By ANNA HARRINGTON
Over the past few months, a unique cultural addition has been making its mark on Williamstown’s shopping scene.
Officially launched last week, Retropia specialises in sourcing, refurbishing and selling pre-loved Danish homewares.
Danish-born shop owner Pia Fonsboel said the business provided locals with the opportunity to obtain furnishings previously unavailable in the western suburbs.
“The people in Williamstown who want this [type of furniture] often have to go over to the east for it – they just don’t have access to it,” Mrs Fonsboel said.
“We wanted people here to get good quality Danish furniture, and the locals have opened their arms to us.”
Hand-made from hard woods such as teak, mahogany and rosewood, Danish furniture has long been sought after for its sleek, classic look.
Mrs Fonsboel and her team handpick individual pieces in Denmark, ship them to Australia and refurbish them for sale in the Williamstown showroom.
Retropia only stocks original pieces and while some of its collection is sold virtually unmodified, the shop also uses a combination of paint and fabrics to “re-design” others into custom models intended to last a lifetime.
“I guess, I’m a bit against a throw-away society where you buy something cheap and it breaks, and you just buy a [replacement],” Mrs Fonsboel said.
“I like proper stuff you can pass down from generation to generation – and if you look after it, it can last a century.”
For more information, visit www.retropiahomewares.com.au.
