A new Jacksonville store is giving neglected pieces of furniture new life.
“We sell vintage and antique furniture that often has a story,” said Nikki Baker of Springfield, co-owner of Recycled Cottage. The furniture rehabilitation shop opened Wednesday at 229 S. Main St. “Frequently, we repaint it so its life continues. The way I see pieces of furniture is that they have a story and we re-love the piece and get it ready for its next chapter.”
Recycled Cottage has had a shop in Springfield since January 2014. It also sells chalk paint by Annie Sloan and “all things necessary for people to re-love their own furniture,” Baker said. Those refurbishing accessories include brushes, wax, stencils and other products for special painting techniques.
“Old furniture is made so well and is so unique that people can make their home truly reflect them,” Baker said. “I also like that they can make an elegant home on a not-so-elegant budget.”
Recycled Cottage also offers a variety of hands-on classes that cover furniture painting techniques, as well as a studio class, at which people bring in a furniture item and staff helps the furniture owner create “a one-of-a-kind piece.” Class fees range from $65 to $85. A chalk paint workshop will be held at the Jacksonville shop from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 24 and 5 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10. There will be a studio class from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 18. To register for the workshop or class, call 217-271-1405 or stop by the shop.
Baker said she and co-owner Tina Thornhill and shopkeeper Allison Bredemeyer are excited to open a business in downtown Jacksonville.
“We have met some wonderful people from Jacksonville and surrounding towns who have come to our shop in Springfield to shop and take the classes,” Baker said. “It is amazing what is going on in downtown Jacksonville, and we love all the local businesses. We thought the downtown Jacksonville businesses complemented our business.”
Recycled Cottage is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
