A homely blend of old and new

For best practice Adelle Robinson and Justin Keefe are hard to beat and they prove that pre-loved pieces from the past can produce a stylish up-to-date interior. Their terrace property in Todmorden is packed with retro furniture, fabrics and ceramics that highlight a fantastic eye for design and their love of the old, quirky and beautiful.

The 1970s hanging wicker chair suspended from a beam in the sitting room looks perfect next to one of the few new buys – a leather sofa from DFS. The original abstract painting above the sofa is a bargain from an auction in Ilkley. It's by an unknown artist, who would be thrilled to know he is now much admired.

The ceramics are mostly from their favourite mid-century modern era – the 1950s and '60s and they aren't just for display. Most are well-used. Justin's favourites are by Swedish designer Stig Lindberg and Jens Quistgaard, from Denmark and best known for his salt and pepper grinders. Adelle loves Lisa Larson and has a weakness for West German lava glazed pottery.

The couple's passion for vintage began when they lived in

Brighton. "There are some fabulous vintage shops there," says Adelle, whose parents are antique dealers. After moving up to Yorkshire, Adelle, who works part-time in community arts, and Justin, a former chef, decided to make their hobby a home-based business. H is for Home is now one of the most successful internet vintage shops in Britain and it exports all over the world.

"We have sent items to France, Spain and Norway and even to Korea, Japan and Brazil," says Adelle.

"It's amazing how people find you. It's mostly through web marketing ourselves using Twitter, Facebook, blogging and putting photographs on Flickr."

Justin is chief buyer and spends his days sourcing products and finding somewhere to store them.

Two bedrooms and the loft are full of carefully catalogued boxes of vintage pieces, while larger items of furniture are in the Todmorden Antiques Centre, where they have a pitch.

The space in the four storey terrace – two back-to-backs knocked into one – was a major selling point when the couple bought the house eight years ago. "It's on a main road and we worried about the noise because we'd been in Heptonstall, a really quiet village, for two years before

that," says Adelle. Secondary glazing has alleviated the problem and a redesign and makeover made the house perfect for them. "It was in okay condition but we re-configured and re-decorated it to suit us," says Justin. They knocked through the front room into the sitting room behind, which is now a large kitchen with new patio doors. The old galley kitchen at the back of the house is now a utility, cloakroom and pantry.

"It was quite a big job because we had to have new drainage for the kitchen, but we saved by doing the tiling and the painting ourselves," says Justin.

The kitchen units are from Habitat with shelving from Ikea and the furniture is a mix of old rustic stools and tables with added colour from retro kitchenalia.

Upstairs, the master bedroom features Justin's new-found passion for old oak furniture, which he believes will become increasingly popular, while the focal point is the wall decorated with Adelle's collection of vintage bags. Their love of art is apparent and there are pictures everywhere. Their favourite artists include painters like Will Turner, Peter Stanaway and Geoffrey Key.

The couple have also made their own artwork by framing vintage travel and film posters and album covers. They are among H is for Home's best-sellers along with homespun items like crocheted and hand-knitted blankets that they have labelled "granny chic".

"People love the nostalgia element and that's one of the reasons the eclectic, vintage style is here to stay. It gives

a house personality and adds an element of a past life and some history," says Justin.

Walking round their home is a lesson in stylish living, but it's also a trip down memory lane and that's what makes it really special.

H is for Home is at www.hisforhome.com and at Todmorden Antiques Centre, Halifax Road, Todmorden.

YP MAG 23/10/10