Houzz Tour: At Home With... Sarah Bagner of Supermarket Sarah
Continuing our series visiting interiors bloggers at home, Sarah Bagner opens up her Hackney flat and talks about her inspirations
Victoria Harrison
22 February 2016
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
When you’re a self-confessed treasure hunter with a passion for discovering new and vintage pieces, living on the doorstep of one of London’s most vibrant markets makes perfect sense. So when Sarah Bagner, also known as Supermarket Sarah, moved into her rented flat on Broadway Market, she set about transforming it into a colourful and welcoming home that acts as the perfect backdrop for her constantly evolving style.
‘There’s a bustling street market right outside every Saturday,’ says Sarah, ‘and when I open my door, I’m greeted by the lovely stallholders, who’ve become friends over the years.’ Take a tour of Sarah’s bright and colourful home below.
COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
To celebrate some of the most creative and inspiring UK bloggers and their homes, we ask each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift that reflects their personal style. Sarah has chosen a set of two Ikea Ranarp wall lights as this month’s prize. All you have to do to enter is comment below, telling us what you love about this home. *This competition has now closed*
‘There’s a bustling street market right outside every Saturday,’ says Sarah, ‘and when I open my door, I’m greeted by the lovely stallholders, who’ve become friends over the years.’ Take a tour of Sarah’s bright and colourful home below.
COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
To celebrate some of the most creative and inspiring UK bloggers and their homes, we ask each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift that reflects their personal style. Sarah has chosen a set of two Ikea Ranarp wall lights as this month’s prize. All you have to do to enter is comment below, telling us what you love about this home. *This competition has now closed*
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Sarah Bagner, her boyfriend, Thomas, and Alfons the cat
Blog Supermarket Sarah
Property A rented flat
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Location Broadway Market, Hackney, northeast London
Graphic print cushions, Camille Walala. Vivienne Westwood flag cushion, The Rug Company. Sofa, Ikea.
Who lives here Sarah Bagner, her boyfriend, Thomas, and Alfons the cat
Blog Supermarket Sarah
Property A rented flat
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Location Broadway Market, Hackney, northeast London
Graphic print cushions, Camille Walala. Vivienne Westwood flag cushion, The Rug Company. Sofa, Ikea.
What do we need to know about your blog?
As a stylist, I started creating curated walls in my own living room using a mixture of vintage and new designer pieces. The walls soon spread into bars, galleries and department stores, and I now create bespoke spaces for top brands and department stores.
I use my blog as a place for discovering fresh talent. Each week, I pick a designer to curate a wall. The walls then go live on the site and users can simply click and buy the items, and delve further into the story of each object.
As a stylist, I started creating curated walls in my own living room using a mixture of vintage and new designer pieces. The walls soon spread into bars, galleries and department stores, and I now create bespoke spaces for top brands and department stores.
I use my blog as a place for discovering fresh talent. Each week, I pick a designer to curate a wall. The walls then go live on the site and users can simply click and buy the items, and delve further into the story of each object.
What made you start blogging?
I used to run a market stall on Portobello Road selling a mix of vintage and new designer items, and I wanted to bring the feeling of market shopping online. I felt the online world could be quite clinical, with pieces just photographed on plain white backgrounds or with bad lighting. The element of fun and the story of the item was somehow missing, which is what market shopping is all about. The walls are a story and bring context to the objects.
Glass fruit bowl; glass kitchen roll holder, both Susanne Bagner.
I used to run a market stall on Portobello Road selling a mix of vintage and new designer items, and I wanted to bring the feeling of market shopping online. I felt the online world could be quite clinical, with pieces just photographed on plain white backgrounds or with bad lighting. The element of fun and the story of the item was somehow missing, which is what market shopping is all about. The walls are a story and bring context to the objects.
Glass fruit bowl; glass kitchen roll holder, both Susanne Bagner.
How long have you lived here?
Four years; I emigrated from west London.
Kitchen table and church chairs, Retrouvius.
Four years; I emigrated from west London.
Kitchen table and church chairs, Retrouvius.
What was the flat like when you first moved in?
Empty!
Metal shelving, Ikea.
