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A new trend to hit the high street is 'Grandma Chic' or 'Grandmillennial'. Floral prints and blue and white pieces are back in fashion, yippee!. Staged with needlework panels and antique wooden furniture to create a warm cosy atmosphere. A sustainable considered interior is at the heart of this look. Granny chic embodies the concept of being totally you, comfortable in your own space. As it mixes traditional and modern pieces, this trend creates a design style that exudes eccentricity and effortless formality. Mixing old and new has always been our mantra here at Retrovation. We mirror this in our own home with charity shop, hight street and auction pieces used on a daily basis. This trend comes hand-in-hand with the growing interest that technology-savvy millennials have in needlepointing, knitting craft as a way to disconnect. Similarly, it complements the need to live a slower, simpler, and more mindful life. Display your grandma’s old tea sets, and blue and white chinoiserie ceramics. Adding faux flowers or green plants to breathe new life and add a pop of colour to an interior. Florals are also a great way to extend into fabrics or prints to create a cohesive look. Wedgwood has reimagined its iconic duck egg blue Jasperwear with the help of menswear designer Charles Jeffrey. Pencil Porcelain have launched a new range of blue and white pieces designed by Jenny Dyson. The range is fun and crazy. It includes different retro images from Aliens to cheeseburgers. What do you think? The trend to collect and collate pieces from our childhood is not new. When it comes to our home, choosing sustainable pieces that can be used everyday to create a smile and be enjoyed is key. We love using old Victorian crockery on a daily basis as it adds so much charm to an ordinary table. The trend includes antique oil paintings and gesso gilt mirrors to add a focal point to a modern room. When it comes to choosing furniture, add a touch of traditional aesthetics through a classic sofa with rolled arms, a regal armchair, or a wrought-iron bed. Soften it with layers of textile and add rattan and wicker to complete the look. This will enhance your space and create a laid back elegance. As the trend looks to be growing we have flung open our cupboards and have decided to part with some of our favourite finds. While for a previous generation these pieces were only used for high days and holidays, the pieces we have available are to be used daily, enjoyed and cherished.

Please join us in the Admiral's Library! Inside the drawer of this lovely reading table is the name 'Sir Richard Hussey Bickerton'. This famous British Naval Officer was born in 1759 with his first command in 1774. By the Napoleonic wars Bickerton was in the Mediterranean as second in command to Lord Nelson. After the war and back in Britain, Bickerton was made Commander in Chief in 1812 and was appointed as Knight Commander of the order of Bath. We have staged the Admiral's library with his reading table with what we imagine his favourite books on 'The Sea', written by explorer Frederick Whymper. Here he would have written and made plans, all in comfortable library chair, such as this horseshoe shaped example. Bickerton started to adopt his mother's maiden name ahead of his surname in around 1820 so he was using the table around this time. This was the Regency period, during the sickness of George III when his son (the later George IV) was acting as prince Regent. Bickerton was a Conservative member of parliament for Poole in 1808. He died in 1832 and has a memorial in Bath Abbey. This is a exquisite piece of English furniture, made from mahogany and classical Regency hand crafted details. This adjustable table with all its history of its original owner, is an important and really rare piece.

We often find pieces on our travels which are useful and old, but on a second inspection have hallmarks of its past life. This library ladder made from gorgeous beech has its original leather cushion rest to the top. It has an unusual feature where it's been hand carved with its previous owners name. Our research indicate that this stunning ladder probably belonged to Frederick Alfred de Marwicz. Born in Germany in 1907, as Frederich Alfred Von der Marwitz, into a distinguished German noble and military family from Prussia. His family changed the name to Marwicz when they moved to France and then to England. Frederick know as Frank, was educated in England, where he attended Cambridge. Frank was an accomplished ice hockey player, who played for the GB national team in 1930 and 1934 world championships. He accompanied his wife Baroness Diana Frances de Marwitz on The World Cruise between 1932 and 1933 leaving New York in December. With a movie theatre and opulent Turkish baths decorated in and marble silver, this a trip for the very rich. This lovely library ladder has a wonderful history and you would have never guessed it was once owned by a Baron!.

