In Margate this weekend we took retro-loving friends to Margate Retro, a charming store run by a man and boy, both in Arkwright-style shop coats, with an ever-changing stock of 50s office furniture, lighting and record players. Free with my friends’ purchase came two copies of a long-forgotten part-work magazine. Brilliant sales trick.

I poured over both issues of Golden Homes, although most of the pictures hurt by eyes and offended my sensibility. I would guess it dates from the early 80s, but it looks very 70s. Everything is brown, including all ceiling beams, floors, wood-clad walls and furniture. There are also lots of features that would intimidate the hell out of the bravest contemporary DIY enthusiast. Guide to welding, anyone?

But the cover-story kitchen grabbed my attention. Even from a distance of 30 years it looks pretty metropolitan and chic. High-gloss dinning space surrounded by a floor-to-ceiling bead curtain? Minimal stainless steel worktops with integrated appliances? Wall of herringbone mirrored tiles? Sexy.

On the following page is a close up of the tiles, showing the storage wall which they reflect, and I love the effect.

Love the fractured reflection, and the open-shelving, complete with enamel blue pans, could almost be out of a current Habitat catalogue. One for the ideas file.