Spotlight ✨ Sunday ✨ // Falling Down The Rabbit Hole in Twenty-Six

When I first approached Margaret for an interview, she was in the shop making a wedding gift for a future husband to give to the soon-to-be-bride. The box onto which Margaret had transferred images of the couple on the wooden outlay, was to be given to the bride on the day of her wedding. Something to calm the nerves and stop cold feet, Margaret had joked. It was nothing short of a well-thought out and personal gift. But that's what Twenty Six is all about. 

The store itself is as though you've fallen down that rabbit hole Alice fell and into Wonderland. Every inch of space in the store is decorated with an array of delicately placed giftware. Mechanically placed shelves are nowhere to be seen; the more opted choice being upcycled Victorian and Edwardian dressers and cupboards. Although almost covered head to toe in interior pieces, everything seems to seamlessly fit together with an effortless flow to the shop. Themes appear throughout the store; such as the wedding gifts huddled together on a painted nightstand or the kids toys which spill out from the drawer of an armoire. My favourite part of the store is the cubby hole nestled right in the centre of the store. It's filled with mirrors of different sizes and shapes and somehow doesn't feel like some wacky house of mirrors. 

As Margaret guides me through the shop she tells me that the store was originally her parent's hardware and giftware store. Years of being in the heart of the store and helping with window displays when she was young gave Margaret the creative bug and although she pursued a career as a Clinical Nurse Manager she found herself returning to her roots when she took a career break. Knowing that it was paint she wanted to sell she spent time searching for the right decorative paint and a company who not only believed in their product but had the passion. It was there she found the perfect fit in Annie Sloan. Nine years later and their relationship is stronger than ever, with Margaret facilitating workshops on how to use the Annie Sloan chalk paint and the wonderful trend of up-cycling old furniture. (Find out more about these workshops right here)

So what interior tips does Margaret offer? She advises "putting your personality into your home" and to not be afraid to mix your style with current trends. The best way to do this is to find a cohesive link to your pieces so that your room has an easy flow; whether that be colour or shape.  And know your style! As the interview comes to a close Margaret tells me the biggest lesson she's learned in life is to not to resist change, that the fear that comes with it should be accepted because  it's that fear that makes you realise who you are. 

That fear, when overcome, is liberating. 

Margaret Heffernan - Owner of Twenty-Six: An Eclectic Mix

Some of my favorite bits from Twenty Six:

'Queen of Hearts' Book Box
Available here

Camélia Blanc Scented Candle
Available here

Palmer Reader Hand
Available here

Decorative Rabbit Head
Available here

Pugs & Kisses Card  Available here

Also guys if anyone here is looking to gain some experience with social media content creation, Margaret is looking for someone to do just that with Twenty-Six's FB and Instagram so if that sounds like something up your alley, send her an email at twentysixeclecticmix@gmail.com with content creator as the subject line! 

And make sure to check out Twenty Six on their socials (FB: Twenty-Six) (Instagram: Twenty-Six)

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Until next time...

Aimee♥