With her magpie-eye and love of tactile finishes, Christina Easton has created a seaside interiors destination that she hopes will inspire you to reinvent your home. Jenny Needham reports

Fancy a four-foot high light-up neon giraffe? Every home should have one. Or a recycled aluminium sculpture or a papier mache elf? The LillianDaph Store, an exciting new interiors store in Saltburn can supply all these and much, much more.

Carefully hand-picking products from local artists on her doorstep, as well as from around the globe, Christina Easton has opened her first outlet and is making it her mission to champion the skill involved in good design and beautiful artisan home-wares, bringing them together to create a great shopping experience.

“I am passionate about good quality design, artisan craft and the age-old tradition of shopping,” says the 25-year-old art school graduate from nearby Brotton. “Online and boring retail outlets have taken the excitement and sensation out of what should be something enjoyable. The LillianDaph Store aims to enchant, creating a destination like nothing we’ve seen here before. This is my dream and passion and I’m so excited to share it.”

Born from a frustration at the lack of interior-based inspiration in the region, Christina hopes her boutique will be a unique destination where shoppers can get lost in inspiring surroundings showcasing art, furniture, homewares, home accessories, lighting and furnishings. She is drawn towards highly tactile and luxurious finishes, and wants shoppers to fully experience the products on offer, “to touch them, feel them and see them in the flesh – a rare luxury when purchasing these days”.

Christina also hopes her customers will be inspired to reinvent their interiors by taking home something different from the run-of-the-mill products in many high street chains. “I have learnt that these choices really can positively impact your lifestyle,” she says.

The shop is housed in the old Post Office, in Saltburn, and Christina and partner Craig, an electrical engineer, worked hard to have it ready for the grand opening in October. It was named after the couple’s two dogs, Lillian and Daphne.

“The first weeks have been a whirlwind,” says Christina. “We have had such a positive response. It's overwhelming, but reassuring. You have this idea in your head that you know you believe in, but don't know how it is going to be received, so the fact that people understand and appreciate what we're trying to do is just so humbling.”

She has always been creative, watching her mum make things as she grew up. “She always experimented with interiors and our home was a fun place to live,” says Christina. “I loved textiles right from watching my older sister study it at school, and I followed in her footsteps.”

The couple live in Christina’s old family home. They moved in three years ago and have been working hard to put their own stamp on it. “I'm a total mash-up when it comes to interiors,” says Christina. “I love dark and interesting spaces, so dark walls are a must, but I love to use clever lighting and accessories to make it feel grand and atmospheric. I don't really stick to one style. If I love it, whether it's old, new, too big, too small, I'll buy it and find a place for it.”

It must be tempting, then, to take lots of lovely things from LillianDaph and sneak them home at the end of the day. “It's agonising not being able to bring things home, but Craig would kill me,” she laughs. “If I had to pick just one thing to give house room to, it would have to be our exclusive ‘Life is what you make it’ sign by Light Up North as this is what my nana tells me every day.”

Other favourites are magical papier mache characters by York artist Joanna Coupland. “They have the ability to make you smile in an instant. We had some extraordinary pieces from her for the festive season, including elves and snow fairies,” says Christina. Then there are cushions and lampshades by old university pal Jo Stenberg. “We stock her unusual cushions and lampshades, as well as her unique recycled aluminium sculptures,” says Christina. “Often working with natural and recycled resources, Jo has the ability to make the most mundane of objects or subjects beautiful.”

And finally, of course, there was the show-stopping giraffe, which was snapped up in under a week. “It was from an original drawing of mine, redrawn in EL wire and brought to life by Light Up North,” says Christina. “The light-up effect of their work is transformative.”

LillianDaph, the Old Post Office, 10 Station Street, Saltburn-by-the-Sea. T: 07538-837754; W: interiors@lilliandaph.co.uk.