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Home Stories: Pauline Pink – having faith in charity shops & styling on a budget

August 16, 2020 Rebekah Killigrew Home Stories, People

A few months ago I was watching some Instagram stories posted by interior stylist and writer Hannah Bullivant, and they made my heart sing; Hannah shared some snippets from her aunty Pauline’s home, which she explained was in sheltered accomodation. What I saw was an incredibly stylish and unique flat, full of personality. I absolutely loved it, it was just the kind of insight into a home that I love to see – and one that I think we don’t see enough. It was unique living spaces like these that inspired me to want to start this website, I wanted to share diverse homes and find out about the people who inhabit them.

Carefully curated charity shop finds

I reached out to Hannah who kindly put me in contact with her aunt, who I have since gone on to discover is a wonderfully fascinating and kind lady. Pauline Pink (yes, that’s her real name) is a 65-year-old mother of two and grandmother of two, who works for her church managing all of the room bookings and general maintenance of the building. “My church is like my family,” she says to me via email, “they have given me unbelievable support over the years, which has helped me through the toughest of times, including a divorce and a 2 year battle with breast cancer.  It really is a privilege for me to work for a loving and caring community who have offered me so much support.”

The glorious Pauline Pink

Pauline’s values stem from her church community and her working life,  as well as a wonderful and loving upbringing within an extended family. “Honesty, integrity, faithfulness, inclusiveness, kindness and generosity are all values which I sincerely hope are visible to other people when they spend time with me!” she says.

I was so pleased when Pauline agreed to answer my questions about her home and share some of her unique story; in fact her detailed and thoughtful responses resonated with me deeply, and they are paired with gorgeously intimate imagery shot by Pauline’s photographer friend Angela Ward Brown (www.feastsshootsandleaves.co.uk/).

An inviting and eclectic mix of cushions

Pauline’s passion for her home and unique spaces really shines through in this interview, and she also touched on her hopes and dreams for the future.

Hi Pauline – please can you tell me about your home? 

I live in a rented, one bedroom flat in a purpose built, 1980s, over 55s (sheltered accommodation) block in the Southampton area and have lived here for over a year now.  The landlord is Anchor Housing which also offers accommodation to purchase and various care homes. My flat basically has no character and no redeeming features to speak of;  most people would run a mile! However, when I first viewed it I knew that I could make it my own and happily put my name down on the waiting list.  I was no. 48 on the list and ended up having to wait two and a half years!  However, I’m incredibly happy here and the advantages far, far outweigh the very few small disadvantages.

Rugs add texture to the light and airy dining area

The flat has one bedroom, a reasonably sized lounge, possibly the smallest hall I have ever seen (with 7 doors in it) and a tiny windowless kitchen and bathroom. The residents may replace the whole bathroom suite and fitted kitchen but we may not change or disguise the tiles, replace the work surfaces, paint or replace the kitchen cabinet doors or replace the non-slip flooring. Each flat needs to be left exactly as it was when we moved in. As you can imagine, this overall challenge really did nudge me towards my ‘styling ability limit’ but I have to say, I enjoyed every minute of it.  I came up with most of the ideas and my family and friends helped me with the decorating and DIY jobs.

All of Pauline’s photo frames are secondhand

Can you tell me a bit about your experience with styling on a budget? You talk about this quite a bit on your Instagram page @pauline.pink

Over the last 20 years or so, I have had genuinely very little spare money, so have had to give time to being inventive with ways to create a stylish home.  I have absolutely no desire to own the latest in contemporary kitchens or bathrooms. I am at my happiest when I have a basic room to work with that has very little to offer, which is exactly what I was faced with when I moved into my flat. My kitchen and bathroom were both dated and boring; the kitchen was 80s beige and the bathroom was 80s blue! The basic equipment was all in good working order which was a blessing.

rattan and wicker baskets make for aestically pleasing storage

What is your first memory of home, and what does the word ‘home’ mean to you? 

I remember sitting in my nan’s sitting room, on my mum’s knee, listening to Listen with Mother on the radio. It was very exciting! I have such happy memories of my childhood.  I feel very blessed.

A home is a place where, with a minimal budget, I can create ‘something from nothing’ which is hopefully surprisingly stylish, unusual, welcoming and warm and crammed full of textures, visual displays and delights, tokens from nature and also includes expressions of my faith.  It is a space for me to express my interests, passions and hobbies etc., and to be brave with my styling decisions.

