About me

A long love affair with antiques began as a child in the 1970’s, when I would accompany my mother (also a dealer) to fleamarkets and antique fairs, collecting old china and fabric at every opportunity. Family visits to country house properties throughout the UK opened my eyes to the wonderful interiors and my favourite rooms were undoubtedly the kitchen and  servants’ quarters, which still to this day, remain at the top of my list. Looking back, I think I was possibly the only teenager at my school with an old pine dresser full of blue and white, sofa and a coffee table in their bedroom…

Fast forward to 2000 and with two children, I took the plunge from nursing to start the Cloth Shed.

Now based in a beautiful old farmhouse in rural Northumberland, I am able to open a shop in the stables by appointment or on planned open days, selling decorative and useful items … painted furniture, old oak, pine, mirrors, paintings, linen, ceramics, glass and anything with a French/Scandinavian/English country house look.

As an outlet for my addiction to old properties and interiors, we renovated two 16th and 18th century properties in the Tyne Valley, Northumberland, now  luxury, holiday accomodation and can be found at www.thebastle.co.uk

Best wishes,

Julie