SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)—- When you see an old couch, table, or rusted item on the sidewalk your first thought is probably that its done its due diligence. Amelia Beamish sees a new purpose for it.
Beamish is a photographer whose side hustle is running a business called Beamish Works. Beamish takes old furniture and items such as tables, suitcases, trunks, etc., and refurnishes them, returning them to its former glory according to her website. This business is not only family run but woman run as well, since Beamish and her mother, Rose Levin, work together. According to Beamish, the business works well because her style and her mother’s complement each other.
“My involvement in it, was a way to antique more and her involvement was a way to rationalize buying more tools,” Beamish said.
Beamish Works is based out of a warehouse on 509 West Fayette Street Syracuse, and it has a rustic look and feel, which compliments Beamish’s work and ascetic.
“I like things that still have a bit of rust on them or still look a little like naturally patina… sometimes I joke that it’s just a lazy ascetic, but I like it,” Beamish said.
The lower-level of the warehouse is where Beamish has all her unfinished and some finished work. It’s also where the magic happens. There are tools, wood, paint, everything she needs to turn these old items into something new and improved. A few floors up is her office where framed pictures of her work plaster the walls. Cameras and photography equipment also takes up most of the room, but it still has a cozy vibe. There’s a couch and table with games on them, and a big window to let in light. This is where Beamish photographs most of her work and takes potential buyers to view products.
The price for Beamish’s items can be anywhere from $20- $100 for one of her pieces.
Beamish finds most of the items she refurnishes from auctions, garage sales and the Salvation Army. While Levin does most of the building, sanding and painting Beamish takes photos of the finished products and tries to sell them, which she says is the most challenging part about her job.
“Marketing 100 percent… I like showing up to the shows, I like doing the work in the workshop, but I absolutely hate the day-to-day of social media, it’s so draining,” Beamish said.
According to Beamish it is great to work for yourself because you are on your own timeline but that can also be a downside because for her, procrastination will kick in.
While Beamish makes unique furniture, she also dabbles in taxi derby.
Beamish is not sure what her next big project will be as of right now but she recently won 30 school desks and chairs in an auction that she says she is really excited to start working on.
Transcript
JANELLE POTTINGER: If you see a couch or table out on the sidewalk, your first thought is probably that it’s trash. To Amelia Beamish, it’s art.
POTTINGER: Inside the warehouse where she creates and handles the business side of her job, her artwork plasters the walls. Everything in her office was created by her. According to Beamish, what others see as trash matches her ascetic.
AMELIA BEAMISH: I like things that still have a bit of rust on them or still look a little like naturally patina… sometimes I joke that it’s just a lazy ascetic, but I like it.
POTTINGER: Beamish is a photographer, but on her free time she finds old furniture and items and makes them new and improved. As long as there is old furniture to be refurnished, Beamish will always have a side hussle. this family-run business works well according to beamish because her style and her mother’s compliment each other.
BEAMISH: My involvement in it, was a way to antique more and her involvement was a way to rationalize buying more tools.
POTTINGER: Most of the trash Beamish uses comes from auctions, the salvation army, and garage sales. while using dangerous machinery that they have in the warehouse where she works and lifting heavy objects is part of the job, it’s not the difficult part for Beamish. According to her, promoting her product is the most challenging.
BEAMISH: Marketing 100 percent is the… I like showing up to the shows, I like doing the work in the workshop, but I absolutely hate the day-to-day of social media, it’s so draining.
POTTINGER: While Amelia makes unique furniture, she also dabbles in taxi derby as you can see beside me. But what Amelia is most excited about is about the 30 desks she won in an auction. Reporting in Syracuse, Janelle Pottinger for N-C-C News.