Browse 10 ideas for open kitchen storage
Empty!
Metal shelving, Ikea.
Browse 10 ideas for open kitchen storage
Which is your favourite spot in the flat and why?
Under the tilting windows in the living room. The curve on the ceiling arch makes you feel as if you’re sitting in a boat. At night, we light candles and cosy up with rugs, watching films or reading. Bliss!
Under the tilting windows in the living room. The curve on the ceiling arch makes you feel as if you’re sitting in a boat. At night, we light candles and cosy up with rugs, watching films or reading. Bliss!
What’s your proudest DIY achievement?
Building Ikea furniture always feels like an achievement! The open shelves in the kitchen are from Ikea; they were my boyfriend’s idea, because when he moved in, I had loads of stuff on the surfaces. He’s Swedish and has a lovely pared-back style, so he likes to rein in my clutter and madness!
It’s fun having open shelves, as you can style them up with plants, ornaments and photographs. They also don’t block the space – they have metal rods, so you can see through them – so they don’t feel like a big bulk of furniture in our small space.
Building Ikea furniture always feels like an achievement! The open shelves in the kitchen are from Ikea; they were my boyfriend’s idea, because when he moved in, I had loads of stuff on the surfaces. He’s Swedish and has a lovely pared-back style, so he likes to rein in my clutter and madness!
It’s fun having open shelves, as you can style them up with plants, ornaments and photographs. They also don’t block the space – they have metal rods, so you can see through them – so they don’t feel like a big bulk of furniture in our small space.
What makes you happiest at home?
Sunday mornings snoozing in bed with breakfast and the newspapers.
Sunday mornings snoozing in bed with breakfast and the newspapers.
What’s your next big decorating project?
We have a baby on the way, so a baby room is next.
See 10 tidy work spots for small spaces
We have a baby on the way, so a baby room is next.
See 10 tidy work spots for small spaces
Do you have a design rule you live by?
Life’s a work in progress. I like my home to evolve with me, so my design rule is that things should never feel too rigid.
Life’s a work in progress. I like my home to evolve with me, so my design rule is that things should never feel too rigid.
What do you think is the next big interiors trend and why?
Colour! Because black and white is too strict for life.
Learn the secrets of a home that’s cool for cats
Colour! Because black and white is too strict for life.
Learn the secrets of a home that’s cool for cats
What’s the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
Drink some green tea.
Do you have a mantra you live by?
Be yourself and keep a smile in mind.
Drink some green tea.
Do you have a mantra you live by?
Be yourself and keep a smile in mind.
What do you love to do on Sunday afternoons?
Go to Columbia Road flower market and buy flowers to fill the house with. Flowers are the ultimate decadence.
Take a look at Sarah’s blog here
Go to Columbia Road flower market and buy flowers to fill the house with. Flowers are the ultimate decadence.
Take a look at Sarah’s blog here
COMMENT TO WIN
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is post a comment below on what you love about Sarah’s home. A randomly drawn entry from all comments that were submitted in the contest period and approved by Houzz UK Ltd will determine this month’s prize winner. Approved comments will be included in the draw automatically.The prize winner will receive a set of two Ikea Ranarp wall lights (if out of stock, a £40 Ikea gift voucher will be issued). Closing date 23.59pm Monday 7 March 2016. View the full competition T&Cs here. *This competition has now closed*
Are you a UK interiors blogger? Talk to us! If you’d like to submit your home for this series, please send details to ukeditor@houzz.com.
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is post a comment below on what you love about Sarah’s home. A randomly drawn entry from all comments that were submitted in the contest period and approved by Houzz UK Ltd will determine this month’s prize winner. Approved comments will be included in the draw automatically.The prize winner will receive a set of two Ikea Ranarp wall lights (if out of stock, a £40 Ikea gift voucher will be issued). Closing date 23.59pm Monday 7 March 2016. View the full competition T&Cs here. *This competition has now closed*
Are you a UK interiors blogger? Talk to us! If you’d like to submit your home for this series, please send details to ukeditor@houzz.com.
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I love the clever mix of textiles that dress up the sofa :)
Gosh Sarah! You must be so thrilled with so much positive reaction to your home!