The Vintage Home: A Harem Of Peacocks

Kelly-Marie Burdekin, a vintage buyer and writer of the beautiful blog Harem Of Peacocks, appears to constantly be rummaging for oddities, curios and inspiring photography and artwork to share with the rest of us. Her blog is a mix up of her own fashion, which is diverse in it's inspirations and outcomes and posts that go to the root of her own love for the past, a plethora of inspiring visual information.

Kelly once posted a blog about her own bedroom here and I've never forgotten it, what a gorgeous Aladdin's cave of vintage trinkets. Working as a prop stylist and vintage buyer, I can imagine how Kelly's house soon transformed into the den of treasures it is over the 7 years she has lived in London. The living room has been used as the set for many photo shoots and music videos and her house is so darn cool that she was recently featured in LOOK Magazine...

Kelly has yet to do focus posts on her living room, bathroom and kitchen so I feel super lucky to be able to share these photographs with you so that they can perhaps inspire you to up the vintage in your home. 

The Bedroom

The Kitchen

The Living Room

How do you go about adding a touch of Kelly's art deco inspired haven to your own bedroom? 

• Keep searching for other fashion, design and vintage bloggers for inspiration and ideas.
• Learn how to rummage! Start with your local charity shops and do not dismiss the bric-a-brac section straight away. Often you must envision how the piece will look among the rest of your room. 
• Hospice shops. These are few and far between, but they're bigger and cheaper than your high street charity shop. I have my favourite in Sheffield and I don't tell anybody about it! Soon you'll get protective over the best ones, so not everyone shares your secrets!
• Find out where the antique centres and markets are in your city or town. They can often be found nestling beside one another in the same area. Some are fusty and full to the brim of bits and bobs, but you have to look UNDER the piles of stuff, look at what the trays of trinkets are sat upon and BEHIND the front row of ornaments. It's a game of patience guys!
• eBay. One of my favourite things to do while I am lying in bed is to search the word "vintage" or "retro" for listings ending soon in a 10 mile radius from my house. This way, you keep on top of what is in your local area and you could grab a real bargain. I managed to get (what I think is) a gorgeous onyx standard lamp for £15 this way. Bargain. 
• Once you catch the thrifting bug, you'll start thinking about early sunday morning carboot sales and markets and travelling to other places to find more and more pretty things to add to your collection.

Love.

Gina

x

P.S Do you have a vintage inspired home? Want to share? E-mail blog@thevintagefair.com