REAL HOME
I became a master upcycler to finish this house! Hildah’s personal style shines in every corner of her Edwardian home, which is abundant with colour, vintage homewares and global art
H
ildah Jiah’s passion for all things vintage began with childhood keepsakes from her native Zimbabwe. A frequent shopper at local vintage fairs, car boots, antique emporiums and charity shops, she has created a colourful, quirky interior at her Hertfordshire home. With an eye for unique artwork and vintage floral homewares, Hildah adores shades of pink, green and grey. ‘They are gentle and relaxing tones to live with,’ she says. ‘I am drawn to vintage collectables that have a history and a story to tell.’ Since moving from London 16 years ago, Hildah outgrew her previous house in St Albans and in 2012 began looking for a new, larger home with ample street parking. The property she found was in need of a lot of work, both inside and out, but Hildah could look beyond this and see its potential. ‘This house was gloomy and had belonged to an elderly couple who lived here for over 30 years,’ she says. ‘The carpets were worn out and mouldy and the windows had rusted shut. The garden was completely overgrown with no fences – I didn’t even realise that the Hildah’s pastel-green front door displays an everlasting wreath all year round, created by floral artist Mandy Bosworth (@pennyscottagegarden)
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