HB Edit - Edition 18
Sharing the things on my ebay watch list that I don't have the space or money for, but wish I did.
After a week off HB Edit to witness pop-girlie history at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, we’re back with a bang: more eBay gold, and more bargains than ever. And a look at Ollie Tomlinson’s stunning photographs of a 1920s German Villa, recently restored by Gisbert Pöppler.
There is so often an emphasis on finding pairs of things to decorate with symmetry. This is what I call ‘hotel decorating,’ which sometimes can look a little soul-less. Don’t get me wrong: I love a matchy-matchy at times, but not always. Anyway, this lily-pad wall sconce is such a beauty, and doesn’t need a twin to make it sing. So unique and interesting, a very big yes from me.
I actually have this exact jug at home. It is an oft-selected favourite for flowers by both myself and my bestfriend Posie, who is as annoyingly good at flower arranging as she is at cooking. A great receptacle, and a price that won’t break the bank.
This. This right here. Need I say more? Ebay is a literal treasure chest. This double-sided kitchen oak island with chamfered legs and a marble top is ‘buy it now’ for £100. While good as is for someone with ample space, a marble cutter could slice the surface in half, and you’d have two incredibly useful kitchen workbenches for that ‘unfitted’ kitchen look. So good.
A contender for the worst product photography ever… but this pair of chocolate brown curtains are an absolute steal. Each curtain is 111cm wide and 230cm long (ish), which would cover a big window, or a door. And £30? Say no more.
This looks suspiciously new… but I can’t help but find the shape extremely pleasing. The octagonal brass columns are very chic, as are the tiny capitals. I am picturing this at a specific point on my stairwell, where it’s a bit dark. All the shiny surfaces would reflect light nicely, and add some interest. Also, useful to catch a glimpse as I throw myself down the stairs en route out.
I know some people balk at peeling paint (I can sometimes be one of those people), but it’s somehow acceptable with antique French garden furniture I think? This wrought iron table, with marble top, is a very attractive Bistrot-inspired shape, and would certainly elevate any outside area. Not cheap, but worth it.
Feature: for each edition, I will feature a person, object, room or place that inspires me.
This week I am writing about a 1920s German Villa, recently redesigned by Gisbert Pöppler, with photographs by Ollie Tomlinson.
In fact, few words are needed when presented with these beautiful images. In short: a villa at the edge of the Ruhr area demanded full-scale renovation having lost its soul after years of neglect. What began as a modest commission - a quick cosmetic lift, a tweak of tones and textures - spiralled into something more ambitious, and resulted in an awe-inspiring project.
Pöppler’s use of colour is bold without ever being unsettling, and the choice of furniture is impeccable, bringing in Modernist design at every touchpoint. The wildness of the garden adds softness to what could otherwise be an imposing facade, the result of which is a work of art.
And Ollie’s photographs are a thing of beauty in themselves, skilfully capturing the satisfying architectural details, textures and light in every frame. The story, featured on Yatzer, gratifyingly features many more images, each as wonderfully considered as the last. Just perfection.
More anon!
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