Woman transforms home into huge shop where EVERYTHING is for sale

06/24/2019

Living in a showroom! Woman transforms her stylish home into a giant shop where EVERYTHING is for sale (from her dining table to vases)

Claire Johnston, 47, from Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, runs ‘I Am Nomad’
She is holding third ‘open house’ event at 100-year-old property on July 6 and 7
Claire collects artwork, furniture and soft furnishings from all over the world
All her mid-century interiors and accessories will be for sale next weekend

A woman with an envy-inducing home is opening her door to the public to come and have a look around – and take home anything they want.

After sharing snaps of her exquisitely designed home with her 3,540 Instagram followers on her page I Am Nomad, she decided to invite fans to come and see it for themselves.

Not only that, visitors can take home anything that catches their eye as all her furniture, paintings, cushions and ornaments are for sale.

Claire Johnston, 47, from Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, has spent years kitting out her stunning 100-year-old property with striking artwork, Scandinavian-inspired decor and a host of eclectic, eye-catching features. Pictured is the living room, which she worked with Farrow and Ball and Iona Crawford to redesign

Having held two previous ‘open house’ events in December and March earlier this year, Claire is now gearing up for her third next weekend (July 6 and 7) – with a morning and afternoon sitting on both days.

The advert on her website encourages people to ‘come and visit the house and shop the best in luxury Scandinavian and mid century interiors and accessories’.

She told FEMAIL: ‘Basically everything in the house is for sale, from furniture to rugs to accessories – vases, candles, chocolate, fresh coffee beans and art work.

‘I have lots of vintage mid-century furniture for sale; there’s a dining table for £595, occasional tables priced from £90, vintage chairs from £295, lounge chairs from £600, as well as lots of vases and pick-up items from £5 upwards.

Claire, pictured with her pet pooch in March, got the idea to turn her home into a salesroom after visiting an apartment in Soho, London, while she was on holiday where everything was for sale

‘The only thing not for sale is my great grandfathers roll top desk.’

Claire explained how she got the idea after visiting an apartment in Soho, London, while she was on holiday where everything was for sale.

‘It was very high end and although [it was] all very expensive, I thought it was a fantastic way to sell interiors – so people could see what everything looked like in a home,’ she said.

‘Also it was such a lovely way of shopping, rather than seeing loads of the same thing piled on a shelf.’

Claire’s home is a quirky combination of vintage and contemporary, with items sourced from holidays abroad, antique shops and global trade fairs

Her home is indeed a quirky combination of vintage and contemporary, with items sourced from holidays abroad, antique shops and global trade fairs, which she often attends as part of her day job working for Irish woollen mill Foxford.

Items on sale at Claire’s open house

Piece of art – £2,000

Dining table – £595

Occasional tables – from £90

Vintage chairs – from £295

Lounge chairs – from £600

Vases and pick-up items – from £5

She aded that she normally manages to keep her eye on the bottom line when it comes to getting attached to her prized finds, helped by a good business head established from her 24-year career working for Next.

Once she sells something, she immediately puts her mind to sourcing a replacement.

The most expensive item this time around is a very large piece of art which is £2,000, but Claire admitted she hasn’t actually put a price on it as she doesn’t expect to sell it – but would it someone wanted it.

‘For the first open house I did price a few things up, but now I have come to terms with the concept so I am happy to see anything go to a new home,’ she explained.

Once Claire sells something from her home, she immediately puts her mind to sourcing a replacement. Pictured: Claire’s luxurious spare bedroom

During previous open house events, Claire said visitors were all ‘very respectful’ of the space and treated it like their home.

She gets a kick out of seeing her pieces in other people’s houses, especially when they fit like a glove, which was the case with a pair of Danish leather chairs and a rare mid-century record storage unit which Claire sold during her first open house.

Claire admitted it took her longer than she planned to collect more items to ‘re-stock’ the house after the last event because she decided to completely change the living room decoration.

‘I got the opportunity to work with Farrow and Ball and Iona Crawford – so just because of that and the intricate detail of the decoration it took a month longer than planned.’

Despite living in a ‘showroom’, Claire admitted she doesn’t worry about spilling or breaking things, reasoning: ‘If something happens it’s an accident and we just have to live with it.

Despite living in a ‘showroom’, Claire admitted she doesn’t worry about spilling or breaking things. Pictured: the immaculate kitchen

Claire gets a kick out of seeing her pieces in other people’s houses, especially when they fit like a glove

‘We don’t ask people to take their shoes off, as we want people to feel at home in the house and everyone who has come to the previous open houses have been so lovely and respectful that it is our home I wouldn’t want to make them feel unwelcome.’

Over the two days in July Claire, who spent 27 years working in retail, is expecting around 150 people, and her husband will be by her side to ‘chat to and charm’ guests.

‘Tickets are free and we have food being served by Bakehouse 8 and free drinks from Rapscallion Soda, while Mckay and Whyte will be serving some rum cocktails,’ she said.

Over the two days in July Claire, who spent 27 years working in retail, is expecting around 150 people, and her husband will be by her side to ‘chat to and charm’ guests. Pictured: a hallway adorned with stunning artwork and accessories

While this is not her full-time job, that is the long-term plan: ‘I love it so much and I love meeting new people and making them happy with the things I find.’

Claire refuses to give away too much about where she finds her unique interiors, adding that people sometimes get in touch with her if they see something they think she’d be interested in.

The designer has invited a few independent businesses to showcase some of their own items in the house. Tickets are still available and can be bought from her website.

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