Give a living room vintage charm

Give a living room vintage charm

Eco designer Oliver Heath creates a beautifully coordinated, family-friendly living space

Before the makeover

Sarah Ashley, her husband Peter and their two daughters, Helen, seven, and Joanne, six, live in a terraced Edwardian house with high ceilings and a small dining room. \'The couple wanted to create a comfortable space, which the whole family could share and enjoy without getting under each other\'s feet.

Sarah also wanted to display her prized collection of vintage bone china and needed help integrating the dining room into the overall scheme,\' says Oliver.

Mix and match living room

‘An old reupholstered armchair and interesting pieces of furniture, picked up cheaply from junk shops and given a new lease of life, provide a homely mix-and-match feel to the two spaces. Buying locally saves on carbon emissions and helps to cut the family\'s carbon footprint. ‘We painted the living room walls in a mossy green to provide an understated, neutral backdrop to the patterned upholstery fabric, bright wall art and patchwork soft furnishings made from fabric remnants.\'

Create contrast

‘The delicate plates and cake stand contrast nicely with the rough wooden table,\' says Oliver.

Dining table, £1116.25, Trainspotters. Hill teacake stand, £120, Esther Coombs. Archive cake plates, £10 each, Royal Doulton. Plates on wall: Limoge birdcage, £45, Nina Campbell; Floral rose, £20 including cup, Laura Ashley; others from a selection at Royal Doulton

Camping style

‘Find a new use for old pieces. This folding table was covered with modern wallpaper and makes a handy tray,\' says Oliver.

Warley teapot, £24; cups, £11 each; all Garden Trading. Spot throw, £22, Cape Henley. For a similar table, try Vintage Lifestyle

Go for a traditional twist

‘At first glance, this room seems traditional, with stuffed armchairs, a Chippendale-style sofa and yards of chintz, but a closer look reveals a modern twist on these classic British pieces,\' says Oliver.

Cornet armchair, £700, Ablest, covered in Hidcote linen in pink and aqua, £65 a metre, GP&J Baker. Teapot for one, £20, Laura Ashley. Moonlight rose coffee pot, £68; Lilac Lane teacup and saucer, £13; both Royal Doulton. Roseberry teapot, £25, Maxwell and Williams. Wasp catcher, £8.50, Cox and Cox

Get the look: eco-friendly chairs

These dining chairs are handmade in Lincolnshire with sustainable timber. Bantam chairs, £215 each, Lloyd Loom

Get the look: cushions and throws

A patchwork quilt makes a great throw for your sofa or armchair, adding an interesting mix of colour and pattern. This one is made from fabrics dating from the 1930s and backed in Scottish linen. Cushion, £30; throw, £79.95; both The Twice Shop

Reclaimed furniture

This reclaimed teak ottoman has been treated with a water-based stain and then finished in beeswax to complete the ecofriendly process. Classic ottoman, from £450, Raft

Click here to discover Oliver Heath\'s nine ways of adding eco chic to your living room