Feel like breathing new life into your home but unsure where to start? Learn how to upcycle your items into stylish and functional pieces with Reclaim That.
I’m liking
In this book, kiwi Sarah Heeringa (of Good magazine fame) demonstrates her passion for mindful living despite the throwaway culture that surrounds us. Previously unwanted items can be looked at through new eyes if you have the know-how, and that’s what Heeringa offers in this book. There are 30 + projects demonstrated, complete with how-to guides and lots of images showing the end result of inspirational transformations. Some are fabulous, like the cane furniture that starts of ghastly and ends up looking designer, and a whitewashed sideboard that is made both useful and beautiful.
Things that made me go hmmmm
The editing needed some more work, which is unfortunate. I had been reading the book and had noted a number of errors, when my mother in law picked it up and within minutes said a whole paragraph had been more or less replicated.
Although not true of everything in Reclaim That, some of these projects won’t necessarily cost you less than replacing the item with something new. I struggle with the level of effort required at times, but can see that the pay off would be worth it, when you look at some of the stunning transformations – like the period-piece sofa that has been recovered in amazing fabric but still maintains all the suave style of a bygone era. Love.
The conclusion
With tips for how to spot unwanted/well-priced objects that have heaps of potential, the ability to create a vision for how something *could* look, and a lens on the true art of upcycling, this book has the potential to appeal to a wide audience. It would make a great gift for someone working on remodelling their home, restyling a bach or just those with a keen interest in really being able to put pieces together in a way that works.