We were delighted recently to visit the estate of artist potter, Jessie Gentry. Born in 1932 and passed away earlier this year. Jessie learnt her pottery skills in Trinidad. This meant she has a distinct artistic flair and design in all the pieces she produced. She was a District Commissioner of the Pointe-a Pierre region on the South-west coast of Trinidad. A prolific maker, where nature, animals and birds were a regular theme. She exhibited often and was a active member of the West Street Potters in Farnham, Surrey. She was also a active member in the Girl Guiding movement. Receiving the second highest award in Trinidad and Tobago, the silver sandbox . This stunning molded relief collection uses nature as its influence. With soaring birds, and ram's head, animals were an enormous inspiration for Jessie. With muted blues and greens they have a wonderful tone and texture. They have a stylistic retro feel which give them a modern contemporary design These muted pieces are again of animals and have a wonderful design and texture. We just love then and have keep a few pieces for our own home! We have several pieces in the collection of rabbits. Several are stylised such as the 'Rabbit with the orange eye'. The blue collection included pieces with stylised trees and boat. The rabbit and moon example is just exquisite. With wonderful uplifting vibrant colours to add personality and spirit to any space. The green range has a pair of panels with nesting birds, again drawing on influences in nature. All these pieces have a lovely muted glaze and amazing texture. Beautiful items to incorporate into a modern interior to add a burst of individualism and character. Jessie was very current using texture in her pieces to produce unique contemporary items . The monochrome range have a lovely narrow colour palette to produce striking pieces that are timeless. The whole range of almost thirty pieces are available to own and buy on our website. We do still have a few pieces to list. Thanks for reading, Dawn x

The sun is finally here on a regular basis so its time to give the BBQ a clean and over haul our outside spaces. Alfresco dining is one of the joys we all have come to valve over the last few years. Our outdoor spaces are now a reflection of our home interior. We use outdoor rugs and solar lights in our own garden to create an cosy inside out vibe. We have sourced several fabulous cast iron table legs and selected pieces of salvaged marble. The marble has come from old washstands and have wonderful veins and inclusions within them. They are heavy so won't be blown over in the wind. This example has a wonderful piece of Carrara marble with delicate grey veins. They are just fantastic in a small shady area with a couple of bistro chairs to enjoy a coffee or read the papers. This low coffee table is so cute. Its perfect to mimick a sitting room, a growing trend for gardens this year. It could be used inside or out and is a flexible piece. If you have a corner rattan sofa it would look great in the centre. The ornate cast iron legs and curved marble top means it can work in all weathers and with lots of traffic. We were thrilled to find a piece of marble with fossil inclusions. Its just stunning. There are a few small ammonites and squid fins within the surface. Our research indicates that this type of marble is found in Morocco. It really is time to dress the garden, open the gate and welcome friends for alfresco drinks and nibbles. Enjoy, Dawn x

We had the wonderful pleasure to welcome Mark Hill to come and film as part of Antiques Road Trip. Mark is an antiques expert and has worked at many of the leading auction houses such as Bonhams and Sotherbys. He is also a regular expert on the Antiques Road Show. Mark has a wealth of knowledge and was astounded at the amount of pieces we have tucked away in the Retrobarn. He searched high and low throughout and found pieces that we had forgotten about and were interesting. It was such a fun day! The classic car even matched Mark! He really was the 'Boy in Blue'! The episode will be aired on BBC 1 at 3.45pm on Tuesday 28th February. Catch up on iplayer, Series 26, Episode 13. Tune in to see the three 'lots' Mark brought from us and see if he later made a profit! Retrovation has been based at the Retrobarn in the village of Flamstead, Hertfordshire for almost 6 years. Dawn and Steve travel the UK to find unique and quirky pieces. The Retrobarn is based on a working farm and is open by appointment. Mainly selling online via platforms such as Vinterior and Ebay and social media, the eclectic mix of furniture and homewares means there is always something to find for any modern home and interior. Do book an appointment we would love to welcome you. Dawn & Steve

