of central Manchester for 87 years and established themselves in the affections of all those who used the facilities.