Wicker baskets add a rustic charm to the small kitchen

My love of all things cheap, cheerful, second hand and recycled does not mean that I do not appreciate other peoples’ homes and styling skills.  I love spending time admiring friends’ and family members’ homes and also interiors on Instagram and in magazines.  I fully realise that my way of living is not for everyone!

Shelfie goals

How would you describe your interior style? 

I honestly have no idea! I guess it’s a mixture of many things.  Brave (a bit), eclectic, unusual, interesting…I love cheap, old, worn furniture but also embrace more contemporary pieces. I have nods here and there to my appreciation of nature, especially branches and twigs;  there are examples of my love of textiles; I have far too many gorgeous cushions; I have some vintage curtains but also some second hand modern ones; there are many repurposed and repainted items;  my walls are filled with faith building and inspirational framed quotes – all in second hand frames.

Pauline’s appreciation of nature can be seen throughout her home

Where are your favourite places to shop for homeware?

There is a stunning garden centre locally called The Garden Society and it has the most amazing homeware section. The prices are reasonable and it is styled in a creative and interesting way. I love Ikea, my local Oxfam furniture store, Newbank Garden Centre in Bury and my local emporium Robins Nest.

Gorgeous soft details from the bedroom

I love charity shops in general but one special one in particular; my daughter Kira has recently opened a brand new charity shop in Totton, Southampton. It’s an Oakhaven Hospice Shop, and Kira’s desire is that it is presented more like a boutique than a charity shop, to hopefully ensure healthy sales each week. The window displays are gorgeous and I’ve been helping her style the rest of the shop. It has been massively challenging to try to style walls and shelves with other peoples’ cast-offs but the feedback and general comments are really encouraging. 

Tassels and trinkets adorn the bedroom walls

Do you have a favorite item in your home?

This is an overmantle mirror in my bedroom, which we found in a junk shop in the 1970s and cost around £3.00 I think. I love the shape of it with its tiny mirrors, shelves and candle sconces.  It’s been painted a few times over the years and I continually change the fairy lights, candles, necklaces, jugs and teapots I keep on it.

Pauline’s beloved overmantle mirror

What are your hopes for the future?

To remain well enough over the next twenty years to be able to be helpful and supportive of friends, family members and the local community. I’m proud to be an active member of my church, which is known to be outward looking, community hearted and contemporary in its thinking.  It has birthed several exciting projects both locally and overseas.

“If I know what loves is, it’s because of you”

One of my desires is to be able to help people (young and old alike) with very little spare money and/or living in what some may think is an ‘undesirable place’ to understand that is completely possible to create a stylish, warm and lovely home.  I would also love to think that I could raise awareness to young people that the older generation can definitely compete in the world of styling and interiors.

I’m currently exploring the possibilities there may be out there for me to get a little business going which will help to support me financially over the coming years.

Pauline’s favourite texture:

“I live next to Southampton Common and the New Forest and I have a deep love of anything that the forest cares to introduce to me!  Branches, twigs, bark, pine cones, acorns, leaves etc.  My flat is full of examples of my appreciation of nature and I am always looking for more ways to display twigs and branches! I literally have no idea where and how this love began!”

Pauline’s favourite space:

“My go to place is a small beach on the South coast called Stokes Bay. I lived close by with my parents for a few years and they spent many happy further years around the area. It is fondly known as Grandma’s beach in my family and over the years we spent hours and hours, together with my brother’s family, gathering beach treasures, skimming stones, hobbling barefoot across the painful pebbles, getting drenched by the ferocious waves, bronzed by the summer sun and eating the ‘biggest ice creams in the world!'”

Interior styling budget queen

Pauline’s Top Tips for Styling on a Budget

1) Be a constant and patient visitor to charity shops, second hand furniture shops, emporiums, markets etc. I  have heard people say many times “I can never find anything in second hand shops!”  My tip is to revisit each one and ask yourself questions such as:

“What can be repainted?” (as well as items of furniture, look at things like picture and mirror frames, candlesticks, vases, candleabras and light fittings. Empty frames can also be filled with different types of material or wrapping paper.)

“What can I repurpose?”  (look at items like old books, newspapers and magazines, the pages of which can be framed or used  for covering old mirror frames, old or interesting plates can be hung in collections on walls;  old cushions can be transformed by covering in buttons, ribbon etc. and put in baskets.)  The list is endless!

2) Let friends and family know you are always on the lookout for stuff they may be getting rid of.  I have benefitted hugely from gifts from friends and work colleagues over the years.

