Excuse the unwise street slang, but I’ve just been looking at the most charming website. I was burbling to a friend about the recent loss of the ‘Cash Register Systems’ empty shop and sign from my old road. It was a 70s sign, a bit drab and business like in its day, but through the lens of nostalgia it was Reggie Perrin meets Are You Being Served. Anyway, my friend pointed me to London Shop Fronts.

This excellent site, run by Emily Webber, catalogues the shop fronts that make up our local streets. Search by London borough and enjoy seeing your local chippy, launderette and Chinese takeaway in all its fuctional, faded beauty. These are a few from my old ‘hood of Peckham. Love the pragmatism of opening a sexy undie shop but not changing the sign. Maybe they just knew that ‘Baby Linen’ font was too cute to go to waste.

A little further research shows that you can even buy mounted prints of any of the photos on the site for £80, unmounted £40. I’m so tempted! And Emily’s personal website is full of great recommendations for quirky photography by other people in a similar vein.

Getting down to details

Sigh. Just back from My Friend’s lovely new house. I have to admit to being a bit envious of the giddy ‘starting out together’ phase. I love this house, but we’ve already gone through the point in our relationship where I suggest (foist) a whole new look for it, which makes much more of its natural […]

Wallpaper rehab

I mean, how many walls do I think I have? I should try to cure myself of this wallpaper hoarding by papering my flat with all of it. Ok now, like a memory test… from left to right: Osborne & Little, Folie; Osborne & Little, Maharani; Arthouse, Radiance; Osborne & Little, Boheme, again; Neisha Crossland, […]

I like to move it

… but not much. Thank goodness it’s over. And happy am I in my new flat. Yes, true to form, I packed a box of favourite things – I’ve had these books in various posts before – to get out and faff around with as soon as I arrived. And going into the garden to […]

Window dressing: To print or not to print

I have mixed feelings on how to dress windows. Patterned curtains can end up looking twee if you hit the wrong note – though I love my living room curtains – and simple white blinds can look (and feel) cheap, especially next to coloured walls. The temporary blinds in my bedroom (now four years old […]