The smooth organic, curved lines of bentwood chairs are synonymous with timelessly chic and European cafe bistro style. When this design was first launched in the late 19th Century, it was truly revolutionary and marked an exciting departure from the heavy straight lines of the early Victorian era. The first bentwood chair was made by German-Austrian cabinet maker Micheal Thonet in the 1850s in Vienna. The first of its kind was named the Model 14 and soon became known as the 'chair of chairs'. This iconic design in the world of furniture design received a gold medal at the 1867 World Fair in Paris. Thonet died just a few years later in 1871 but his unique innovation survives to this day. Thonet-inspired Bentwood suppliers continue to use the technique to produce innovating designed pieces such as the designer Tom Raffield. www.tomraffield.com Part of the genius of bentwood chairs is the way they are made, with no need for any extra materials apart from steam. Thonet's in-depth experimentation allowed him to perfect the technique of using steam to soften the wood, bending it into the desired shape, and then leaving it to cool and dry back into a completely solid form. Jacob & Josef Kohn also based in Vienna together with Mundus challenged Thonet's patents and allowed them to created bentwood designs as part of their own collections. We have examples of both makers available to buy on our website. In 1914 Kohn and Mundus merged, and later in 1924 with Gerbruder Thonet, to establish larger scale production to meet demand. They became the largest furniture company in the world. Others makers took advantage of the expired patents. David Fischel founded DG Fischel & Son in Neimes, Czechoslovakia making bentwood furniture when the original patent registered by Michael Thonet expired in 1871. His son has actually worked for Thonet and by 1913 the company had expanded to work in Vienna too. We love the sweeping curves of a bentwood chair that offer a ergonomically design, more comfortable for the natural shape of the human body. By offering excellent economy of materials used, particularly by avoiding the need to cut curved shapes of wood out of larger, rectangular timber, the bentwood method is popular throughout bars, restaurants, cafes and bistros. Not only that, it offers a more sustainable solution for modern interiors. We always have an ever changing collection of bentwood furniture.

We were thrilled to welcome Shaun Wallace from TV's The Chase together with antiques dealer Margie Cooper to the Retrobarn. The couple were filming the BBC's 'Antiques Road Trip' Celebrity Special. We had so much fun! The episode we are involved with is going out on BBC 2 on the 17th December at 5.50 pm. So tune in and see Dawn on camera. Its very exciting for our small business! Shaun Wallace is a practicing Barrister and won Mastermind in 2004. He is know as 'The Dark Destroyer' on The Chase. Shaun did find something in our barn which was close to his heart (no spoilers)! The production team from the were just fabulous and loved the Retrobarn. We are really looking forward to showing the Retrobarn in all its glory. Dawn may only be on camera for a few minutes but its the Retrobarn which shines. One of the unique features of the Antiques Road Trip is the wonderful Classic Cars. This 1970s two seater was just stunning. We even met the owner! It is s fitting end to a wonderful year at Retrovation. A big thank you to Shaun, Margie and the whole production team.

Using an antique piece in a contemporary interior can give an individual twist and make the room truly unique. We are always on the look out for beautifully made antique pieces such as console tables and washstands that can be incorporated in to modern bathrooms to mount basins. We love seeing our pieces incorporated into customer homes. This Aesthetic movement stretcher table made by George Bartholomew & Co London is being incorporated by Obstgarten Homes in a new renovation. The stone basin has been made to measure and will be a real statement in this new bathroom once completed. Marble is often the material of choice for bathroom vanity stands. This amazing Victorian washstand now on the website has a thick marble top and the double marble pot stands on the base give a real unique twist. In a modern bathroom antique pieces can add warmth and character as well as making the bathroom truly unique We love repurposing antique pieces. This cast iron table base is made by Gaskell and Chambers and would have been used as a pub table. It was cast in their Birmingham foundry. With a little imagination it could make a fantastic base to a washstand. Do get in touch if you are looking for something specific as you never know what we may have.

