I never visited The Painted Room in Christchurch. Isn’t it a great name? Apparently, it was started by two women and was a shop stuffed full of fabulous retro items and oddities. Not the usual ho-hum Victorian antiques store. It was in Colombo Street and is one of the many buildings listed for demolition. Actually, The Painted Room was hit twice by quakes but has now reopened in a third location.

When hubs and I were in Christchurch last weekend, we were driving down Selwyn Street and I saw a quirky old hall with the sign, The Painted Room. I nearly caused hubs to have an accident when I shouted STOP. I had to go in and have a look. Wasn’t going to miss out. Hubs isn’t one for antiques but when I told him it was more about retro oddities and unusual bits and pieces – this piqued his interest.

I had a wonderful chat with one of the ladies who started The Painted Room – Brigid Ryan. She was telling me how she loves to put unexpected or outrageous things together, like different patterns that normally you’d think would clash. She showed me two fabulous chairs and the old and new fabric she’d used to cover them.

The shop itself was stuffed with amazing things – chandeliers, mid-century costume jewellery, old cupboards, vintage fabrics. I could have spent hours in their had hubs not decided he’d seen enough and dragged me out. I plan to go back without hubs :-)

The Painted Room is at 407 Selwyn Street and is a must-see if you ask me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image source for photo of Caren Butler (L) and Brigid Ryan (R).