From trash to treasured at Peony Lane Designs

About the Connect Grant series: Each year, the Minnesota Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio award grants to underrepresented businesses. At Foundry North, Star Tribune’s full-service digital agency, we write a profile on each of the winners. This is one of them.

Each piece of furniture Stacy Verdick Case restores at Peony Lane Designs comes with a story, sometimes more than a century old.

Every time a customer purchases a piece, they become a part of its story. And that’s what makes her work so special, Verdick Case says.

Early lessons 

Verdick Case’s passion for breathing new life into old things started at a young age. Growing up in a military family, her father encouraged her to help with furniture restoration projects at home. For him, the projects didn’t just serve a practical purpose around the house. They were also a way to instill confidence and independence in Verdick Case.

“He’s a wonderful person that doesn’t believe girls can’t do things,” Verdick Case said. “He was the person who put the tools in my hands. And I fell in love with it.”

Verdick Case lovingly refers to her father as “OG” which lovingly stands for “Old Guy” — or someone with knowledge of all things “handy” and who’s always willing to help.

Verdick Case carried those skills and values into adulthood. Over the years, she’s refurbished and rebuilt countless pieces for her own home.

Every now and then, Verdick Case would sell one of the pieces that she’d worked on, too. And as she sold more and more, she realized her projects might be more than a hobby.

“I don’t think I was conscious of the fact that I had just started a business,” Verdick Case joked.

In 2016, that became official with the inception of Peony Lane Designs. The name draws on her grandmother’s love for the flower. Even more fitting, the flowers take years to take root before they can bloom, much like Verdick Case’s business itself.

Furniture with a purpose

Verdick Case has built a base of loyal customers from the beginning. But as the conversation around the negative impacts of fast fashion — and fast furniture — has gained more traction, interest in upcycled pieces has only grown.

“It has an impact on our environment, and it has an impact on our future,” Verdick Case said.

“Furniture used to be built by craftsmen who wanted pieces to last for generations, and I feel like we have enough of those pieces right now to go around.”

Sharing the love

For the past several years, Verdick Case has also spread her message through her YouTube channel, where she walks viewers through various projects and provides tips and tricks along the way.

“It’s just a skill, and it’s a skill that you’re taught. And if you learn it, you have it. It doesn’t require anything special,” Verdick Case said. “That’s the point that I try to get across when I talk to people.”

So, what’s next for Peony Lane Designs? Verdick Case says she hopes to open a store of her own where she could not only sell her pieces, but hold workshops where people can gain hands-on experience.

Verdick Case also dreams of one day hosting her own TV show to reach even more people.