Gurugram based studio – The Second Wind founded by Ira Maurya and Abhinav Mehta is focussed on interior design and boutique furniture design. The idea for this unique studio was inspired by the items they saw in their grandmother’s home over the summer vacation. She would often reuse and re-purpose objects of daily use – such as – old clothes woven into rugs, flowers made from plastic bags, and many more. The same idea is being applied at this very creative studio where discarded things find a new purpose and look. The name of the studio – The Second Wind – means ‘renewed energy’, much like their work.
Below is the list of 10 projects by The Second Wind:
1. Residential interior project
This house gets a bright and vibrant interior styling using natural and recycled materials. The combination of vibrant colors, contemporary furniture, and ethnic décor creates an inviting space. The accent elements such as the yellow cushions and red table runner stand out against the creamy walls of the living room.
A natural tree root table is placed between two armchairs which have the same color as the table finish. This placement creates a visual separation between the living room and dining area. The dining area has different accents than the living room and has an overall subtle look. Dark grey table chairs are chosen to camouflage the accidental spills that are natural in the dining room. A teal theme is seen on the floor level seating, which is a great place to relax and read.
2. Art beyond the canvas – exhibition space
The studio designed an exhibition space for artists Tanuja Jain – a ceramic artist, and Mamta Malhotra – an architect. The exhibition was a medley of ceramics and art. It included studio pottery, art, architecture, furniture design using the medium of materials such as clay, wood, paint, color, paper, etc. the theme of the exhibition was along the lines of simplicity, integration with nature, and cultural identity and heritage connections. The studio designed small wooden boxes and short tables to display the artist’s pottery creations. Partially hollowed tree trunks hold small indoor plants and some are painted as well. These are made from reclaimed wood.
3. Kiosk design
The studio designed and built an upcycled kiosk from an old console. This was re-purposed as a tuck shop for coffee. An old chopping board was upcycled as the shop sign. Some leftover wooden pieces were converted into distressed wooden boards on which some quotes were painted. A tea-cup became a succulent holder and a beer bottle got a second life as a vase for tissue paper flowers.
4. Office design
An office was designed for a company called Swadeshi Estate. The reception has wooden accents against a bright white backdrop. Even though the area is small, it creates a sense of a bigger proportion, using the floor to ceiling wooden elements. The seating area adjacent to the reception features an orange and yellow textured paint wall. The minimal white furniture is placed to balance and highlight the wall behind. The office cabins echo the same dark wooden accents of the reception area. The overall design theme is minimal and simplistic. The manager’s cabin features a monochromatic theme consisting of three different shades of wood. The director’s cabin has accents of beige and off-white for the walls. A long console design serves for the extensive file storage. A movable unit in the center stacks maps and plans.
5. Furniture design – Headboard bench
An old headboard gets a new purpose as a vintage-inspired bench. The structure of the bench is all painted white, with gold accents on the back-rest. Vibrant and patterned blue and pink pillows and a throw are highlighted against the plain bench. The final product has a great finish and has no semblance with the previous purpose.
6. Furniture design – Crib Bookshelf
Who would’ve thought that a crib could be transformed into a bookshelf? With a creative vision and unique approach, this studio took an old family crib and added shelves and legs to make a great bookshelf. The bookshelf is painted bright yellow and the various books and little items stand out. The edges of the bookshelf remind of its old purpose – a crib, but not at first glance.
7. Furniture design – Block side tabletop
A wooden block that was rejected from a block-print process is featured in a small square side-table. The carved block-print is seen on the edges of the table. A small glass square has been fitted in the center of the table, which could look great with a small lamp below. The legs of the table used to be the spindles of another old wooden table. The table is painted with a bright aqua blue which can look like a great accent to brighten any corner of a house.
8. Upcycled furniture – Tyre Pouffes and table
At a first glance, these furniture items give an elegant vibe and have no semblance to a tyre, except for the shape. The studio has used old tyres from a landfill to create these beautiful and sophisticated recycled tyre furniture items. The short poufs and tables make for a perfect seating area. The light blue colors and patterned fabric complement the tiny yellow items placed on it.
9. Reclaimed furniture – Pallet tray tabletop
This square tray tabletop has been handcrafted from salvaged pine wood. Complete with a tiled motif in the center, this tray is detachable and multifunctional. The vibrant royal blue color stands out against the plain interiors of the house. It is paired with an identically colored base table.
10. Reclaimed furniture – Pallet table
This rectangular and simple table was made from salvaged wood. Wooden strips balanced on basic sleek wooden legs make this a very minimalistic table. The teal color has been distressed to give the table a rustic feel.
As more and more waste gets thrown out each day, the sustainability of the planet seeks a balance. Studios such as The Second Wind aim to create beautiful and useful items from neglected materials and old broken things. Their work inspires one to look at ordinary objects and find a new purpose in each one. Almost anything and everything can be upcycled, reused, and re-purposed if you have the right vision and lots of creativity.
