Home-made jewellery, recycled china, DIY skincare and frugal food – Nicole Farhi, Jo Malone, Roksanda Ilincic and others give their top tips for cheap-but-chic living.
05 June 2011
Savannah Miller, fashion designer
“I put children’s felt-tip drawings in white Ikea frames and hang them all together. It is much cheaper than buying expensive art and more personal.”
Emma Bridgewater, ceramics designer
“I am all for a relaxed approach to kitchen china: aim for a scrapbook of favourite pieces. On my dresser I have items that were on my parents’ wedding list in the 1950s, things from my childhood, plates decorated by my children, 1960s coffee pots from my father-in-law, christening mugs, coronation mugs from the pantry of a great-aunt… I love that every single thing has a story.”
Solange Azagury-Partridge, jeweller
“Pick up unwanted or discarded furniture off the street and recondition it. I rescued a dark mahogany-wood carver with refined classical proportions, and recovered the seat in silver leather. It sits in my hallway now looking welcoming and beautiful.”
Marcia Kilgore, founder of Hope Glory skincare and FitFlops shoes
“For a brilliant pore-cleansing scrub mix orange juice or lemon juice with baking soda and crushed papaya. And eat the leftovers for breakfast.”
Ed Burstell, managing director of Liberty
“When autumn arrives put a few drops of lavender essential oil in a dish and leave on your radiator. The heat will dissipate the oil, fragrancing your home far better – and more cheaply – than a candle. Plus the scent will help with sleep, so no pricey sleeping pills!”
Safia Minney, founder of the ethical fashion brand People Tree
“Team classic fashion items with charity-shop and car-boot-sale accessories. Recently I found some gold glitter ballroom shoes, coloured bags and belts and now I can style just seven different summer outfits in an almost infinite number of combinations!”
Lulu Kennedy, fashion talent-spotter and founder of Fashion East
“For a touch of authentic Caribbean style serve margaritas in recycled jam jars (salt-rimmed, of course) as they do at Hartwood, a trendy new restaurant in Tulum, Mexico.”
Celia Birtwell, fashion and textile designer
“Create a unique piece of art by collecting small and ridiculous toys, ornaments or trinkets and arranging them in a glass cabinet or box frame. The result is a visual feast that will entertain for years.”
Michelle Ogundehin, editor-in-chief of ‘Elle Decoration’
“Chinese supermarkets are brilliant for zen-esque bamboo kitchen utensils, wooden bowls and prettily patterned ceramic bowls.
“Ikea kitchen cabinets in glossy white, wall-hung in a lounge, low as a sideboard (with your own tiled or wooden top) or high either side of a fireplace alcove are a great alternative to expensive living-room storage. Plus keeping as much of your floor area clear as possible will make any room look larger (just be sure to go for the 37cm-deep units rather than the standard 60cm ones).
“Tin cans make great pen pots but your average baked-bean tin will not do! My favourite are the white, black and gold John McCann’s Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal tins, available at good supermarkets.”
Tabitha Somerset Webb, creative director of Danni Minogue’s fashion label, Project D
“Wash more, dry-clean less. Whatever the label says, woollens really don’t need dry-cleaning. Even pashminas are OK in a wool cycle as long as you iron them when damp. Wash cashmere on a gentle cycle and lay it between two towels to dry.
“Don’t forget that charity shops now often have high-fashion sections or even stand-alone branches. Save the Children has fashion shops in London and Edinburgh (
savethechildren.org.uk
). And Oxfam has 11 amazingly good bridal departments across the country (
oxfam.org.uk
).”
Polly Morgan, taxidermist
“Learn to make the things you love. My whole career emerged out of not having the money to buy taxidermy – I decided to learn how to do it instead.”
Brix Smith-Start, television presenter and owner of Start boutique
“For a summer dinner party a really thrifty thing to do is to make your own gazpacho. It’s healthy, slimming, tastes delicious, is quick to make and a big pot lasts for days. Plus, you really do get a lot of bang for your buck – depending on how much chilli you put in! The ingredients are inexpensive and your guests will really appreciate the home-made touch.”
Emily Chalmers, founder of the interiors store Caravan and author
“Keep special chipped china for display. Teacups without handles make great little jewellery pots, and teapots with chipped spouts look lovely holding a plant on the kitchen window-ledge.
“If you’re looking for a quick and colourful fix for a dinner party, consider buying fabric remnants and quickly craft napkins and a table runner. If hemming is not your thing then gently fray the edges.
“Add interest to a bare cloakroom wall or the back of a door by pinning up vintage postcards and old family photos. Add more personal touches with a wedding or birthday invitation, notes from a friend or a favourite hand-written recipe.”
Nicole Farhi, fashion designer
“Only buy perennials for your garden. They are a great way to save money as they bloom in spring, die back in winter but come back each year. I apply the same philosophy for building up a wardrobe – choose pieces that, with care and attention, will last forever.”
