In the current age of reduce, reuse and recycle, I’m proud to say that I definitely believe in and try to re-purpose furniture as much as I can in a design project. Incorporating existing furnishings is, to me, Design 101. I always use existing pieces in a project if the pieces are good, and can be used to achieve the new look desired. Many times I have redesigned a sofa to fit into a new look, or refinished a cabinet to work with the new theme. I try to be an environmentally conscious designer, so recycling a piece from one room to another is a solution worth exploring. For example, in a recent project, I turned an old frumpy sofa into a new classic by removing dated “bun” feet, eliminating the tufting, adding a dressmaker’s skirt, down cushions, pillows, cording and trim. It just takes creative ability and understanding.