The second installment of our Designer Profile series is the design duo Linda and John Meyers or Wary Meyers Decorative Arts as they are officially known. I am very excited about sharing their work with you as not only is it incredibly unique and inspiring but it also relies heavily on reusing found objects (from yard sales, flea markets and even off the street) and therefore keeping costs low.
The designers' house in Maine.
The designers' house in Maine.
Le Bet Dresser
Painted gradiant radiator.
Table made w/ found materials.
A mantle made from scrap wood.
Names: Linda and John Meyers
Company: Wary Meyers Decorative Arts
History: Prior to moving to Maine and forming their company in 2004, John was the Corporate Display Director for Anthropologie and Linda was a graphic designer. You can see the influences of their prior professions in their work today. I’ve always been inspired by Anthropologie’s resourceful store displays and that resourcefulness is a mainstay for Wary Meyers. I’ve also noticed some typographical influences (see the Le Bet Dresser) in their work, which must hearken back to Linda’s days as an art director.
Best Known For: Their uncanny ability to take found objects and turn them into cool and functional objects. In 2007, they had a regular column in Time Out New York in which they would take an object they found on a NYC street and turn it into something useful. The brick candleholder is one of my favorites and its easy enough to try.
Signature Style: Their creative use of old objects paired with their mid-century sensibility creates a style that mixes the character of used objects with modern shapes.
Why They are Awesome: Hello!? Practically all of their work is based on the idea of reusability – taking something that would be going into a landfill and making it not only functional but also really cool. And coincidentally, when you reuse stuff you are also keeping your costs down.
Their advice about yard sales: Every weekend John and Linda scour the yard sales and flea markets near their house in Maine. Their advice? Go to every sale advertised and also follow signs posted on the street to unadvertised sales. It also helps to get their early.
Other Things You Should Know: They have a book of DIY projects called Tossed and Found. And not only do they create original furniture and decorate interiors, they also have other projects like custom pet portraits, illustrations and prints that you can buy here.
