Above image from Patchwork Harmony blog.
Mary Queen of Shops is a BBC 2 series sending Mary Portas, a leading retail marketing expert, into run-down independent shops on the UK's tired high streets. The shop she was rescuing on last night's episode, was an interior home ware shop in London with stock dating back to the 70's and 80's.
The furniture was cheap and tacky and the home accessories were vulgar and would not look out of place coming from the back of Del Boys three wheeler. As with all these 'makeover' programmes there is a degree of breaking them down to build them up again. "It's all about the confidence" to quote Gok. Mary did her fair share of brutal critiquing which made me cringe a little, not half as much as the son wearing his dressing gown to a meeting with the 'high priestess of home' from Elle Decoration Magazine though!
The couple got there in the end, learning what was stylish and fashionable all over again, sourcing vintage furniture and home wares from an antiques fair and being taught how to restore them. The results were lovely and I really wanted a piece from the shop!!
The shop changed it's name from Under the Moon to 37 Old London Road, check out it's website. What a turn around, from stocking psychedelic chandeliers to now stocking knitted cushions by Donna Wilson (I love her rain scarves!!) and Catherine Hammerton's very special wallpaper and textiles.
The programme just proves that there is defiantly room on the high street for handmade, vintage and bespoke things to fill your home and lifestyle.
