Retro Reuse

Austin Creative Reuse opens new store section for antiques and oddities

Batreuse's Emporium at Austin Creative Reuse

Austin Creative Reuse has debuted Batreuse's Emporium.

Austin's newest destination for "antiques, curiosities, and retro items" isn't actually a new store at all; it's a new section at Austin Creative Reuse (ACR). The center for pre-owned craft supplies has officially introduced Batreuse's Emporium for high-quality, whole items that "aren't ready to be turned into something new," a March 16 social media post announced.

ACR explained that donations sometimes contain items that are rare or otherwise probably not something to be modified for art. Still, these items are worth sending home with someone new. The Emporium will display them for Austin shoppers first. After some time, if they haven't been picked up, ACR will list them on eBay for Charity. (ACR is the charity that benefits.)

In a particularly organized stroke of inspiration considering Austin's proclivity for chaotic antique shopping, ACR has added tags to each piece detailing its history, retail price, and actual price. Shoppers will have to ask a staff member or volunteer to remove items from cases, but then they'll check out with the rest of their haul at the regular registers.

Photos of the initial display show a wide variety of what can be purchased at the emporium. Tea sets and vases make up at least an entire case. Another case shows off jewelry, while shelves host old magazines, geodes, a fur stole, a serger sewing machine, a stand mixer, a Faber-Castell brush pen set, and more.

To celebrate the Emporium's opening, ACR invites visitors on Friday, March 20, to a free drop-in origami class. "Origami queen" Kelly, a core volunteer at the shop, will teach guests to make origami bats in honor of the "unofficial" reuse mascot and namesake of the emporium, Ms. Batreuse. The class will be held from noon to 3 pm.

Austin Creative Reuse has been in the community since 2009. Donations range from the items listed above to painting supplies, fabrics, yarn, scrapbook materials, games, beads, photos, and even home improvement tools. According to the shop's website, it has a 97 percent diversion rate. That means it sends less than 3 percent of donations to a landfill.

The store is located at 2005 Wheless Ln. Anyone can shop during regular store hours, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 am to 7 pm and Sundays from noon to 6 pm. However, donors must make an appointment.

antiques thrift shopping decor jewelry

Garden Goodness

Austin plant nursery opens stylish studio, showroom, and retail store

Barton Springs Nursery Design Studio & Showroom

Photo by Whitney Runyon

This showroom could almost be called a bookstore with the number of books stacked up all around.

A well-liked nursery in Austin is expanding its influence with a beautiful new showroom. Barton Springs Nursery's new Design Studio & Showroom opened March 16 at 910 N. Lamar. It will be used to set up landscape services, sell furnishings and gifts, and show off plants in interesting, architectural ways — maybe even some that folks can try at home.

The 3,500-square-foot space looks a bit like a garden-inspired library, with a few different spaces to sit down and lots of books on display that guests can buy. People are encouraged to "unwind, linger, and gather."

Barton Springs Nursery Design Studio & Showroom Why not have an indoor sand mound for a cactus display?Photo by Whitney Runyon

Visitors stopping by to set up services can take their project in two directions: landscape architecture and garden installation. They'll meet with experts to consult about their outdoor spaces; staff will help evaluate the health of existing plants, check sun and shade conditions, identify possible challenges with soil or the rest of the site, and just help with ideas.

“Rooted in the belief that gardens are not just places, but also experiences, and we truly hope this space inspires people to slow down and reimagine how we live, gather, and connect through landscapes that feel personal, grounded, and alive,” said studio and showroom owner Amy Hovis in a press release.

Barton Springs Nursery Design Studio & Showroom Fabrics from Oaxaca adds some color to the space.Photo by Whitney Runyon

Guests don't need a big project for an excuse to stop by. They can also come to browse and purchase furnishings, garden accessories, and textiles from Oaxaca. The famous French brands Fermob and Tiptoe supply furniture for retail; the showroom is the only retailer in the country to carry Tiptoe, the release says. Its modular designs allow for customization, and some of the materials are reclaimed to reduce waste.

Barton Springs Nursery Design Studio & Showroom Practical French furniture highlights the design studio element of the space.Photo by Whitney Runyon

“Bringing these brands into our showroom has been a long-held dream, especially after living in Paris for a decade, where Fermob is found in parks, cafés, and public spaces,” said Hovis. “It’s beautiful, joyful furniture that’s made to be used every day and lasts for years, and similarly, Tiptoe represents everything our team cares about: thoughtful design, longevity, flexibility, and furniture that evolves with the way people actually live."

Barton Springs Nursery Design Studio & Showroom A closer look at some of the retail goods in the shop.Photo by Whitney Runyon

The Barton Springs Nursery Design Studio & Showroom is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

openings gardening landscape design architecture