Top Drawers!

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two sets of small rusty industrial vintage drawers

We picked up four sets of these metal drawers at auction recently. They were full of all kinds of screws, washers and bits of milking machines!

detail of small rusty industrial vintage drawers

They’d obviously been living in a barn or shed and developed a nice coat of rust, but we knew that there was a vintage industrial gem waiting to be uncovered.

detail of small rusty industrial vintage drawers with wire wool

Justin set about them with fine wire wool – a very laborious, fiddly task. Each set of drawers took about 4 hours.

detail of small rusty industrial vintage drawers with electric buffer tool and tin of Briwax

After the wire wool, waxing and buffing followed.

polished industrial vintage drawers

All the effort was worthwhile as they’ve come up a treat.

detail of drawer corner detail of drawer corner

As you can see from the detailing, they’re actually beautifully made with folded corners and metal drawer knobs.

detail of polished drawers

They’ve got a great look – and we love the finished patina & colour.

detail of polished drawers with red desk lamp

They’re very useful too, of course – perfect for all kinds of bits & pieces in a a craft room or workshop. Thinking a bit more laterally, they’ve got a very masculine look, so would be ideal for men’s jewellery or accessories – cufflinks or watches maybe.

Pick of the Pads: Brixton East

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"Loft Living" feature of Brixton East in the October 2013 issue of Homes & Antiques magazine

We’ve chosen this fabulous factory space for this month’s Pick of the Pads. Dating from the 1870s, the building was disused & distressed when interior designer Andy Luckett bought it 18 years ago. After many years of hardship, discomfort & hard graft he’s created something very special – Brixton East.

cover of the October 2013 issue of Homes & Antiques magazine

The converted factory is featured in the October edition of Homes & Antiques Magazine and now incorporates apartment, studio space & shop.

page from the October 2013 issue of Homes & Antiques magazine showing a green tiled bathroom

There are many aspects of Andy’s home that we love. It retains a homely, comfortable feel whilst looking functional & easy to live in too.

page from the October 2013 issue of Homes & Antiques magazine showing a kitchen and dining area

The original fabric of the building remains intact with big windows, exposed brickwork & beams. The spaces are now filled with character, colour & texture.

page from the October 2013 issue of Homes & Antiques magazine showing a mosaic of 4 interior décor photos

There’s no shortage of unusual, quirky pieces – but it’s very well edited and never enters the realms of being cluttered.

page from the October 2013 issue of Homes & Antiques magazine showing a vintage Esso illuminated advertising sign

It also looks like it’s evolved naturally over time with antique & vintage finds – some still serving their original purpose, others up-cycled for a new lease of life.

page from the October 2013 issue of Homes & Antiques magazine showing a vintage wooden coat rack with shoes, coat, scarf and bags

The building is available for event hire and Andy also opens a pop-up shop on the ground floor which should be of great interest to those who share his taste for the enticing antiques & vintage industrial pieces that fill his home – the next sale is in December. For details of the shop, upcoming events and more pictures of the building visit his website at www.brixtoneast.co.uk

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H is for Home pop up!

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Industrial vintage items for sale in the H is for Home pop up shop

We’ve just launched a new little feature – the H is for Home pop up shop. Each sale will be live for a week and have a specific theme – for example, it’s vintage industrial for week one (Justin is actually letting it go!!). There will be five items per sale and it will be the first time that they’ve been available to buy. All items will be one off vintage pieces and have a special, introductory ‘pop-up’ price. Once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Industrial vintage items for sale in the H is for Home pop up shop

This week’s shop includes some fabulous green metal storage, a lovely old mill bobbin, a machinist’s stool – and all your possible twine requirements! Click on the link above to visit our new pop up shop.

Monthly Mood Board: Vintage Industrial

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Mood board: Vintage industrial - curated by H is for Home

 

Vintage industrial isn’t just for minimalist loft spaces. Whilst it looks great in that environment, it combines very well with country furniture & mid century modern design too – so it can find a perfect home in all types of room.

Lots of painted aluminium, wheels or castors on coffee tables and floor-standing shelving. Re-purposed metal office filing cabinets, old school desks, chairs and lockers. Wire mesh pigeon holes, shop signs & letters, train station clocks, metal lamps & shades, fans, antique wooden crates & boxes – along with smaller accessories such as vintage staplers, tape measures, pencil sharpeners and the like.

Whilst nice pieces don’t grow on trees, they do pop up in all kinds of places. Outdoor markets & fairs are good hunting grounds. Ditto architectural salvage yards. Antique centres often have a specialised dealer and auction houses sometimes get given the task of clearing shops, factories or offices. We once bought over twenty anglepoise lamps in one lot at auction!!

This mood board gives a flavour of industrial vintage. Quite a few of the pieces are ours, so they’ll either be in our web shop or antiques centre pitch. The other stockists are also listed below.

  1. Czech industrial pendant lamp – £123, interioraddict
  2. Vintage industrial steel shoe trolley rack – £395, Mustard Vintage on eBay
  3. Red Star Baler twine – H is for Home
  4. Stacking desktop filing drawers – H is for Home
  5. Locker room shelf – £59.95, Nkuku
  6. Adjustable machinist’s/potter’s stool – H is for Home
  7. Wooden tool tray – H is for Home
  8. Cotton bobbins – H is for Home