The art of creating a stylish home is a journey - a process that, as a designer, I have the pleasure of guiding people through. Often the first question that comes up with clients is, 'What look suits our space?'. My initial goal becomes introducing them to a blended aesthetic: a slightly eclectic design plan that includes key elements from a variety of style trends to create a beautifully layered overall vision that can't be pinpointed to just one 'look'.
One of the fundamental styles that I bring into almost every space is reclaimed. Often associated with the industrial look that took decor by storm a few years ago, reclaimed pieces actually have a broad aesthetic and range in style from a refined elegance to an edgy rustic appeal. The idea of working with reclaimed elements offers both a visual reward - a warmth and sense of story, and also an environmental reward - repurposing and redefining reclaimed design elements keeps used pieces out of landfills and simultaneously eliminates the impact of new production on the environment.
There are a few amazing local places I look to when sourcing the reclaimed look. The need to venture outside our own city for incredible finds and craftsmen at the forefront of design is non-existent; Vancouver is a creative city that houses a plethora of local talent, especially with respect to repurposing, a factor that I am proud to support.
My first stop is usually The Lodge at 230 E. Pender. With an unassuming locale in the heart of Chinatown, The Lodge is a collaborative design house that encompasses Space Lab up front (a shop with an endless retail selection of vintage furnishings and accessories, found items and industrial oddities), Bootleg Barbers nestled into a stellar space in the back-of-house (boasting a custom reclaimed decor and some of the tightest cuts and shaves in the city), and also an in-house fabrication team on the lower level for designing custom woodwork, welding, lighting and nearly anything else one could wish to have made.
Another design go-to for me when hunting down reclaimed decor is Scott Landon Antiques, 2349 Granville. Scott has created a name for himself locally and beyond by having a scrutinizing eye for both buying and curating his antique offerings. One of the best ways to sum up the beauty of working with reclaimed pieces is Scott's perspective that "sometimes looking back is a way to move forward". The boutique offers an incredible selection of internationally sourced antiques that bring a one-of-a-kind appeal to decor.
Sholto Design Studio at 446 Union is another local gem that is on the radar of anyone seeking traditional craftsmanship and a contemporary edge within reclaimed custom furnishings. Lead designer Sholto Scranton reflects on his years of training and creating to thoughtfully design quality furniture that will hold its beauty and relevance for generations. Often working with reclaimed or sustainably harvested woods, Sholto works with his clientele to educate on how even the slightest of details can impact the elegance of the finished product.
Here are some of my favourite reclaimed finds that are currently available at these shops:
1. Custom knives handcrafted by Dustin Pritchard, available at The Lodge, $325-$575. Created out of repurposed machinist files and reclaimed wood from a 17th century whaling ship rope shiv, Dustin furthered his designs with the inclusion of found elements like rifle casings or carpenters rulers within the handles, making each piece beautifully unique.
2. Vintage laundry bag with custom hamper base, available at The Lodge, $165. The linen sack is a found item from the 1930's, complete with its hand stitching still intact. The base was custom created out of salvage yard metal and wood panels that were remnants from the renovation of The Lodge space.
3. Bootleg Barbers offers a variety of examples of reclaimed pieces that can be created by the team at The Lodge. The barbershop feature wall is an example of a custom reclaimed application; the wall treatment was designed with wood from an abandoned shed in a shipping container hard, given new life offering both a tactile and visually rustic appeal. The retail shelf within the barbershop is a custom piece made of reclaimed wood from a Railtown renovation and found metal (available for $600) - similar pieces can be made to order to suit any space.
4. Vintage cage light custom pendant, available at Scott Landon Antiques, $895. Designed with multiple production lights from a warehouse in Chicago. Rarely available with the cage housing intact, the lights have been grouped to make a statement, multi-pendant chandelier; CSA approved.
5. Theatre signage, available at Scott Landon Antiques, $6800. This 12' light piece is a hand made find from a theatre in Ottawa. Constructed out of bent metal and bulbs, this is a large scale call out to the neon and commercial lighting trends of this season.
6. Vintage panther statue, available at Scott Landon Antiques, $5500. This bold decor piece for the stylishly brave boasts a 7' length, nearly life sized replication of a living panther. Designed with vintage stretched leather over a wood a paper mâché frame, this statue has been possibly attributed to artist Paul Jouve.
7. Emerald Credenza, available at Sholto Design Studio, pricing available upon request. The Emerald Credenza was designed with both beauty and practicality in mind; versatility is key with this piece, offered in four length options and a variety of interior feature options like vinyl record storage or wine shelving and cocktail set (housed in an inner drawer). There are multiple,finish options for ultimate customization, including white oak, fir, black oak and walnut.