We look for fabulous details on the pieces we buy to indicate they are high quality and made by master craftsmen. One such detail is Ormolu metal mounts on pieces. We have a number of pier cabinets in stock currently that have this decoration. Ormolu comes from the French 'Or moulu' which means ground gold. The manufacture of ormolu uses a process called mercury gilding or fire gilding. High quality gold mercury amalgam (an alloy of mercury) is applied to a piece or brass, copper or bronze. The technique uses a kiln to drive off the mercury and leaves a stunning muted gold guilted metal. Around 1830, legislation outlawed the use of mercury but it was used right up to 1900. Electroplating of gold over a nickel substrate took over which was more economical and safer. The French used ormolu extensively on clocks, porcelain and lighting. Victorian pier cabinets often have ormolu mounts to the front and make the piece to a highly decorative and desired piece. When we are out sourcing on our travels, we look for these types of decoration which really elevate a piece from ordinary to spectacular. Choosing pieces for an interior can be difficult, but these items are elegant and sophisticated, and will last a lifetime.

We have had a long love affair with antique fret work mirrors. They were originally produced around the middle to end of the 1700s, during the reign of George III. In the late 1600s fewer than 10% of English households owned a mirror. During this Georgian period the popularity of owning a looking glasses grew greatly. They were a sophisticated status symbol and served to display one's taste. During the 18th century, mirrors became popular to be staged by a window to reflect the outside scenery and mimicking expensive paintings. The illumination of formerly dark rooms was dramatically increased by the use of mirrors as candles were expensive. Fret work mirrors were usually made from mahogany or walnut veneer. They often included gold gilt carved detail such as shells and birds. The Ho Ho bird is a mythical bird of Japan that became popular in European furniture in the 18th Century. It has a long beak, fine curved neck and flowing. The bird was said to bring luck, symbolising good fortune; specifically longevity, fidelity and wisdom. It is often portrayed as an amalgam of several birds, including the phoenix, pheasant, stork, heron and bird of paradise. Ho ho birds occur frequently within Rococo decoration from 18th century France. The fret work detail is really exquisite and defines the mirror beautifully. Some examples date from the 18th century and some are later in the 19th century. They really are stunning and at Retrovation we are always sourcing examples on our travels.

To understand la rentrée is to work in Paris at the end of August. It is not just the children returning to school, but the whole country returning from a long summer break. Paris is empty during August until the last week when everyone starts to prepare to return to the normal day to day activities. In England this idea is foreign to us, as we take our weeks holiday abroad in the sun if we are lucky. The rest of our British summer is a slightly damp affair where work continues and we try to juggle children not at school. The weather in the UK has been fabulous this year and, at Retrovation, we have had a French summer! We had a busy June and July, where we did markets in St Albans, Berkhamsted, Kempton and finally Folk by the Oak festival. By the end of July we were ready for a long break and headed down to Devon to enjoy the beautiful hot summer that we have had this year. Computers have been off, Instagram accounts fallen silent and out of office signs put up! But as we adopted the long holiday in August, so must we now think about la rentrée. For our eldest, this is starting university, for our youngest getting ready for his final A-level year. And for us getting ready for the new season for Retrovation. Before we went away we had already been building our collections for our return and now we are busy sorting out and getting new stock ready. After our break we are excited to return with some fantastic pieces that are already starting to appear on the website. We will be launching a new collection every week starting on the 27th August, so keep an eye on your mail box. We have enjoyed a well earned break through August, but we are well and truly back!