It’s hard to find someone on the Coast who feels more strongly about sustainability than Ashley Kitchen, owner of Redecor + Design.
“This is a leading core value of my business. We don’t need to buy ‘new’ all the time! Buying preloved, vintage, used . . . keeps items out of the landfill and reduces our carbon footprint and the unnecessary production of cheap and poorly made things.”
Right down to the bones of the store, Ashley has been inspired to reuse and upcycle. Stop by and look up! The ceiling is made from wooden pallets, painstakingly deconstructed. She’s excited to lead by example: “We spent hours dismantling pallets . . . cutting to size, sanding, white washing and then installing! It’s truly unique and a beautiful upcycle project!” And why not? The result is a soft and unimposing farm-house-meets-beach-fort look that uses something readily available. It’s very freeing, somehow, and enhances the vibe. Somewhere along the way we’ve lost our sense of delight, humour and pragmatism when it comes to designing and building our spaces. And Redecor + Design wants to help.
Redecor’s new, larger space has room for more furniture. Ashley works with local companies to restore and refinish the quality pieces she selects, and the results are satisfying. “It’s a perfect opportunity to give new life to a perfectly functioning piece. Some sanding, a little paint! No need to order cheap and poorly constructed.”
Ashley is also proud to represent and display our incredibly talented Sunshine Coast artists and makers. The list of diverse, high-quality creations includes: watercolor paintings of seascapes and florals, orcas drawn in ink, hand-stitched toss cushions, macrame and macraweaves, pottery of all sorts, locally salvaged wood boards and wood carvings, and woven baskets made from gathered needles and thrifted threads.
Unusual, timeless old stuff. Carefully crafted new stuff. Delightful knicks and knacks.
When asked about her customer base, Ashley notes that she’s seeing more new faces, more couples recently moved from the city, and more men. The larger space invites passersby to stop in and stay longer.
A couple of initiatives involve Ashley’s particular creative skills. One is a table styling service called “Gather.” With a focus on unique and sustainable tablescaping materials, it is perfect for boutique weddings, intimate events, and occasions. This turns something de rigeur into a beautiful talking point. When appropriate, she uses carefully selected bowls and soulful objects from her store. And Ashley never misses an opportunity to give, “20% of all preloved bowl sales is donated to our local foodbank – always.”
Ashley is also excited about using the expanded space and her creative flair (and a degree in Fine Arts from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design) to revisit one of her first loves, pottery. “It’s been many years since I played with mud, and I’m really excited to create the time and space to do this again! Stay tuned for small batch collections of tableware, vases, and sculptural work!”
You’ll have to stop in often or you might miss the rare antique porcelain, the vintage hand-painted vases, soy candles, and new-crafted weaving and knits. Admire the funky, old, salvaged stained glass, beside a massive rustic feast table. There is also a delightful and ever-changing collection of teapots. New or old, these quality objects have stories and soul. Redecor + Design shows us that sustainability can be easy, fun, and beautiful.
