Treasure Trove: Unique and uplifting homewares for summer

If you're a homeware addict like us, then chances are you'll already be familiar with interiors brands The Conran Shop, Graham & Green, Rose & Grey, Trouva, Rockett St George and the likes, as well as high street favourites like John Lewis, Habitat, Anthropologie, West Elm, H&M Home and French Connection Home to name just a few.

But discovering smaller, boutique brands online, with handmade, unique pieces makes us feel like we've discovered secret treasure. Surely we're not alone?

We've pulled together just a few recent things that have caught our eye, in case you might like them too. And although we've thrown some original artworks and antiques in there, it's not all big-budget stuff – the cool new homewares below start from just £27.

These colourful and shapely designs are guaranteed to lift your spirit and bring some cheerful sunshine to your home. Go on. Treat yo self.

1. FOR THE WALLS

Give your walls an update too, with a fun find from one of these lesser known brands.

The Fabled Thread offers striking embroidery kits so you can have a go at making a masterpiece yourself – and the templates you can choose from are simply gorgeous.

Aside from being uplifting and colourful, they say that concentrating on an activity like this can also be a calming, meditative process. The Livingetc office are huge fans.

You can also choose to personalise templates as wedding gifts, new baby announcements or new home gifts.

Designs from £75, thefabledthread.com

This handmade tile by Rachel Dein is cast in plaster. She finds wild flowers, presses them into wet clay to transfer all of the delicate details of the individual flowers. The flowers are then carefully removed, a wooden frame is placed on the clay and plaster is poured in and allowed to set. When the clay mould is peeled away, the plaster relief of the flowers is revealed.

Each tile is unique and handmade. The tile has a hole in the back for hanging with a small nail.

Tile, £125, JamJar Edit

The same shop also sells a host of other pressed flower artworks, like these framed pressed anemones.

Unframed anemones, £75, or framed, £150, JamJar Edit

For a fun update in the kitchen or bathroom, how about a tile series that tells a story? The hand illustrated tiles from StoryTiles feature cities, swimmers, animals, and a whole range of other quirky designs. Fun for a kitchen splash-back, or for in a bathroom.

Tiles, from £27, StoryTiles.nl

Meanwhile Partnership Editions is a great go-to for original illustrations, prints and paintings.

Original artwork, oil pastel on paper, £350 from Partnership Editions

2. CANDLES

We love this peachy all-in-one candle. Even the base is made from wax.

Candle by Bitossi Home, £27, Yoox.com

These ribbed designs from Matilda Goad come in all sorts of different colours, including creams and blush tones, and even zingy yellow. We love the slightly chalky finish of the colours and what’s more, they're made from pure beeswax.

Pack of 6 ribbed candles, £42, Matildagoad.com

We also love the multi-coloured striped candles from re-foundobjects.com, particularly fun for mixing and matching.

Striped candles, from £16.95, re-foundobjects.com

This 3 wick candle has 90 hours burn time and comes in a fun scalloped design. Also available in yellow, green and lilac.

Scallop candle, £70, matildagoad.com

The fruity hues of these tall and elegant Tapered Candles from Sophie Conran give a joyful glow to your tabletop or mantlepiece. Available in other colours too.

Tapered candles, 12 candles for £35, sophieconran.com

3. CANDLESTICK

Made by artisans on the island of Sicily, these hand modelled and painted clay Lion Candlesticks from Montes & Clark add a fun twist to a tablescape, and pair perfectly with the tapered candles from Sophie Conran above.

Italian Ceramic Lion Candlestick, £125, montesandclark.co.uk

4. CUSHION UPDATE

Update your bed, sofa or armchairs with a gorgeous new neutral cushion. The Tufty Sidewinders cushions by Way Down Home are handmade in the UK, using raw cotton canvas, linen and pure wool. The fabrics are hand dyed using plant dyes from the maker's garden. We're in love with those frilly lambs wool tufts.

Tufty Sidewinders Cushion, £75, Etsy.com

5. HANDMADE CERAMICS

Handmade ceramics are great for adding an interesting, hand-made, collected and curated look to a space.

This handmade lion serving bowl from The Shop Floor Project is full of character, a fun talking point, and a real steal at just £155. We're always finding new and interesting pieces every time we land on their website. But hurry because the pieces get snapped up quickly!

Lion serving bowl, £155, theshopfloorproject.com

An everyday mug receives a playful makeover with Miyelle's unique plaited-style design, available at the Goodhood Store.

Plaits and dat mug, £40, goodhoodstore.com

You're always bound to find something interesting at the Toad Gallery, and we're smitten with this clay coil sculpture by up-and-coming artist Madeline Hall. She only graduated from Saint Martins in summer 2019, and her work is already being exhibited all over. Watch this space!

Cloud Sculpture by Madeline Hall, POA, Toadgallery.com

6. TABLE LAMP

This colourful Oceanic Table light by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis (Italy, circa 1981) is hard to come by, but you can now find it at Holly Johnson Antiques.

The Italian based Memphis group are known for their abstract and angular furniture and graphic patterns which were the antithesis of streamlined, midcentury style. Holly Johnson Antiques stocks a number of their pieces, so if someone snaps this up you can still find alternatives.

Table lamp, £3,700, Holly Johnson Antiques

7. RECYCLED

Upcycled and recycled items are getting a designer makeover. This modern stool (or side table) is made from recycled plastic. The white base colour with black pixels create a terrazzo-like effect.

Stool, £138, ReChic

The same brand produces all sorts of affordable furniture, lighting and soft furnishings, including this pair of chevron cushions, £19 for two, made from 100% recycled materials.

Pair of cushions, £19, ReChic

Weaver Green is another eco brand to have on your radar, as all of their designs are made from recycled plastic bottles. They create beautiful and soft rugs, blankets, cushions, bags and throws that's made from a new textile that's made from plastic bottles but has the look and feel of wool, is machine washable, stain resistant, environmentally friendly, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Genius.

Andalucia Cadiz Rug, £130, WeaverGreen.com

8. HOME SCENT

For something universally uplifting, Neal's Yard's new 'Uplifting' home fragrance more than does the trick. Made with energising grapefruit and revitalising petitgrain organic essential oils, the uplifting scent comes in a diffuser or as a room spray or scented candle.

Uplifting Reed Diffuser, £35, nealsyardremedies.com

9. VASE

If you're looking for striking, modern design, then Swedish design brand Hem should be your go-to. Artist Jenny Nordberg recently launched the Powder Vase as part of Hem's limited edition decorative accessory collection.

Powder Vase, €649, hem.com

The vases are made from sheet steel which Nordberg folds and welds by hand. Each piece is produced as a signed, limited-edition of 15 pieces featuring three different shapes.

Powder Vase, €649, hem.com

For something more curvaceous, we're crushing on the wiggly curves of the Pretziada vase from Yoox.

Pretziada vase, £462, yoox.com

For something more budget-friendly, the Dali vase from Habitat is just £35.

Dali vase, £35, Habitat.co.uk

And lastly, we recently snapped up this textural bobble vase from Graham & Green, and it's even bigger and better in the flash. We recommend.

Tall bobble vase, £82, grahamandgreen.co.uk