01 Home Decor - Best Instagram & Etsy Finds
Welcome to Fletcher and Co's first blog post, where we will be exploring all things Interior every last Sunday of the month...
In this month's post, you will find some of our best Instagram & Etsy homeware sellers in the UK. All the sellers featured are from small businesses who are grafting away to make us stunning homeware (that we are crying out for, especially at the moment!), you will find out about the sellers stories and links to their pages. You will love the products even more after reading their stories...
With love,
Fletcher & Co.
Beautiful boucle by The South East Stylist
The South East Stylist Edit was formed as a creative outlet, stemming from my in the pipeline Interior Design business, as a lockdown project. But as it grows, I can't wait to see where the.sesedit will take me! It was first a way to share a project with my mum, and a way for us to continue (socially distanced) contact through the pandemic. It was also a way to keep my brain busy, as my day job as a wedding planner was on pause, I needed a creative project to get my teeth into. My mum would sew the material, I would pick up the tubes and stuff them, return to my mum with a quick hello and more sewing, then back to me to knot and hand-sew finish. My mum loves knowing when we have a sale and where it is going to!
The cushions are very much my style and led by my love of chic and contemporary aesthetics with a cosy touch. I adore the texture the boucle material and knot design can add to a room, and how the design is understated yet unique to catch the eye. One key thing for me was to create a product that was as sustainability friendly as possible, so I use stuffing made from recycled plastic bottles and our packaging is fully recyclable too!
To finish, cue some M&S advert music, please... A little bit oblong, not quite round, and different from every angle. The South East Stylist knot cushion, found on my Etsy store, but made for you to style and adore! Thank you for having me Fletcher and Co!
Minimalist handmade homeware
by Zoloubellhome
Hello I’m Zoey, I’m 24 and from a small town in West Yorkshire called Halifax. I am the owner and creator of the handmade homeware business zoloubellhome. I am interior obsessed and a lover of modern Japanese aesthetics.
Honestly, I never set out to start my own business and I haven’t done anything creative since school. It was a complete mid-rona-crisis! I have always loved interiors and homewares so I decided to have a go at making my own. I started sharing my clay pieces on Instagram, and to my disbelief, my followers were asking me to make them things too! In November 2020 I eventually took the plunge and opened my own Etsy store.
Opening an Etsy store as a business novice in the run up to Christmas was a very bold move, it’s fair to say I didn’t sleep a lot but I’ve loved every second of it. Seeing my pieces in peoples homes is so surreal and brings me so much joy! My pieces include candlestick holders, knot incense holders and paperweights. If you’re like me and obsessed with homewares and all things handmade then please check out my store! You can also keep up to date with new pieces and shop restocks on my Instagram page @zoloubellhome. Thanks for reading my little story!
With love,
Zoey x
Fun and feminine pieces by Handcrafts by Court
Hello all, I'm Courtney and I'm 21 years old and based in Hertfordshire, UK. I started my small business mid-October in 2020, in which I discovered a love for creating clay pieces. From then I've extended my resources and have begun creating bags, vases as well as trinket plates, made from clay and or glass. If I had to describe my business it would be minimalistic, fun and feminine. Alongside my business, I'm also studying my last year of university to achieve a degree in photography. This small business of mine, allows me to escape the pressures of student life and to enjoy something that I'm not being graded on. I started this business when I lost my job due to Covid and have since enjoyed networking and discovering other small businesses like myself. Creating my pieces can be very therapeutic and rewarding but I have had my fair share of disasters. I remember spraying varnish onto one of my vases and the paint underneath started to bubble and then eventually peeled off, leaving my products destroyed. I never used that varnish again but I'm glad it bubbled before these were sent to customers otherwise, I'd never be able to forgive myself! I'm very happy with where my small business is going and I can't wait to see where it takes me in the future.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Sustainable Boho by Bahay Interiors
Bahay Interiors is an independent business based in York. We're passionate about delivering beautiful, handmade products that are lovingly made by other small businesses around the world. We also work hard to keep our carbon footprint to a minimum, we work with a local furniture business to re-use their cardboard boxes and protective packaging, any envelopes we use are either recyclable or biodegradable. We want our business to make a positive impact on not only our customers and suppliers, but also the environment.
I've always wanted to own my own business and have always had small ventures, for example at University I used to make flower crowns and sell them on Etsy. We unfortunately had to delay our wedding a year due to covid so with some of the money we saved we decided to buy an old caravan and do it up. Thrown into the amazing world of Pinterest and looking for interior inspo, I was looking at home accessories that could be the finishing touches to the caravan. I decided to enquire about a wholesale order with a small business in Morocco who made cactus silk cushions. I found so many products that I loved that I decided to buy a bunch of them and start selling them on Etsy, which is when Bahay was started. I really jumped into it because it was so nice to have something of my own that I could get really passionate about and watch it grow.
