“Welcome to Upcyclist, the place to discover considered design for homes and interiors. Products, projects and ideas featured here are about being smart with resources, reducing waste, slowing consumption and finding creative and sustainable solutions that bring beauty to our everyday lives and surroundings.
I began Upcyclist as a blog in 2011, whilst working as an interiors editor for regional lifestyle magazines, 3 years after graduating from an MA in Interior Design. I was inspired by the resourcefulness of an illustrator friend of mine, Sophie Crichton, who at the time was painting whimsical illustrations on to items of discarded furniture she’d found in the street, something she referred to as ‘upcycling’. It struck me that being able to create a beautiful, durable and desirable product from waste takes imagination, innovation and skill. But further research revealed a lack of resources showcasing artisans like Sophie. I was inspired to curate an online space that featured upcycled pieces; works that genuinely lengthened the life span of the materials used, because they could be considered works of art.
Upcyclist began as somewhere to document the best reuse projects around, be it a chair made from reclaimed wood or a restaurant interior furnished with old doors. Over time, my interest in green design and lifestyle has evolved. Now, in addition to showcasing intelligently upcycled pieces, Upcyclist examines the art of styling vintage as well as the latest in sustainably manufactured furnishings and materials. My aim is to inspire design professionals and homeowners to beautify interior spaces, in a way that reduces our impact on the planet. I hope you enjoy!”
Antonia Edwards
If you have a story that you think may be of interest, please contact antonia@upcyclist.co.uk
Antonia Edwards is the author of Upcyclist: Reclaimed and Remade Furniture, Lighting and Interiors (Prestel Publishing, 2015) and Renovate Innovate: Reclaimed and Upcycled Homes (Prestel Publishing, 2017). In 2015, she was selected for the The Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list of influential Londoners.
