CHESTER SPRINGS – Your grandmother gave you an antique mirror, but you are torn on whether to keep it or simply toss it.
Memories are worth preserving and artist Kim Rowe will come to your rescue. With a little bit of paint, Rowe can create beautiful designs on chests and drawers, or she can teach you how to paint a mirror yourself—and outfit you with everything you need.
The Downingtown resident owns the small business, For the Nest, at the Iron Bird, in Chester Springs. She also works out of Downingtown and Bird-in-Hand.
“I started painting furniture as a hobby when I was a social worker in long-term care,” she said during an interview at the gallery. “Eventually, my hobby turned into a business.”
Rowe loves to help people with their projects.
“Maybe it is the social worker in me, but there are many people out there who want to up-cycle furniture and home decor in their homes, she said. “I always encourage people to try it!
“You can usually find me with paint on my clothes and a paintbrush in my hand.”
Rowe up-cycles old furniture that is worth saving from being discarded.
“A lot of furniture ends up in landfills,” the artist said. She visits garage sales and flea markets, takes donations, finds antique furniture on social media sites and occasionally picks up a prime piece at the curb, prior to the garbage man picking it up.
“So many people have pieces in their homes that are probably worth giving a new look,” Rowe said.
She loves teaching the whole process and sells all that is needed to custom up-cycle that end table, at your home.
“I like helping people,” she said. “When somebody saves old furniture of very good quality from a landfill, and they put paint on, it’s a lot of fun.”
Rowe calls what she does, a DIY (Do it Yourself) project.
Rowe enjoys hearing the story behind a piece.
“I want you to have it because you know the sentimental value and the history of the furniture,” she said. “I love helping people taking things they already have and helping them with colors.
“I like seeing people excited about what they are doing, because they can’t believe it turned out so good.”
For the Nest is located at the Iron Bird, at 213 Pottstown Pike, along with the work of 14 other artists. For more information, go to kimrowe@forthenestwithkim rowe.com
