Words Megan Lyon Images Ashlee DeCaires
“I really love textiles,” says Jo MacIntosh, smiling as she selects a fine-textured linen sheet from a neat stack held by an antique French armoire. “It’s cool in summer and warm in winter. So perfect, and you’ll never go back to regular sheets again. Its monogram speaks of another life it has had, in another country, the care it has been shown between owners and the joy of being loved again.
Everything has at least one story at Cambridge’s Heritage Trading Company; an empty bottle of Tattinger has been repurposed by cutting the top off to create an elegant candle, and vintage champagne buckets, from Jo’s daughter’s recent wedding in France, wait to be used again.
When you walk in the front door of the visual feast that is Heritage Trading Company, veer left to find Helen Marten’s Tuffet & Co. Helen hails from North Yorkshire and loves English country style which emphasises comfort, natural beauty and understated elegance. Here you will find curated collections of homewares atop unique furniture, like an antique Baltic pine dresser, or a grouping of crocks, some beautifully contained by basket weaving, that show signs of age and use yet are sculptural and work in any setting.
Helen says, “I love items that have lived before which shouldn’t be perfect and I look for the stories inside them. Sustainability for me is passing on those marks from previous generations and leaving them for others to enjoy. I enjoy creating new and beautiful pieces of art from discarded furniture so that every piece is unique.” To the right is Jo’s French Brocante Linen & Stone, laden with authentic treasures that Jo says are what makes her happiest. Favourites includes paintings which she finds at markets and bear marks of their past, such as their visible brass tacks. Jo designs her own cushions, taking salvaged antique tapestries and reworking them into a classic but modern design.
Fiona Hugues, stylist and cook for these very pages, loves to source her antique European ceramics, pewter and pottery pieces through Jo. Of these rare pieces Fiona says, “I adore lots of details, and these objects serve as silent storytellers, each with its own voice and history, which add lovely additional layers to my images.”
You may have noticed that Fiona’s signature food shots are atmospherically dark and moody. “I adore the murkiness of antique pewter tableware that uniquely enhances my personal brand aesthetic. I studied sculpture at art school so am naturally drawn to metal work and the patina of well-used charcoal toned pewter plates, vessels and cutlery complement the deep, shadowy tones I favour. The darkness also enhances the colour of the dishes or tablescapes, creating an atmosphere that is both dramatic and elegant.”
Fiona appreciates the enduring value embedded in antiques. “Each scratch, dent, or worn edge on an antique piece is a testament to its journey through time, adding layers of depth and character. In my styling projects, these elements bring authenticity and a sense of heritage. By opting for antiques, you are embracing a philosophy of ‘buy once, buy right’. This approach is inherently sustainable, as it reduces the demand for new, mass-produced items that often contribute to environmental degradation, making it a choice that is both economically and environmentally responsible.”
A collector in the making is Greta Casey-Kalma, a Year 12 student, whose after-school job is at The Heritage Trading Company. She is grateful to have such unique and interesting work and that the ethos of sustainability spans into all aspects of the business. “I’ve got quite crafty at fixing things that have cracked and broken so we can minimise waste. I think all the up-cycling Helen and Jo do with their furniture is so amazing. I often help move new dressers in, and I’m always in awe of how creative they are – my current favourite being a kitchen cabinet that has a bread themed decoupage. I’ve also got extremely good at nagging people to bring their own bags!”
Recently Greta was given an opportunity by Helen to take home a set of drawers to fix up. Unpromising in two halves with a horrible brown hue, Greta’s parents were dubious, but her dad dutifully helped to glue it together and sand it down. Fortunately, she then attended one of the decoupage workshops on offer and was able to take these new skills and have fun by painting them pink. Greta then decoupaged the drawers with a combination of colourful and floral-patterned napkins and the result is stunning.
Helen and Jo are both committed to having women working together collaboratively to realise their dreams. They share an ethos of sustainable living, innovation and a sophisticated response to both upcycling and recycling. At The Heritage Trading Company everything tells a story, and everything is treated as something special.