I love the fact that most of our products are handmade by really talented people from around the world. All of our pampas grass is foraged by ourselves! I started foraging it all for our wedding and began creating big pampas pieces. After getting loads of compliments on them I thought I'd introduce a DIY wreath kit to our Etsy shop. They've been a huge success which means we'll be adding more pampas products to our shop soon!
I really love a range of interior styles, especially when they can all come together in a room. We have a range of gorgeous boho interiors like cactus silk Moroccan cushion and rattan light shades. But, we also have some beautiful linen cushions that may be considered more farmhouse style.
Statement candles by Elizabeth and Evelyn
Elizabeth and Evelyn is the home of handmade, unique coffee table candles for the modern dweller. Our candles are vintage inspired, 100% vegan and packaged with recyclable materials; making them the ideal gift for loved ones or a guilt-free treat for yourself.
I started Elizabeth and Evelyn after being furloughed from my role as Marketing Manager for a sustainable clothing brand. I was already working on my vintage shop Canonbury House Vintage but with the many lockdowns and tier announcements it became harder to consistently source vintage pieces. I wanted to explore another avenue I’m passionate about that I could achieve from home - candle making!
The candles are definitely vintage inspired, I love the clamshell candle as it invokes the 1970s interiors trend. I’m also inspired by the smaller details of home decor, using some of my favourite pieces about my house to make unique candle moulds.
Disaster wise, there have been many! I started learning for a few months before going live with my Etsy store, which mainly included getting my entire kitchen covered in soy wax, ruining several saucepans and having to air out the house when I accidentally BURNT fragrance oil! Thankfully I’m a lot better at it now!
My style is a blend of old and contemporary, high and low. I love to mix antique bedside tables with H&M lamps, vintage armchairs with handmade cushions found on Etsy. I moved into a new house in August so IRL home shopping has not been easy, but it’s forced me to slowly build my style thoughtfully.
Bringing a pop of colour with Alpha Accessories
My name is Elliw, 23 years old and live and work in North Wales. Owner of Alpha Accessories on Etsy and Instagram. Alpha Accessories is a curated collection of Danish-inspired design pieces. The current range reflects that pastel designs currently all over Instagram. The collection takes a fun and fresh take on key homeware pieces, such as vases and lamps, making it easy for the buyer to add on-trend pieces to their home, without breaking the bank.
Alpha Accessories initially started a few years ago, on Depop! I love fashion, style, interiors, and social media. I spotted the trend for statement hair accessories and earrings. Items such as the large pearl hair clips, diamanté hair clips, and ‘Pat Butcher’ style earrings sold very well until the big chain stores also hoped on the trend. I then laid low until I spotted the next trend... and here I am!
What’s next? I currently sell over Etsy, but I plan on maybe expanding to a website, but we’ll see!
I currently trade and pack out of my in-law's spare bedroom, which is slowly becoming too small! I’ve been able to purchase a house with my partner this year and will begin the renovation in the next few weeks. I hope that I can convince him to let me have a dedicated ‘Alpha Accessories’ space in the house!
Bold and unique by Holly Design Studio
My name is Holly and I am a product designer and maker from Glasgow. I design, cast, sand, seal and perfect all my pieces by hand in my tiny studio.
I graduated from my master’s degree in Product Design in 2019 and have been lucky enough to have worked in industrial, interior and fashion design, both at home and in New York. I started my business because I love making. I am at my happiest when I am in my overalls playing with interesting materials and new forms. It started as a hobby, making pieces for my friends and family before it steadily grew. I’m loving it!
When creating, I take a lot of inspiration from architecture, nature and art. I enjoy contrasting bold forms with flowing colour. Finding the perfect balance between creating a beautiful piece and developing a useful product is particularly important to me.
I have had plenty of disasters along the way (mostly minor). It has not been easy, but it is so worth it. I learn by making mistakes and spend my day saying, ‘it took a lot longer than I expected’, ‘it’s harder than I thought it would be’ or ‘I need to clean up again’.
I find it encouraging and exciting to see the final polished product on Instagram or my website when I’m so used to seeing them half-finished in my messy studio.
I’m looking forward to growing my business, there is so much I would love to do. I’m excited to play with more colourways, explore some interesting collaborations and create some larger furniture pieces.
