Upcycling - Climbing The Design Ladder

October 6, 2014 by Chris Billinghurt - GDUKStyle

As an eco chic interior designer-maker I’m mostly to be found surrounded by old furniture and paint, scouting around charity shops, running workshops or redesigning rooms. But even those of us who design with the environment in mind need to keep up to date with what’s happening in the world of interiors so the recent London Design Festival provided me with such an opportunity.

LDF takes place across the capital each year during the second two weeks of September and is the interior design world’s answer to London Fashion Week. I knew there were going to be several designer-makers at LDF who I wanted to meet because they’re also upcyclers - repurposing and reusing is fast becoming an accepted and even fashionable design option. My day began at 100% Design at Earls Court where I met the delightful Lucy Turner. In 2005 Lucy purchased an old sideboard, refurbished and customized it with Formica, took it to a local fair and it sold within minutes. Nine years later she sells via John Lewis and has received national critical acclaim.

After 100% Design I made my way over to Tent London at The Old Truman Brewery, E1. Tent is a young and exciting event, where artisan Zoe Murphy was showcasing her furniture and textiles. Zoe hails from Margate and is a fervent supporter of her hometown. As with Margate, Zoe’s furniture is all about regeneration. She prints vibrant patterns direct to wood carcasses; her designs are distinctive and optimistic and with Kevin McCloud as a fan, this vivacious creative is upcycling her way to a successful future. So now I’m back in the studio I’m feeling very inspired!

Perhaps a visit to one of these talented young upcyclers’ websites may be just the thing to inspire you too!

www.lucyturner.co | www.zoemurphy.com 

GDUKStyle.com October 2014