C&J: Upcycling can find beauty under layers of age
July 15, 2011
Colin and Justin
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
The inspiration required to brandish our quills can derive from the most unlikely sources. Indeed it came recently during a business lunch at the Holt Renfrew Café, a venue of choice when we need uncomplicated food, fast service or simply a lovely environment in which to catch up with friends.
Only last Sunday, before dashing to the U.K. to satisfy a clutch of TV, radio and corporate bookings, we happened upon a trio of ladies who lunch in the hallowed Toronto eatery. Three gals, who a co-diner whispered are daughter, mother and grandmother. But this three-tiered family tree was different to any other we’ve met, bearing, as each member did, an uncanny (almost triplet-like) resemblance to the other two. Age had been somehow transcended, nay, “amended,” and, as we struggled to avert our gaze, we estimated that the immaculately coiffured trio were perhaps in their late 30s, late 50s and late 70s. Either genetics had been particularly kind, or a family deal had been brokered with a plastic surgeon to give each identikit gal the same nose, the same lips and, in fact, the same full facelift. Blimey — pull cord and stand well back!
As much, however, as each familial layer appeared immune to the ravages of time, each, it should also be reported, bore a passing resemblance to ET’s mother in a wind tunnel. That said, we couldn’t help but admire the efforts they’d made to look good. In short they’d “reversioned” or, to use a current media buzz term, they’d “upcycled.” Their faces. And, by the look of it, they’d also worked south by paying similar attention to their bodies. Bum lifts, boob jobs and liposuction; we reckon they’d had it all done. And who can blame them? From a social demographic, clearly, where money is no object, the titillated trio had simply done its best to halt the passage of time. And, if it makes them happy, is that really such a bad thing?
But what does the aforementioned fountain of youth have to do with design? Well, it’s actually rather simple. We’re using the girls as an analogy for making the best of that which you already have. In the same way our Holt Renfrew ladies had “self improved,” so too can you rework existing furniture items or bargain buys to commandeer a whole new look — or indeed brand new purpose.
As the economy grips ever tighter, we’ve assembled, for your cash-saving delectation, a guide to decorative optimization. You probably possess at least a few items with which you’re tired, or perhaps you’ve spotted some bargain buy junk furniture in a local charity store that could be somehow transformed . . . if only you knew how. As we often say: “It’s not how much money you spend but how you spend it,” and today’s radical, yet simple, before and after exemplifies this logic perfectly. Sure the room was dark and dated, but over the course of just one weekend, we brought it to life on a budget.
Our decorative
“nip and tuck” was relatively simple, involving lay on panelling set below a chunky shelf, and we created the entire look using lumber supplies from Home Depot.
The key to installing panelling is to combine the use of a spirit level with clever scrutiny “by eye.” Oftentimes, particularly in older homes, angles aren’t true and floors run off, which may result in wonky visuals if you slavishly adhere to running new installations parallel to your flooring. It’s better to use a spirit level for horizontal installation (such as dado rails or shelves) and of course a plumb to assure vertical panelling lines remain true.
In terms of colour, we kept everything fresh and beachy with mid-tone blue latex set above white painted panelling (and below our white painted wooden ceiling) and we accessorized our new look with a trip to HomeSense. We can’t even begin to explain just how much we love this store — packed to the rafters with amazing deals and pricing as much as 60 per cent lower than regular retail, it’s impossible not to find a bargain. We struggle to think of a project in Canada (or across the pond in Britain, for that matter) where we didn’t raid HomeSense for “final styling.”
As much as our overall fix was simple, reworking the existing dining set would be the coup de grâce that brought our scheme in on budget as far as cost cutting was concerned. Structurally sound and devoid of woodworm or other infestations, the set was proportionally perfect and we knew it could be brought to life with a little care and attention. Due to time constraints, we sent the furniture to a specialist renovator who revamped it with a lime wash finish, but you can achieve similar results on a DIY basis. These days, most big box outlets stock “all in one” kits, which can be used to achieve various results. From staining kits to marbling sets, and from paint and graining tools to decals, the DIY market now expounds with choice. To update the set even further, we recovered the tired chair pads using fabric remnants stapled securely in place on the underside.
If you want
to save money — and protect the environment into the bargain — where should you start? Well, that all depends on what you have and what you plan on doing with it. During previous assignments we’ve chopped down dining table legs to reversion as coffee tables, and we’ve added castors to the bottom off nightstands to give them a whole new portable lease on life. We’ve updated kitchen cabinetry with a lick of paint and a trip to Lee Valley Hardware, and we’ve reupholstered dumpster sourced chesterfields with jaunty fabric and nickel button detailing. Once you start reversioning, or upcycling, it becomes incredibly addictive due to the sense of satisfaction derived from making good of previous discard.
As with any design project (be it a room’s complete overhaul or the application of funky wall transfers to update plain space), it’s important to consider preparation. Just as our Holt Renfrew ladies probably didn’t go for the chop on the day they dreamed, for the first time, about how they might look with their, ahem, upcycled faces, so too is it important to do your ground work and ready everything for its new life.
Preparation is critical and, if reworking lumber, genus is an important consideration. Pine, for example, has grain which can be easily opened via simple sanding, whereas mahogany has a denser composition which means its “structure” won’t absorb finishes quite as easily. This oak furniture set, fortunately, responded well to sanding; our specialist finisher reported that after abrasion with rough gauge paper (and subsequently finer wet and dry paper), it easily absorbed the lime wash finish as applied.
The trick when applying finish is to lay it on as lightly as possible; if using water-based products (which we prefer) dilute 60/40 (water/product) and apply with a lint-free cloth. If you drown the grain with heavy wash, it won’t properly penetrate the surface, which may impart uneven results. Allow product to dry between coats, then buff with wax polish till surfaces are smooth. You can, in fact, use standard latex to build up your finish as opposed to pricier specialist product, but the latter is likely to proffer better results.
If you fancy
a spot of upcycling but don’t have existing furniture to rework, we advise online auction sale sites such as eBay or Kijiji to source affordable items. Consignment stores such as Around The Block, can also be a great source of value for money kit that you can dramatically be rebirthed with a little imagination. From what we see, there’s a surfeit of Mid-Century Modern furniture, but with this we recommend caution — good Danish and American retro furniture is revered and therefore has considerable value (Eames, Ercol or Knoll credenza’s can easily fetch thousands), so think carefully before brandishing the sander or a refinishing kit. It makes better sense to modify cheaper laminate or melamine options, which can be picked up in junk stores for under $100. Bear in mind, however, that plastics won’t absorb paint as well as lumber, but that a satisfactory “solid” finish can be achieved by carefully priming and subsequently rollering with satin or specialist melamine paint.
We suppose, in summation, that proficient upscaling comes down to what you have, what you can find and how much time you’re prepared to allocate making better of it. As we all search for new ways to stretch the dollar, upscaling couldn’t be more pertinent. And, as the Greek philosopher Plato once said, “necessity is the mother of invention”. His logic, while centuries old, seems to be at its most relevant now.
Now, go grab that sandpaper and start planning!
Further reading: Upcycling: Create Beautiful Things With the Stuff You Already Have’ by Danny Seo, published by Running Press and available mid August at www.amazon.ca.
Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan are the hosts of HGTV’s Colin & Justin’s Home Heist and the authors of Colin & Justin’s Home Heist Style Guide, published by Penguin Group (Canada). Follow them on Twitter @colinjustin or on Facebook (ColinandJustin). Contact them through their website, www.colinandjustin.tv.
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