3) Take a trip to Ikea, just to get some styling ideas; their stylists are inspirational and so creative! 

4) Ask your friends for their reject home interiors magazines – I spend time just looking at each page to see which ideas I can copy cheaply!

Instagram: @pauline.pink

All photos credited to www.feastsshootsandleaves.co.uk/

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About Rebekah Killigrew

Rebekah is the Founder and Editor of Texture & Space. She is a magazine editor, creative writer and mother of two with a passion for beautiful buildings, spaces with texture, and smooth coffee.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rachel

    August 16, 2020 at 8:21 pm

    I LOVED this interview! Beautiful interiors and what a beautiful lady inside and out. Thank you Pauline Pink for a peek inside your beautiful home ❤️❤️❤️

  2. Pat Snelgrove

    August 16, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    Beautiful home snd beautiful lady

  3. Linden Boothby

    August 17, 2020 at 7:33 am

    Thank you Pauline, I did enjoy reading this. My home is very like yours, I have been an avid charity shop collector since I was in my twenties. So lovely to hear about like minds.

  4. C Mitchell

    August 17, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    Interesting interview with plenty of helpful advice to have a home full of style and character! Lovely lady Pauline with good taste!

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November 🍁 surprising house progress, food, fam November 🍁 surprising house progress, food, family & celebrating some of my faves 🧡
bedroom details ‘cause you all loved her room so bedroom details ‘cause you all loved her room so much when I shared on my stories💞💛💚💙🫶🏾 a wonderful mix of old and new - items tagged below 👇🏾 

Bedding: @dunelmuk 
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dug up some old footage of my daughter’s room fr dug up some old footage of my daughter’s room from when we first got the keys - can you tell which photos/videos are mine and which are Tom’s? 😆 love looking back and seeing how far we’ve come, especially when everything still feels so unfinished. slowly slowly 🫶🏾
Tis the season to seek comfort, safety and celebra Tis the season to seek comfort, safety and celebration within our communities and homes; and as such, good residential and urban design is gifted in the new issue of @architecturemagazineuk the final one of 2024!

There are contributions penned by an eclectic mix of industry insiders covering 21st century urban living, the Passivhaus revolution, and thoughtful private residential design. 

My featured interview is with multifaceted architect Remi Connolly-Townsend, Founder of London-based @remict_studio, who are passionate about residential design on a global scale; and the cover shot is from the stunning Weald House project by @mailendesign and @peterbradfordarchitects, which features a gorgeous expanse of windows by architectural glazing experts @maxlightltd. 

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Image credits:
1-2: Flexible Apartment by @chybikkristof - Photography by @alex.shoots.buildings 
3-4: Multifunctional Tower Tirana by @chybikkristof 
5: Remi Connolly-Townsend of @remict_studio in @architecturemagazineuk 
6-7: Maryland House by @remict_studio - Photography by @james_retief 
8: Cover of @architecturemagazineuk featuring Weald House project 
9-11: Weald House project by @mailendesign and @peterbradfordarchitects - Photography by @landers_photos 
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The downstairs wet room is finally functional (I no longer use the word “finished” when discussing our renovation). Tom has used his DIY skills to transform a dark and dilapidated space into a simple textured wet room that feels spacious and light - the terrazzo-style microcement makes it feel like a lovely little cave. (PR Product from @relentlessmicrocement) 

For the smallest and simplest design, it’s taken nearly seven months to complete and I couldn’t even tell you why really. It’s going to be such a hardworking room: a downstairs loo (thank goodness no more up and down, up and down with the kids) and an extra shower, which will come in handy when we have guests and as the kids get older - but let’s be honest, it’s probably just going to be for the plants 🪴 and Rambo 🐶. And let’s not worry about the fact that we don’t have a door yet and the lighting still needs to be fitted - you really can’t have it all.
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As we head into the Golden Quarter with brands and retailers preparing for a whirlwind of promotional and festive events, the new issue of @interiordesignermagazine spotlights some glorious retail spaces. Amongst others, we view vibrant RIXO locations designed by @cuplastudio - whose Founder Gemma McCloskey features in my Designer Profile - and the cover shot features the new KEF Music Gallery in central London; designed by @conranandpartners, this immersive space has been given a sophisticated residential feel. 

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For the last decade I have been writing, editing and creating content for digital and print - in fact, I’ve been doing it longer than that if I include when I wasn’t being paid - and this month marks six years of working as a magazine editor (that B&W headshot was from when I started!) 

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