Glasgow Ingenuity
By Kate Childs • Sep 30th, 2009 • Category: Trends
Eleanor Young is known to trawl the streets of Glasgow looking for discarded furniture. “My friends think I am mad and quite thrifty!” said Eleanor, an up-and-coming textile designer. “It is amazing, the potential of discarded furniture.”
That potential is fully realized in Eleanor’s unique home furnishings sold under the name Fun Makes Good. Her capsule collection is filled with salvaged pieces that have been transformed with bold swatches of cotton, leather, and wool in geometric patterns. Eleanor started Fun Makes Good a year after graduating from The Glasgow School of Art. “The name comes from a poster that I had by my desk when I was at Art School,” she explained. “It became my motto for everything really, so it seemed natural to apply it to my work— it sums it up!” Eleanor is inspired by everything from fashion to architecture to Mexican wrestling masks, and each piece reflects her playful nature.
The first thing Eleanor reupholstered was a swivel chair that she found in pieces near her flat. “It was a great find and a great project to get started with,” said Eleanor, who recovered the chair in textured wool and added multicolored buttons. “It’s in fantastic shape and I use it everyday at my desk.” After seeing the collection for Fun Makes Good, it’s not completely surprising to learn that Eleanor’s personal style mirrors her artistic aesthetic. “I’d say I have quite an eclectic wardrobe, new and old pieces together,” said Eleanor. “However I do love to find vintage gems, the colors and patterns are always so vibrant; some require altering, but that’s all part of the fun.”
Eleanor’s furniture is currently only available in the UK, but she hopes to start an online store soon. In the meantime, you can achieve her sustainable style by transforming found pieces on your own. “Don’t discount anything based on what it’s covered in when you find it!” advised Eleanor. “I’ve found some horrible things, but clean them up and try to imagine them recovered and you will be surprised! If a chair has a good structure then anything goes.”
Kate Childs is Freelance Writer for The Supermelon. If you tweet, follow me at http://www.twitter.com/kate_childs
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I love these especially the one with spikes, it’s very funny.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:25 am
I like the spikes-like and the otto-man one. If if has a pair set would be great!
October 8th, 2009 at 9:18 am
These are fantastic! Have given me lots of diy, self-customising ideas!!
November 12th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Very cool pieces!
November 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Amazing pieces. I like the top two best.
April 15th, 2010 at 5:18 pm