CURIOSITY :

A strong desire to know or learn something.

An unusual or interesting object or fact.

Hello, we’re Jay and Mel and this is Splash of Curiosity, a joint effort to bring together all the things we do and love under one roof. We’ve been married for 18 years and we spend an inordinate (but very happy) amount of time together. We’re both creatives and we both studied at Central Saint Martins College Of Art where Jay did Fine Art and Sculpture and I did Fashion Communication and Promotion. I started the year Jay graduated which is important only for the reason that it reminds him that I’m younger.

We both continue to enjoy exciting and interesting careers in the creative industries alongside a shared love for design and aesthetic. We’re big collectors of vintage and modern homeware, objects and curiosities and anything which has a story, is useful, displays great design, looks good and makes us smile.

We moved out of London to the Cotswolds in 2009 and after years of renting we finally found our little village cottage where we live with our two boys, two dogs, a cat and two gerbils. It’s very lucky we all get on so well! Jay has always had a workshop and art studio for as long as I’ve known him. A place where he can create and work and somewhere which reflects his own personality and inspirations. I’ve generally always had the kitchen table and as many little corners and nooks as I can get my hands on. I’m a stylist at heart which essentially means I like making things look pretty and need to be surrounded by things which visually inspire me. We both have “day jobs” as well as juggling a busy family life, but the Curiosity Shop offers a window to our world and where we are able to share the things we love. We also spend as much time as possible in our family home in France where we scour the brocantes and marches aux puces to bring back vintage treasure to share. We were married in France and it has always played a hugely important part in both our lives, not just through family and adventure but through our love for French style and homeware.

Splash of Curiosity is really an invitation to come in to our home and our workshop and have a look around…albeit virtually. We’re not having a clear out and we’re not selling the stuff we don’t want, we’ve been building up to this for a very long time and when 2020 rewrote the rule book, it seemed like a very good time to make a splash. We will be curating a mixture of antique, vintage and brand new homeware sourced mainly in France as well as a wonderful collection of art and prints and are able to offer in-house bespoke framing on all pieces.

Our aim is to be constantly refreshing and updating our online store with new things we’ve found and think you’ll like. All pieces are sold online from our home and we will try to show them in use and as part of a scene which we hope will also serve as a bit of inspiration.

We really hope you enjoy your virtual visit to our home, please help yourself to a cup of tea and a biscuit and let us know if you see anything you like. And remember to keep coming back! Things never stay the same for long….