FORMER set designer and award-winning artist Paul Helliwell took “the plunge” by setting up a contemporary antique shop in Barnard Castle after being made redundant.
Nine months later, his first foray into selling object d’art, modernist paintings and bold statement pieces has been so successful that he has moved premises from The Bank after buying the former Firkin Pub, on Bakery Mews, Horsemarket.
Mr Helliwell, who runs Antiques Affair, said: “I bought the building in November last year but took time altering the interior and taking out all the bar fittings, putting in stone flooring downstairs.”
After moving into the new premises, which has been decorated in vibrant shades of yellow and blue, he has been overwhelmed by the response from customers.
He added: “When I decided on the colours, yellow downstairs and blue upstairs, I
didn’t realise I’d picked the out the Ukrainian flag until someone pointed out to me.
“I decided to go bold with the colours to demonstrate that you can have fun with antiques and you don’t have to set them in rooms with muted tones. You don’t need to recreate Victorian parlours, you can have a Georgian chaise longue in a modern environment – it’s just the way you curate the pieces.”
Mr Helliwell intends to expand his offering of garden and exterior antiques in the new location.
