The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Tricks of trade give old furniture new life – and Perth mum inspiration
Upcycling has been a creative outlet for one stay-athome mum from Perth – and reduces landfill waste.
Clare Scott of Coloured Concepts has been upcycling since 2019 and has praised the craft for its “therapeutic” quality.
“I’ve always had an interest in interiors and home decor,” she said. But she wasn’t “inspired” by what she found in mainstream stores.
Clare said: “I wanted something that was a bit more unique, tailored and bespoke.”
With upcycling, Clare says second-hand furniture can be transformed into a “really original piece that can be treasured for many more years to come”.
This inspirational mum was involved in the Tayside Upcycling and Craft Centre (TUCC) when it started.
Clare, Alfie Ianetta and Sarah Peterson, were the minds behind the community interest company.
“I had this idea that perhaps it could be a business,” Clare said.
“We sat around the table and that is how the TUCC shop began.
“It’s a great wee team to be involved with.”
One difficulty Clare came across was grisly.
“There was a woodworm infestation in a piece of furniture,” she said.
All was not lost, however. Even for furniture that has been gnawed on by the bugs, there is still potential.
Clare said: “There are ways to combat this.
“You can treat the wood, protect it, fill the holes and make it as good as new.”
One of the earliest upcycles was a stag minstrel dresser for her sister – she admitted she was a little “gung ho” with the paint brush.
“With this particular piece, I had to redo the whole thing.
“I didn’t appreciate that there are certain woods that are notorious for bleed-through.”
Wood requires some initial TLC to get the surface ready for painting.
If you don’t do these tasks beforehand, the results you are left with can be disappointing.
Clare said that can be “cleaning it down thoroughly with sugar soap to remove any dust, debris or cobwebs, or any other nasties.
“Or maybe it needs a good sand because the veneer has been cracking or splitting.”
You also need to use
primer before painting. Clare had to go through many steps to get the look she wanted for the upcycle, but in the end the “trial and error” was worth it.
“Your outcome is only ever as good as the work you put in to start with,” she said. “So I thought, let’s just start from scratch.
“I’ve never had to abandon a project – there’s usually a solution.”
Another of Clare’s early upcycles turned out great.
“I got my hands on a gorgeous mahogany bureau,” she said. “But nobody likes mahogany furniture any more.”
“So I cleaned it, checked
it and primed it. I painted it a lovely black colour.
“And I added this beautiful floral transfer called midnight bloom. “I was super proud of it.” A customer from Manchester got in touch requesting the item to be delivered 300 miles away.
Although people’s first instinct is to toss out old furniture, Clare insists it still has worth.
“Somebody somewhere will make good use of it,” she urged.
“The furniture of old is so beautifully made.
“It’s not flat-packed, it’s not run of the mill.
“The actual bones of the
piece of furniture are inherently good.
“The sense of satisfaction you get from upcycling – there’s nothing like it.”
Clare recommends a range of places where you can get advice and ideas.
“There’s an online upcycling furniture community where you can share your experiences,” she added. “This offers a lot of inspiration and insight.”
Clare also recommends The Furniture Bible, what she calls “a weighty tome which tells you everything you need to know about wood”.
“Or,” she said, “there’s plain old Youtube.”