REVIVE
What was once an empty workshop full of character and potential, now houses some of the best looking Portland-made items around. Above the elaborate retail area of Beam & Anchor is a very active work area where a combination of creative minds produce pieces that cannot be found anywhere else. Among these talented artisans is Leland Duck from Revive. Leland rediscovers, reworks, and reupholsters furniture from any time period or background. Pieces from all over the world make their way to his workshop where he collaborates with the others from the Beam & Anchor family. Some bring Leland items that have been in their family for years, while other pieces make their way to him through friends and work partners. No matter the circumstances, Leland always produces a beautiful transformation. As Leland keeps advancing his already incredible skill set, he collaborates with the other creative individuals in the workshop and continues to grow his business.
E+E: What is the most rewarding part of working in Beam & Anchor's space?Leland Duck: It’s definitely bouncing ideas off each other. I love being lost on a project or not having direction and then having Robert come over and give me a great idea. We worked on a couch that is now downstairs [in the retail space] which was a lot of fun. Robert is always finding interesting items - he's a scavenger. He found this couch that had an amazing structure, but a dog had chewed the fabric off. We stripped the outdated fabric and let’s just say, we are always surprised by what is under the layers.Another one of my most memorable pieces was a dining room chair that had been given to my client by his grandmother. There were layers upon layers of different fabrics. You could tell the chair was really loved by its previous owners - they didn’t want to give it up. When they got tired of one fabric, they would just slap another on without taking the old fabric off. It was like a time capsule. You could almost tell which fabric was put on in which decade. I made a collection of the fabrics and gave it to the client at the end. He loved it.
A lot of people want great stories about their furniture. And why not? Someone will find a table or couch at an estate sale and bring it to me. We dream up plans together and after working on it for a few hours it looks completely different. It's amazing how much it can change and how quickly. I love seeing our client's face when I first show them our creation.
E+E: How did you find your way into the industry?LD: I first started with hot rods. I loved to work on the interior and design - something equally as beautiful inside as out. I am still really into them but I like working with furniture more. When I moved to Portland I wanted to make some extra money and it just took off to the point where I couldn't do it at home anymore. I quit my job and here I am.
E+E: What advice do you give to people who want easy furniture DIY projects?LD: Start small. You can take a staple gun and some fabric and go to town. As long as the structure is intact you can do a lot by yourself . Some projects look a lot more simple than they are. That's when you need professional help. I love showing people how to finish the job. I don't want this art to die off or be lost like others have.
I have also been thinking about teaching a class on DIY projects regarding furniture. Everyone could bring in a tattered piece and leave with something beautiful. It's better than what you can buy new.E+E: What’s the next step for Revive?LD: Right now it’s mainly just me and a small staff but I can tell there is a lot of potential out there. I love this space a lot, but there are only so many things I can fit up here and still do work. So, I want to get projects done faster so we can fill the space with new pieces every week. It's a good problem to have!E+E: Finally, what's your favorite thing about PDX?LD: I like all the different neighborhoods. If you’re from North Portland, North Portland is your place. Or you can go somewhere else and it almost feels like you’re in a different town. It has a whole different feel. I also love that it's not stale; there's always something new and entertaining to see. Everyone is from somewhere else and has brought what they love to Portland. It's a really good place; I couldn't think of a better spot to live.
Revive2710 N Interstate Ave.Portland, OR 97227503-308-9307