Janette Bashall founded Petunia’s Attic last summer in the midst of the national lockdown.

Her business involves turning second-hand furniture found in charity shops or due to be thrown out into something completely new and bespoke for her customers.

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The full-time frontline worker and mum of two teens started the business buying an old-fashioned dresser on Facebook Marketplace. Redesigning and refreshing the furniture, Janette sold her first creation to a bed and breakfast in Gloucester.

After this success, Petunia’s Attic was born on Etsy, a global marketplace for vintage, craft items. Janette then recently branched out independently, launching a website for her business allowing customers to shop directly through the site.

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Just like she does with her furniture, Janette turned the bad of the national lockdown into something good, utilising her free time fulfilling her passion for creation.

Janette, who lives in Walton-le-Dale, said: “I’ve discovered a love for taking something seen as rubbish due for the landfill and instead creating something beautiful.”

Petunia’s Attic focuses on supporting local businesses where possible therefore ensure any decorating products needed are purchased from shops close by.

“It’s all about doing things on a smaller, more local scale. Just how I started off. It’s going really, really well.

“There are a lot of businesses that have done well during Covid despite the negativity we hear a lot of. For me at first it was making use of my spare time and doing it alongside my job, but now it is my intention to grow it into something full-time.”

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The growth of Janette’s company, despite being less than a year old, has not only been appreciated by customers but also professionals in the furniture refinishing industry.

Petunia’s Attic saw success after it was crowned a finalist in the mixed media category for the Flip Runway Refinishing Awards held in February this year.

Find out more by visiting the Petunia’s Attic website.

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Have you or anyone you know also seen success with a home-grown business in lockdown? Let us know in the comments below.