what is upcycling?

Last week I was asked to style a bedroom for an upcoming feature in The Dominion Post. In the course of talking about what I had done and why, I mentioned the word 'upcycling'. 'That's an interesting word' said the journalist. 'What does it mean?'

Hmmm. What does it mean to someone not immersed in the interiors scene? I'm not sure that I articulated my answer all that well. What I was trying to say was that I like to use everyday objects with treasured collectables to decorative effect. I like to think outside the everyday or the original purpose of an object, and use it elsewhere in the home. And I like to mix modern & new with vintage & quirky with design & classic. The result is original and personal. 

Not necessarily thrifted items, although many of my personal favourites are. Sometimes the object has just caught my eye, and is too lovely to be recycled. So I upcycle it instead.

Thus, the olive tin becomes a bedside vase.

The 70's peacock chair gets a vibrant new coat of paint.

The old door becomes a fabulous table top.

The old sign becomes art.

And my old apothecary bottles become vases.

I know that to most of you upcycling is second nature. But apparently not to everyone. I guess some will never see an olive tin as anything but, an olive tin.

Amanda xx

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