Hester Creswell is a local interiors expert who has spent her career outsourcing and selling beautiful antique pieces of furniture. Hester used to run furniture restoration workshops from her studio in Haconby, and has a beautiful showroom, called ‘The Garden room in the Chapel’, which showcases the work of many local businesses.

Hester kindly agreed to have a chat and share her tips for buying antique furniture:

“One of my favourite pieces of furniture is this Swedish open armchair which is one of a pair. I love their baroque, curvy shape.

“I bought them at the end of a very wet, cold morning at an antique fair on an airfield when the dealer was packing away. I just spotted them going back in his lorry and thought ‘they will be far too expensive’ but I have to have a look. Think he was just so keen to get out of the cold I managed to do a deal. They were very sad and shabby looking but solid so I painted and distressed them in Farrow & Ball Hardwick White and had them reupholstered in a dark grey and white ticking.”

“Always look for a great shape when buying any furniture.”