Furniture re-invented

WORDS: Remy Raitt

Dan Saks from Saks Corner in Cape Town doesn’t just renovate second-hand furniture. He also forms part of an upcycling eco trend that’s gaining momentum worldwide.

A mixture of city smells – that of freshly baked bread, hot Indian spices and the grease and oil of mechanics’ workshops – hit you as you get out of your car on the corner of Lower Main and Chatham Roads in Cape Town’s Observatory.

In front of you, stands Saks Corner furniture store – a small shop that greets you with a lovely scent of wood, leather and fresh upholstery when you enter. Accents of the Saks Corner signature yellow catch your eye: high-gloss drawers, wooden “bokkie” sculptures and business cards have all been given the same treatment.

Saks Corner isn’t your regular furniture or second-hand store. Owner and renovation whizz Dan Saks has filled it with old pieces of furniture that have been given a second chance. Focusing mainly on mid-century wares, Dan retains the furniture’s antiquity but spruces them up through reupholstery, a lick of paint or even adding and subtracting sections of the piece.

In the two years since the store opened, Dan has acquired a multitude of tables, chairs, servers, couches and other bits and bobs at a variety of auctions and private sales. “Anything I can imagine in my Gran’s flat, I buy. That’s the stuff with the right energy,” he says.

Reproducing 1950s and 60s inspired furniture, Dan values craftsmanship. “I look at the fine work of furniture makers from thirty years back and in another 30 years, I don’t want another craftsman to look at my stuff and think ‘wow, this is shoddy’,” Dan explains.

Taking on good-quality pieces is also a must. Dan says he knows the work of a few furniture companies from the Salt River area, which was once a hubbub of furniture production, that he especially likes working with due to their quality.

A unique approach for every piece

Every piece Dan and his assistant, Montfort George, take on is tackled in a unique manner. While one table might just need a new colour palette, another could be taken apart and juxtaposed with the legs of, say, an old sideboard. It’s a creative approach that’s always taken on with the original piece’s integrity in mind.

Besides the form of the furniture, the stories and history behind each piece also add to the magic. “Every piece has its own quirks. By giving it new life, there’s a continuation created between the person who owned it for generations and the new owner”.

Although Dan and Montfort do most of the work on the pieces, couch upholsters and wood turners are also contracted in order to attain stellar quality. Dan’s furniture is also environmentally viable. “A lot of woods are extinguished resources and wastefulness just increases. I like working with solid woods that are often just ripped up and thrown away.”

Dan chooses his woods wisely, always considering the fact that this material evolves and changes colour – a fact that’s taken into account when he decides on designs and accessories.

The quality and originality of Saks Corner’s furniture is evident the moment you step inside. And, when you leave, the smell and touch of Dan’s handiwork lingers for a while.

Have a look for yourself or sign up for their online newsletter, which will keep you in the loop. More information: www.sakscorner.co.za Follow Saks Corner on Twitter: @Sakscorner