Ten of the Best: Housewarming gifts for the vintage lover

Traditionally specific items were given as housewarming gifts which all had different meanings – this comes originally from Hogmanay which via the Norse Yule festival forms part of the 12 days of Christmas.  I  remember growing up a neighbour giving my parents salt and bread when they moved into our new house but the full list and its meanings is lovely and very apt from a vintage point of new –

 

• Bread  “May those in your home never go hungry.”
• Broom “May your house always be clean and free of evil spirits.”
• Candles “May you always have light through the darkest times.”
• Coins “May you receive luck and good fortune.”
• Honey “May you always enjoy the sweetness of life.”
• Knives “May your home always be protected from intruders.”
• Olive oil “May you be blessed with health and well-being.”
• Plants “May your home always have life.”
• Rice  “May the love in your home multiply.”
• Salt “May there always be flavour and spice in your life.”
• Wine “May you always have joy and never go thirsty.”
• Wood “May your home have stability, harmony, and peace.”

1.  The first thing you want to do when you finally get into a new house after all the months of stress is to have a glass of bubbly.  Keep the ice coming with this kitsch fabulous ice bucket from Pineapple Retro – its a perfect vintage gift!  Maybe add a bottle of Champagne in with it to create the wine gift.

2.  I love the cushions from Eclectic-chair – this rare kimono print one would look great on any sofa or bed and make a house look like a home in no time.

3.  To get those vintage areas just right a must have is the new book by our director Kate – ‘Style Your Modern Vintage Home’ available via the website at the end of August or can be pre-ordered from Amazon now.  Find information on every vintage decade, practical tips for buying, styling and restoring your vintage homewares and ideas for achieving your perfectly styled vintage home.

4.  For the gift of a plant how about putting a simple plant in a set of these fabulous vintage pots from NotontheHighSt.com? These great little Victorian terracotta plant pots are covered in beautifully vibrant cotton fabrics and would look just lovely on a window sill.

5.  If candles represent the idea of providing light through all the dark times then this cast iron candle holder from H is for Home is ideal.  Danish design still looks so modern and sits wonderfully in any retro home.

6.  I collect Fornasetti Themes and Variations plates and Selfridges has a great selection.  You can get the Cole and Son wallpaper too for a cheaper alternative but for me the plates are amazing when grouped together.   There are 350 different variations of his muse Julia so there a plenty to choose from and search for!

7.  To represent a gift of wood I really like these wooden signs from allposters.co.uk – they have a variety of designs but I love this Art Deco inspired Monaco print.

8.  For salt this cruet set from Yay Retro! is a lovely little gift, after all as the blessing goes, we all need flavour and spice in our lives.

9.  To gift bread I love this vintage bread bin from Izzys attic.  These type of enamel bins look fabulous in country and shabby chic kitchens and will last a lot longer than a loaf!  Maybe add a great bottle of olive oil for the oil gift to create a great yummy duo – who can resist bread with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dip?

10.   Yes its expensive, but the Eames lounge chair and ottoman from Vitra is a design icon, a ‘keep forever’ piece and it will hold is value.  ‘Why don’t we make an updated version of the old English club chair?’ said Charles Eames and he created this beauty.  It is my personal dream item – it is just perfection and I will own one, one day.

Add in additional mini gifts of coins, a broom, honey, knives and rice to achieve any of the other blessings and your housewarming gift will be perfect.  Oh, and any friends reading…feel free to buy me any of the above especially the Eames chair!!!

 

 

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Competition time!

Would you like to win this gorgeous hamper, perfect for summer picnics?  Inside the vintage wicker hamper is a hand crocheted rug, a 1960s yellow insulated jug, 2 Tupperware style beakers, a 1970s Thermos soup jug, 4 1960s yellow plastic eggcups, 4 1970s yellow melamine bowls and a retro board game.   What you have to do:

1.Follow our blog.  This can be done by subscribing or by following via BlogLovin (see links on side of page)

2.Also you need to leave a comment to any post throughout the month (you must leave your email address so we can contact you if you win (this isn’t shared with our readers)

3.Share the competition with your friends on Facebook or Twitter.

The winner will be drawn on the 20^th August and will be notified that week. Good luck!