Hello, I’m Shona

I have recently started a cottage industry reusing, repurposing and re-imagining discarded, unwanted and pre-owned furniture. My new venture combines lots of the things that I love and lots of the things that inspire me.

Former Glory allows me to live a lifestyle that promotes sustainability, one that embraces the reuse, repair and recycle mantra and utilises my love of design, crafting and creativity. More than that, I’ve found a way to use the many skills that I’ve collected over the years like upholstery, sewing and woodcraft.

I gave up a long standing career in the design industry over a year ago with a view to finding a less ‘corporate’ way to live, one that would give me a better work-life balance. Well now I’ve found it.

When lockdown happened I started seeing discarded furniture outside people’s homes on the streets of Bristol and I kept taking it to do up for myself, untill I had too much and that was when Former Glory was born.

In a throw away society the benefits of upcycling/redesigning furniture are many. Not only does it keep beautiful pieces out of landfill, it also allows us to change these items to fit in with our current lifestyles. Vintage furniture that’s been around for decades is usually craftsman made and better than what you can find on the high street today. By giving them a new lease of life we’re doing a bit to save the planet for our future generations.

The materials I use all have eco friendly credentials. I favour Linen because the manufacturing process is kinder than other fabrics. I use Little Greene and Farrow & Ball paints because they are two of only a few eco friendly paints on the market and also because of the hard wearing durable finish and simply gorgeous colours.

Disclaimer: Each item is uniquely hand painted and pre-owned and may have a few age related marks or minor brush strokes.