Words Jesse Holth
Photo Sarah Hartley Photography
Upcycling is a crucial element of the circular economy – that is, making sure the items we use in our day-to-day life are repaired or repurposed rather than sending them to the landfill.
Whether that means revitalizing an old piece of furniture with chalk paint or sourcing unique vintage accents for your home, it’s a great way to promote sustainable living.
Ashley Stelck is the owner of Hansell & Halkett, a local shop focused on vintage décor, home goods and artisan crafts. She is passionate about hunting for one-of-a-kind antiques, making a house feel like home – with candles, flowers, or décor – and keeping old furniture out of the landfill. Born and raised in North Saanich, Ashley has travelled and lived abroad but always came back to the place she felt most at home: Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula. We chatted about supporting local artists, the story behind handcrafted objects, and the creativity of flower arranging.
Part of your mission is to refinish old furniture and give it a new life. Why is this so important from an environmental standpoint?
Refinishing old furniture is hugely environmentally friendly – by reusing, you’re not only limiting the consumption of new materials, but you’re keeping a better quality piece of furniture out of the landfill. It’s also a really fun and easy way to make your home unique, and a fabulous way to add colour to your rooms.
You started out with a business partner and now it’s just you at the helm – has it been a difficult transition? What are you looking forward to tackling next?
I would say there were times of challenge, like learning areas of the business that I was not used to doing. But my partner had kept everything so organized and slowly taught me throughout the previous year. So all in all, it was a smooth transition. This year, I am really looking forward to growing the workshop aspect of the business, for both chalk paint and florals. It’s something that I have wanted to do for years. I have already hosted three workshops at my new studio location, which has been so fun!
Beyond vintage furniture and antiques, you also carry handmade items by local artisans. What does it mean to support artists in our community?
I think supporting local artisans is a vital part of creating a sustainable and vibrant community. You’re supporting neighbours, friends and your own customers. Local artisans are a big part of our philosophy: it’s very environmentally friendly as the products are handmade and hand-delivered, with minimal shipping waste. It’s also so important to me that when you purchase something handmade from our shop, it has a story – it was made with intention, and hopefully will be cherished for years. It is always an honour to work with so many talented artists. I think it makes our shop unique and inspiring.
The store has locally-grown flowers throughout the spring and summer seasons, some of which are from your own farm. Can you describe what it’s like to own a flower farm?
Oh my, growing flowers can bring a mix of emotions. It can be different year to year, with the climate, but it is, and always has been, a form of therapy for me. There is a lot of planning, which actually starts the previous year. So you need to be really organized, but also prepared to tuck and roll as things don’t always go as predicted. If I could solely grow flowers for a living, I would! But I do feel very lucky that I can make it a part of my business. I really enjoy the education aspect of growing – teaching people what can be grown here, the importance of local and seasonal flowers, and I think it adds a certain romance to my little shop. I also work with a few other very talented flower farmers, so our shop always has a wonderful mix of locally-grown blooms from spring to fall.
You mentioned that you’re a fan of displaying flowers in a unique vintage vessel. What other tips do you have for people who are curious about flower arranging?
There are so many types of floral arranging, I could chat forever about flowers – but we would need another article for that! I think a really fun way to get your hands “dirty” is to take a stroll through your yard or a local hedgerow and snip a few things here and there. (Never your neighbours’ landscaped beds!) I think seasonal arrangements, big or small, have the best impact. It’s bringing the outside in. Mimicking what the garden is doing is fun and super easy. A few budding branches in deep winter, some spring bulbs when they start breaking the soil surface, or in the summer a big blousy mix of blooms and greens.
You’ve just opened a new studio space at Junction Orchard & Cidery, off Prospect Lake Road. Can you explain what kind of workshops you’ll be hosting there?
Oh, I am so excited about this! We have built the sweetest studio that will serve as a creative space for floral and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint workshops. This year we have started with a mix of fun seasonal floral workshops: like spring wreaths, hand-tied bouquets, and creating large focal arrangements. There will be opportunities for private floral workshops, which is a fun way to celebrate with friends and family. This is also a second home to all Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, for workshops and supplies. You can pick up paint and refinished furniture by appointment, or you can come visit the space on the weekends from March to December.
www.hansellhalkett.com.
