Bengaluru-based designer Gracy Elezebeth transforms old, discarded wood into sleek, sustainable furniture. With a deep appreciation for vintage materials, she combines her passion for sustainability with a love for quality craftsmanship.

For 19 years, Gracy has been designing homes around Bengaluru, focusing on restoring and upcycling wood from demolished buildings. “Old wood is sturdy. It will last a lifetime if you take basic care,” she says.

Her love for old wood began in 1998 during trips to Puducherry and Kerala, where she would scour shops for antique pieces. “I would rummage through all the wooden stuff and pick up what caught my eye,” recalls Gracy, who is now 54.

She initially started designing homes for friends, and her reputation grew quickly. “At that time, I sourced wood from Pondicherry. I got shutters and planks from there and found a carpenter, who has been with me ever since,” she shares.

Around 2004-05, Gracy's venture had taken off. She began working on two projects a year, sourcing wood from sites where old buildings were being demolished in Bengaluru and nearby cities, including Mysuru, Dharwad, and Belagavi.

Gracy uses wood from old beams, tables, pillars, and cupboards, including Burma teak, mango wood, and occasionally, rosewood. The wood is painstakingly restored before being turned into new fixtures like doors, tables, shelves, and even swings.

Gracy’s process involves meticulous restoration. “The first step is removing all the metal parts like nails, screws and hinges. The wood is then run through a planing machine to even it out,” she explains.

With a keen eye for detail, she ensures the wood is polished with care. “I favour a matte finish and prefer polishing to painting, as in the former, one can see the beautiful grains of the wood.”

Gracy says her process is never rushed, and that she believes in taking it slow so as to not compromise on the quality. In fact, she has refused several projects because the clients wanted the work done in a short period.

For her, the joy lies in turning something “that is old morph into something useful and aesthetically appealing”. “I am also happy that I have encouraged a few carpenters and polishers to keep the skill of working with old wood alive,” she smiles.