Still smoking despite the ban? Stealing ashtrays from the pub is no longer an option, so what about one of these PT Home Flip Ashtrays instead?
Available in a veritable rainbow of colours, their pod shape has a 1970’s futuristic look. At a price of just £6 one of these doesn’t cost much more than a pack of twenty. And if you do quit the habit, perhaps you can use it to store something else (sweets? buttons?) after giving it a good wash, of course.
Buy one online at Iggloo.
Anna Castellis Ferrieri can lay claim to being the first female licensed architect in Italy, but more importantly, she designed the Componibili Storage Unit.
First produced by Kartell back in 1969, they are still being made today and are just as functional as they were back then. Available in a range of sizes and a choice of colours, they can be used in any room, on their own, grouped or stacked. Kartell have recently introduced a white rectangular unit or a silver rounded unit, in addition to its classic white and red rounded edge designs.
Componibili units are widely available but Espcacio has them in their summer sale with prices starting at around £40 for a two-tier unit and £56 for three-tiers.
Whilst the Caravan Club, who recently celebrated their 100th Anniversary, would no doubt be quick to proclaim its enormous popularity, caravanning is something I always associate with a bygone era. Likewise, the range of Caravan Wallpapers by Belynda Sharples has something distinctly 1950s about it.
There are seven wallpapers in the collection, each one adorned with sketches of caravans in muted colours. It costs £45 per roll, but a little of this print goes a long way and is probably best kept to one small wall. Unless, of course, you have a caravan that needs decorating!
It is available to buy from select branches of John Lewis, Heals and various independents outlets – see the Art of Wallpaper website for a full list and sample orders.
Sisters Susie and Heidi Bauer were inspired by the pop culture and mass-produced items they grew up with in 1960s California, and this has formed the basis of their design company Rock Scissor Paper.
Rock Sissor Paper produces a wonderful range of stationery and homeware, including a selection of cheerful tea towels, featuring prints in teal, orange and lime. The ‘Tree’ tea towel is particularly lovely and reminiscent of Orla Kiely’s prints.
They are available to buy individually for $14 (approximately £7) or $39 (£20) for a set of three. Further details can be found on the Rock Scissor Paper website.
Lotta Glave, of Swedish design duo Bengt and Lotta, has designed the Choc & Candy Chairs, stackable kitchen seating in two retro prints.
The Candy chair features a multi-coloured print of circles that looks rather like that famous Kandinsky painting. The Choc chair, as the name suggests, has a pattern in shades of brown that could well be a selection of Belgian chocolates.
Funktion Alley is selling the Choc & Candy Chairs for £119 each. Alternatively for smaller spaces and budgets, there are Choc & Candy stackable stools for £63 each.
This isn’t a room in a reader’s home, but an example of the interior design packages from Luxe Interior. Luxe Interior offers various packages by top designers and if your preferred style is ‘Quirky Retro’, it includes collections by Retro To Go favourites, Orla Kiely and Celia Birtwell.
Each package contains a scaleable scheme of furniture, accessories and fittings, which can be customised according to the size of your home. The Orla Kiely packages feature her signature stem print on soft furnishings and wall coverings, whilst Celia Birtwell’s includes the famous David Hockney ‘Puchinello’ clown print.
