About Us
WhyW8Vintage is run with much love and zest by me Kat Johnson, and newly also by my youngest daughter Scarlett
I restore, revive, and reinvent very old furniture to furnish a vintage or eclectic home.
Happiest lifting really huge oak furniture into and out of vans that’s me.
Providing antique, vintage and period furniture and effects online since 2008
My parents were both antique dealers with an antique shop when I was born, and so it’s always been part of who I am. My toys were oddities which arose from the flow of “boxes of stuff”. I remember getting a binbag of dinky toys as a treat. My Dad collected me from school with a full van, I would have to tuck under a kneehole desk in the back as the front was full of china and Victorian pictures. On Sundays I would help Dad move everything around in the storage unit, lifting whatever he needed help with. The brilliant days off school slightly poorly meant a day in the van, poking around at the back of the auction for the treasure (bits that didn`t sell last sale). A sausage roll and a cuppa with the other dealers at the end. Visiting other shops and their owners, selling this and that on the way. It felt like freedom
I masqueraded as a normal person with a normal insurance career in marketing and product development for many years. At lunchtimes I would pretend I was looking for a shop to make my own, the leap was just too big back then. Later though I needed a job that worked with 3 children at 3 different schools. That job could of course only be self-employment. The pipedream never went away, it kept nudging me into auctions, skips, house clearances, charity shops. No matter how I fought it, its who I am. It spoke to me, and I am never more myself than my creative, slightly eccentric, antique self allows, and shamelessly continually indulges
Today WhyW8Vintage specialises in 18th and 19th Century furniture, with a side helping of art, rugs, lamps and mirrors. It also provides some unusual pieces for the interior enthusiast too. I always have a particularly good large selection of Georgian furniture and profusely carved Gothic Victorian Furniture. I have a passion for “wind-out” dining tables, and have many sets of dining chairs to choose from. I have been painting antique furniture since 2008, taught by one of the best local furniture artists. I pride myself on matching the colour to the piece. Each item is carefully painted, there’s no rush. This means no visible brush strokes and a perfect waxed finish. When the item permits, it occasionally gets a more dynamic colour, to help it meld into modern homes as a stunning curveball
Whyw8Vintage
My company “WhyWait Production`s” mission is all about seizing the moment, grabbing exciting opportunities and each day. It’s about not being too busy to do what makes you really, really happy. Running on passion and instinct. The Vintage part is about feeding that love of the old, unusual, and imagining the story of each piece. I love thinking about my 18th century furniture having been a tree for maybe 500 years before it became furniture. I get to help it along with this next bit of its story, to find its next human family.
I love a happy ending, a happy customer who found a piece they fall in love with, and ensuring its safe and timely journey across the country to their home too. Reviving a forgotten or neglected piece of furniture, and restoring its glory is a great feeling. The cherry on the top, is finding its new human who is instantly in love with it. It’s like human match making for my wooden friends
Once more I have a great premises of my own. Room to fix, paint, reimagine each piece, and then style each look, making eclectic room settings which are forever changing. Room to have art, mirrors, rugs, lamps and china too. Creating it has given (ever giving) me so much joy, I can`t wait to share it with you all too. Vintage loving friends old and new.
It’s all online, and viewing by appointment. However, the first Saturday of the month we are open to the public. So come and have a look around. It’s a lovely spot, great dog walking, and fab pub just a short away wander too.
Our Customers Love Us
These are reviews from our customers that you can see for yourself.
Beautiful chair as described. Good communication and arranged courier to deliver to me quickly. Thank you!
Very helpful seller who also arranged transport for me. Good communication. Item exactly as described. Very happy with my purchase. Thank you.
I am so delighted with my purchase! The chest of drawers looks even better in real life than it did in the photos. Kat was incredibly helpful, answering my queries prior to me bidding for this and arranging a courier to deliver to me and all done very quickly. I would definitely recommend this seller.