A DESIGNER has revealed his latest upcycled furniture collection as part of his antidote to our throwaway culture.
Matthew Jackman runs The Odd Thing in Wharf Street where he takes forgotten items, some of which are more than a century old, and completely reimagines them.
His aim is to make unique statement pieces for 21st century tastes that spark conversation but are also practical.
The former Culcheth High School student said: “I remember as a kid, being dragged to antiques fairs and car boot sales to find a vintage bargain. It must have made an impression on me because I went on to study fine art at university and focused on sculpture for part of the course.
“I’ve always been handy, helping my dad and uncle to build things in their sheds.
“With The Odd Thing, I’ve brought all these skills together to give a new lease of life to unloved furniture and help keep heirloom pieces in families for years to come.
Matthew, a former graphic designer, started off working in his shed at home but quickly outgrew the space.
He then took on a 700sq ft space in April, which is part workshop, part design studio and part showroom.
Matthew, who attended Warrington Collegiate, added: “It’s amazing what people find at the back of their garage once they know you work with furniture.
“A lot of my pieces have been kind donations from friends and family. I also spend a lot of time searching eBay for hidden gems and keep tabs on second hand sites too.”
Matthew’s favourite job so far has been transforming a tired child’s wardrobe into a sophisticated cocktail cabinet.
He said: “With vintage pieces, you never know what you’re going to find underneath.
“It’s my job to identify and resolve any underlying issues like fixing loose joints, repairing cracks and sourcing quality replacement materials before I start designing and creating the new look.
“The most important thing to me is to produce a high quality result that provokes an emotional reaction from the client.
“There’s a growing realisation that we have to start looking at our possessions in a different light to minimise our individual impact on the planet.
“Instead of going out and buying something new, that might only last you a few years, people are opting for solid, handcrafted furniture that might have seen better days but has so much potential to bring it up to date and in a sustainable way.
“As soon as I set eyes on a vintage piece, my head starts whirring with ideas.”
Check out The Odd Thing at theoddthing.co.uk or find Matthew on Instagram at the_oddthing
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