London shopping: Ella Doran

I have to confess that I have a soft spot for flower boxes in windows. It’s a distinctly British tradition where many a dodgy pub is adorned by a carefully colour-co-ordinated explosion of pansies and cascading ivy. But it’s also an inviting, fresh and homely feature, and I’m pleased to discover that Ella Doran’s store has a couple of bright pink boxes of geraniums in the front window.


A well-known UK-based commercial designer, Ella Doran has collaborated with various brands and retailers, such as John Lewis, to develop a range of products featuring her trademark photographic prints.


Her images are typically a colour-saturated visual treat, whether it’s a row of coloured pencils, London’s iconic Routemaster buses, or an idyllic green meadow spotted with wildflowers. Her products range from made-to-order blinds to cushions, wallpaper, tableware, china and children’s products.


I love Colour, the kids’ book that Ella collaborated on in conjunction with Tate Enterprises. It’s visually exciting and a whole lot of fun. Her melamine range of products combine practical with cool, and I love the kooky “Vintage Plates” tray – perfect for breakfast in bed – and the cute kids’ apron in a vibrant cut-out paper dolls design.

Ella Doran
46 Cheshire Street
London E2 6EH
Tel. 020 7613 0782

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 10am-6pm
Saturday 12pm-5pm
Sunday 11am-5pm

Nearest tube: Liverpool Street

For more shops on Cheshire Street, click here.
For more shops in East London, click here.

London shopping: Russell Roberts

This quiet, unassuming storefront on buzzy Cheshire Street in East London is home to a carefully-edited selection of modernist 20th century furniture, art and collectables. For those who like their mid-century designers, there are chairs by Eames and Wegner, Italian lighting and English Ercol chairs. A psychedelic late 1970s Peter Max (Beatles’ Yellow Submarine artist) ice bucket wearing sunglasses adds a quirky and fun element to the store, as well as the selection of cup-holding ‘80s robots.


I like the rosewood 1950s Danish sideboard by Arne Vodder and a USM Haller red steel office storage unit which could be used as a modular sideboard.

Russell Roberts
8 Cheshire Street
London E2 6EH
Tel. 020 7613 3355

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 12noon-6pm
Sunday 11am-5pm

Nearest tube: Liverpool Street

For more shops on Cheshire Street, click here.
For more shops in East London, click here.

Street style: Charlie on Broadway Market

A wee birdy told me that Charlie is wearing a black felt hat from Trash and Vaudeville in New York, a sample shirt, denim waistcoat and black pants from Lowlife, H&M shoes and a Lowlife bag.

London market stalls: Violet at Broadway Market

Riding on the wave of cupcake mania, Violet is a sunny stall with delicious baked goods at Broadway Market. Arranged on pretty vintage cake stands and plates, these sweet concoctions not only look gorgeous, but they are doubly delicious.


The generous swirl of sublime buttercream icing is the secret to these cupcakes’ success, with flavours changing with the seasons. On this mid-July Saturday, the buttercream selection ranges from rose water & nectarine to cherry; honey and lavender; elderflower with candied elderflower; chocolate; raspberry and strawberry. Prices are 70p for mini and £2 for large cupcakes.


Other treats such as fresh ginger and molasses cake, elderflower marshmallows, coconut macaroons, organic candied orange peel and chocolate chip cookies added an extra non-cupcake-y dimension to this lavish banquet of sugar. Sweet.

Violet
Saturdays, Broadway Market

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Nearest tube: Bethnal Green Station
Nearest train: London Fields BR

For more shops and market stalls on Broadway Market, click here.
For more shops in East London, click here.

London shopping: The Shop (no.3)

You know you have to be prepared to sift as you step inside the cosy vintage nest that is The Shop (at no.3 Cheshire Street). But it’s worth being patient as there are many treasures to be found, including graphic ‘50s barkcloth fabric and vintage silk scarves (from an overwhelming collection of 500). Spanning the 1930s to the 1980s, The Shop stocks vintage clothes, accessories, jewellery, fabric, trims, ribbons, buttons, laces, linen and curtains. There is also a small selection of vintage childrenswear.


I can't help feeling I’m in someone else’s house as I rummage through dresser drawers stacked with doilies, sheets and white linen tablecloths. But it's a nice, comfortable "no-pressure" feeling. The Shop also has a sister store at no. 7 which focuses its collection on vintage women's and menswear. Well worth checking out.

The Shop
3 Cheshire Street
London E2 6EH
Tel. 020 7739 5631

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Wednesday to Saturday 11am-6pm
Sunday 9am-5pm

Nearest tube: Liverpool Street

For more shops on Cheshire Street, click here.
For more shops in East London, click here.

London shopping: Labour and Wait

How many times have you walked into a shop only to have your senses assaulted by a cacophony of the sandalwood-slash-patchouli variety of scented candle? Don’t get me wrong, I love scented candles (shout-out to Miss Tuberose-and-Mimosa Scented Candle on my bedside table) – just not ALL the time. And don’t get me started on the overwhelming pong that makes my brain ache every time I walk within 10 yards of a Lush store. (What exactly do they put in those bath bombs, anyway?)

Which is why walking into Labour and Wait is a delightful surprise, in more ways than one. Inhale the unusual earthiness of wooden-clothes-pegs-meets-tarred-jute-twine and take in the warm atmosphere of a timeless general store. Slate pencils and erasers sit comfortably next to classic Breton-style striped long-sleeved tops (us birds can’t have enough stripes) and iconic 1950s Janet and John books. Here timeless and functional design (pastel enamel cookware) marries vintage aesthetic (Bakelite kitchen ware).


Top finds include vintage linen, enormous balls of twine, vintage teapots, enamel lampshades, linen tea towels, vintage needle and thread packets, buttons, giant balls of twine, and horn combs. The gardening selection is extensive with a range of high quality tools, gloves and packets of seeds.

Labour and Wait
18 Cheshire Street
London E2 6EH
Tel. 020 7729 6253

Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Saturday 1pm-5pm
Sunday 10am-5pm
Friday 11am-5pm by appointment

Nearest tube: Liverpool Street

For more shops on Cheshire Street, click here.
For more shops in East London, click here.



Images courtesy of Labour and Wait.