Good OK 1: Flea market chic, the thrifty way to create a stylish home by Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell

This week I'm reviewing Flea market chic, the thrifty way to create a stylish home by Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell, from illustrated lifestyle publishers Ryland Peters & Small and CICO Books. Liz Bauwens is a freelance stylist whose work has appearded in Country Homes & Interiors, Good Housekeeping and House and Garden. Alexandra Campbell is a writer whose work has appeared in national magazines and newspapers including The Times Magazine, Financial Times and Independent and her novels written under the name of Nina Bell include The Empty Nesters, Lovers & Liars. Flea market chic, the thrifty way to create a stylish home explains how to create the look and what else is required to create the look in your own home. I chose to review this book as love a bit of flea market chic!

"Flea market chic is the new, smart way to decorate, adding texture, colour and depth to contemporary interiors. In modern rooms, a distressed chair or a vintage mirror add a perfect touch. And in traditional decorating schemes, flea market chic is a key part of the mix: faded textiles, weathered furniture, mis-matched china, and the occasional flamboyant lamp or art are all part of the charm"

After an introduction to what "flea market style" is and the different terminology used around the world to describe garage sales, car boot sales and yard sales. The book is split into six chapters starting with "flea market details". In this chapter they cover details like fabrics, frames and mirrors, vases and storage.

In the second chapter "flea market town" we see the almost entirely flea-market decorated city apartment of hairdresser Kim. A small apartment near Portobello with a modern eclectic living room, a classic contemporary dining area and an unashamedly feminine bedroom with a glamorous gilt boudoir atmosphere. In the third chapter "flea market country" we visit interior designer Henny Tate's kitchen that is full of reclaimed and reused pieces like the delightful mismatched chairs all painted in a lovely shade of turquoise. Her charming living room that is full of texture using a combination of new and old chairs. In this chapter there are also some great buying and transformation tricks like how to transform bedroom furniture with a lick of paint. In the fourth chapter "flea market modern" they cover the misconception that if you decorate your home with vintage and flea-market furniture you'll end up with a traditional or old-fashioned look. Here wee see the gorgeous home of Zoe Ellison founder of i gigi, a fashion and retail store in Brighton, whose home is a perfect example of a very contemporary vintage style. Her home is in a beautiful colour palette of muted earthy tones in a stunning mix of textures from plush velvet cushions to a handmade seashell chandelier. "collectors' flea market"

Next up is "collectors' flea market" highlighting the benefits of looking for collections of items like kitchenalia, and how many collectors tune into the power of swapping.
In the last chapter "flea Market outside" we see pretty houseboats, gardens sheds, converted wagons and gardens all given the flea market chic make over!

Flea market chic, the thrifty way to create a stylish home by Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell is a hardback book full of beautiful photographs of some of the loveliest flea market chic homes. At a recommended price of £19.99, I think this hardback book is a inspiring, practical guide to creating an imaginative, stylish home!

Some of my favourite shots: