In Bulacan stands the Abacan ancestral home, which is also known as the Sophia School Vintage House. Built in 1965, its original owners were the founders of Sophia School in Meycauayan City.
Today, the house’s upkeep and overall management are entrusted to Lorenzo Abacan and his wife, Marie Ann, co-founder of the school. They turned it into their own abode and a mini Filipiniana museum mainly to show the youth a slice of the old Filipino home life.
Some of the remarkable pieces inside the Abacan home were from Lorenzo’s parents, including vintage Filipiniana furniture and equipment from the 1900s to the 1970s. The husband and wife team also bought a few pieces to complete the collection.
An old ice shaver repurposed
into a lamp shade
An old sewing machine repurposed as a table with used, old wood as tabletop 
The Abacan’s collection of old phones, including the first ever mobile phone of Marie Ann 
Old bowls and plates used as plant holder, with an old tubao as an accent piece 
Broken bowls were reused as pots for plants. 
Old sewing machine as an accent piece in the music room 
Old typewriters as quirky decor 
Old typewriter upcycled into a lampshade 
Old capiz windows used as accent pieces 
Old kamut jar used as a flower vase, with a vintage millstone (gilingang bato) as an accent piece 
Old capiz windows repurposed as a divider 
Old bottles (Spanish sardines bottles, mayonnaise jars, etc.) for small plants 
Sewing machine turned into a table 
An old plate hand-painted by the Abacan’s couturier-friend 
Marie Ann’s wedding gown displayed as an accent piece in the home 
Old kamut jar used as a vase, with an old mortar and pestle as decorative item 
ld bangkito (stool) used as a plant stand 
A friend of the family painted on pieces of old wood and turned it into a work of art 
Old capiz windows integrated with modern glass windows.
Antique collectibles and vintage pieces were upcycled to show that old things can still be used in ways that are different from their original purpose. According to Marie Ann, with a little creativity and innovation, anyone can upcycle old items lying around the house.
She offers the following tips to readers who are thinking of upcycling found items in their homes:
- Let your imagination and creativity flow.
- Learn from the past so you can appreciate the present.
- Give importance to the values of frugality, legacy and culture.
Upcycling furniture and home decor is a sustainable way to save money while using preloved items to create new pieces. Breathe new life into your old furniture and home decor and join the upcycling revolution. Home designers maintain that anyone can get into it–no previous skills are necessary.
Gain inspiration from some of the pieces that Lorenzo and Marie Ann created out of second-hand items. There are no limits to what you can do, so start looking around your home for your next upcycling project!
