Reuse is in

Book: Thrifty chic: Interior Style on a Shoestring by Alexandra Campbell and Liz Bauwens

As the authors of Thrifty chic: Interior Style on a Shoestring say, "thrift" has become fashionable; it also encourages a new way of looking at interior style. The tone is set by the chapter Country Cool: rustic furnishings are set against wood paneling and walls painted in all shades of white, off white, cream and eau de nil (Farrow & Ball has much to answer for). There are projects for jazzing up old wooden furniture for both house and garden, and suggestions for pulling together mismatched items into cohesive schemes.The all-important finishing touches - display, china and ceramics, glassware, paintings and frames, fabrics and trims - are covered in detail, and you can learn how to create a variety of stylish accessories for your home.

Retro is a strong theme, with tips that include converting vintage curtain fabric into cushion covers; how to use paint; and how to buy from architectural salvage without being ripped off. There is an extensive retro bathroom section which shows how to make the crumbly falling apart look the new "beautiful" – if indeed the eccentrically shabby ever went away.





Telegraph