A shop of one’s own: Isle of

A shop of one’s own

For these Independent Isle of Wight retailers, a shop isn’t just a space in which to sell wares but an extension of their own homes and identities. Here, some of the Island’s best loved homeware brands share the personal stories behind their favourite products.

Casual magic

Sarah James-Booth’s love of interiors grew from a love of photography: capturing the accidental beauty and incidental moments in the world around her. Her aptitude for aesthetics and sense of everyday alchemy is evident at every turn: houseplants paired with pretty planters sit next to a delicate amber plant mister with which to hydrate them; Fairtrade and recycled throws spill out of rattan blanket baskets for easy storage. Pared back and roughly patinated plywood walls, a jaunty upcycled dresser in brightest yellow and mid-century console table display an ever-changing array of lovely things. Island artists and makers are supported – from locally made macramé lanterns to wooden hearts made from reclaimed Ryde Pier and Atherfield Coastguard Station wood – alongside quirky and individually sourced ranges from further afield. For Sarah, home is a place of sanctuary and comfort; a space to soothe busy minds and seek solace from a frantic world. “It’s not always the material things that make a home,” she says. “For me, it’s about casual magic and a feeling of family: the throw that you snuggle up in with your sister as the leaves outside change colour, or the cushions you all sink into after a long day at work. The little things.”

Nervous Wreck Designs, Long Lane, Newport Instagram: @nervouswreckdesigns

Nostalgia found

“Where everything is as it used to be” reads the tagline for Dig4Vintage, run by husband and wife team Sarah and Mike. Step inside and you are immediately transported back in time: iconic fashion styles from decades past are displayed in a colourful array alongside vintage haberdashery, enamelware, period china and kitchenalia. Well-travelled trunks and vintage suitcases are stacked with a splendid supply of textiles, like these gloriously colourful vintage 1970s houseplant print curtains and floral 1940s housecoat apron. Giving pre-loved possessions a new lease of life is a key motivator for the couple, who seek to provide an antidote to fast fashion and throwaway culture. “People get a huge nostalgia kick out of browsing our shop; often a piece of fabric, range of pottery, book, vintage handbag or framed embroidery reminds them of something their Granny had. It’s lovely to think that we can help people recreate those lovely feelings from childhood in their own home again.” Sarah and Mike’s own home is full of pattern and angle poise lamps. “I particularly love the elegance of the 1930s – and I have a bit of a thing for avocado bath suites,” Sarah (pictured here wearing original – now Vintage – Cath Kidston) explains.

Dig4Vintage, 4 The Colonnade, Ryde digforvintage.co.uk | Instagram: @dig_for_vintage

Giving history a future

Jessica Horner’s passion for antiques and collectables grew from a young age, nurtured by her jewellery and ceramic collecting mother, who took her around the local car boot and auction room circuit, ever on the lookout for a bargain. As a result, their small 17th century Cornish cottage was furnished with functional secondhand furniture, igniting a lifelong passion for repair and reuse. Attacus Antiques was born a year ago, with the aim of placing beautiful well-made furniture into new, loving homes. The shop has a large selection of period and mid-century furniture, with new items added each week. Jessica says, “This Art Nouveau couch is one of my favourite items currently in stock. It was a real mess when I picked it up; the joints were loose, the upholstery was in tatters, and a fair amount of inlay was damaged or missing. After sending it to a professional restorer to shore up the joints, replace some inlay and give it a good polish, it then went for new upholstery in a duck egg blue diamond pattern. It’s now ready to spend the next 100 years looking as grand as intended. Projects like this are part of the magic of my job as an antiques dealer; taking a piece from history and giving it a future – that’s incredibly rewarding.”

