The Interior DIYer
Furniture

2018 Style Trend – Modern Victorian

Yesterday Emily Henderson shared an Instagram post that actually made me utter a very unflattering sound and comment on her photo in capital letters. She shared her thoughts on what 2018’s design trend would be and let us all in on Modern Victorian. And I was elated.

Not that I actually pay much attention to trends because if I don’t like a trend I don’t like it, regardless of how popular it is. However, the idea of a trend that will encourage people to buy secondhand? I can get behind that.

I love buying secondhand furniture where I can (and where appropriate) vs. brand new pieces because I feel like I’m saving something from the landfill. 9 times out of 10 secondhand pieces are cheaper than buying brand new and there’s also the appeal that you’re buying something that not many other people may have. I buy secondhand as often as I can. Case in point; last weekend we got a French provincial style sofa and armchair secondhand on Kijiji …

The owner of the set said that if I hadn’t taken them, both the sofa and armchair would have been brought to the landfill the next day. I’m only sharing a sneak peek of it right now but WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE WHOLE THING! It’s gorgeous. I think so at least. Now yes, it’s not Victorian but it is oldy timey and I’ll be the first to admit that the old pieces we have are from all over the timeline and not exactly Victorian. But it’s close enough. And this Modern Victorian trend? I am more than happy to say I’m on board with it.

If you’d like to read more pieces I’ve written about going secondhand, here are a few …

Environmental Resolution

Secondhand baroque style mirror and console

Kijiji has fast become one of the most visited pages on my browser since moving to Canada [actually, since before we moved to Canada. I found our green chaise lounge and even our apartment on it]. More recently, one of the many things I’ve been looking for is a fancy mirror for our hallway. I came close to it a few weeks ago when I found a [proper] vintage ornate gold mirror with built-in candelabra’s, but at the last minute, the seller sold it to someone who had a car and could collect it themselves [welp]. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because just this week I found a baroque style mirror AND console table for half the price … 

Neither are antiques but TBH I don’t care too much about that stuff. Trust me when I say these photos don’t do either much justice. The mirror looks very plastic in the first picture, but it’s actually plaster and VERY heavy. The console table is solid but it isn’t marble; the seller was upfront about that and it’s not hugely obvious. And more importantly to me, it’s not something that bothers me. 

I was hesitant about hanging the console table here because of the heater in our hallway, but I mean, the heater is prettier than the storage heaters in our Dublin apartment so I’m not going to loose sleep over it. It’s a perfect spot for us to drop our keys, leave our laundry money and maybe a candle [because MOAR CANDLES]. I already have big plans for our little hallway and can’t wait to paint it [after the living room is finished being painted of course. I try to finish one project before starting another.]. 
Not bad for $75. 
Cora's room

Secondhand pink bucket chair

On Saturday we took a walk through the center of Ottawa with no set plans. We wandered down Bank Street and I saw what looked to be a secondhand store [within / alongside a shop called Picture Works, which has no details online]. It was full of a jumbled mess of secondhand pieces and I couldn’t not go in. 

I walked down one of the aisles and what did I see but a little pink bucket chair under a pile of chairs and stools. I cleared it off, sat down and decided I had to have it. It was so perfect and at just $30, I really couldn’t not get it. 

The shop owner was eccentrically honest and even offered to deliver it to me for “whatever price you want”. Last night he delivered it as promised and after a quick clean, it is now home in the corner of Cora’s room. It’s so perfect for her space and just what I was looking for in a cosy reading chair. It swivels and rocks back and forth and more importantly, is so comfortable [as I type sitting in it]. Cora’s had a few rough nights getting to sleep [fuck teeth], so it will definitely be a welcome place for us to sit with her until she falls asleep.
Secondhand FTW.