London - August 19, 2009

Pride of Plates

Lou Rota Salvaged and Customised Housewares

Oscar Wilde once said that patriotism is a virtue of the vicious.

But that was long before Britpop, Britart and the delightfully British Union Jack cushions made by Lou Rota.

Flag-emblazoned cushions and chairs might be champions in her eclectic range of housewares and furniture — but patriotism isn’t Rota’s only virtue. The eco-conscious designer salvages vintage furniture and transforms it into covetable modern pieces.

Inspired by her love of the natural world, plates are varnished with pink flamingos, beetles crawl across 1960s plastic stacking chairs, and enormous black butterflies transform French dressers.

You like nothing more than a bit of old-fashioned British eccentricity.

Some might even say you’re Wilde about it.

Available at Caravan Style, 3 Redchurch Street, E2 7DJ (020 7033 3532 or caravanstyle.com); online at notonthehighstreet.com. To see styles, go to lourota.com.