08 Apr 2016

Birthdays, dreams, a little bit of luck and plenty of colour!

I was asked the other day why I started Something Different and our 4th birthday seemed a great time to look back and reflect on that. The answer is a combination of luck and a dream….

I’d wanted to have a shop in Midhurst since I moved to the area almost 25 years ago – to create something that complemented the natural beauty of the landscape around us and that was a draw for both residents and tourists. That always seemed a pipe-dream and then, one day, I walked out of Seven Fish and ‘my’ shop was available to rent!

That was the start of it and I’ve loved the journey from the word go. I’m an avid shopper and, as I’ve travelled around the world, I’m always drawn to the wonderful colours of the East and the intricacy of Indian and Chinese artefacts. When I’m buying, I keep an eye on trends and choose things that complement them, but colour is at the heart of everything I do.

I look for items that will work both within a contemporary, minimalistic environment and in a more traditional setting – but it’s all about being able to mix and match those things to create your own, individual style. To help customers visualise that I try to make each area of the shop a ‘still life’ so, even though there’s masses on display, you can imagine how those items would work with what you have at home.

I also get a thrill out of finding great products that I know can really make a difference to my customers. This season, my favourite things are these wonderful vinyl floor mats and wall tiles from Israel – they can revitalise a kitchen or bathroom for a fraction of the cost of new tiling.

The biggest compliment though is when people come in simply because they love the displays we create. It’s a real highlight when someone comes in and says ‘what a beautiful shop’ and then I hear them say that again to their friends as they leave. That feeds my soul!

– Silvija Stewart –