Attacus Antiques, 63 High Street, Cowes Instagram: @attacusantiques

The life eclectic

Paul Wyatt’s family have occupied this grand Victorian space on Ryde’s Union Street for decades. Together with wife Gini and photographer sons Ben and Nathan, Jacks Vintage & Collectables are known for their eclectic selection of furniture, artwork and decorative items, from ornate Victorian craftsmanship and Art Deco standard lamps to statement Ercol and retro 1970s bohemian bamboo. “I particularly love mid-century furniture as it speaks to a time when we deconstructed the spaces we lived in – rooms were uncluttered, simple and free flowing and the period was full of design innovation in materials and form,” says Paul. Jacks also specialises in sourcing individual and eye-catching South Asian pieces. “We always search for character,” Paul explains. “Time creates a look that can never be reproduced and our Indian ware really represents this – the vivid colours, patinated metals and wood ages beautifully, and tell their own story.” Here, Paul is pictured with a handmade beaten iron water pot from Rajasthan, Northern India, surrounded by a carved Balinese ‘Garuda’ (an eaglelike creature from Hindu mythology) figure, gilt bronze Tibetan ‘Tara’ (Goddess of kindness and compassion) statue, and a selection of colourful Kilim rugs.

Jacks Vintage & Collectables, 75 Union Street, Ryde antiquesisleofwight.co.uk | Instagram: @jacks_no75

Stars of the floor

At experiential Biophilic interiors emporium Acacia Bay, Peter McGee and Lesley Cornwall are waxing lyrical about their new range of vinyl floor mats by Israeli sustainable design house Beija Flor. “New for the shop, I mean,” says Lesley, “we’ve been using them at home for years; they’re fantastic.” Combining fine design and sustainability, these modular and adjustable rolls are 100% phthalate free, 100% recyclable and safe for children and pets, making them the perfect alternative to bacteria- and dirt-gathering rugs in the family home. Available in a range of designs and sizes, they are ideal for incorporating a classic statement piece into every living space, from long hall runners to living room squares, neat door mats and smaller bathroom-sized pieces. Fusing timeless geometric and ancient inspired designs with the practicalities of modern living, they allow you to create an elegant space free from the worries of dirt or spills. “With our four dogs – an American bulldog, Jackawawa, Selenium Terrier and Yorkshire Terrier – they’re essential,” says Lesley.

Acacia Bay, 14-16 High Street, Shanklin acaciabayiow.co.uk | Instagram: @acaciabayiow

A talent for gifts

Shorelines of Cowes has been a Jellycat stockist since the very beginning (1999), and customers still love their luxurious and quirky designs – children often jump with excitement and there are plenty of happy tears when just the right Jellycat is matched with its new owner. Owner Clairey Meadowcroft says, “During lockdown the big super-soft bears brought huge comfort to many of our customers, and made great low-maintenance ‘empathy pets’. Jellycat’s baby safe range is particularly popular; Odell Octopus Soother’s tentacles emulate the umbilical cord, providing comfort and familiarity to newborn babies. He makes a great finishing touch to any ocean-themed nursery, bedroom or playroom: draped over the arm of a sofa, perched atop a banister or at the foot of the bed.” It’s not just Jellycats on offer at Shorelines; here you will also find an extensive range of gifts and greeting cards for all occasions, as well as a huge variety of limited edition prints, posters, canvases and artwork from Island artists and photographers. Clairey, who recently moved to a period property, “can’t wait to fill the walls with Island-based art and photography.”

Shorelines, 109 High Street, Cowes Instagram: @shorelinescowes

Under the sea (and covers)

One of XV Stripes Co-founder Izzey Heung’s enduring childhood memories is “paging through my mum’s House and Garden magazines and always being drawn to the Hamptons homes: light and airy spaces with touches of blue; clean lines and a sense of cosy freshness.” Designwise, Ralph Lauren is a huge inspiration; as is everything above and below the ocean surface. During lockdown, Izzey “became obsessed with seaweed” which led (after much colour and coastal creature research) to the concept for XV Stripes’ latest Seaview range in collaboration with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, featuring drifting seahorses, cheeky seals, sun-dappled seaweed and rich anemone pinks. Experimenting with new colour combinations and designs that showcase the beauty of coastal life – and matching them with the highest quality of sustainable materials – is all part of the process. But for all the excitement of creative evolution, Izzey’s alltime favourite remains the ever-popular signature Oxford cushion, which encapsulates the XV Stripes brand: dazzling ocean blue stripes on organic Jacquard woven cotton – “though we are just about to reverse the colours to have white on blue!” Izzey adds.

XV Stripes, 1 Wheatsheaf Lane, Yarmouth xvstripes.com