Treasures from our travels

Two words that Philippa really, really likes are “yard sale”, which explains why there are so many stories to tell about their eclectic mix of interesting finds from around the world. After all, Philippa and Chris are in the business of spotting gems midst the junk.

“I like things to have meaning and a story behind them,” Philippa says. “We love older pieces with a bit of history and character. So many of the houses we look at for shoots are beautiful but lack the homeowners’ personal touch.

“Mostly, Chris and I are on the same page, which is lucky.

We’ve travelled together a lot and find treasures in all sorts of places: thrift stores all around America, brocantes in France, markets in Morocco, and roadside vendors. We stop at every thrift store and yard sale that we come across – there’s all sorts of junk and gems to be found!

“We buy bigger pieces wherever we find a good deal. Once, on a six-week road trip across the USA, we had barely started on the mammoth drive to New York when we saw a yard sale sign. Of course, we couldn’t resist and ended up buying a beautiful but enormous vintage Hartmann trunk for $5 – it took up the entire back seat of the car for the next six weeks! We shipped it back to SA from New York, along with other goodies we found along the way.

“Our décor is a reminder of all our travels and, of course, it is influenced by the many locations we see ‘on the job’. I don’t always know what I want to achieve, but then I find little pieces that catch my eye and it somehow all comes together. That said, the house feels full and happy right now – and there isn’t much shelf, wall or surface space left unless we get rid of something!” >>

The oak for the vanity cupboard also came from the fallen tree in Philippa’s mom’s garden. “She had the wood cut up and planed and then cured it for a few years while waiting for the right project. We were so excited that we could use it; it’s so unique,” says Philippa. Vanity cupboard made by Michael Wilson Carpentry

A dividing wall between the bedroom and bathroom was the solution when the couple struggled to accommodate a built-in cupboard. Madagascar Steel Blue wallpaper from Wallpaper From The 70s