Natural Living Style

I bought the latest (fabulous) book by Selina Lake on our trip to the Cotswolds recently. I have most of her books, she is prolific, this one is a favourite and echoes everything we do at Vintage Style Living. 

Interestingly, it has a similar name, Natural Living Style. I thought I’d share the foreword with you:-

“Currently the issue of protecting our planet is a hot topic, constantly discussed in the world’s media, politicians and environmentalist along with individuals trying to make a difference, while Sir David Attenborough has highlighted the plastic filling our oceans in his BBC programmes.

As I become increasingly aware of these issue, I look back at all the plastics that have come and gone in my life. Experts predict that plastic will take up to 1,000 years to break down and in the process will release tiny particles into streams, rivers and the ocean, causing harm to animals, the environment and us. As a stylist, I wondered how we can make our homes, work spaces and gardens more in harmony with the environment while keeping them beautiful? Can a stylish, comfortable, efficient home be achieved with minimal impact on the environment. 

For those of you who are concerned about the subject, I have put together this book to share my ideas for making your home more sustainable and eco friendly, as well as aesthetically pleasing and practical.  

I’ve come to the conclusion that everything turns full circle - fashion trends, the way we live, the food we eat and so on. Even though technology and other modern developments have provided us with everything we need on tap, or at the touch of a smart phone, the irony is that we are constantly striving for what our grandparents saw as the norm - a simple, comfortable, Natural Living Style.”

After reading that and flicking through the beautiful pages, I hadn’t realised just how eco friendly I was. My whole life has been spent buying secondhand furniture, recycling what I already had, foraging for foliage to make arrangements. I spent ten years running a business, Vintage Style Hire, hiring vintage furniture and props for weddings and events, rather than buying new that would only be discarded afterwards. Our shop, Vintage Style Living, is a mix of vintage and new furniture and homeware and when I work on interior styling projects, I encourage clients to move things around and repurpose. 

Needless to say this book, along with the other titles on my bookshelf have inspired me to stock some. Whilst we can flick through images on the internet, there is nothing like taking some time out to sit down with a magazine or book and immerse ourselves into the inspirational, often aspirational pages. I’m hoping you’ll come in to our store and take a look and be inspired yourself, rather than reaching for your smartphone to buy them online!