Amie Nelson and Leslie Brown enjoy antique furniture but don’t necessarily like how it looks. Original shades of white, brown or black are a little drab to them and their customers at the Repurpose Room, but they find that a coat of yellow, blue or red can really dress up an old table or dresser. “People see the fun colors and they love it, it gives the pieces new life,” Nelson said in their downtown Warsaw store Wednesday. Originally a consignment shop opened September 2011 in a strip mall on U.S. 30, The Repurpose Room moved to 210 S. Buffalo St. in August. Since the move they’ve focused more on what they love doing, customizing and refitting furniture. “Before, we did the pieces as we had time, (but) when we moved here we decided to go all in,” Nelson said. “Everything in the store represents something we like. We’ve been able to do what we want.” Both said they’ve learned the technique as they go – sanding, laying primer, painting and stressing. Occassionally they learn what not to do, but more often than not, taking a chance pays off. “Every time we experiment, it works out good,” Brown remarked. “Sometimes I think, let’s go crazy, so I make it mustard yellow and people love it. They see it’s OK to have color.” She added she often picks colors based on what she’d like to see in her own house, and other times goes with what’s popular. It depends on the piece, she said. Repurposed pieces range in size from a brightly painted end table or chair to a standing cupboard or armoire. Some pieces stay as they are while others are entirely repurposed, like a picture frame turned into a chalkboard or a stack of luggage sliced into wall shelves. Nelson said they’re able to customize for clients by piece and color, and that mirrors, kitchen buffets and kids desks are some of the big sellers. Prices for most pieces start at around $75 and nothing is more than $400. “It’s affordable (and) people feel they can change it around more often if they’re not spending as much,” she said. “People say they like the prices, so they can afford to buy more than one thing or to come back.” For Christmas shopping she said they plan to offer deals on gift certificates. “Those are good for the holidays, if people don’t know what amount they want to spend,” she said, and noted they’ll soon be getting a new shipment of wooden signs with stylized scriptures and phrases, another popular item. They also sell original paintings and handmade items like hats, scarves and containers. Advertisement for the store has been limited mainly to their Facebook page, Nelson said – www.facebook.com/therepurposeroom – though they’ve also begun donating furniture and gift certificates to charity auctions. Nelson said it helps get their name out there and “we’re happy to help however we can.” The Repurpose Room’s hours are Wednesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nelson noted she and Brown are both stay-at-home moms who needed flexible hours to fit their priorities. “The hours reflect our values,” she said.
