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Carl & Emma’s Well-Traveled Family Home

Lizzie Ford
Lizzie Ford
Lizzie is a freelance writer living in Glasgow, Scotland. She runs lifestyle blog, Mabel's Log, and has a strong affinity for sausage dogs and sloe gin.
published Jun 10, 2013
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Name: Carl and Emma Morenikeji of Scaramanga
Location: Freuchie, Fife, Scotland
Size: 4 bedroom House
Years lived in: 7 years; Owned

Some years ago, when Carl and Emma set out to ‘find themselves’ traveling the world, they found each other — and spent a further two years journeying together before returning to the UK.

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 Their love of adventure and other cultures is evident from the moment you step inside their beautiful family home. The rich colors and textures and the vibrancy of the space transport you to another world entirely. And just in case you’re unfamiliar with this territory, that isn’t an experience you would expect to find behind a little red door in the quaint Scottish village of Freuchie.

Carl and Emma have always loved to collect things as they wander the planet. In fact, Carl’s business, Scaramanga, was founded on this very premise — he had the vision of bringing back the iconic vintage leather satchel to the UK after discovering one in a dusty bazaar in a former British colonial desert outpost in northwest India in 1999. I know, it all sounds very Indiana Jones. By August 2006, his first twelve leather satchels had been hand-crafted using carefully researched traditional techniques, and now the business has expanded to include beautiful vintage homewares from all over the world — think big wooden chests and brightly coloured worn wooden cabinets. 

Most of us see a huge item of furniture in a flea market in India, thousands of miles from home, and think it a shame to have to leave it behind, but these two have always been undeterred. Since they moved in seven years ago, their house, built in the 1850’s, has become a magnificent showcase of the travels they have been on and the life they have built together — a home full of incredible memories and stories. There is a spirit of freedom and adventure found here that is infectious, and it’s already pretty clear that their kids, Josh and Ella, aren’t lacking in zest for life either!

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Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Vintage and retro.

Inspiration: Classic mid century design, the bright colours of India and simple, functional African design.

Favorite Element: A vintage distressed Indian colonial cupboard.

Biggest Challenge: Going from a modern fitted kitchen to a free standing vintage kitchen.

What Friends Say: They love the uniqueness of the kitchen.

Biggest Embarrassment: Under Josh’s bedroom carpet there is a huge green paint stain from when Josh threw it on the floor aged 2!

Proudest DIY: Decorating the kitchen.

Biggest Indulgence: The red Gazco ceramic fire in the living room.

Best Advice:  Go original. Search for authentic vintage/retro interiors and furnishings from specialists’ stores, and not high street replicas. They are not necessarily expensive.

Dream Sources: We have yet to visit Lincoln Antiques Fair, but we would love to go soon.

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Resources of Note:

ENTRY

  • African Teke Masks, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Stair rods, Dunshalt auctions, Fife

LIVING ROOM

  • Hadrill and Horstmann counterpoise trolley lamp, Oscar dahling, Croydon.
  •  Aboriginal artwork, Perth Western Australia.
  •  Crimsom kitchen dresser, Scaramanga
  • Antique Indian door, Scaramanga
  • Rug, Renton’s Rugs, St Andrews
  •  L shaped sofa, John Lewis, Edinburgh
  • Antique wedding chest, Scaramanga
  • Indonesian mask, Eden Edinburgh
  • Ornaments and figures on shelving – Nigeria and India

DINING ROOM

  •  Antique oak filing cabinet, Scottish Antiques and Arts Centre, Abernyte, Dundee
  • Oak 30s table and chairs, Greenwich market
  •  Planter’s colonial chair, Indonesia
  • Trolley and mirror, Dunshalt auction, Fife
  • Oak bookcase, Dunshalt auction, Fife

    • KITCHEN

    • Coolican pendant lights eBay


    • All cupboards and cabinets Scaramanga


    • Fridge, Smeg, eBay


    • Oven / Rangemaster by Stoves


    • Green  bread bin – Perth auction, Perth


    • Old tins Dunshalt auction


    • coloured tikka pots, India


    • old school benches, eBay


    • blackboard, old cabinet door



    BEDROOM

    • Mahogany sleigh bed, eBay
    • Cole and Cole wallpaper
    • Chests of drawers Indonesia
    • Bedside cupboard, Scaramanga
    • Angelepoise lamp, eBay
    • Lampshade, Lush
    • African masks, Nigeria
    • Bedlinen, Habitat

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    Thanks, Carl and Emma!

    (Images: Lizzie Ford)

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