Real Homes: Finally facing my Waterloo

When I was 19, out of work and still living at home, a friend of my mum's said she'd heard about some summer jobs going at Wimbledon, driving tennis players around during the tournament. 

She knew someone involved with the hiring and suggested to my mum that I apply.






Above: the downstairs loo got painted black

Incredibly, none of us considered that this prestigious job would definitely

The Insider: what you'll be seeing in Habitat this autumn

First up, let's just talk about these rugs, shall we?

I was transfixed by them on my whizz around the Habitat Autumn/Winter 2014 collection preview last week, which took place in a big old warehouse on the Southbank, in London.



I'm eyeing that two greens and white one, the Cortez, £95, to brighten up my kitchen floor (though I know opinions run high on rugs in kitchens... not least amongst

Object of the day: totally kitsch swan light

A couple of weeks ago I paused in front of a shop window near my house, ogling the unusual lamps in the window display. 

All sorts of ornamental objects had been wired up and fitted with lampholders, and they looked brilliant. And today, via the magic that is Twitter, I think I may have stumbled across these lovely lights' makers: a south coast-based duo called the Lost and Foundry. Check out

Before & after: Ikea mini drawer unit revamp

I've had these Ikea drawers so long that they no longer sell them (though they're in the ilk of the Moppe series). 

I put wheels on them back in the day, and thought often about painting them, just like the ones I overhauled in the bathroom – using odd old drawer knobs found on eBay and some white gloss paint. Years passed, procrastination flourished. Finally I have got around to fixing them up.

Competition: win a limited edition lava lamp in time for Christmas

While we're on the Christmas present tip (I've been posting a different, affordable gift idea a day all month in case you've missed them), this could be the solution for that teenage niece, just-out-of-home-er, or godson on the list. 

A lava lamp: what do you think?



While I probably wouldn't have a lava lamp at home myself these days, I do have a very soft spot for the things, as illustrated

Can't afford the new Sheila Bownas sofa?

What do you think of this sofa/daybed, designed using fabric from the Sheila Bownas archive and created in collaboration with furniture-makers, Parlour? 

It's called the Edwin, and I think the shade of blue, the smooth solid walnut, 50s-ish legs and back and the classic, boxy shape make it very good indeed.



Alas, thanks to rather beautiful details like these...



...it costs £2400. But if

Impulse buy of the week: a toucan shaped lamp

Ah yes, we've all been there: car boot, chucking it down with rain, no bargains in sight when suddenly your 'phone rings; it's the other half: "Where are you? I've found something fabulous..."

So off I trot, past the tarpaulins and rain sodden traders to find the husband. And here's what we bought:



Yes. A floor lamp in the shape of a toucan. Don't ask me why, don't ask me how. I think it was

Graduate art talent to fill your walls

Fenton Art & Design has a business model I admire. The young company (it launched at Tent in 2012) was started by Cherry Anderson and Steve Chapman, who are passionate about finding and supporting new artistic talent.

Each year the pair, who have a combined background in graphics and film/ TV, scour the art college graduate shows, looking for artists to help create their designs, which include

Ever wondered how a lava lamp was made?

You might have heard that classic student bedroom accessory, the lava lamp, turns 50 this year. Or, at least, Mathmos, the company behind the 1963 invention does.





 Image: www.mathmos.com

Did you have one of these classic stoner accessories decorating a former bedroom? I delicately hauled the one I owned through many different abodes, none of which – alas – bore any resemblance to the

New Designers 2013

Yesterday afternoon I popped into the preview of New Designers, the annual exhibition in London showcasing emerging design talent. 



3,000 new graduates are selected to appear and share their wares with the public during the two-week period the show runs. It happens in two parts, and Part Two is the one I was interested to see, as it has a big interiors and illustration focus. It runs until 5

Introducing: Retropolitan

Hello, it's Abi posting today. In case you don't know it, I want to tell you all about Retropolitan, a very fabulous online vintage store my stylish friend Scarlett pointed out to me the other day. 

And I'm very glad she did – it's a feast of unusual vintage pieces with a slant towards glass and vases (but it's by no means only glass and vases). Like these...



Above left, Riihimaki vase by