Furnishings used and loved by previous owners are prized for their patina.
Green Living
When It's Good to Show Age
Homeowners turn to stylish items with a past to add interior panache.

The fundamental question of this century has reached the tipping point. It’s no longer ‘Why green?’ but ‘Why not green?’

The possibility and personal fulfillment of living an eco-savvy life without sacrificing style and taste is a reality. As the green movement gains forward momentum, more of us are discovering the pleasure and beauty of adapting antiques, vintage, reclaimed and repurposed furnishings and accessories for interiors. Color, vibrancy, texture and life are found in furniture with a sumptuous patina and accessories made from discarded items that tickle the imagination.

Antique aficionados have been at the forefront of green interiors for decades. Joe Haas, resident designer at Kansas City’s Webster House, says clients like the warmth and economic sensibility of furniture with a past. “They’ll buy a major piece and enjoy it for the rest of their lives,” he notes. “Even in this compromised economy, people add antiques before they purchase new items.”

Jane and Roy Park, owners of Raymore’s Woodson Place Antiques and Interiors, stock their 35-year-old business with hand-picked European vintage and period antiques and say their loyal customers enjoy the inarguable quality of a fine piece of furniture versus the shiny, just-manufactured variety. “We select traditional, country English and country French pieces during European buying trips,” Jane remarks. “Our clients like to purchase items that show some evidence of use, like a rug under a table that’s worn from a shoe resting on it centuries ago.” 

Long-lasting heirloom quality is another reason people gravitate toward antiques. “We never have anything in our store that’s pressed wood. We have furniture that’s stood the test of time and will continue to march through the years,” Jane says.

“Choose to reuse” has been Mission Road Antique Mall’s mantra for years. Rick Villa, the Prairie Village store’s assistant manager, says the antique business embraces the ultimate recycling sensibility. “I’ve been in the business for 25 years and I’ve seen the trends,” he says. “Collecting antiques is hot for years and then fades a bit. This time, with the move toward sustainability, it’s different. People know it’s good to recycle, but they also appreciate the quality of antiques.”

Rick also notices the demographic of buyers is skewing a bit younger. “Young people are very aware of living an eco-friendly life, and they want to fill their homes with things that have been around and have a story.”

In 2007, Trish Moore opened Good Juju, located in the West Bottoms, featuring 22 vendors selling everything from furniture and lighting to fabric and garden accessories — with 90 percent of those items being salvaged, vintage or repurposed. Trish grew up with an affinity for the environment and protecting precious resources; that attitude became an inspiration to open a business honoring her passion.

“We value the principle that there are so many well-built, dated, unattractive or broken things in this world,” she explains. “We look at them differently, acknowledge the quality and see a new personality emerge. We’re really in the business of helping people think inside the box.”

One of Good Juju’s vendors is Fuzzies, owned by Lisa Ehinger, who has an eye for turning things like boring school desks into playful and viable home decor objects. “I made desks into beautiful end tables for a child’s bedroom,” says Lisa, who along with Trish, inspects residential curbs on trash day and those ubiquitous dumpsters that hold treasures for visionaries.

Lisa likes to transform traditional, neglected pieces. “I recently took an old maple radio console and turned it into a mini-bar,” she says. 

Good Juju is open the first weekend of the month and has gained a loyal following of upscale homeowners desiring to inject some salvaged personality into their homes.
Gail Morse, a long-time Kansas City interior designer, has integrated antiques and reclaimed items into her personal decor for decades. “For starters, antiques are a better investment than new,” she says. “I believe every home needs furniture with some dents and scratches so it looks lived in and with a soul.” 

She especially likes mixing architectural pieces like terra cotta, marble and slate in her garden. “It brings dimension to any setting, whether it’s an interior room or a porch,” she notes. “Even in a contemporary setting, a chimney pot from England will effortlessly blend.”

When it comes to decorating in the 21st century, everything old is new again.

Brad Hardin, a LEED-accredited  architect, and Nathan Benjamin, a LEED-accredited construction manager, launched a business in 2008 called PlanetReuse and started material brokering to the trade. They work diligently with architects, designers, contractors and material reclaimers to connect, find and source reused building materials. 

“We take the hard work out and help the design community incorporate reclaimed items into the early stages of projects,” Nathan notes. The duo scours markets across 37 states to find materials like structural steel, wood flooring, glass doors and brick. “We divert materials from landfills,” he adds.

Brad and Nathan offer a short list of their favorite Kansas City destinations to visit:

Habitat ReStore: For home remodeling, additions and new construction projects, Brad and Nathan like the diverse selection of materials that range from framing lumber to tile and accessories. www.restorekc.org

Acronym Designs: This furniture fabricator reflects a passion for sustainability in its designs. Using reclaimed and regionally sourced materials, it offers great modern furniture options. www.acronymdesigns.com

Elements of Green: This cool shop in the heart of the Crossroads offers eco-friendly solutions to homeowners and specializes in products with high recycled content and renewable resources. www.elements-of-green.com

Urban Prairie Architects: If you’re looking for help with a home project, this team has a wealth of knowledge on residential projects striving for sustainable design and unique solutions. www.urbanprairiekc.com