Welcome to the art deco world of lino, landlines and mangles
ACOUPLE have scrapped modern life to live like they are in the 1930s, right down to their clothes, car and furnishings.
Lisa and Neil Fletcher have transformed their lifestyle and home into a pre-war Britain era from their flooring down to the doorknobs.
They only watch black and white films and TV, have vintage light switches and a 1930s fridge, lawnmower, vacuum cleaner and car.
The pair try to only ever pay with cash and use a landline - not a mobile phone.
Lisa, 58, had the dream of living out an authentic 1930s lifestyle and convinced engineer Neil, 55, to get on board after they married in 1991.
They listen to music on gramophones and have wardrobes bursting full of original 1930s fashion from vintage shops and car boot sales.
The couple have lived in three houses, and moved into their current one six years ago which they have been turning into their 1930s haven ever since.
The house is complete with original fireplace, furniture and even appliances, including a working enamel cooker and 1935 Westinghouse fridge.
Housewife Lisa even prefers to do the washing by hand using a mangle.
Lisa, of Watchet, Somerset, said: “I was always interested in history from a child. I never liked shopping like other schoolgirls but I used to drag a huge history book around with me.
“After Neil and I married, I bought a few art deco pieces for the house until eventually he got on board and started buying them as well.
“We decided to go full ’20s and ’30s high style – for me it had to be full on glamour.
“Everything in our house has a story. If I woke up and it was all modern I’d lock myself in a cupboard and not come out!
“When people see us in the street they sometimes ask if we’re off to a wedding because of how we dress.
“I think people see us as completely barking mad, but I couldn’t imagine anything else.”
Lisa told how shortly after getting married, she raised the idea of living her 1930s dream with Neil – but at first he was not convinced.
She had always loved history as a child, but when she introduced the idea, Neil said he believed it would be “too art deco”.
Lisa resolved to just make a few additions to their home, but over time, she noticed Neil also began to spot interesting items of the same style.
Eventually they agreed to go “full ’20s and ’30s”.
The couple decked out their first home, a cottage, with as much original 1930s design as possible and also adopted the lifestyle.
Over time their entire wardrobes were filled with original 1930s clothing to complete their vintage lifestyle. Lisa said: “I never thought I’d actually find the clothes. I always wanted to dress this way, but nobody who does ever tells you where to get the clothes.
“Eventually I was tipped off by someone about a business and they have basically supplied me with my entire wardrobe.
“We also go to car boot sales and charity shops a lot.
“I’ve got a real thing for gloves - we joke that if I buy any more I could look after a coach party.”
Six years ago, the couple moved into their current home, a much more spacious three-bed house in Watchet.
The property had been gutted by previous owners so they set to work restoring it to become a 1930s haven. Over the years they have kept a sharp eye out and managed to get hold of original second-hand items from the period. The house’s original lino flooring in the kitchen was found beneath tiling, and they have now restored the floor to its former glory.
Their 1930s renovation goes right down to the detail of the skirting boards, light switches, doorknobs and original cabinets.
The pair snatched up an original 1929 Jackson grey enamel cooker for £250, which is in perfect working condition and used every day.
They also have a 1935 Westinghouse fridge which was bought on eBay – and one of only a handful of its kind still being used in the world.
Lisa said: “Buying everything second-hand, it all comes with a story. Everything comes from somewhere.
“We bought this fridge when the owner told us ‘if you want it, you have to come tomorrow’ so we had to drop everything and rush to London that day to collect it. We always end up on lots of little adventures.”
Their kitchen also has a full 1930s dinner service with original cutlery, glasses, table cloths and crockery for their traditional Sunday meals.
But their prized possessions are their three gramophones, on which they listen to their 1930s music on vinyl records.
Lisa said of the things that prompted them to move into a larger home was because “we had so many records in our collection that it was making the ceiling bow”.
She said: “I love my gramophone and I love my music.
“When I go into the kitchen and lay the tablecloth with all my bits and pieces, then play our music, I just think how lovely it all is.”
They also have a smaller gramophone which they take out when they pack up a picnic basket to go for a picnic, in true 1930s style.
But not only is their house entirely 1920s and 1930s but also their lifestyle reflects the era. Aside from a mobile phone Neil uses for work, they stick to a landline, and they keep their use of online banking and cards to virtually zero in favour of using cash.
They have one tiny TV, which they only plug in when they want to use it – and only to watch black and white shows and films.
While Neil is out at work, Lisa stays home to cook and clean and opts to wash by hand and dry using a traditional mangle.
Their lawnmower, vacuum cleaner and cars are also original and in keeping with the time period.
Every week they have a traditional Sunday dinner where everything is homemade, with no processed food in sight.
Lisa said: “I cook everything from scratch and do all my own baking.
“You’d be surprised the amount of food that came out in the 1920s and 1930s, and everything we eat is from that time.
“We do eat a lot of pies like cottage pie, which I suppose is a bit old fashioned. Nothing modern like fajitas never has a tortilla come into this house!”
The couple, who have no children, know they don’t fit the mould, but they live the life that works for them.
Lisa said they get mixed reactions to their lifestyle - with some people supporting it and others a little bewildered.
She said: “I hope people will accept what we do and why. Some are very complimentary but others have been very rude. “I think some people just think we’re barking mad! “I don’t think our families really understand it but we’re not all the same and it can’t suit everyone. “They were surprised by how nice our home was when they came to visit, though!”
Despite what anyone thinks, Lisa told how they will never go back to a modern lifestyle.
She said: “I love it and I can’t ever imagine anything else.”