After years of wear and tear, furniture depreciates in value and commonly ends up in landfills, but these pieces can be salvaged and brought back to life, transforming into sentimental antiques and lessening the load on our environment.
How Sweet Shabby Chic, one of the vendors at All Through the House, in Okotoks, repurposes and up-cycles home decor and vintage furniture so that it doesn’t go to waste.
Judy Coumont, owner of How Sweet Shabby Chic, has been going to second-hand stores since 2011, searching for used pieces that are diamonds in the rough. She gives them a new life by painting them white, sanding them down for a “shabby chic” style and applying polyurethane to make them last. Picking out the knobs and hardware is an essential part in how her pieces will look in the end.
“I like the older antiques, the ones that look beat up and the ones that have had a history that I know will get thrown in the garbage if I don’t save them,” said Coumont.
Her booth has a cozy cottage aesthetic filled with bone china, stained glass, watercolour art, wreaths and her refurbished antique furniture.
As Coumont has gained more attention and sales in her business, she has slowly expanded her presence at All Through the House.
Carmelle McLean, the manager at All Through the House, says that many shoppers have admired Coumont’s environmentally friendly booth.
“She started off with just a little shelf space that was three feet wide with a shelf on top,” said McLean. “Then, she grew to another booth size, and then she took over this one, when it got built in March when we expanded.”
Coumont also does consignment for people who have inherited pieces that hold sentimental value and just can’t find it in their hearts to get rid of them. Coumont helps them fall in love with their items by refurbishing them to fit the aesthetic of their home.
“I get nervous when I do it because I don’t wanna mess up, but 100 per cent of the time they’re very, very thrilled,” said Coumont.
Coumont is currently up-cycling an inherited headboard for Rebel & Chic, an interior designing business that appreciates sustainability in decorating homes.
“I am absolutely thrilled to work with an interior designer who has the same outlook on sustainability as I do,” said Coumont.
Businesses like Coumont’s are becoming more popular, as people are finding ways to save money and the environment.
Old furniture often ends up being disposed of and becomes one more thing to add in the landfill.
Canadian Interiors helps organizations and companies reduce waste in the workplace. According to Canadian Interiors, more than 10 million tonnes of furniture waste winds up in landfills every year in both Canada and the United States–causing serious harm to the environment as it piles up over time.
Up-cycling reused furniture means these pieces get more lives, moving from home to home continuing to be appreciated time and again.