Upcycling Competition

Congratulations to our avid Upcycler, Lucy Turner, who impressed us here at G Plan with her stunning Scrabble Tables, crafted using Vintage G Plan Fresco Side Tables. Lucy has made herself a business from rescuing used furniture, giving it a new lease on life and selling it on to a new, loving home. Keep reading to learn more about her process.

“My name is Lucy, I’ve been laser cutting and customizing laminate for almost 20 years. I use a traditional process of marquetry but have given it a modern twist. I specialise in interiors and furniture. A big part of my business is that I rescue pieces of damaged, quality furniture, and give them new life.

When I started this business about 20 years ago, when Mid-Century furniture was completely out of fashion, I found it almost a criminal act to see quality British craftsmanship discarded, and in some cases even burnt. It made me so sad to see true quality just being dumped and unwanted. So, I developed the idea of what is now called ‘upcycling’.  I have saved over 600 pieces at least from landfill.

I developed a way of giving unwanted furniture a new lease of life by customising Formica Laminate and applying it to the surfaces. I quickly became familiar with the best quality manufacturers, one of them being G Plan! I have always sought for G Plan as I know it’s one of the best out there. Especially the Fresco range, with it’s sumptuous and beautiful teak, it’s a pleasure to restore.

Nowadays, there is a strong love for Mid-Century and pieces are being cherished once more. The furniture I rescue these days needs lots of TLC, whether it has scratches, broken legs or water damage. I can rescue and restore the wood, giving the surfaces a new finish.

These Scrabble Tables are one of my favourite finishes to do. For these specific Scrabble Tables, I have used one of my favourite G Plan pieces, the Fresco Side Tables. The tops were badly damaged, so I have fully restored the magnificent teak and added a Formica Marquetry Scrabble Top. Each piece is laser etched, cut and inlaid giving the table top a new surface. No need for coasters simply wipe clean with Formica’s enduring qualities it’s durable and colour fast. Your own a functional piece of art!

I developed the idea of a scrabble tabletop as a nod towards old Games Tables. I have always loved the game of Scrabble and it was good way of using up offcuts. I always change the colour of the squares on each piece, I never stay true to the original. I find it’s more fun to mix it up. I have made over 20 Scrabble Tables over time, one of them is even owned by Sophie Ellis-Bextor!”

Do you love Lucy’s Scrabble Tables as much as we do? Check out her website to see what treasures she has recently restored and gather some inspiration for your next project. If you’re also an upcycle fiend, make sure to tag us on Instagram or Facebook, we love to see what our customers can create from someone else’s pre-loved furniture.