Trash into treasure: New Bedford store refurbishes antique furnishings and décor

NEW BEDFORD — a new store is on a mission to hold, upcycle and in the reduction of waste through educating people the cost in refurbishing old furnishings and décor.

"These are items that people lift with them, with a bit of luck throughout existence because they may be just beautiful nice items and that they're unique," spoke of Esabel S De Sousa, owner of Koke Isha home in Kilburn Mill.

"people are protection, recycling and reducing waste, and brooding about shopping in the neighborhood, looking small."

On Dec. 4, the collective shop opened on the primary flooring of the mill featuring objects reminiscent of vintage furnishings, mid-century funky glassware and consignment earrings.

"every person seems to find some thing that they like," Sousa referred to.

The shop now not best sells Sousa's refurbished items but offers other artisans a chance to promote in a retail shop surroundings instead of most effective relying on the internet.

further items include a mid-century suitcase attached to wooden legs to create a cool console desk, upcycled driftwood tea gentle holders and a mandala design foot stool.

probably the most objects on the market at Koke Isha domestic at Killburn Mill in New Bedford.

One item for sale, that Sousa restored, is a dresser she found in terrible circumstance, within the basement of a seashore condominium. She refurbished the piece, painting it red and hand-painting cherry blossoms on the entrance.

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"If there's a chunk that can also be restored returned to its normal splendor, i'll do this," she mentioned. "however one of the items are past simply refurbishing, in order that they're given new lifestyles and saved out of the landfill."

Sousa says people will pay identical prices for furniture at massive field retailers, however the excellent might not be as everlasting. "it's all particleboard and should fall aside, whereas these are items that have stood the test of time," Sousa introduced.

the brand new Bedford native hopes that her shop will excite a younger technology to admire what can also be performed with vintage furniture from their grandparents or parents.

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"as an alternative of having a yard sale and casting off it, it could make them think twice and say there is value and excellent here," Sousa observed.

Esabel De Sousa sews some pillow cases uses cloth from a old curtain at Koke Isha home at Killburn Mill in New Bedford.

the way it all begun

Born in New Bedford, after excessive faculty, Sousa joined the U.S. Air drive. "i used to be fortunate to commute and are living in different areas," she noted.

Sousa always adored historical past, structure and artifacts. She watched essentially each episode of PBS' "This old apartment."

"i used to be hooked," she stated.

In her 40s, she moved to California to attend faculty and study indoors design. She then labored for The home Consignment middle — the largest furniture and décor consignment enterprise on the West Coast.

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"I realized the trade of consigning and bringing in other individuals to sell their items," Sousa pointed out. "Then, i wanted to take it one step additional with throwing conservation into that."

In 2018, Sousa moved again to New Bedford.

"I had been journeying the Kilburn Mill, and the antique shop downstairs. i used to be starting to watch the evolution of what become occurring to the mill," she observed.

Esabel De Sousa at her newly opened Koke Isha domestic at Killburn Mill in New Bedford.

Sousa meant to open a neighborhood within the old center, however then COVID-19 delayed her plans. In August 2021, Sousa signed a rent to open a store inner the mill.

She named the store Koke Isha home after her grandchildren, Koa ("Ko") and Keanu ("Ke"), Halo ("Ha") and her late grandson, Isaac ("Is").

Sousa said her daughter helps her with the business by using hunting for pieces to refurbish. "She does the funding, I do the work," Sousa said.

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"I remember one of the crucial items that I had picked up in the future was on the curb. She turned into tremendous pregnant along with her 2nd newborn and right here we're loading this into the again of her van," Sousa recalled laughing.

Working with local artists

Sousa works with 10 providers comparable to artisan Cecile Callahan, Love Me Knot crotchet artist, vintage rings artist In a snap and "For The Love of Portuguese food" cookbook creator Milena Rodriguez.

one of the most gadgets on the market at Koke Isha domestic at Killburn Mill in New Bedford.

an additional dealer is artwork and pottery artist Heather Cronin, an arts instructor at Dartmouth excessive school. She's a cancer survivor, like Sousa, who became clinically determined with thyroid melanoma.

they may be both in remission.

Most lately, Sousa has been selling purses that had been in the beginning crocheted runners made by way of her eighty-yr-historic mom — who is nicknamed "Vava" by using the family.

Sousa calls them "Vava's baggage."

"it is so fun to be artistic and start with whatever that appears like trash and end up turning it right into a treasure."

typical-times body of workers creator Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. help local journalism by procuring a digital or print subscription to The average-times nowadays.

this text initially seemed on ordinary-times: Koke Isha home; refurbishes furniture, decor at Kilburn Mill