My most treasured object is a marble liquor trolley that I bought 16 years ago, before I was married, at Alfies Antique Market off Lisson Grove in London. It was the first piece of furniture I ever bought for myself, so it is incredibly special to me. It was with me when I started my eponymous fashion label from my living room.
The vintage trolley is made of a chrome base, but I always like to put my individual stamp on the objects around me, so I redesigned the shelves, working with a stonemason to source a specific type of Arabescato marble with burgundy veining to make it feel like a bespoke piece.
In my twenties and early thirties, I used to move house every year, because I always thought I could get something better, and I love designing interiors. Over its years of travelling with me, the trolley has always fitted in perfect harmony with each of the homes I’ve lived in. I’m drawn to anything nostalgic, and this piece of furniture holds incredible memories for me.
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These days, it lives in the bespoke and bridal salon of my flagship store on Sloane Street, which reopened in 2022. I designed the interior myself, taking inspiration from Milanese architecture and Italian rationalism, and the trolley suits it wonderfully.
I love that the store is the new home of Emilia Wickstead, and that my old furniture lives there, representing a meeting of the past and the future. We serve clients drinks from the trolley; it’s a conversation starter and adds a sense of ceremony, emiliawickstead.com.
