Search & Rescue, Curated Living: Jenny on Found Objects, Familiar Feelings, and the Store That Keeps People Coming Back
We’re so excited to introduce you to Jenny — the creative force behind Search & Rescue, an East London gem known for its clever mix of old and new, scent and colour, practicality and play.
Since Search & Rescue opened their doors over a decade ago, they have become more than just a homewares store; they've created a space where vintage treasures and design-led pieces live side by side, and where customers return again and again to discover their next forever object.
We chatted to Jenny about her love for collecting, the meaning behind the name, and what makes the shop a place people don’t forget.
Search & Rescue has been around for over a decade now - can you tell us a brief bit about yourself, how your shop came to life, and how it has changed over the years?
Search & Rescue is founded on a desire to bring together our passion for vintage furniture, ceramics and textiles with the incredible wealth of talented local independent makers in London and international lifestyle brands making beautiful homewares. We wanted our customers to connect to the history behind the pieces they are buying for their home or giving as gifts, to feel invested in the independent brands and feel a part of their story. We carefully and thoughtfully juxtapose old and new to offer an exciting, curated shopping experience that allows the customer to discover their own favourites and future heirlooms.
Beginning with an industrial aesthetic and a fondness for found ex mill industry pieces, such as metal textile factory off cut bins or mid century drawers for sorting maps and drawings, we have evolved to welcome new moods, ranging from elegant Swedish nesting tables with clean lines to colourful, characterful South American rugs and wall hangings. We always try to tailor a unique offering that mixes vintage pieces with new finds, a collection that is just ours and the reason for people to keep coming back to shop with us. We are the place to come for your essential non essentials!
How would you describe the vibe of your store - in three words?
Intriguing, inspiring, aromatic!
What do you look for when choosing brands to stock? And what drew you to Yonder?
The curation process is instinctive and involves a lot of pulling together of colours and moods, making decisions about balance and visual merchandising as we go, keeping in mind how things will pair together, how a customer might shop an edit and a knowledge of what they are looking for.
We are endlessly shopping for exciting new brands to work with, we visit many trade shows, small maker markets, vintage markets and international fairs, focusing on finding brands that might not be in bigger stores to maintain a feeling of individuality not found on the high street.
Stocking well over a hundred brands means each item is carefully considered, whether it be an early century Japanese tea ceremony table or a coloured coffee cup, each piece has it’s own valued place in the jigsaw of our offering.
We were drawn to Yonder for its luxury and softness, as a brand it offered a soothing aesthetic combining beautiful textured cushions with the comfiest suede slippers that evoked an elegance and calm that we all hope to take a little into our lives!
How do you hope people feel when they walk into your store or shop with you online?
Shopping in a small independent like ours is a much more calming, harmonious experience. We have done the hard work, using our knowledge and expertise to provide the convenience of a carefully thought out collection, curiously mixing vintage furniture and treasured one of a kind finds alongside new products.
We offer the opportunity to relax into a curated aesthetic that our customers can put their trust in. All of our choices are based on how we want our customers to feel when they enter Search & Rescue, we want them to feel welcome and to give a experience shopping environment that is warm and colourful, with a sense of discovery but also an atmosphere of the familiar.
Our loyal customers continue to shop with us because they know that amongst our cult favourites there will always be something new and intriguing to spot, we want them to feel inspired and playful to try mixing old and new.
Do you have a favourite memory or moment since opening the shop?
Too many! It is always wonderful when our customers discover a vintage piece that is something they have been desperately searching for and know exactly where it is going to go in their home. That excitement can’t be replicated by choosing a piece of furniture from a high street shop and is exactly why we love our store, as the customers feel they have found something that is just theirs and completes their jigsaw.
We have customers who regularly come in towards the end of the week waiting to see what vintage pieces have been found for the store, they trust our eye and are gently filling their homes with the Search & Rescue aesthetic which is so thrilling to us.
Even though it is wildly hectic, with barely a moment to breathe, one of our favourite times of year is Christmas and seeing how carefully our customers consider their gift giving, putting together the most beautiful collections of items that sum up the gift giver and the receiver perfectly.
What drew you into collecting vintage items, and what is the meaning behind the name Search & Rescue?
The thrill of the chase when collecting vintage items is what is so exciting, you never know quite what you will encounter or what treasures will be uncovered, finding hidden gems and rare pieces that have had so much life and will go on to live a new life is what drew us into collecting vintage. We want our customers to experience a little of that magic and feel like they have a unique piece that can be perfectly paired with something new from a local maker or international designer. We do the Searching and the customer does the Rescue, it’s a collaborative endeavour!
What's one thing in the shop you'd sneak home for yourself (if you haven't already!)?
We currently have the most incredible vintage South American rug which has a perfect palette of browns, taupes, cream, depicting a fabulous trio of geometric stylised cowboys that I regularly think about coming to live with me. Sadly it is too large for my home! As a consolation I have just snapped up the most beautiful butter dish from our newest Japanese homeware brand to land in store – Marumitsu Poterie .
Visit Search & Rescue
You can explore Search & Rescue’s thoughtfully curated collection of vintage furniture, home décor, gifts and more at https://www.searchandrescuelondon.co.uk/, or stop by the Stoke Newington shop for a warm welcome and some truly special finds.
Follow along on Instagram @searchandrescuelondon
We’re so proud to be part of the Search & Rescue family, where beautiful design and slow, sustainable living are always in style. You’ll find a selection of Yonder pieces in store and online — beautifully made, just the way we like it.
Want to discover more shops like Search & Rescue? Browse our full list of Yonder Stockists to find a store near you.
Or explore our latest collection online, designed for sunny days, slow moments, and sweet memories.
