“I’ve always liked blues and greens—serene, relaxed, but also energizing with inspiration. I like the way these colours make me feel emotionally.”
—Stephanie Loftin, fitness enthusiast
Image courtesy of Stephanie Loftin
Oh the joy of hunting for salvaged finds. But where to start? As a student you can’t break the bank, and renovating should always be a seamless process. And the amazing bliss of sustainable scavenger hunting is that it’s affordable, trendy, and charity shops are currently overflowing with goodies.
With a home that whispers of neutral greens and tangy orange, Stephanie Loftin is an Airbnb host that brings natures twist to her home interior. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Loftin draws her inspiration from water, land, and sea.
“I always feel a sense of great connection to God when I’m outdoors working or in the garden,” says Loftin. “I love to bring elements of that into décor. Plants also help to purify the air—it’s another way they promote good health indoors.”
A fan of natural hues, Loftin likes to keep it cool with her home studded in deep sea greens and emerald tones.
“I try to stay on trend with shading,” says Loftin. “For example…I wouldn’t necessarily choose this shade now—but when I was little, I asked my mom to paint my room bright sky blue. I remember seeing a housing exterior in the same colour I painted my blue-accented wall, and I loved it. I’ve always liked blues and greens—serene, relaxed, but also energizing with inspiration. I like the way these colours make me feel emotionally.”
An avid gardener, Loftin also has a green thumb full of inspiration and a vast knowledge for sustainability. Her page is dotted with organic ideas and fresh, colourful takes on healthy, natural eating. You can view some of her urban gardening inspiration and recipes via her Instagram page here.
And as a side note, can we just appreciate this diva’s spectacular choice of pixie-like hair? Which is currently the Pantone 2019 Colour of the Year Living Coral—she uses natural hair products formulated from France and derived of ingredients only of natural origin. Loftin uses Davines Red conditioner, with her tip to mix it in with your regular conditioner to lighten the tone up a bit.
With a knack for thrift shopping, this treasure hunter recently re-purposed her dining table chairs to give it a fresher, more unique look.
“We like to use old wood to re-purpose,” says Loftin. “I’m also a huge fan of up-cycling…most of the furniture in our Airbnb is a second-hand find or from Facebook marketplace.. It’s fun to look for art to upcycle as well. We like to check out Southeastern Salvage, Habitat for Humanity, and Goodwill. We also have a flea market here at the end of the month that makes for great deals—it’s almost like a treasure hunt.”
Fancy a trip to the Music City of Nashville yourself one day? Find #TheLoftinLair on Airbnb, or visit her on Instagram here.
If you’re looking to bargain for some of your own budget-worthy options, you know where to look. Your charity shop or local flea market is your new wishing well. We’ve tallied up a few favourites in London here for you:
- Retromania Just a short jaunt from Victoria station, this shop is nestled in Pimlico. This shop is a “real mix of items from the slightly weird to the very wonderful—collectables, oddities and everyday things.” Also connected to Fara Charity, allows you to donate any un-wanted items. Their marketplace is constantly changing from week-to-week so do have a look, because you never know what riches you’ll find. With items like colourful upholstery, pure cotton embroidered pillows, silk cushions, sterling silver trinkets and retro china to name a few, this trove is a constant treasure hunt. Visit their Homeware shop in Whitton for some fabulous little finds.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvUQJQJFXd0/
- Rokit is your one-stop shop for all things get-down-funky. Nestled in Brick Lane, they began as a market stall in Camden of 1986, and have since boomed into one of the most sought-after vintage spots in London. They’ve got an amazing selection of scarves, shoes, sunglasses and jewelry, with plenty of vintage fabric inspiration.
- The Hammersmith Vintage Fashion Fair is an amazing place for spotting vintage antiques. With over 19 years of experience, the Hall will be hosting everything from textiles, carpets and vintage tribal art at the Hammersmith Town Hall in London. Visit here for more information. Their next event takes place June 2nd, 2019.
With a wealth of treasure, the world of thrifting can prove to draw some pretty spectacular inspiration. Why not try your hand at some chic scavenger hunting yourself?
As Loftin says, “I’m a huge bargain shopper, and believe quality and style can be timeless. Why not use what’s already available for a lesser price?”
Get inspired by our photoshoot below in Brick Lane searching for vintage inspiration with dancer Nyasha Zimba and Music Producer Kieran Butler
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