From Trash to Treasures

The thrifty, upcycling world of Bree Tetz

BY PAULA E. KIRMAN; PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA LAKEMAN

THE OLD SAYING that one person's trash is another person's treasure couldn't be more apt for Bree Tetz. The Edmonton resident has been thrifting, picking, and upcycling her way to a renovated home. She doesn't just go to garage sales or antique stores to purchase things and place them in her house—she puts her own unique touches on vintage items.

Her favourite piece is a deconstructed chair that, in the hands of anyone else, would have likely ended up in a landfill. But after her alterations, the result is a unique creation that has been given new life. “It came from a home where the dog had gotten to the foam and fabric. But that was fine because I knew I was going to tear it apart,” says Tetz.

“I started by removing all the fabric and stuffing, which was horse hair, dating the chair over 100 years old. I then removed all the nails—hundreds and hundreds—then re-stuffed and padded just the front of the chair leaving the back open so you could admire the craftsmanship of this chair. I added recycled drop cloth canvas and reupholstered the chair using furniture nails. I then used the foam from another upcycled chair and covered it with the same fabric.”

Tetz has only been working on her thrifty renovations since December of 2018. However, she has been thrifting since she was a young child with her mother “out of necessity,” something she has carried over as an adult on a strict budget. So, she began thrifting again for her home renovations.

“I love finding unique items or items I can refinish,” she says. “Not only is each item unique, they each have a history, and a story, and usually have a higher quality of craftsmanship.”

Tetz finds the quest for one-of-a-kind pieces every bit as exciting as the creative process. “I love the thrill of the hunt—looking and waiting for the perfect piece—and the finished project. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing your vision come to fruition.”

She also stresses that thrifting, picking, and upcycling is important when being conscious of sustainability. “By purchasing vintage and used pieces, we are reducing the amount of waste headed to our landfills and refusing the need for cheap, disposable furniture,” Tetz says.

“This also rings true for other items as well. My entire home, minus a few pieces, has all been thrifted, including linens, small appliances, kitchen wares, pottery, utensils, glassware, artwork, and even my family's clothing. The list goes on. I think each little bit helps reduce our footprint.” t8n

Besides showing her work on Instagram (@mylittleblackandwhitehouse) Bree is a vendor at the Blue Jar Antique Mall in Edmonton, with a booth where she shares her upcycled and found pieces. She also does commissioned pieces by special request.

Expertise, Experience & Dedication

Caruana adds a focus on quality to those bathroom & kitchen projects

Every house is different and there are as many reasons to renovate as there are homeowners. Some may be looking to update the styles and convenience of their home, or they may renovate to make a house more attractive to buyers and increase its potential resale value. Others may simply want more space or light or a better flow in certain rooms.

Whatever the reason, Caruana Interiors and Contracting helps guide clients through the entire process. As owner Neville Ward explains, every house is as different and unique as the people who live in it. “People usually have kind of an idea of what they want to do,” says Ward. “but they don’t really know where to start.”

That’s where Caruana comes in. The St. Albert company brings expertise, experience and a dedication to quality work and safety to each reno job. As for which renovation jobs Ward is approached by homeowners for advice, bathrooms and kitchens top the list.

BATHROOMS Caruana Interiors has special expertise in bathrooms, their most common renovation. Often, the bathroom is the starting point of a full-scale home renovation. As it turns out, there’s a lot you can do with a bathroom. Some homeowners simply look to upgrade what they already have. “New vanity, new flooring, new bathtub, maybe a nicer shower faucet or toilet, that kind of stuff,” Ward says. Better lighting and ventilation, as well as improved layout, are other common bathroom renovation needs on the minds of homeowners.

Such jobs may be modest, but a few clients opt for a complete overhaul. “Maybe this bathroom’s not very effective, or it’s not laid out very nicely, and they want to completely blow it out and revamp it from scratch and put in something they really love,” adds Ward. This is where things can really get creative, as a little space can be sacrificed here or there for things like a luxury tub, a longer vanity or double sinks.

like a bathroom remodel, when done right, is an investment that can pay for itself over time. Ward estimates that the average customer spends between $18,000 and $22,000 on a typical fullscale bathroom renovation. Adding more upscale hardware will also add value. The good news is that whether your bathroom reno is midrange or luxury, a homeowner planning to sell can expect a good return on the cost—around 60 percent, according to Remodeling magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report.

Like all remodeling jobs that Caruana carries out, the work begins with an in-home consultation. Quotes are never given sight unseen—the experts at Caruana want to get to know the house before a hammer is ever lifted, just as they want to understand the owner’s motivations. “We go to a person’s house, and we actually see the space,” Ward says. “We have to see what we’re dealing with, how old it is, and what condition it’s in.” Caruana’s methodical approach to every home ensures that the work matches the owner’s vision and is carried out in a safe, careful manner.

KITCHENS Caruana approaches kitchen renovations the same way. The heart of the home, kitchens are another popular renovation target. That’s not too surprising, as it’s a room where we spend a lot of time when we’re home, and an outdated or inconvenient kitchen will stand out for all the wrong reasons. Though kitchen renovations can be big, complicated jobs, homeowners often find that they’re necessary every 20 to 25 years, when styles and amenities start reaching the end of their usefulness.

“Kitchens are definitely up there,” Ward says. “Not quite as popular as bathrooms, just because they cost more.” While a small job with just a few updates can be done for $10,000 or less, a typical floor-to-ceiling job might start around $50,000. What you get in return, though, is an entirely new and updated kitchen. “That would include a new floor, removing drywall, and lots of times we replace the whole ceiling,” Ward explains. “All new cabinets, backsplash, appliances, that sort of stuff.”

Kitchen renos often involve a lot of rearranging. Appliances might be moved around, or a wall taken out to open things up. Often, a full electrical rewire is necessary. New appliances, modern cabinets and lighting can work together to create a fresh and modern look that improves the entire home.

As with bathrooms, a kitchen upgrade can also reap some nice returns. Many experts rank kitchens highly when it comes to resale value. In fact, Remodeling magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report in 2018 placed kitchens fifth among types of renovations, recouping about 81 percent of the renovation cost.

While that’s a nice figure to keep in mind, Ward recommends that homeowners not worry too much about resale, whatever their reasons for renovating. After all, it’s difficult to predict what the next owner’s tastes will be. “I’d say, first and foremost, people have to do a renovation for them- selves. It’s more important that something is clean and looks well maintained, then be over-the-top or fully renovated.”

Just like buying a house, the decision to renovate your home is a huge one. Rest assured that no matter your reasons or the size of the job, the professionals at Caruana can help bring your remodeling dreams to life and ensure that you get the full personal value out of your renovations.

780.935.5831 f caruanainteriors.ca 9, 8 Riel Drive, St. Albert, AB Licensed & Insured for your protection Alberta Prepaid Contractor License 320821 Serving St. Albert & Edmonton since 2007