Sophie & Scott’s Bold Retro Mix of Colors in the UK

Name: Sophie Crocket, her partner Scott and kids Casey and Callum Location: Lymington; Hampshire, UK
Size: Three-bedroom house
Years lived in: 6 years

The pink flamingos standing sentry outside the front door give a clue to what lies inside this tiny 1960s red brick cottage tucked away in the English countryside. Sophie Crocket who owns vintage shop Pineapple Retro has transformed what was a dark, dated interior into a bright and cheerful family home filled with treasures found on eBay, at garage sales and thrift stores reflecting her passion for sixties and seventies design.

The house was a gift from Scott’s father, who lived there for over 30 years. When the couple moved in they found little had changed since Scott’s childhood including the old lady figurines, the swirly brown wallpaper and ginger-colored laminate floor. Working on a micro budget, Sophie ripped out everything, laid cream carpet salvaged from a house that Scott, a laborer, was working on and painted the walls white creating the perfect neutral backdrop for her Italian glass collection and her retro and vintage finds.

Apart from a few items from IKEA like the dog tail coat hooks in the hallway and the dining room cupboard, everything else is second hand, homemade or upcycled by Sophie. The picture frames in the hallway cost around $1 each and Sophie spray painted them different colours. “Our budget was so tight I had to save up for each can of spray paint.” Right now she is collecting loose change for her next project, a shiny penny floor in the entryway and has plans to revamp the children’s bedrooms. In the meantime Sophie has created a vibrant light-filled home which embodies her creativity and love of all things retro.

My Style: Bright, crisp, retro

Inspiration: Seventies design

Favorite Element: The shelving in the dining room. I finally have somewhere to display my collection of objects.

Biggest Challenge: Creating an interesting home on a tight budget

What Friends Say: “I love it!”

Biggest Embarrassment: The children’s bedrooms are not finished yet.

Proudest DIY: I decorated the whole house myself; stripping wallpaper, ripping out built-in cupboards and wardrobes, pulling up the flooring then painting every room and hanging shelves.

Biggest Indulgence: My lime green egg chair, a copy of a design classic by Arne Jacobsen.

Best Advice: Having no money shouldn’t hold you back. Instead it can inspire you to be more creative.

Dream Sources: Ardingly Antiques and Collectors Fair, Habitat, every piece of stock I buy for my shop!

• In the bedroom, Fireburst : B&Q

• Picture frames : 99p Shop resprayed
• Dog tail hooks : IKEA
• Umbrellas : vintage collection
• Glass jars : Holmegaard

• Egg chair: ebay
• Sofa : ebay
• Pedestal table : garage sale
• Screw stool : Snooper’s Paradise, Brighton
• Stool : upcycled junkshop find recovered with 1950s fabric
• Cushions, blind and fabric covered canvas : homemade with vintage Heals fabric
• Rug : garage sale
• Carpet : salvaged
• Glass and ceramics : 1960s and 1970s Italian
• Frog lamp – ebay

• Table and chairs: Ercol
• Rug : garage sale
• Italian glassware : ebay, thrift stores, garage sales
• Wire fruit bowl : IKEA
• Wall shelves : ebay
• Letters : Paperchase and Primark
• Biscuit tins : Marks and Spencer
• Ornaments : ebay
• Cupboard : IKEA
• Light shade : ebay
• Pictures : etsy
• Lego figures displayed in upcycled printer’s tray : ebay

• Units : Howdens
• Pictures : etsy
• Accessories : all vintage from ebay and garage sales
• Kettle and toaster : “A present from my fella.”

• Bed : IKEA
• Bed linen : IKEA
• Picture, clock, table lamp : “on loan from my shop”
• Bag : Lulu Guiness
• Chest of drawers : thrift store

Thanks, Sophie and Scott!

(Images: Rebecca Bond)

• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE: Check out past house tours here.
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.