Page 45 - Biz X Magazine - October 2015 Edition
P. 45
ask the experts BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Reclaim Artistry . . .
Where Every Piece Tells A Story
By Dave Halliday
D uring the past few years in your house you and anything wooden or steel that still can we are able to work with wood, cement, glass,
be transformed into something truly unique steel etc. I like to tell my clients and anyone who
have accomplished quite a bit towards making
the place more personal. Every minor touch and and functional.” Difazio explains he sees asks that I can build anything from anything,” he
addition you have made reflects a portion of your himself “as an artist, not a carpenter or a states. “I like a challenge. Projects that challenge
taste and personality as well as that of your spouse. woodworker. My paint brushes are my sanders, me help develop my art techniques. My materials
The end result is a home that is a reflection of you grinders and my saws. Although I do have a are not always the easiest to find. There is no big
and functional as well. past working in the trade, I tend to do things box store supplier for the work that I do. I do have
Unfortunately, this process doesn’t necessarily my own way. I like to break the rules in the suppliers all over the place, but every now and then
guarantee any level of uniqueness to your abode. woodworking world.” specific materials are really hard to find, however,
Sure your “man-room” is decorated with your I always make it work.”
favourite team’s colours and logos, but the Do you and the potential client discuss the
neighbour has a similar setup with a different direction that a piece will go in? “Yes,” replies
team. Your kitchen and living room are typical Difazio and he adds, “When a client approaches
and functional. Everything is very nice, but you me about a project we meet either at my shop or
both wish you could add some touches to make at the job site. We then kind of pick each other’s
your living spaces unique. brains to make sure we are both on the same page.
Having the desire to add unique features to I also tend to present them with other cool ideas
one’s home is a starting point, but being able to that they hadn’t thought about.”
develop a plan and see it through from conception What would you say are some of the benefits
to completion is another story. You need a of using your creations rather than traditional
professional, an artist, a designer. We at Biz X items? “Someone who is using my creation in
were able to sit and discuss the artistic possibilities their home or business has for sure ‘one-upped
with Michael Difazio, Owner, Designer, Builder, the Joneses,’” he boasts. “Even if I create a piece
and Artist at Michael Difazio Reclaim Artistry, more than one time they are still going to be very
1023 Drouillard Road in Windsor different from each other, just like a snowflake.”
(MichaelDifazio.com). He elaborates more: “I build conversation
What service does your company provide? pieces. I like to see my work as a focal point or
“We build custom furniture and decor; an accent to the style of your home or business.
conversation pieces that we encourage you to This claw foot couch conversion piece was crafted from Hand-made products are one thing, but a unique
set your coffee or beer onto,” indicates Difazio. a tub previously within the maid’s chamber of an older handmade piece made from historic materials
Walkerville home. Photo courtesy of Michael Difazio.
“I like to build furniture that you are not afraid definitely won’t be overlooked in the room.”
to put your feet on top of or be afraid to mark up. The markings you mentioned are likely from In the end you decided to transform your dining
Markings to me tell stories, a brand new table has the material’s original purpose then? “Yes, when room from the stodgy appearance that it previously
no past; my pieces all tell an awesome story, that ’s I am building a piece I tend to not try and hide maintained to a unique and edgy appearance with
why I love doing what I do, I love history.” the imperfections in the material I am using,” the addition of some one-of-a-kind creations.
So the pieces you create are from pre-existing says Difazio. “I will take that imperfection and In the past when you had company over, the
items? He states, “I use old materials that are no highlight it, it’s the details like that to me that dining room was seldom used outside of meals for
longer able to serve their original purposes. I give really make it clear that the material I used to build large gatherings, now it seems that your company
them new life. I use a lot of materials such as re-sawn the table top has seen some things in its days.” is drawn to the artistry that the room evokes.
barn beams, bowling lanes (see Contents photo), What techniques do you employ in the Perhaps other rooms in the house can become a
barn-wood, old flooring, old church pews creation of your work? “Here at Reclaim Artistry, part of your own personal gallery?
