When Charu Boujvestig and her husband left London in search of a new adventure in a warmer climate, they arrived in the UAE with just two suitcases and found an apartment they loved in Dubai Marina .
Faced with the challenge of furnishing a home from scratch, Beauvestig decided to take a different approach that would save money while promoting sustainability. She opened her Facebook Marketplace and began shortlisting furniture, decor, lighting, plants, and even tableware. “We bought everything from spoons to cars. We literally just brought shoes and clothes,” Bijuvestig, a strategic advisor from India, told The National newspaper.
I now have all five brands throughout my house, and none of them were purchased at the mall. Rather, Mr. Bjuvestig sources all of his favorite Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, The One, and Marina Home items from Facebook Marketplace, plus he sources one special item from Ikea.
Charu Bjuvestig says she met people from all over the world while searching for her favorite furniture.Anthony Robertson / The National
“My husband is Swedish, so we had to buy IKEA products, which are kind of unique,” says Bijuvestig, who owns a limited-edition pistachio-hued Hemnes daybed. Pointing to the patchwork quilt.
A space full of stories
Filled with rustic elements, ethnic touches, and statement traditional pieces, Bjuvestig's décor can best be described as bohemian with a sophisticated flair. An Indonesian wooden bench that has been in one man's home for more than 100 years has been modernized with white cushions.
There is a buffet that was custom made by the previous owner with a famous woodworker in China. Beauvestig's apartment is filled with large Buddha statues, glass vases filled with artificial flowers, and statement silver lamps, all of which are second-hand, of course.
There's also a sleek gray bar cabinet made by a retired couple who moved back to Germany. The small ceramic tray of dates and dried banana chips that sits on the kitchen counter was also sourced from a woman who left Dubai and was trekking across Peru. The curtains in both bedrooms of the house were also second hand.
There is a difference between trash and used items.
Charu Bjuvestig, lives in Dubai
Beauvestig's favorite piece is a wicker chair on her bedroom balcony where she sits and reads. The story was serendipitous, she says. She saw it in person at Ace and she liked it so much that she decided to buy it when she got home. “So she looked on Facebook Marketplace and saw it was on sale. She called and she said, 'If you pick it up within an hour, it's yours!'
“I am a strong believer in the Law of Attraction and the Law of Manifestation,” adds Beauvestig.
Although most items are sourced from other people's homes, Bjuvestig is not without its personal touch. She has worked in the corporate world for 25 years as a managing director and currently works from home as a trader. Seeking a way to be more creative with her now free time, she has attended a painting studio and pottery class in Dubai, and her home office has two of her own pieces. It is decorated with dots.
The home office is a mix of second-hand furniture and self-made artwork.Anthony Robertson / The National
She estimates that 90 percent of the items in her home are her favorite things, excluding her 75-inch television and large potted plants.
“it is a good feeling”
The couple spent a total of six weeks furnishing their apartment. It took her two weeks to browse the marketplace online and four weeks to actually see and purchase the products. Everything has been discounted by more than his 50 percent of its original price, and Bjuvestig estimates he will save at least Dh20,000 by choosing to buy everything second-hand.
“That's conservative, because after the point you get lost,” she added.
No unpacking, pay cash, no credit, just own it
Charu Bjuvestig, lives in Dubai
On top of that, there was also the social aspect of sourcing second-hand goods. “We met people from Turkey, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, Tunisia and Belgium,” says Bjuvestig, who spent two hours sharing his story with one of the sellers. She told another seller to keep up-to-date with photos of the plants she bought from her, “so you can see the plants are still alive” and to keep them in her guest room for her return visit to Dubai. I have also provided.
Bjuvestig points out that while there is a cultural bias against buying second-hand, it is a lifestyle that is often misunderstood. “There's a difference between trash and used items,” says Buvestig, who loves the fact that antiques have passed through many hands.
Bjuvestig carefully selects pieces that are in good condition and that showcase her personal style.Anthony Robertson / The National
“I've always been concerned about sustainability and trying to do everything I can to avoid wasting anything,” she added. She also prefers the overall experience of buying second-hand goods to shopping at her mall. “Now I don't have to unpack it, I pay cash, I don't have credit, I just own it.” Sounds good. ”
Shopping for second-hand homes can be addictive, Bjuvestig says. She still has several items on her wish list, including a coffee maker and a large lantern for her balcony. She says her newfound appreciation for her favorite pieces of furniture stems in part from the families who owned them and the memories and emotions imbued with them.
So when friends tell her to go to furniture stores and buy things, especially when they're on sale, Bijuvestig says no, simply explaining her taste and patience. “Then there's nothing to talk about.”
Updated: February 26, 2024, 7:24 a.m.