Interview with Lisa Piddington of ‘Lisa Loves Vintage’
When exploring the beauty of vintage furnishing and its place in our homes, there’s no better person to speak to than Instagram’s finest eclectic collector.
Hidden in the depths of Instagram is a quaint, very particular Victorian home embezzled floor to ceiling with vibrant pre-loved items. It’s owner, Lisa Piddington (you may know her as Lisa_loves_vintage) showcases the carefully compiled and inspiring interiors that ooze sentimentality to her 54.8k following of awing fans.
Well known amongst the interior Instagram family, Lisa’s home decor and reclaimed furnishings have allured the likes of Homes & Antiques, Period Living, Real Homes and now Blue Chip. We’re very pleased to have spoken to Lisa and learnt first hand just what vintage furniture means to the individual and to their beloved home.
Lisa grew up with very trendy 1970s parents who, according to Lisa, always had an interesting taste in decor. “I guess it followed that I would too.” With a taint of admiration, Lisa continued to note that her love of vintage goes way back to her grandparents’ houses too, where she recollects an undeniable homely-ness that engulfed her as she grew up.
Now fully grown and with a very unique home of her own, Lisa has cherished the sentimentality of items she has collected over the years. “The first piece I ever bought was in 1989 - an enamel kitchen set from a flea market in Paris that cost a couple of Francs. It still has pride of place in my kitchen 30 years later.” Lisa said.
The idea of a vintage market in the heart of Paris is the true French love story in our eyes, but it’s not just an enamel kitchen set that’s tugged on the heartstrings of Lisa’s followers. It’s a whole home full of thoughtfully sourced items. But when did her vintage fascination really kick in?
Lisa’s thrifty decor developed when she was widowed nearly 14 years ago. She had two toddlers at the time and their home became what she still to this day considers their “Victorian protective blanket.” With very little money to decorate, Lisa started hunting in charity shops, flea markets and car boot sales buying bits and bobs for as cheap as she could find. “At the time vintage wasn’t a ‘thing’ so you could literally pick up furniture, paintings and decorative items for a few quid,” she said, before adding, “over the years I have pulled together what I like to think of as a carefully curated collection of unique pieces that really make my house a home.”
Lisa’s love for pre-loved items has become a devotion and a duty. “Did you know that one modern chest of drawers has a carbon footprint sixteen times higher than its vintage equivalent?” She began before trailing off, “In my bedroom, I have this stunning 1950s chest of drawers - complete with its original decals - that I bought years ago from eBay. It cost me £5 and I have loved it every day I’ve owned it.” Lisa made a conscious effort to mention that despite its age and although it’s certainly seen better days, she saved it from being one of the 10 million items of furniture that are thrown out every year in the UK alone.
Lisa finds solace in saving these peculiar and still-perfect items. In return, this furniture has an everlasting impact on not just Lisa but anyone, imprinting itself in memories and being a landmark for moments in time. Lisa finds a sense of delight in having a connection with everything she sources and when speaking about her family and what their home means to them, Lisa noted the influence of a house being somewhere they feel warm and loved, somewhere they all feel safe; “where you can put your feet up on a chair or build dens in your bedroom.” she said.
“I’ve never bought something because it’s fashionable or on-trend or because everyone has one; but because I know that it once meant the world to someone else and now it means the world to me.”
— Lisa Piddington of Lisa Loves Vintage
What we have grown accustomed to in modern-day is to tidy and design our homes so that they look great for the ‘gram’ and to display them in a way so that makes people jealous rather than inspired, to boast expensive decor and luxurious designs. What’s most important to Lisa - and what should be the guiding light to people buying their own homes or lucky enough to have a space of their own - is that hers isn’t a show home, “it’s not styled for Instagram, it’s where we are all at our happiest.” she encourages.
Lisa doesn’t lust for likes on her images of breathtaking interiors bursting colour. As a writer, PR consultant, Instagrammer and above all, mum, what’s meaningful to Lisa is that her home is warm and brings joy, as well as being a space she can continue to practice being in the moment and fully grateful for her life.
Whereas we could ramble on about Lisa’s home that we have all come to worship, the interview was incredibly sweet and much too short. In finishing our interview, we asked Lisa what her favourite item in her home was, to which she responded,
“One of my favourite pieces is a vintage leather club chair. It’s where I curl up, where I nap and where I drink my coffee; I remember countless cuddles with my children in this chair and finishing off favourite books; I can recall sitting here having contractions before babies came along and sinking into it to mourn the loss of too many loved ones. I’ve laughed in it, I’ve cried in it and more than once I’ve been kissed in it. Over the years this inanimate piece of furniture has been at the heart of so many memories. My vintage collecting has always been about rescuing pieces that once held precious memories for previous owners. I’ve never bought something because it’s fashionable or on-trend or because everyone has one; but because I know that it once meant the world to someone else and now it means the world to me.”