Smoking isn’t as socially acceptable as it once was, but there are other uses for matches – and when you find one, you’ll be glad you had these French Allumettes to hand.
Take your pick from eight vintage French boxes, dating from between 1910 and 1950, each containing 100 long matches, with a sleeve that should catch the eye and inspire a few modern-day designers.
Each box costs £1.50.
Find out more at the Colloco website
Not everyone can afford an Artichoke light fitting, but you can get the look on a budget with the Ikea Knappa pendant light.
Obviously taking inspiration from the Poul Henningsen classic, this Brylle/Jacobsen-designed fitting consists of polypropylene plastic leaves that combine to offer ‘soft mood light’ for your living room.
Complete with cabling (but not ceiling hook – as always with Ikea), you can pick it up for just £12.99.
Find out more at the Ikea website
Perfect for lovers of board games – or indeed anyone who wants something interesting to stick over their heads when the rain comes – are these Monopoly-themed umbrellas from Brollies of London.
Two available – a mini umbrella with three-section folding frame, taffeta fabric and carbon-plated frame or the Deluxe Walker, which has the same fabric and frame, but also offers an overall span of 49 inches and branded wooden handle.
The design is in keeping with the original game, but if you were more of a Cluedo player, don’t despair – they make those too. No news of a price, you’ll have to drop them a line.
We’re also for recycling here at Retro To Go – and if you can make a nice piece of design out of yesterday’s cast-offs, all the better. Which is the case with these Foolbloom cubes.
Ok, it’s not just your cast-off cloth here, the cubes are a mix of vintage and recycled fabrics upholstered around a solid wooden frame and deep foam to offer a stylish cube that can be used as a seat, a stool or even an occasional table.
All are handmade, so you could say unique, but you can get an idea of the range at the Foolbloom website. The cubes retail for around £240 each. Or if you want something really special, they also do a bespoke service.
Wondering what to buy the communist revolutionary in your life? You can’t go far wrong with this Lenin-shaped scented candle.
Yes, standing 14cm tall, this Moldavian-produced candle is made of bees wax and as well as working as a piece of kitsch home decoration, does also function as a candle – a scented one too.
Complete with rather cool packaging, you pick this up from Paul Smith for £15.
Find out more at the Paul Smith website
A real throwback to the late 60s, the Lunar chair from Lunar Labs should make an impact both inside and outside the home – especially if you’re going for that Space 1999 look.
The work of Claudio Cabaca, it’s a lounger that apparently allows you to ‘sit low in a comfortable position while relaxing’. Which simply means you can slump down in it. Made by hand in Holland, the chair is also weatherproof, so you can use it in the garden as well as the home.
17 colours to choose from, but one fairly hefty price – which is around £2,300.
Find out more at the Pid website
