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The Story Behind ReFind Furniture

The Inspiration
ReFind Furniture originated from the creative minds at The ReBuilding Center. Currently, The ReBuilding Center annually recovers more than 4.5 million pounds of reusable building materials. Some of the donated materials, however, have little potential for reuse due to poor condition or limited sizes and quantities. Rather than letting these unique materials get lost in our warehouse or recycled, The ReBuilding Center decided to take a different route. These once cast-off materials became the inspiration and raw resources for ReFind Furniture.

The Principles
Value-added. ReFind Furniture is functional, artistic merchandise made of what had been considered solid waste-short pieces of 100-year-old lumber, paint-coated strips of detailed trim, discarded cabinet drawers, weathered old window sashes and an eclectic mix of hardware and other items.

Reuse. At least 99% of the materials used to build each ReFind Furniture item have been reclaimed. ReFind Furniture will divert and reuse tons of construction and demolition waste.

History. ReFind items are created with materials from our region's architectural past. To the extent possible, we attach narratives describing the content and history of each piece.

Affordable. Our goal is to promote a variety of uses for reclaimed building materials throughout all sectors of our community. We're committed to creating livable-wage jobs, providing hands-on training opportunities, covering our production costs and making ReFind products as affordable as possible.

Functional. Not only is each ReFind piece artistic, it also serves a purpose. Take a load off on a ReFind bench, enjoy your lunch at a ReFind table, hang your jacket on a ReFind coat rack, or display your favorite family photo in a ReFind picture frame.

The Techniques
Form follows character. Each finished ReFind piece reflects the character of its salvaged materials. Rather than "improving" the quality of the reclaimed materials, our goal is to accentuate their features-textures, grains, knots, colors, holes, gouges and other unique characteristics. In essence, we are celebrating the history of the materials, while revitalizing them for enjoyment and utility well into the future.

Handcrafted. Each ReFind item is hand-assembled, one-by-one, by our skilled, creative craftspeople in a brightly-lit workshop in the northwest corner of The ReBuilding Center.

Low-impact finishes. Many ReFind Furniture items, including all of those with any lead paint residues, are sealed with Safecoat ®, a high-quality, water-based finish with very low odors and very low VOC (volatile organic compounds). Other items are sealed with OS Color HARDWAX-OIL, made of natural vegetable oils and waxes, and non-toxic when cured.

The Line
The ReFind Furniture line is diverse. From picture frames, to wall-hanging home accessories-coat racks, cubby/display boxes, bulletin and chalk boards; to outdoor garden planter boxes; to sturdy wood tables of all sizes. We intend to expand the product line and make one-of-a-kind items as different materials present themselves and inspire us.

Visit our showroom inside The ReBuilding Center at:
3625 N. Mississippi Ave. Portland, OR 97227

Open to the public: Monday - Saturday 9-6, Sunday 10-5

To place an order or for more info call us at: 503-445-1756

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