Shelly……………… |

Who are you? Shelly Elson and Sean Fraser. I own Etcetera, which is an on-line store selling original, vintage and industrial furniture and homewares.

Why Broadstairs? I fell in love with the house and the charm of the bay here.

First Thanet memory? Having lived here all of my life I have so many memories, but my happiest childhood memories are the summers spent on The Sundeck in Margate.

If you were an animal what would you be? I would be a bird for their freedom.

How do you define style? Style is personal but for me, everything I love creates my style.

Would you say that your house is now finished? I can honestly say my home will never be finished, walls change colour, furniture moves, lamps come and go and all on a far too regular basis (so I’m told!)

If you could change one thing about your house what would it be? To have a larger kitchen, it barely fits the chef in, and for everyone who doesn’t know me…that isn’t me.

What building would you like to be locked in over night? The MI6 building.

If you could go back and live in another era from a design point of view, when, where & why? The 1950’s, 60’s in London. The 50’s gave birth to some of the greatest modern designs and most definitely set the president for the century and beyond.

Who are your heroes? My dad and anyone who has made something of themselves from absolutely nothing.

What would you do if you were Mayor for a day? This has been the hardest question to answer, but if I only had one day, I would spend the day at the council with a long list of questions that still need answering however I would probably be asked to leave the building by lunchtime.

Object of desire for your home? A set of Vintage Series 7 Arne Jacobsen dining chairs.

What couldn’t you live without? My vintage little curiosities in the house that hold happy memories of our travels, my family, crazy cats and the first huge mug of tea in the morning.

What is your biggest weakness? Vintage, Antique and Flea Markets…I get far too excited for being up that early.

Favourite space in your house? It depends what mood I’m in, but generally the little spot where sun shines into.

Describe your perfect day. We spend much of our time in London due to the shop, so a perfect day would start with breakfast in Hackney, followed by a walk along Regents Canal into Broadway Market or a Sunday could happily be spent wandering around Columbia Road Flower Market then into Spitalfields for dinner.

Best advice you’ve been given? This may sound like a cliché but out of all the advice that I have been given over the years, it can be summed up with this quote “don’t judge a book by its cover”.

Favourite place for a nightcap? At the end of our garden on a summer’s evening.

In 10 years time where will you be? Who knows that’s the exciting part.

What are your goals for 2013? To have booked a date for our wedding.

ROUND-UP: This house is not just a family home, for Shelly it is also her office, show room, studio & storage space for stock, as a result it is a constantly revolving medley of mid century furniture & homewares, mixed with vintage and industrial pieces, all under one Victorian roof. Shelly sources her stock for her business and has the opportunity to try things out at home and enjoy them for a brief time before moving them on to a new home – an envious position to be in!

WHERE TO BUY: Shelly recommends:

The Secret Garden Florist – Rear Of 33 High Street, Broadstairs

Madam Popoff Vintage – 4 King Street Margate CT9 1DA – http://www.madampopoff.com

And of course Etcetera – http://www.etcetera-online.co.uk