Stories from the Emporium

Home Interior • Jan 15, 2026

2026 Interior Trends: Why Maximalism is Back with a Bang

It’s 2026, and interior fashion is all about style and sustainability, goodbye showroom furniture, hello pre-loved pieces. Your home should be a reflection of your unique personality, and this year’s key trends showcase warmth, natural textures, and a touch of nostalgia. With this in mind, we have refreshed our Christmas dining area to create a […]

Exhibitions • Aug 21, 2025

Artist Showcase: Jossiepops – Belfast’s Bold Street Art Maverick

Meet the Artist Behind the Magic Johnny Hamilton, better known as Jossiepops, is a Belfast-based street artist who’s taken Northern Ireland’s art scene by storm. This self-proclaimed “Paid Doodler & Wall Dog” combines nostalgia-fueled imagery with raw street art energy, creating bold prints and murals that stop people in their tracks. What started as a […]

News • Jul 17, 2025

Northern Ireland’s Largest Antiques Fair: A Spectacular Success at On The Square’s Inaugural Event

The weekend of June 28-29, 2025 marked a historic moment as On The Square Emporium hosted Northern Ireland's largest antiques fair at the former Dicksons Garden Centre in Bangor, featuring 40+ dealers and thousands of visitors.

Hints and Tips • Sep 10, 2024

Small Bathroom Ideas: Transform Your Space with Vintage Style

Small bathrooms so often suffer a simple fate. They get neglected from the decoration scheme of your home, keeping only the essential items. It is easy to believe that there is no room for personality in your small bathroom, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Even the smallest space has room for big […]

Home Interior • Aug 27, 2024

Autumn Trends: Shifting Seasons Sustainably

Autumn is just around the corner – and autumn trends are already here! As the leaves change, you may feel the itch to change up your interior. At OTSE, we’re all about expressing individual style rather than following fast-furniture trends. However, we also believe it’s possible to take some inspiration from trends while remaining sustainable. […]

Exhibitions • Aug 19, 2024

Artist Showcase: Codo

Summer may be coming to an end, but our upcoming artist showcase is sure to brighten your day! This quarter, we’re embracing the freedom of expression found in graffiti-style art. Chris Mcguiggan / Codo The featured artist for this exhibit is Chris Mcguiggan, also known as Codo Art. Chris is an artist based in Bangor, […]

Hints and Tips • Aug 6, 2024

Antique, Vintage and Retro

When shopping around for pre-loved furniture, you may come across these three terms: antique, vintage, and retro. These terms can be confusing if you’re new to buying used furniture. After all, aren’t they all just different ways of saying “old”? We’re here to clarify these terms and assist you in your furniture-buying endeavours! Antique An […]

Hints and Tips • Jul 30, 2024

Cast Iron Baths: Why choose one?

Cast iron baths are an enduring staple of vintage-inspired homes. Built-in apron-fronted bathtubs may have taken over as the traditional choice for most homes, but who wants to be traditional? If you’re doing a bathroom refurb, these luxurious tubs are sure to tempt you. What is cast iron? Cast iron is a class of iron-carbon […]

Hints and Tips • Jul 9, 2024

Persian Rugs: Crash Course

Persian rugs are a longtime staple of luxury decor. You’re probably familiar with their general aesthetic, but you may not know the details that make each rug unique and special. In honour of our July 20% off sale on rugs, we’re here to give you a quick crash course on Persian rugs. History Carpet weaving […]

Sustainability • Jul 2, 2024

Plastic Free July: How Antiques Can Help

Plastic Free July is a yearly event begun by the Plastic Free Foundation. They aim to help people find alternatives to single-use plastic, forming habits that will last all year. You probably already know the obvious tips. Reusable water bottles, paper straws and bags for life are commonplace these days, but what about the bigger […]

Home Interior • Jun 25, 2024

Regencycore: Bridgerton Brought to Life

Dearest readers… The internet is abuzz with the latest gossip! The third season of Bridgerton aired to rave reviews, and now we can’t get enough of the Regencycore aesthetic. If you’re a Bridgerton fan, you know this aesthetic well. If you aren’t, worry not! On the Square Emporium is here to spill the details of […]

Home Interior • Jun 18, 2024

Vintage Decor for Modern Life

Introducing vintage decor into your home can be daunting. These days, trends move at the speed of light. Financial and time constraints mean people often choose convenience over beauty and longevity. You may think there is no room for vintage and antique items in your life, but that is not the case! With the help […]

Hints and Tips • Jun 11, 2024

All About Antique Bottles

Antique bottles stand out as one of the most popular collector’s items. To the uninitiated, this might seem strange. After all, what’s so desirable about an old bottle? Well, we’re here to tell you! Size Whether you’re a casual collector or a dedicated labeorphilist, an antique bottle can fit into your life. You could have […]

Hints and Tips • Jun 4, 2024

Reupholstery: Tips, Tricks & Inspiration

Feeling behind the summer trends? Dull furniture making you blue? …Reupholstery to the rescue! Decorating your home for a new season doesn’t have to mean buying all new furniture. Working with what you already have is a great way to create unique pieces without contributing to overconsumption. Of course, deciding to reupholster a piece is […]

Hints and Tips • May 28, 2024

Why Choose Antique this Father’s Day

Father’s Day shopping can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Here are five reasons to choose antique this Father’s Day. 1. Thoughtfulness Too often typical Father’s Day gifts tend to be whatever shower gel set was on offer at the chemist. Why not break tradition by opting for something more personal? Choosing […]

Hints and Tips • May 20, 2024

Vintage Garden Guide

As the seasons change, a flock of new trends for the garden fly in. At OTSE, we believe in disregarding the trends and embracing the style and sustainability of vintage. Here are our tips for putting together a vintage garden that will attract the envy of your neighbours. 1. Statues When it comes to vintage […]

Exhibitions • May 7, 2024

Artist Showcase: Barry’s & the North Coast

It’s time for a new artist showcase at On the Square Emporium! This one has a very familiar theme to anyone in the area. Art and memorabilia come together in this exhibit to evoke nostalgic memories of Barry’s and the North Coast. Paul Gallagher The featured artist for this exhibit is Paul Gallagher. Paul began […]

Hints and Tips • Apr 30, 2024

How to Care for Antiques

Antiques are a stylish and sustainable way to add a special touch to your home. Each item has its own unique history – sometimes even centuries worth! We believe that such significant items should be preserved for as long as possible, whether that be with us or in your home.  Anyone who wants to preserve […]

Sustainability • Apr 23, 2024

Sustainable Spring

A new season is a time for change, and your home is no exception. As you begin your yearly frenzied Spring clear out, you’re sure to want to refresh your space with the season’s hottest trends. The question is: how can you do this without feeding into overconsumption? We’ve got you covered. Here’s some tips […]