45
BIZ X MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2015
BizX2015OCT52.indd 45 2015-09-29 10:02 PM
Reclaim Artistry . . .
Where Every Piece Tells A Story
By Dave Halliday
D uring the past few years in your house you and anything wooden or steel that still can we are able to work with wood, cement, glass,
be transformed into something truly unique steel etc. I like to tell my clients and anyone who
have accomplished quite a bit towards making
the place more personal. Every minor touch and and functional.” Difazio explains he sees asks that I can build anything from anything,” he
addition you have made reflects a portion of your himself “as an artist, not a carpenter or a states. “I like a challenge. Projects that challenge
taste and personality as well as that of your spouse. woodworker. My paint brushes are my sanders, me help develop my art techniques. My materials
The end result is a home that is a reflection of you grinders and my saws. Although I do have a are not always the easiest to find. There is no big
and functional as well. past working in the trade, I tend to do things box store supplier for the work that I do. I do have
Unfortunately, this process doesn’t necessarily my own way. I like to break the rules in the suppliers all over the place, but every now and then
guarantee any level of uniqueness to your abode. woodworking world.” specific materials are really hard to find, however,
Sure your “man-room” is decorated with your I always make it work.”
favourite team’s colours and logos, but the Do you and the potential client discuss the
neighbour has a similar setup with a different direction that a piece will go in? “Yes,” replies
team. Your kitchen and living room are typical Difazio and he adds, “When a client approaches
and functional. Everything is very nice, but you me about a project we meet either at my shop or
both wish you could add some touches to make at the job site. We then kind of pick each other’s
your living spaces unique. brains to make sure we are both on the same page.
Having the desire to add unique features to I also tend to present them with other cool ideas
one’s home is a starting point, but being able to that they hadn’t thought about.”
develop a plan and see it through from conception What would you say are some of the benefits
to completion is another story. You need a of using your creations rather than traditional
professional, an artist, a designer. We at Biz X items? “Someone who is using my creation in
were able to sit and discuss the artistic possibilities their home or business has for sure ‘one-upped
with Michael Difazio, Owner, Designer, Builder, the Joneses,’” he boasts. “Even if I create a piece
and Artist at Michael Difazio Reclaim Artistry, more than one time they are still going to be very
1023 Drouillard Road in Windsor different from each other, just like a snowflake.”
(MichaelDifazio.com). He elaborates more: “I build conversation
What service does your company provide? pieces. I like to see my work as a focal point or
“We build custom furniture and decor; an accent to the style of your home or business.
conversation pieces that we encourage you to This claw foot couch conversion piece was crafted from Hand-made products are one thing, but a unique
set your coffee or beer onto,” indicates Difazio. a tub previously within the maid’s chamber of an older handmade piece made from historic materials
Walkerville home. Photo courtesy of Michael Difazio.
“I like to build furniture that you are not afraid definitely won’t be overlooked in the room.”
to put your feet on top of or be afraid to mark up. The markings you mentioned are likely from In the end you decided to transform your dining
Markings to me tell stories, a brand new table has the material’s original purpose then? “Yes, when room from the stodgy appearance that it previously
no past; my pieces all tell an awesome story, that ’s I am building a piece I tend to not try and hide maintained to a unique and edgy appearance with
why I love doing what I do, I love history.” the imperfections in the material I am using,” the addition of some one-of-a-kind creations.
So the pieces you create are from pre-existing says Difazio. “I will take that imperfection and In the past when you had company over, the
items? He states, “I use old materials that are no highlight it, it’s the details like that to me that dining room was seldom used outside of meals for
longer able to serve their original purposes. I give really make it clear that the material I used to build large gatherings, now it seems that your company
them new life. I use a lot of materials such as re-sawn the table top has seen some things in its days.” is drawn to the artistry that the room evokes.
barn beams, bowling lanes (see Contents photo), What techniques do you employ in the Perhaps other rooms in the house can become a
barn-wood, old flooring, old church pews creation of your work? “Here at Reclaim Artistry, part of your own personal gallery?
45
BIZ X MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2015
BizX2015OCT52.indd 45 2015-09-29 10:02 PM