Abigail Ahern, interior designer and author
“Spray fleamarket finds with high-gloss paint. I cheat and go to car sprayers. You can do it yourself but it’s a messy business and I find the finish is never as good. Car spray is almost like lacquer so suddenly your tired old standard lamp is transformed into something way more playful, bold and super-glossy. Make enquiries with the garage first (don’t do as I did and just turn up with a pile of stuff), and don’t expect them to do any of the prep work – the rubbing down and filling. For a standard lamp expect to pay about £50, and between £100 and £150 for a table.”
Liz Earle, skincare entrepreneur
“I first experienced my favourite home-spun recipe for soft hands and feet on the East African island of Lamu, while on a botanical research field-trip. I now replicate this remedy using ingredients most of us have around the home. Mix together 2 tbsp light olive oil (not extra-virgin, it’s too sticky) or grapeseed oil with 2 tbsp granulated sugar. Rub this emollient mixture into hands and feet, focusing on any hard, calloused areas. Rinse under warm running water and pat dry. Voilà! Fabulously silky-smooth skin.”
Emilia Wickstead, fashion designer
“Find bargain gold frames at antiques markets or charity shops and put your own images inside to make them look grander and much more expensive!”
Rita Konig, interior designer and author
“Lanterns in the trees in the garden are so pretty at night. I am currently saving up all my glass yogurt pots to tie wire around and hang from branches with tea lights in them. I know that yogurt in glass pots is not exactly thrifty but, once you recycle them, surely you can offset the cost!”
Roksanda Ilincic, fashion designer
“Head to Camden Passage market in Islington, north London, where there are all kinds of hidden gems. If you are after a unique tea set you can’t do better than to create a mix-and-match one from here. Delicate 1950s china cups, saucers and plates can be beautifully combined. While you’re there you can browse the costume jewellery and Bakelite buttons.”
Emma Hardie, facialist
“I love using exotic, tactile fabrics in bright colours or interesting textures to add a splash of style at a minimal cost. By draping fabric on the wall behind a bed, you can create the glamorous feel of a four-poster bed for a fraction of the price.”
Julia Peyton-Jones, director of the Serpentine Gallery
“Collecting contemporary art can be an expensive pursuit, and those led by a real love of new art can find themselves looking at unimaginable price tags. There is a way of getting great art into your home, though; buying limited-edition prints, from galleries or straight from the artist, can bring the unobtainable within grasp.”
Christina Strutt, founder of Cabbages Roses
“Nothing makes me happier than flowers, and if I had £1.99 in my purse I would buy a packet of bishop’s flower seeds. Planted in a square foot of soil, they will fill vase after vase with heavenly white and green lacy, frothy flowers for many weeks.”
Jo Malone, perfumer
“Whenever I’m in America I buy Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream in bulk from Duane Reade. It’s only $10 and is one of the most fantastic moisturisers I’ve ever discovered. I use it as an all-over body treatment whenever my skin is feeling particularly dry or sensitive and I want something to instantly soothe and nourish.”
Daisy Knights, jeweller
“Is it possible to be thrifty when it comes to jewellery? Yes, definitely! Add little charms to standard chains and wear them as necklaces.
“Don’t throw away jewellery that has lost its gleam – just give it a good rub with a silver cloth or a scrub in Fairy Liquid.
“When I was a little girl I used to scour beaches for shells with holes in then wear them on a shoelace around my neck and wrists. That idea inspired the friendship bracelets from my latest collection.”
Sarah Owen, co-founder of Lucy In Disguise with her sister, Lily Allen
“For homewares, rather than searching antiques shops, which can be very overpriced, head to the source and go to the fairs where the dealers do their buying and selling. I go to Sunbury Antiques Fair, held twice a month at Kempton Racecourse.
“My mum was at university when we were small and struggled to feed us. She used to go to fruit and veg markets at the end of the day to get very good prices on the produce they needed to get rid of. Buy a big batch of whatever is in season and then have an evening of cooking; make soups, stews, casseroles or pies and freeze.”
Daisy de Villeneuve, artist
“I come from a very thrifty family; my American grandmother, being the youngest of eight, won’t buy anything unless it’s 75 per cent off, so shopping with her is fun. In London I go to Retro Exchange in Notting Hill to donate my old clothes and in return get cash or vouchers to spend on books, vinyl records or more clothes.
“I also have a good go through my mother’s and grandmother’s closets; it saves money and you get a hand-me-down with some history.”
Vaishaly Patel, facialist
“The market area of Ikea has great plants, pots, candles and flowers and no one ever guesses where they’re from.
“Rescue those pashminas and silk scarves lying at the bottom of your wardrobe and turn them into bright cushion covers.”
Ben Pentreath, interior designer
“Without any doubt, a good piece of brown furniture bought in your local auction house will be more beautiful, more robust and have far more character than any piece of furniture you could buy new. It will also be a lot cheaper – and will hold its value over time.
“Share a bath by candlelight. It’s economical and we all look better by candlelight.
“Don’t drink half a bottle of red wine before going on eBay. This is my best ever tip for saving money.”
