Why make do when you can redo?
Forget the dumpster dive when looking for pieces to upcycle. For Sebastian Clovis and Samantha Pynn — hosts of HGTV Canada's Save My Reno – it's all about the dumpster save.
So much so that Clovis has made it a sport.
“I call it the `imagination game' – the most unimaginative name of all time,” said Clovis, a retired pro football player turned HGTV Canada contractor. “Before we throw something out, I'll stand it up somewhere and spend five minutes imagining as many different things as I could possibly turn it into. If I can come up with three or more, then to me, that's a signal that my brain is firing on that particular piece so I throw it in the truck and keep it.”
After four seasons of filming a renovation show built on fulfilling cash-conscious homeowners' dreams, Clovis's shop is full of broken down “stuff” waiting to be transformed. His hope is that he might inspire others to join in the game, especially now that people are spending more time at home.
“Upcycling was a very important principle that I specifically brought with me on this show right from the get-go because it's something that's been a part of my life,” he said. The Clovis family motto was `make do with what you have where you are' and that means if something breaks, fix it or if something is tired, breathe new life into it.
Known for her `luxe-on-abudget' style, HGTV Canada designer Pynn shares the sentiment. When looking for items to upcycle, she considers the quality of the material, the sturdiness of the piece and whether or not it has good lines. She's also a fan of the “quiet” upcycle, those special moments when a coat of paint or swath of new fabric turns a boring piece into something spectacular.
“I also come from a family where you didn't always get everything … you had to work with what you had,” said Pynn. “The less that we waste, the better.”
An upcycling highlight from Season 4 is when Clovis pays homage to an original staircase by imagining and building a cool vinyl record stand using the rails, impressing both the homeowners and a skeptical Pynn. The pair also correct a DIY upcycling project gone wrong when they come across a family in dire need of a front hall closet. While the idea was functional in principle – the homeowners had designed a coat rack by adding hooks and a box to an old door – it ended up being a catch-all for everything or as Pynn would say “a serenity buster.”
“Sure enough it was functional, it got the job done. For me, that's a seven out of 10 right there,” said Clovis. “Did it pass Sam's pretty test? I don't know.”
After boxing up the piles of coats, bags, scarves, hats and sports equipment, Clovis saves the day by building a sleek new wardrobe. To avoid your own upcycle disaster, Pynn suggests starting with a good design, inspired by what you see in magazines or on social media channels.
“You don't want to upcycle because you had to,” she said. “Sometimes the everyday needs to be hidden away.”
For more details and show times, visit HGTV.ca.