_JPG.jpg)
_JPG.jpg)
Contemporary handmade ceramics
by Charlotte Manser Ceramics
Charlotte Manser Ceramics allows customers the chance to invest and enjoy handmade ceramics. With functional pieces made for the home and sculptures made for the garden; there is plenty of choice on offer.
I studied ceramics at university and graduated in 2017 with a first class degree. I then went on to work as a graduate teaching intern at a private school in north somerset. during this time, I was allowed to use the facilities and further my ceramic practice, which allowed me to improve on my throwing skills. After finishing this role in 2019, I decided to continue with making whilst I was looking for another job opportunity. This continuation of making slowly became full time and in september of 2019 I decided I was going to 'role with it' and pursue the dream of making and selling my work alongside teaching workshops in ceramics and pottery.
My biggest inspiration is my customers! Whenever I receive good feedback or get tagged in pictures of my work, it inspires me to continue making and doing what I love. In a more literal sense, my work is inspired by the landscape around me, colour and texture. I enjoy making work that makes people happy which is why I use vibrant colours to enhance simple forms.
I really enjoy making functional pieces which are predominantly what my shop stocks, however i also make sculptural forms, inspired by the beach. since my degree, these have become more extra-terrestrial in their look and I have started exploring making tunnels through them. These are more time consuming to make and require me to work over a series of days. During my degree show I would balance the curved forms on foam to allow them to dry and many times I woudl arrive in the morning to see them 'splatted' on the floor, where they had fallen. That is the beauty of clay though; it can be reclaimed and reused.
One of the aspects of my business I am very passionate about, is ensuring I am as eco friendly as possible. This can be done easily through the use of biodegradable packaging and purchasing tools and equipment from local businesses, but also through ensuring there is no waste of materials. All the waste clay I have gets watered down and reused, I make the glazes in bulk and the kilns are fired at full capacity to ensure there is no waste of power.
I like to describe my style of work as vibrant yet cosy. I hope I offer a range of items to suit everyone and bring joy to your home!
Instagram: @charlottemanserceramics
Elegant handcrafted clay by Speckled Hand
Elegant and Minimalist Handcrafted Clay Gifts made with Mineral Based Air Dry Clay
I have always absolutely adored crafting and only recently discovered a love for all things clay. Last year was an absolute whirlwind, I launched Speckled Hand in the Summer of 2020 after I found myself in between jobs and looking to make the most out of a considerable amount of time spent at home. I now work full time for a small independent beauty brand and work very hard on Speckled Hand before work, lunchtimes, after work, weekends - whenever I can really!
I am inspired by the everyday - nature, art, fashion. I want to make pieces that are unique, elegant and timeless!
In November 2020 Speckled Hand suddenly took off and it was absolutely incredible! Every available space of our flat in Crystal Palace was covered in product at all different stages of the design process. This meant that even the floor was covered, so it was like a maze of clay. The day before I was taking part in a Virtual Online Market, my poor boyfriend managed to step backwards on to a pile of trinket trays - crushing them all! He did feel terribly guilty, and I couldn't be mad as he had been so helpful stringing Christmas Tree decorations and helping package up orders every spare minute he had!
Every piece is slowly and carefully made by hand. Each product is handcrafted, meaning that each thing I create has its own quirks and is totally unique. Every single piece is individually hand shaped, sanded, speckled, finished and then carefully packed and dispatched by me. It’s usually around a 3-day process - and I love every bit (except the sanding!)
Pampas, macrame, and crochet dreams
by Kanda and Co
We specialize in woodwork, home Decor, dried flowers, macrame, and crochet. Although I haven't uploaded much to reflect this. I just can't seem to find enough time in a day, even on 3 hours of sleep! I had my son in 2016 and I decided to teach myself crochet, using YouTube tutorials. I got really good at it and decided to open up an Etsy page in November 2017.
Selling my home decor and dried flowers was completely coincidental, my cousin was renovating her living room last year and said she needs pampas grass... I had never heard of it before since all I followed on Instagram at the time was food and crochet.
I find being original an inspiration, I have always been creative from a reading age! I have vowed to keep myself and my company organic. To never copy anyone else's designs or hard work. I just want to build myself and my brand based on originality and loyalty. We are all in this hustle together and when we work together beautiful things happen. I love collaborations and making custom pieces and I do a lot of one-off pieces.
I've had so many customers tell me recently that they have received an empty box! My husband and I have a process of how we like to complete orders. My 4-year-old tries to be helpful and by helpful I mean taking the empty boxes with labels on them and giving them to his baba saying that it's finished.
I really love adding a modern twist to vintage pieces, I love upcycling and recycling! Many of my vases are vintage, and I decorate them to accommodate modern living.