With the looming climate crisis, sustainability is the watchword of the day. More than ever, we must pay attention to where our food and furniture come from, question how it is produced, packaged and transported, and make our choices accordingly.
At times it can feel dispiriting to discover that the things we love are actually part of the unhappy cycle of consumption and pollution. There is good news, however, for all antiques lovers: antiques, and their vintage cousins, offer the most sustainable way to shop for furniture and interiors accessories. A report published by Carbon Clear in 2010 (commissioned by LAPADA and other antiques trade bodies) found that an antique chest of drawers can have a carbon footprint up to 16 times smaller than its brand new equivalent.
Available in infinite variety, at prices to suit all budgets, antiques often come with fascinating stories and usually hold their value. Of course, we aren't saying you need to furnish your home exclusively with antique and vintage furniture - rather that by choosing old over new, when you can, you really will make a difference. As you will see from our tips on the following pages, the fact that antiques rarely come with an allen key, or take an entire weekend to construct, is a wonderful bonus!
1 CHOOSE OLD OVER NEW
As a reader of H&A, this one should be easy! Whenever you need to replace something, first ask yourself whether there might be a vintage or antique alternative. With the rise of antiques portals, not to mention apps such as Depop and Vinted, the search has never been easier. From Etsy to Instagram, The Hoarde to 1st Dibs, there are thousands of dealers online - browse their stock from the comfort of your Georgian wingback chair.
2 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL DEALER
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Denne historien er fra Special 2022-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Collecting Dioramas MINIATURE WORLDS
From elaborate taxidermy museum displays to humble folk art creations, a diorama can transport us to another time and place
Pride of place LEEDS CREAMWARE
In its heyday the pre-eminent rival to Wedgwood's Queens ware, Leeds creamware is still much revered by collectors for its understated elegance
Bohemian Rhapsody
An exuberant approach to decor, with rooms enveloped in colour and pattern, has brought this historic home merrily into the 21st century...
THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME Rory Hutton
The accessories designer on his love of silver spoons and Sévres porcelain
European HERITAGE B&Bs
Is there anything more inspiring than staying somewhere that's both beautifully stylish and imbued with history? Rhiannon Batten explores five gems across Europe, from Sweden to Spain...
STAR SALES
A Hitchens painting, a museum-quality teapot and a Parisian chocolate box are all top of the lots
Textile designs by artists
Influential 20th-century fine artists and sculptors, from Picasso to Barbara Hepworth, gained additional status as textile designers until decline set in during the 1970s
Period DRAMA
A painstaking renovation has brought this 1725 former Huguenot silk weaver's house in London's Spitalfields back to life
An artist's RESIDENCE
Rustic details and a restrained palette lend a sense of simplicity to this lovingly restored Friesian bakery
Carefully Curated LIVING
This lovingly restored Gustavian manor has become both home and showroom for its owners, Maria & Jan Åke, who deal in European antiques