Open HOUSE

Alice Roberton uncovers the wonderful world of home pop-ups, where well-curated and beautifully displayed antique and vintage treasures can be admired - and purchased - in a domestic setting

- Alice Roberton

Pop-ups have long been popular as a creative approach to building brand awareness or launching a business in the worlds of fashion, food and art. These one-off, temporary events, often staged in unexpected places, were inspired in part by the Tupperware parties of the 1950s (which continue to this day), at which punters could see products in action before committing to buy. In recent years, more and more antiques and vintage dealers have embraced the concept, and taken to opening up their homes to better display and sell their wares. Kitchens, sitting rooms, hallways, conservatories and gardens are briefly transformed into stylishly curated showcases for an often eclectic mix of stock. Although much like taking a stand at a fair for the sellers, home pop-ups offer a very different experience for buyers: seeing antiques and vintage pieces in a domestic setting is not only helpful when considering a large piece of furniture, but brilliant for visualising how a decorative item might work alongside pieces from different eras. And many of the events are so beautifully styled, they are a great source of interiors inspiration, too. Throw in a few cups of tea, or a glass or two of wine and some homecooked food, and it's not only a sale but a veritable house party! Taking place somewhat under the radar, these pop-ups aren't always easy to find, so here are six we know will satisfy your love of wonderful, timeworn homewares and desire for interiors inspiration.

Jess Walton & Simon Webb: Fabulous Vintage Finds

We've been opening our doors to friends and the general public for over 20 years, and we now hold pop-up sales from our London home throughout May and December. Compared with a traditional fair, they offer us more space to set up whole vignettes - a chest of drawers with a lamp on it and a mirror above, for instance.