AMBER-LEA MARIE
NEWS Contributor
Jerret Vanstone says he creates Island-inspired designs to fit West Coast wants.
“It was something that started about 12 years ago,” said furniture designer Vanstone, the owner of Island Style Creations in Qualicum Beach. “I’ve always found real pleasure creating something that wasn’t just straightforward and mainstream – creating the things that people wish they could have but didn’t know was possible is something that has always been important to me.”
A trend in the right direction, Vanstone talks Island Style Creations’ carbon footprint, or lack thereof, and staying green.
“Right now most of what I design is custom created from reclaimed wood. I source a lot of wood from old barns,” Vanstone said. “It seems to be what most people want, which is great because of the sustainability aspect. It’s a cool trend and one that I hope sticks around for a while.”
Through timeless pieces that one can hold onto for decades, Vanstone ignites a little trendiness into each piece. From nightstands and beds to custom feature walls and tables of all kinds, Vanstone also works with glass, metal and concrete.
“I think getting something that speaks to you and speaks about you is far more than just pressboard and ease. Saving up for something that is going to stay around for 30 or 40 years is, in my opinion, far more worth it. I mean, you can feel the buzz in the air a little bit about it, too. People are starting to shift their ways and want to have sustainable pieces that will last.”
As quality versus quantity proves to be the golden ticket for Vanstone and his loyal customer base, there is no set design or set plans when getting to work.
“A lot of the time I just think of an idea, go in the shop and start creating and it just evolves into something,” Vanstone said of his West Coast style designs. “Sometimes the little flaws end up being the best part of the whole piece. I don’t really want to build the same thing over and over again. Every piece of furniture should be custom to the place that it’s going in. It’s about quality and the story behind the design, not just instant gratification. Ideally, I would love to sit down with someone and together we can customize a piece that they’re proud to have in their home and call it their own. Something that nobody else has.”
Visit www.facebook.com/JerretVanstoneIslandStyleCreations.com to view Island Style Creations’ latest designs and for a link to Island Style Creations’ website launching this spring.
To view furniture in-store, visit West Coast Foam & Mattress, located at 631 Island Hwy. E #1, Parksville, or call Vanstone at 250-240-4304.