Our Upcycling Journey

For our decoupage we use mostly 19th or early 20th century images.

The look began with our restoration work on Victorian bamboo.

Around 20 years ago we wondered ...

...if it worked on bamboo....
.....would it translate to other items?

So we tried it on an old chest.
Painted it black.
Decorated it with fish.

It was bought by a NYC antique dealer.

Who though she thought it wacky...
.....and she was pretty eccentric herself...

.....said she'd give it a try.

A few months later she mailed us a copy of Architectural Digest.

And there it was.

Slowly, over the years we extended the look to other items of furniture.

The vintage buckets, pots and tubs were started as a little sideline to dress up the warehouse....now we have trouble keeping up with demand.

Occasionally we've been asked to work on special pieces for magazine shoots...which have been fun to do...and it's great to be asked.

Music?
We were commissioned to supply a cabinet for the Handel Society..to put their tea, biscuits and mugs in....fun to work on.

We spent a long time sourcing the right Handel material...which we covered the cupboard in.

....well, coffee and tea breaks are important aren't they?

Maps look lovely all over a chest of drawers...gently aged down...

We've used 1930s English and French atlases and street maps.

We are always on the lookout for material.

I came across a wonderful bird book in Kim's... Arundel's 2nd hand bookshop..
spotted it sitting in the window...
Dated 1883

The images and style of writing are simply beautiful.

We never use the original..that would be sacrilege...once its gone... its gone forever..

Our decoupage pieces have taken us on some interesting journeys...

they graced the 4th floor of Liberty London for 3 years....imagine that?

Unknowns in an old warehouse down an Arundel side street...and then...taking over the top floor of one the most prestigious shops in the world.

many cross the Atlantic...

I've even spotted the occasional item in photos of Duchy of Cornwall cottages...

Woohoooo..does that make us
" by Royal appointment " I wonder?

I love my job... beats working for a living.


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