The fifties and sixties obsession with futuristic design and outer space has provided us with some of the most striking 20th century design. These Ray Gun Glass Ornaments from Plasticland are a perfect example.
Reproducing a retrofuturistic space age look, these pieces are made from glass in a traditional vintage German style. A real talking point, these make great decorations to hang anywhere, be it from the ceiling or on your Christmas tree.
Get yours from Plasticland for $13.50 each.
Mary Janes have become the staple high heeled shoe for retrophiles, but rarely do they come so cute and kitsch as this pair from Dorothy Perkins.
These Pink Bar Courts have a mid heel and a bubbly rounded toe. Combined with the fab bubblegum pink shade, these patent faux leather shoes are affordable and ideal for mid sixties style.
Get them from Dorothy Perkins for £28.
Poulier and Poulier are husband and wife design team, Mark and Lisa Poulier who share a love of typography. Their current screenprinted collection includes a series of prints based on vintage Tram Destinations Blinds.
The prints are based on original “W Class” Melbourne tram destination blinds, dating back to around 1960. They have been printed to replicate the authentic typography of that era. There are four designs measuring 56 x 76cm priced around Aus $60 (around £30) and two large “elephant” size (56 x 150cm) costing just under Aus $100 (around £50)
To order, visit the Poulier and Poulier website.
The song “You Are My Sunshine” dates back to 1939 and has been recorded over a hundred times. And now it has found its way onto a deckchair.
The “You are My Sunshine” Deckchair has the famous song lyrics printed on the canvas sling. The frame is made from sustainable wood that has been treated to increase its endurance, so even if the sunshine interrupted by showers, the chair should survive.
It costs £145 from Rockett St George.
These alphabet drawers aren't influenced directly by any era or designer but do draw their inspiration from old printing blocks. Made to order from solid oak by Kent and London, each letter of the alphabet has its own drawer, so there are 26 drawers of various sizes.
It's a very tactile piece that does seem to encourage you to run your hands over the relief of its letters and creates an urge to take out and starting inking up the drawers. Two slight problems with this though. First, the print of any of these letters would of course be back-to-front and secondly, also the price might put you off: at £2700 it's an investment for the future, rather than a customisation project.
Forgot the wooden rubbish you'll find at just about every garden centre and DIY shop in the world, if you want to make a statement in your garden, check out this B.A-BA outdoor furniture by Marie Leblon.
Purpose-built for the outdoors, this space age range is all about the curves, something designer Marie Leblon has specialised in for the last 20 years. The table and seat (which is pictured over the page) are made of rigid polyurethane and available in colours including black, white and a 70s-friendly orange.
The table sells for £685, while the seats go for an additional £167 each.
