Our shiny new series sees us picking the brains (Hannibal-style) of all the unique talent in our area; from interior designers, to solicitors, to local experts. Each one stems from the best boroughs of all London town to bring you the skinny on all things home-related. No we’re not biased, just stating facts. Ever wanted to know how to make the utmost return on your property investment, or where to source that 1970s macrame original for your hallway? Luckily for you it’s not what you know but who you know in this business we call ‘estate’, and we’ve got the lowdown on the know how. Try saying that three times fast, while we put the kettle on and sit down with our first expert of the series…

 

 

How to tell your interiors story, sustainably

Cosying up on a Mid-century modern boucle armchair, we’re here to talk all things uniquely interior with Mary le Comte from House of Modern Vintage. Learning from this uber cool design don over a cuppa, we discovered the best ways to transform our space that’s both sustainable and true to our individual style. Mary has kindly lifted the lid on a vintage ottoman of design wisdom for us that’s at once chic *and* affordable. Chef’s kiss.

 

Who is Mary from House of Modern Vintage?

House of Modern Vintage is owned and run by the fabulously stylish and North London-based, Mary le Comte. Her background lies in the fabulous world of museums and public arts, including the wonderful Victoria and Albert Museum. Mary then opened a vintage furniture and homeware shop with a focus on C20th design, before rebranding to House of Modern Vintage where vintage style meets its modern edge.

 Object design, interiors and the stories behind them are a life-long love for Mary and she is profoundly passionate about the use, reuse, display and meaning of objects. So what artistic gems of wisdom can Mary bestow onto those of us looking to revamp our drab and dreary abodes (no offence)?

 

 

The rich history behind an affordable find

If there’s one thing we know about Mary, it’s that she knows her interior design and its history. As she explains, the C20th was an explosion of design styles, which have become a fertile source for layering character and uniqueness in our homes today. Now, as Mary explains, we are embracing the ability to express our individualism in society while acknowledging the fact that “difference is part of the whole”. What better way to express this in the home than with the huge source of eclectic vintage designs still out there and moving around the world? Let’s go thrifting…

 

Outsource your sourcing!

From Mary’s own mouth, sourcing can be both hard and frustrating – so let the vintage experts do the hard work for you. “They have put in the hours of searching, the foot work, the checking and the refurbishing so you don’t have to”. While you put your feet up on that Eames footstool (shoes off first), they can inspire you with ideas and pieces you have never before seen. Mary tells us to find a seller whose eye you like (not whose eye you catch) and dip in and out of their website to see what’s new, pussycat.

 

Get in with the in(sta) crowd

You can find sellers on Instagram, perhaps by searching #vintageshoplondon for example. @themodernvintagecollective (of which Mary is a part of- cool girl gang alert) has brought together sellers from all over the UK and showcases their wares every week. A lot of sellers, like Mary, can be visited by appointment. There are also a blossoming number of vintage and antique fairs out there at the moment.

Mary’s list:

Vintage Home Shows

The Spotlight Market

The Vintage Furniture Flea

So Last Century

 

“Oh, that’s sooo you”

 Choosing curtains? Choose with your heart. As Mary expands, creating a style should of course be based on what you love. Trends will inevitably influence us however unconsciously, “but take the time to listen to your gut” and don’t buy everything all at once. She elaborates with her passion for layering pieces from different design styles together, such as taking “an Edwardian chest of Drawers and placing it next to a 1960’s tubular chrome chair”. Soo you!

 

 

Fix your palette, mix the rest

If you’re mixing up your designs and time periods, Mary suggests “picking up on a commonality such as colour tones or shapes. Dress and style your pieces with a common colour, so the cushions on your Mid-century seating might be the same tone as the ceramics on your Art Deco book cabinet”. Size is also important to consider. “Do you need one big coffee table or a smaller one with side tables which can be brought in to play when needed?” Mary waxes lyrical on the importance of  vintage lighting and mirrors a “a great way to bring some character into your home. Just consider having tall lamps as well as table lamps so they are not all at the same level”.

 

Change the habit of a lifetime

As Mary points out, there are no longer strict rules on how or where furniture should be. An old Industrial cabinet once used in a factory can become a bathroom cabinet, or old school lockers can become kitchen cupboards. She describes one of the latest fashions for old haberdashery / shop counters to be turned into kitchen islands for example. Just don’t get carried away and start charging your partner for their morning coffee, or you might find yourself furnishing a one-bed.

 

To refurbish or up-cycle? That is the question

And Mary has the answers. When it comes to reupholstering pieces of furniture, the important thing to consider is your time and budget. Reupholstering a chair or sofa can be very expensive, so if you fall in love with a chair that needs some TLC think about the cost. Don’t be afraid to use paint when up-cycling that side table, but Mary urges you to make sure it is appropriate. “I would caution against changing pieces by well known designers or high quality pieces. It might be better to refurbish than up-cycle”.

 

 

Home truths (the furniture is talking)

Are you sitting comfortably? Then let the sofa begin… Mary knows more than anyone how each vintage piece tells a story. Our interior expert wants you to learn to “love the wear and tear of vintage. You can tell your friends and family why, where and how you bought your pieces .. and if the person you bought from has also been able to tell you something of the object’s story, you can pass that on too.” Mary has found that some of the pieces she has picked up along the way are displayed in museums – not necessarily because of the value but because they tell a good story about culture and design. “The point with vintage is that it has already had a life elsewhere. So many pieces of furniture have a lot of life left in them and do not want to go to landfill.”  Your Chesterfield has spoken.

 

Know your worth

Like many things in life, the value of vintage is a moveable feast and can range far and wide. According to Mary it is dependent on so many things such as condition, trends, the authentication, the rarity and of course the market, i.e what people will pay for it. So remember to stay price savvy. A stunner might pop up with a hefty price tag, but it may be sitting there not selling for a reason. A trusted seller will be pricing well, and bear in mind that pieces are priced according to condition. Know your worth!

 

 

Be a sustainability superhero!

Now you can polish your halo (and your teak sideboard). By shopping vintage and secondhand, you are choosing the sustainable way to make your home look unique, considered and characterful. A sustainable home is about reusing, bringing in vintage and combining it with new sustainable pieces and materials. If anything, Mary claims, the beginning of the C21st will be about using sustainable materials and today’s designers are doing this in spades. We like your thinking.

 

You can find House of Modern Vintage online and by appointment on Wightman Road, N4. HoMV will soon be moving to a brand new studio just off St Ann’s Road in N15 where Mary will be part of a trendy new hub of artists and creatives. These brand spanking new studios will be open by appointment and hold regular open days, soon to develop into the hip new place to visit (solely for those in the know). Keep an ear to the ground for all the exciting new developments via HoMV @houseofmodernvintage

 

Contact us:

alex@daviesdavies.co.uk – Lettings Director (contact for lettings and property management)

mark@daviesdavies.co.uk – Sales Director (contact for sales, new homes and chartered surveying)

020 3820 2492

Davies & Davies Estate Agents, 85 Stroud Green Road, London, N4 3EG

Article & images by Barefaced Studios

You might also want to read other useful blog articles by clicking here.

 

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