Throughout the internship program, students learn how to handle and categorize recycled materials, how to communicate and educate others on the importance of conservation, and how to design and construct products using sustainable methods. I had the honor of being the RE Store’s first ever Design Intern.
What is the RE Store?
The RE Store is a Bellingham nonprofit centered around the salvage and reuse of local materials, furniture, and building supplies.
In addition to reducing waste from housing and construction, the RE Store is dedicated to educating the community on sustainability. As a branch of RE Sources for Sustainable Living, the RE Store plants a community garden every spring. The public is encouraged to participate in the planting, care, and harvest of fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables. In doing so, we help create a community which prioritizes sustainable practices.
Eclectic and exciting, the RE Store is a community pillar in Bellingham. There's always something new to find, and a friendly face to help you find it!
Yet another thing that makes the RE Store so special is its Revision Division. The Revision Division is a design workshop inside the RE Store warehouse, where designers Matt Vaughn and David Kilgore transform reclaimed materials into stunning pieces of one of a kind furniture. Operational since 2011, the Revision Division has been commissioned to create tables, bars, and seating for a number of local businesses, in addition to creating housewares to be sold in its gallery.
The Revision Division workshop is where the majority of my internship took place. First, in providing Matt and David with shop assistance, and eventually moving on to drafting and building my own designs. Hard skills gained during this time include shop safety, wood working, up-cycling, metal working, welding, finishing, and gallery curation.
In the roughly five months I was building my own designs, I worked on a number of projects - some successful, some not. Everyday was a learning opportunity for me though, because I was in an environment I felt comfortable making mistakes in. Through my missteps I learned, and my skills developed. And one of the most valuable things I've taken from my time at in the Revision Division is that you cannot let fear of making a mistake prevent you from making something great.
The following selection has been chosen as pieces that represent what I've learned as well as my experience at the RE Store
Chalkboard Organizer
a multi-purpose organizer made from a discarded chalkboard and desk drawer
Rebar Shelf
a decorative shelf made from an old box, rebar, and birch panels
Wall Drawers
matching display and shelving units from recycled desk drawers
Decorative Bottles
thin strips of douglas fir housing four antique apothecary jars
Coffee Table
welded rebar legs with a mahogany veneer over a cedar substrate
Drafting Stool
salvaged stainless steel base, hand-carved maple and walnut seat
Cork Stamps
douglas fir body with laser-cut cork designs
