'I’m not really into new things,’ says London-based creative director Joel Bernstein. ‘In my home, everything is either inherited or bought at the many antiques shops and flea markets that I love to trawl.’
And while the house that he bought five years ago (a clever refit of a Victorian artisan cottage) is full of antiques and vintage finds, everything has been put together in a way that creates a fresh, original and, dare we say it, contemporary space.
Amid the antiques and collectables that Joel has amassed over the years, there’s a prevailing earthy sensibility. The clues to another life (Joel was born in South Africa) lie in his love of dusky monochromatic hues and a touch of the artisan that runs through every object and consequently every room in his home.
‘As hard as I might try to get away from it, I inevitably err towards a subdued palette punctuated by textural layers of wood, fabric and indigenous collectables,’ he says.‘I suppose where I grew up has unconsciously had an influence on how I decorate.’
As an avid collector and inveterate traveller, Joel has amassed an impressive collection of pieces from all over the world, from the Brazilian sculpture in the bedroom to the Japanese fabric hanging from the kitchen window.
The other considerable influencing factor in his home is his love of antiques. ‘I’ve always been drawn to things with a sense of history and provenance. It just doesn’t excite me to buy something new as much as it does to find a piece that has been beautifully handcrafted, cherished and loved, and then to find a space for it in my home.’
Such is his love of old pieces, that even the radiators in the house are Victorian. ‘I had them serviced and refurbished and they’re in perfect working order. I have no doubt they’ll keep going for another 100 years,’ says Joel.
In fact, throughout the cottage, Victorian fittings have been reinstated wherever possible and the juxtaposition of the traditional with the edgy (the Victorian wall tiles and black kitchen cabinets are a case in point) make for an intriguing space that almost feels like an art installation.
Joel loves to cook, read and listen to the radio. And so, after moving into the cottage, the kitchen was extended – interior walls were removed to improve the flow and there’s no shortage of armchairs to sink into with a good book.
There are unusual touches that nod to his work as a creative director everywhere, too. The legs of the antique side table in the living room have been wrapped in fabric and, in the same room, hand-hewn shutters have replaced the Victorian originals. ‘I love the imperfection and irregularity of the hollow knots.’
Joel enjoys working with old things and happily accepts that delays are part of the process when renovating a house with salvaged pieces, particularly when working with period properties. ‘The house may not function as well as it could and it may include features that aren’t totally practical, but I’d like to think that it has loads of character.’ We couldn’t agree more.
