My name is Clare and I’m obsessed with making no-longer loved, discarded items beautiful and treasured again. I can’t stop!
There is nothing that excites me more than a battered old piece of furniture, long past its peak. All it’s asking for is a bit (or sometimes a lot) of tlc (tender loving care) to transform it into a highly desirable piece again.
I love walking into a room or a house that is full of potential. I can always see a thousand different options and visions of how it could be. Bringing these to life fills me with delight, energy and pleasure – especially if its for someone else. Nothing better than seeing their surprise and delight at a new face for an old friend.
I’ve spent over twenty years in a high-powered, corporate career, as director of sales and marketing for global brands, and this is how I spend my weekends. I want to change attitudes and behaviours: let’s not shove stuff in landfill, let’s make the recycled chic, gorgeous and desirable.
Doesn't Cost The Earth Interiors 
Wow – look at you! This is all totally out of my league, when are you doing a blog on English Football in the 1980s or Fine beers of the world? That said, this family is not a total loss, Sue loves this stuff and watches loads of TV shows on it (while I’m downstairs watching footy). Once she’s up and running, I know she’ll have a comment on the website (which looks top quality!) and more importantly, the subject.
Clare
Brilliant stuff. well pitched, great photos, you write the way you talk and very motivating. What about curtains? You had lovely ones in the study with a ribbon – very different. I’m going to send this to my friends. You’ve done a great job!
Anne
Clare your work has always been imaginative and tasteful – I remember your first marble fireplace you painted where I could not tell it was not natural. I am very glad you have decided to photo and catalogue your work. I recommend lots of photos for each project and perhaps some intermediate ones as well. I hope this blog encourages you to do more as you are very good at it and with such passion will only get better.
Looks great, Clare! Good luck with it. Have you given up your day job?:)
It makes me think you would have loved our family home. It was full of ‘battered old pieces of furniture, long past their peak’ !
A fabulous concept provided by a fabulous woman. I covert all things styled by Clare – divine. Single white female aside… would love a ‘trash to treasure’ section where people can flog off what they no longer want. Especially you Clare… your stuff is too nice to keep for yourself!
Clare, you are extremely talented with lots of style and beauty with a twist……love your work hope this is a start of a new and flourishing dimension to your professional career. Recycling is a wonderful gesture in support of looking after our beautiful planet. It is also an example of creating inspiring elegance within the home; peace, tranquility, serenity, a personal sanctuary – our own unique temple, that supports an aspect of how we might live as part of the Seventh Golden Age on earth as it imminently unfolds.
Clare, this is amazing !!
Love Annemaire
Hi Clare!
I’m Tumaini and you and I are in love with the same things – creating treasures from cast-offs.
I dabble in a few projects but recently I have shifted my focus to creating an online platform for all the artists that do!
Specifically, Flippin Factory caters to the recycled furniture industry.
When you have a moment, take a look at my/our blog. You’ll find a growing list of recycled furniture makers from across the country (and the world).
While you’re there, check out my recent post about furniture made from circuit boards!!
Nice to meet you!
Tumaini
Clare, I have inherited several spoons with the McCoy (as in Hatfield & McCoy) family name engraved on them. I would like to give these as a wedding gift but I’d like to have them put into some type of a display, perhaps a shadowbox along with the provinance (sp?). I am no good at this sort of thing and am wondering how I can find someone who would do it for me at a reasonable price. I live in South Carolina just off Hilton Head Island and only a half hour north of Savannah, GA. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Hi, not sure how I happened upon your website, but I love it! I was wondering if you could tell me about the blue/reddish fabric shown on your post of 2/17/11. That seems like it might be a perfect fir for my dining room. Any info greatly appreciated!
Jenny
Where are you located?
Hi, I stumbled across your site, when looking for ideas on how to remodel my kitchen. You have given me great ideas. Thank you .
Dear Clare
Hello Clare…. We are soulmates! My friend, Elize and I recently started a small business called Painted Ladies (a Painted Lady is a butterfly which starts off ugly and ends up beautiful). We source, buy, paint and re-sell old furniture at really good prices. We haunt auctions, junk shops, pawn shops etc and are always on the look out for a faded beauty with potential which we can rescue, re-invent and re-sell. As neither of us wish to be stuck in a shop all day, we hold a “Two Day Sale” every couple of months. The first one was a huge success and we are currently working on the next one for November 2011. We live in Bethlehem in South Africa. Keep up the good work. Love what you do and nice to meet someone who “speaks our language”. Tracey Sterley, South Africa
Wow – how fabulous. I lived in South Africa for a couple of years so I can just picture it. What a great idea to have limited sales like that. Hope you continue to flourish!