Disaster Designs specialise in retro style products, many of which feature kitsch images from the past. Amongst the Elvis and Marilyn Monroe placemats, they also have the Sunny Alarm Clock.
As you can see, the overall shape is very much in the style of a 1960s product, but this is increased by the image on the face. This is of a woman reclining against an orange and yellow backdrop complete with a beaded curtain.
It costs just £12.99 and can be bought online from Iggloo.
Having just seen off Valentine’s Day, next up is Mother’s Day (2nd March in the UK) and then Easter. Yet more occasions when you may need to send a card. Rather than give more money to the big card manufacturers, may I suggest a Vintage Wallpaper Greeting Card instead?
Made by UK/Australian company Lark, the card is handmade using vintage 1960s wallpaper. There are also matching gift tags available too.
You may be able to make something similar yourself, but as the card only costs £2.50, it is a lot easier to just buy one ready made from the Lark website.
As the name suggests, Beyond The Fridge take fridge magnets and magnetic boards beyond the refrigerator and onto the walls of your kitchen – and an example of their work is this Metal Wall Art Panel.
Think of it as functional art for your kitchen wall. These large panels (1000mm x 750mm) are made from 1.2mm steel, have four screw holes for easy fixing and can probably hold as many fridge magnets as you own. In this case, there’s also the retro-styled bird design (known as Exotic Bird), which is available in two colourways.
It retails for £150. But if you want something smaller/more affordable, there’s enough on the site to suit all pockets.
Mathmos are probably most famed for their various lava lamps, still dotted around the rooms of students
everywhere.
They do make some pretty interesting light fittings and accessories too though, not least this Gritito lampshade. Designed by Spanish designers El Ultimo Grito, this stainless steel downlighter fits over any standard pendant light fitting and is available in polished steel, fluorescent yellow or, my personal favourite, orange.
It does require nothing higher than a 40W bulb, so it’ll be one for setting off a smoky atmosphere.
The rockabilly scene is another revivalist movement that’s thriving in the underbelly of many a city in the UK, and it comes as no surprise when you first hear the strains of Wanda Jackson’s Funnel of Love.
Arguably even more exciting than that, though, is the fantastic image associated with rockabilly girls of the 1950s. Baby Girl Boutique is a fantastic shop full of wiggle dresses, rockabilly outfits and 50s inspired accessories.
This extremely daring dress, as modelled by the stunning Miss Bernie Dexter, is on sale for $98. If you’re not quite prepared for something so skintight, there’s plenty more sultry but understated outfits for sale too.
The Nio tea pot was designed back in 1982 – but its influences are firmly set in the modernist era.
It’s the work of Oliver Hemmings rather than Bauhaus, with a 1.5 litre capacity, stainless steel body, heat-resistant PPS black handle and styling that’s certain to impress the neighbours.
It retails for £50. And if you like this, there are other similar items in the collection, including a stove top kettle.
