SAVVY SEARCHING PAYS DIVIDENDS
…says designer Matilda Goad, @matildagoad
She is known for her trend-making designs – her lampshades kick-started the love of all things scalloped – but Matilda Goad also loves vintage, with the vast majority of the furniture in her super-stylish home bought second-hand. ‘Vintage adds layers to a room, which makes it easier to live in, and it means you’re supporting the circular economy, too,’ she says.
What does she look for? ‘Mirrors – I can’t resist them,’ says Matilda, who has partnered with Gumtree as part of its Good Finds campaign, which aims to encourage vintage shopping. ‘They’re so adaptable and look very pretty mixed in with a wall of paintings, as well as helping bounce light around a room.
‘I’m also a big fan of lamps and lighting as they transform a room. People are worried about buying online but re-wiring a lamp is very easy to have done.
‘Right now, I’m also looking for vintage textiles, such as eiderdowns and patchwork quilts. You can use them as they are – they are cosy at the end of a bed – or repurpose them as cushions.’
Another favourite of hers is chairs. ‘They’re very functional and can easily be transformed, such as sanding back painted wood and then polishing with beeswax. With dining chairs, you can recover the seat in a weekend, which is half the fun, using leftover fabric that ties in with something else in the room.
‘With vintage upholstered furniture, you get the quality of traditional craftsmanship without the price tag. But at the same time, don’t expect to find the perfect sofa – look at the shape and then be prepared to upholster it. It’s all about transforming it with love.’