Sometimes ‘design’ is as simple as transposing an object from one place and time to another – say, from the inside of a vintage train to the wall of a contemporary loft. A luggage rack by any other name, well, it could be a wall-mounted shelf instead. It just takes a pair of fresh eyes and a great imagination to see the promise in objects other people no longer find useful. The designers at Elemental do just that, turning discarded objects into retro furniture and accessories with personality.

Elemental is a British vintage and antique store with a bit of a twist – in addition to found objects they also sell certain upcycled items, hybridized from old and new alike. When needed, they make modifications – when not, they clean, organize and present for sale essentially as-is. Sometimes, you really just want that texture and signs of aging to bring in extra character and a sense of history.

Examples of Elemental’s fine furniture restoration work include: old cabinets laminated with new (retro) layers, like old signs, advertisements and pieces of billboards … or carved wooden chests cut to fit old wood drawers, miscellaneous salvaged antiques with unique finishes, fasteners, joinery and pulls. Aren’t these so cool and unique? You won’t find them at chain furniture stores, that’s for sure.

But many of their items are simply refurbished and set in a new context – products you might think of as trash if you saw them on the street, but which – when washed up and set against a brick wall and worn wood flooring – start to come alive again. Just look at these old work lights, for instance. 

Newsletter Sign Up

Get the latest design news!

Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest design news.

Thanks for subscribing! Expect a newsletter with the latest out-of-the ordinary designs and innovation soon.

Sign Up

I agree to receive emails from the site. I can withdraw my consent at any time by unsubscribing. Dornob's privacy policy.

Elemental’s incredibly exhaustive list of offerings is categorized and sub-categorized akin to Dornob itself, including (but not limited to): books, bowls, boxes, ceramics, coat stands, glassware, globes, kitchenware, ladders, tea ware, texture, toys, candle lanterns and ceiling lamps, benches, chairs, sofas, stools, apothecaries, armoires, cabinets, cupboards and, of course, haberdashery. Check it all out at the Elemental website.

The post Elemental Turns Discarded Vintage Objects into Beautiful Retro Furniture first appeared on Dornob.