BESPOKE
I work closely with my clients, breathing new life into their existing furniture or sourcing pieces on request.
My designs are made to fit each piece exactly and often celebrate special memories, interests or places. Created or customised to suit your vision and budget, each piece is unique and sustainably handmade.
I have also created a capsule collection of upcycled furniture with British Wallpaper Designer of the Year, Lorna Syson. Our exclusive, made to measure Watlington Woods design is inspired by the flora and fauna of the Chiltern Hills and each piece is individually drawn and printed to perfectly fit your requirements. For an immersive woodland experience the designs are also available as a full wall mural.
To discuss your own bespoke piece or find out more about the Watlington Woods collaboration please contact me or visit lornasyson.co.uk
TRADE
I am always happy to hear from customers, including shops and interior designers. I work closely with you from brief to delivery, ensuring your project is to your specification and arrives on time and within budget. Contact me to find out more about how to collaborate, or to open an account.
PRESS
“Emma Whyte’s talent for creative re-invention and her firm beliefs in sustainable living are evident in every tiny detail of her work”
“Upcycling Queen”
“Some serious gorgeousness and one clever lady”
“A blast of sunshine”
MY MISSION: RELOVED RETAIL REVOLUTION
Every year in the UK we throw out around 1 million tonnes of furniture most of which is buried in landfill or burnt in an incinerator.
I have identified a game changing and highly scalable re-manufacturing opportunity to refresh and redesign used furniture on a commercial scale, while creating supportive and meaningful employment for people who have experienced homelessness.
Having secured social enterprise funding I am now beginning to build this purposeful business and am working in collaboration with Emmaus UK a nationwide charity and social enterprise consisting of 29 communities working to help people out of homelessness for good by collecting and re-selling furniture and other items.
Together, we are Reloved Revolution Ltd an ambitious furniture remanufacturing business with a disruptive environmental mission and a dynamic social impact. To find out more about this circular solution visit us at www.relovedrevolution.com or contact me using the form below.
ABOUT ME
I have been making papered furniture and developing my specialist techniques for more than 20 years. I spent my early career as a Picture Editor, commissioning and researching photography for national newspapers. In 2002, I decided to re-train, studying furniture restoration and learning traditional building techniques. A chance encounter sparked my interest in modern decoupage and I began to adapt the cut paper technique to create my unique and expertly executed pieces of furniture. I am passionate about nature and the environment and firmly committed to sustainability. My personal work often features native British birds, animals and trees.
CONTACT ME
I’d love to hear from you, to get in touch click the button below.
THE PROCESS
On arrival at the workshop, each piece of furniture is assessed for condition and any repairs are made. Handles, catches, bolts and locks are numbered and removed for cleaning and polishing.
Surfaces are rigorously prepared and final measurements are taken to ensure patterns fit perfectly around handles or door and drawer openings. The paper veneer is cut, glued and precisely applied to the prepared surfaces to ensure total adhesion. It is then repeatedly smoothed and trimmed to achieve a flawless, bonded fit.
The cut edges of the design are hand tinted so they meld seamlessly with the furniture and the eye flows smoothly over them. The paper veneer is then sealed with many layers of varnish and polished with beeswax or a vegan alternative to create a new surface which is both highly durable and softly pleasing to the touch.
