Repurposing heirlooms and finds

Most of us have the odd piece of furniture bequeathed to us that if we are honest, we either don't like or don't know what to do with, but to dispose of it would be disrespectful. The key is not to cover it with a cloth and stick it in a rarely used corner, take ownership and make it work for you.

Any classic movie fan will remember the bathtub cut in half to create a sofa with Audrey Hepburn perched on it in the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany', but generally, these extremes should probably stay right there. Take a little time to look at the finishes, would it look better with different knobs, a different colour, the feet removed. Carefully assess each element and look for the positives.

The barstools shown below, were not heirlooms but purchased at an estate sale and then sandblasted and powder coated for a more modern finish. New cushions were made in an outdoor fabric design to withstand the elements and compliment their new surroundings.