Restoration challenge

Nor would most people's garages be stocked, floor to ceiling, with all manner of old and vintage chairs in need of restoration.

Welcome to the world of Queanbeyan's Ben Chapman and Bobby Cerini, a couple determined to prove the truth to the old adage that everything old can indeed become new again.

Over the past 12 months, the creative pair have turned their part-time hobby of bringing unwanted pieces of furniture back to life into a growing local business with an online presence.

The couple, government workers by day, discovered their passion for art and refurbishing after deciding to renovate their first house together, despite having little previous experience in carpentry or design.

Entirely self-taught, both Mr Chapman and Ms Cerini have since taken to their new craft with both enthusiasm and considerable skill.

A fact that is evidenced by the contents of their home showroom, which is filled with beautifully refurbished pieces in full retro glory.

"I suppose something that sets us apart from other craftspeople is most of the time we're not just looking to restore something to its original state," Mr Chapman said.

"We look to go beyond that and create something new.

"I've had a real interest in mid-century design for a while and we really like bringing in our own touch and modernising our pieces. We like to use funky modern fabric from current designers for example to make each piece a bit different."

Originally, the couple sourced much of their material from charity stores, tips or from wherever else an otherwise unwanted and unloved piece caught their eye.

Increasingly however, Mr Chapman said people were bringing their own beloved but often somewhat bedraggled pieces in for a makeover, adding a new dimension to the couple's work.

"It seems most people have a chair or a lamp or something similar they've held onto with the vague notion of having it done up at some stage," he said.

"People can be very attached to pieces, particularly things that have belonged to friends of family members who have passed on.

"So there's a real balance there between restoring something and retaining its original character that may remind them of a different time or place in their lives."

Since starting up their online store The Lost and Found Office earlier this year, Mr Chapman said the budding entrepreneurs had fielded a steady stream of orders.

The couple has also had local and international interest from fellow designers and illustrators in collaborating on future pieces, something Mr Chapman said they were particularly keen to pursue.

"We've learnt from working together that we can create something better than either of us would have done on our own," he said.

"And I think there can be a real force multiplier effect in terms of working with other creatively minded people in terms of producing something interesting."

The Lost and Found Office can be found online at: http://lostandfoundoffice.wordpress.com/