Haley Doreen's favourite things

Haley Doreen. Photo / Babiche Martens

Haley Doreen has turned her passion for mid-century furniture into a livelihood.

Haley Doreen runs fantastic Dominion Rd antique store, The Vintage Shop, which focuses on quality mid-century Scandinavian-influenced furniture, retro lamps, reproduction prints and antique china - think Tretchikoff prints, retro sideboards, bevelled mirrors, vintage jewellery and more. Originally set up by her parents in Wellington more than 25 years ago, Doreen now runs the second-hand treasure trove with her partner. It's a tiny space that demonstrates the thrifty maxim that what's old is new again. Doreen talks us through her passion for mid-century furniture, West German pottery and vintage art.

10 FAVOURITE THINGS

1. Mid-century furniture

My love for furniture from the 50s, 60s and 70s came about when we started The Vintage Shop. The clean lines, great design and practicality of these pieces are what attracted me and now I'm obsessed. Pieces by designers such as Parker, Danske Mobler, Otto Larsen, Airest and Don Furniture are just some of the desired names. Quality items don't hang around long in the shop.

2. My two boys

My partner John and our dog Charlie Brown. John's passion and skill for giving vintage furniture a new lease on life has helped make The Vintage Shop what it is. My dog Charlie Brown (aka Charles) the chihuahua/pitbull-cross makes me smile everyday.

3. West German pottery

Ceramic vases made in the 1950s, 60s and 70s from West Germany are a favourite, particularly fiery oranges and reds with the bubbling lava glazes. The distinctive patterns, textures and shapes are what attracts me to these pieces and I love the way they look with mid-century furniture.

4. Canon EOS camera

A necessity for our business - we take photos of our goods for the website before they hit the shop. I enjoy getting creative and playing around with all the different settings.

5. Antique teddy bear collection

I started my antique teddy bear collection with the help of my dad when I was around 6. My prized possession is the rare 1930s Chad Valley bear. They will definitely be kept in the family for years to come.

6. Interior design magazines and blogs

I really enjoy reading lifestyle magazines and seeing into people's homes and the different styles. Of course I love seeing the frequent use of mid-century modern furniture at the moment. Home magazine is a favourite I have recently subscribed to; I love receiving my copy and keeping up with the play.

7. A great find

We are constantly hunting for rare hard-to-source pieces for the shop, nothing beats finding a good bargain or something you have been looking around for. I love spending time going around the antique and second-hand shops throughout the country.

8. Retro lamps

I am obsessed with lamps. I love the atmosphere and ambience they create and the colour that they add to a room. I collect retro lamps and my favourites are my 1960s rocket lamp from Britain and a black lady lamp that has been passed down from my great grandma to my grandma to myself.

Another favourite are black lady lamps by the iconic Sydney designer George Barsony. He was a Hungarian-born sculptor and artist famous for his series of lamps and figures from the 1950s until the 70s.

9. Crown Lynn pottery

One of the most asked for items in our shop - Crown Lynn. I have a collection myself; I love how the pottery works so well with both modern and vintage interiors. My favourites are the swans and I am lucky to own a rare trickle glass swan given to me by my parents.

10. Vintage art

I love the bright, colourful art from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, particularly J.H. Lynch, a British artist from the 60s who painted images of sultry women, and Tretchikoff, a South African-based artist who produced colourful paintings of exotic people and flowers. These seem to have made a popular comeback: the Chinese Girl print by Tretchikoff is said to have sold more reproductions than the Mona Lisa.

* The Vintage Shop, 359 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden.