With a combination of confidence and resourcefulness, and a desire to create original and unique pieces, Michelle MacCormack has developed her own unique approach to design. We caught up with Michelle to ask her about her design inspirations, and to find out how she manages to carve her own individual niche on the ever-changing landscape of Irish style.
(Words: Zita Spring, Photography: Paul Sherwood)
I run a small business in Dublin called Pretty Old, where I restyle vintage furniture for modern homes using all traditional methods...
Originally I have a business background, but after traveling and learning about furniture design and restoration, I settled back in Dublin to start my furniture revamping business. Reupholstering using traditional methods is very time consuming and tough on my hands, but I like to keep the original feel of the piece. Some of the work I have to get more skilled people to do but hopefully it will help keep the old crafts alive.
I have always loved old furniture...
I think it tells a lot about history and social history. It’s also the interaction we have with furniture that interests me. I have always loved working with wood – I studied cabinet making in Glasgow and gained a real understanding for how highly skilled a craft it is. I realised while doing this course that I was more interested in the restoration side. Seeing the before and after is very satisfying. Old furniture tells a story of the people it has been around – you often find bits and pieces down chairs or in drawers that people have lost.
Old furniture was made by hand...
It was built to last because furniture was passed down through the generations and was so expensive to buy. Not all modern furniture is rubbish – there are still people making amazing furniture, and there is a lot of mid-century furniture which is well made. But unfortunately there is a lot of badly made modern furniture. I think it speaks volumes about what is happening in the world when furniture is disposable.
I have had people come to me to restyle their existing furniture...
I really hope that the upside of the financial crisis will be that people think twice before buying badly made, cheap goods. It could go either way. I hope people will realise that buying a well-made quality item is more recession-proof than buying really cheap goods. But the “don’t move, improve” motto should mean that people will rethink what they have before buying something new. Personally, I try to be eco friendly in my day-to-day life, not only in business – I don’t own many things and I try not to be materialistic. I try to buy good quality items that will last, and I also try to buy from local designers or family businesses.
There are some old pieces of furniture that I would never change...
For example, if a piece has some lovely wood I would never paint it. I try to keep the old charm, but some pieces need to be reinvented because of changes in our lifestyles. For example, I recently restyled a 1930s glass cabinet. People used to have glass cabinets to display their china but younger people today don’t keep up this practice. So I restyled it using wallpaper and paint and now it could find a new purpose in a shop or in a girl’s bedroom. I love antiques and am all for keeping the original look - there are some pieces where it would be criminal to change anything.
I am in the process of setting up a website where people can view finished pieces which are for sale...
The dream is to some day have a shop and a workshop out the back. Finding a workshop is the hardest part – I have converted my mother’s garage into a temporary workshop but am hoping to find other premises this year. But space is at a premium in Dublin and rent is high. I work part time and I don’t think Pretty Old will ever make me a fortune but I enjoy it so much I am committed to giving it a go.
Final thoughts:
We love Michelle's unique furniture styling, and her appreciation and respect for a piece's authenticity and historical personality. Do you like to reinvent old pieces of furniture, or do you prefer to go for more modern pieces? Tell us in the comments!
