Rescuing 20th-century airplane parts from the junkyard and turning them into exclusive luxury furniture is fun for Craviations. In contrast to the repairing of aircraft, which must be conducted in adherence to strict industry standards, the designing of furniture allows for much more creativity. After all, a badly repaired aircraft can lead to death, but a badly designed chair can only lead to a sore bum.

Due to the high safety standards of the aviation industry, even minor damage to certain parts is enough grounds for them to be scrapped. Rather than allow these pieces to be stripped and broken down in a scrap yard, Craviations takes them and worsens the damage to make them all more distinctive. Their aviation-inspired creations offer a certain charm to those who love planes and unique furniture.

For over two decades, Mike and Carolynn Rancourt have been running an aircraft structural repair company in Eastern Ontario, close to the Canadian capital of Ottawa. M.R. Airframe Ltd. fixes many types of aircraft, from helicopters to small airplanes and even large passenger models. They also make flight training devices and specialized equipment for machinists and technicians in the industry. Their years of experience and depth of knowledge regarding materials like titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, fiberglass, aramid fibers, and honeycomb panels have given them countless ideas for unique furniture pieces.

Their first transformation was that of a helicopter-airframe-turned-bunk-bed. It can be placed over an existing queen bed, or the space under it can be utilized as a desk area. The user climbs into bed on a horizontal stabilizer placed at the back with slats that have been punched through to create small steps. The cockpit contains storage — and space for a monitor so kids can play their favorite video games.

When Craviations displays their products at design events and furniture expos (like they did in January 2019 at the Interior Design Show in Toronto), they usually attract visitors pulled in by curiosity. People are especially drawn to the Radome Lounger, which comes from the nose of a British Aerospace 146 and the aft section of a Canadian-made helicopter. It’s not the most comfortable chair you’ll ever sit it, but it is one of the most unique seats you’ll probably ever see. The mechanical aesthetic of other pieces, such as a turbine engine coffee table with cast metal and titanium sheeting, is charming for its simplicity. The helicopter gaming station, which can also be made into part of the bunk bed, is a quirky play space that would make a dream hideaway for any child.

Craviations have created many types of furniture and home accessories in the past, each with its own unique character. They make desks from landing gears, gear-top bar tables, sheet metal love seats, horizontal stabilizer coffee tables, main rotor blade candle holders, aft-section bird cage stands, gear transmission clocks, and polished aluminum benches. Regardless of the part or material, if it used to fly but has been permanently grounded, Craviations will find a way to keep it in use.