The Vintage Librarian reviews: Made At Home

This week our Vintage Librarian is reviewing a book full of easy to make home deco sewing projects that require minal sewing skills and will let you add some vintage touches to your home the make do and mend way.
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Give your old vintage shelves a DIY makeover

Browsing junk shops, antiques markets, and car boot sales, you may be forgiven for never giving that tatty trunk or battered old wardrobe a second glance, but perhaps it’s time you looked again. Within those shabby shelves hides a wealth of restoration possibilities too good to pass by. Tara Gardner explains how you can give weary shelves a whole new lease of life.

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Make do and mend a vintage scarf into a cushion cover

Lurking in the back of your wardrobe, scrunched up in a drawer, or even languishing at the bottom of the bargain bin at a charity shop, vintage scarves come in a fantastic array of different colours and designs, and can be used for a whole lot more than just head adornments. Joanna Thornhill is here to tell you how with her brilliant make do and mend, transforming a simple vintage scarf into a classy cushion cover.

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The Vintage Librarian reviews: Cracking Antiques

As the recession is coming to an end and vintage has become firmly mainstream, the BBC have finally clocked on to the vintage and make do and mend approach to interior design. A new book and TV series, both called Cracking Antiques are to be released in April, detailing how to collect, buy and restore antiques and vintage furniture. Queens editor Lena Weber had a look.
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Make do and mend your home with architectural salvage

For years architectural salvage was reserved for the eccentric and the expert – those with an eye for the hidden value of fixtures and fittings ripped from the carcasses of demolished or gutted properties. But today, as modern builds lacking the charm and character of period properties saturate the market, and as an increasingly stoic wartime mentality of ‘make do and mend’ kicks into every aspect of our recession-occupied lifestyles, architectural salvage is enjoying a new popularity. Tara Gardner explains how you can salvage some treasures for your home.
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Style your home with vintage odds and ends

If you’re eager for a bit of a household purge this spring, there’s no need to get too bin-bag happy, in fact lots of your ‘junk’ can be given a fresh purpose and a new lease of life. Tara Gardner offers a few quick and easy tips.

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DVD review: Information Films of the British Home Front

Last week Forties retro lifestyle couple Harry and Edna from ‘Home Front Friends’ were all laid up ill in bed with heavy colds. As they sneezed in their cushions unable to brave the outside world, they thought this was the perfect time to review a new DVD Public Information Films of the British Home Front. Here’s their review.
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Thinking of redecorating? Try these vintage interior tips

Are you looking for a classic vintage look for your home, but not sure where to start? Laëtitia Wajnapel (Mademoiselle Robot), shares her top tips to turn your home into a vintage haven.

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