Defining Design Spring 2023 – ASID California North

AMY FREDERICKSON

founder at Revitaliste

Using antique, vintage and heirloom furniture has always been a great way to add character and individuality to a space, but these pre-loved pieces often require some TLC. Interior designers know all too well that the effort to breathe new life into old furniture is time-intensive – getting a quote can take days, response times are slow, lead times are variable, workrooms are far away and quality can be inconsistent.

Cue Revitaliste, the first and only one-stop service designed to make it effortless to give new life to old furniture.

We sat down with Revitaliste founder Amy Frederickson to learn more about the San Francisco based furniture revitalization company, their process, and the value of revitalizing old furniture.

1. Tell me about your background. Why did you start Revitaliste?

I was raised with the idea that good furniture was meant to last many lifetimes. From a young age, I witnessed my parents transform the same furniture pieces in our home to fit different aesthetics over time, instilling in me a deep commitment to reduce waste in all aspects of my life. Throughout my adult life, I have painstakingly “rescued” countless old pieces. Despite the many pitfalls and headaches, I fell in love with the transformation process. Combining this passion with my background in finance and digital strategy, I launched Revitaliste in 2016 out of a desire to make the process to revitalize old furniture inspiring and effortless. I believe that by creating an online, easy-to-access service, people will more frequently opt to revitalize versus replace old furniture.

Vintage French Settee

2. Interior designers often have their own go-to resources for upholstery and refinishing services – what makes Revitaliste different? How would a designer benefit from using your services?

Sewing Chair & Antique Desk

In short, working with Revitaliste is time-saving! We know interior designers wear many hats, have hectic schedules and long to-do lists that take away from their time to focus on designing. We give that time back to designers by eliminating the inefficiencies and dozens of micro tasks associated with giving new life to old furniture, which in turn enables them to stretch their clients’ budget further and allocate resources to more tangible items. When designers work with Revitaliste, they still own the design process, and we expertly bring their design vision to life. Our lead times are short (~4 weeks) and the quality of our work is always guaranteed so designers can feel confident that each piece will be done on time and exactly to specification.

Danish Midcentury Modern Credenza

Antique Sofa

1970s Moon Table

Vintage Bench

3. What services does Revitaliste provide? How does the process work?

Our revitalization services include upholstery, refinishing/restoration, lacquering, powder coating, caning/rushing, and virtually anything else you can imagine to customize “old” furniture. Using our online service is a snap: The first step is to request a quote via our website, we’ll then provide you with a detailed project quote the same day. Next, share your vision for the piece and we’ll meticulously document the details to ensure we’re aligned. The next step is to submit payment online, and as a complimentary service we’ll procure your fabrics (at designer net) and any materials necessary to complete the project. And finally, schedule a convenient day and time for furniture pickup/delivery via our online calendar. A dedicated Trade Project Specialist guides you through the process and ensures each project is done on time and exactly to specification. In total, a designer will only spend about 2 hours throughout the entire revitalization process!

MCM Table

Bergere Chair

Fauteuil Chair

Milo Baughman

4. Why should designers include “revitalized” furniture in the mix when they design spaces?

Great design often includes custom and bespoke pieces that reflect personality, character, and authenticity–and at its core revitalization is customization with a significantly smaller environmental footprint. The US has a profound waste problem with +12 tons of furniture being sent to the landfill every year and designers are in a unique position to have a meaningful impact on turning the tide. If just one piece of furniture was revitalized versus purchased new on each project, we could collectively save millions of pieces from the landfill every year. All of our work is highly localized and performed by best-in-class artisans, all of whom have 20+ years of experience in their crafts. We provide our services throughout the Bay Area (including Napa and Sonoma) and have expanded to Los Angeles and New York City.