A new Logan City business has been born, after the local owner found a solution to health problems surrounding her creative outlet, and turned her life passion into a feasible business.
Logan City local Tarnya Manning has a passion for upcycling and painting old furniture, however she’s found most paints toxic fumes too much for her asthma.
“For as long as I can remember I’ve always been interested in home decor, decorating, and painting furniture,” Mrs Manning said.
Tarnya Manning from Carts & Millie. (Photo: Madeline Grace)
“Over the years I’ve updated old bedroom furniture for myself, my family, and my friends.
“I’m actually a bit of a hoarder when it comes to upcycling old furniture. I find it secondhand at op shops or on Facebook marketplace and then strip it back and paint it.
“But because of my chronic asthma I really struggled with a lot of the furniture paints on the market. They were just full of toxic chemicals and made it really hard for me.”
Mrs Manning said her husband, Patrick Manning, suggested she try creating her own paint.
“There were aspects I liked of all kinds of different furniture paints. So I got to work and created my own,” she said.
Carts & Millie. (Photo: Madeline Grace)
“Then when I found the perfect mix my husband suggested I sell it. So I did.
“I was working full time so it became my after work outlet. My paint was popular so I was beyond busy and spent my mornings and evenings filling orders and making paint. I think I slept maybe two hours most nights.
“Then last year I was made redundant and thought I might as well give this paint thing a real go.”
Now a year on, Mrs Manning has just moved into her first store front on main st Beenleigh.
Tarnya Manning from Carts & Millie. (Photo: Madeline Grace)
Her business, Carts & Millie, has been a huge success and Mrs Manning said she can’t imagine not doing what she’s doing.
“It’s really taken off and now I have a shop front to store all of my hoarded furniture,” she said.
“I have all of my paints here as well as some furniture I’ve done up that’s for sale.
“And we’re starting up workshops soon where people can book in to learn how to upcycle and paint old furniture.
“It’s been a bit quiet but I think it will pick up. It’s also great to see new shop fronts here in Beenleigh.”
Carts & Millie. (Photo: Madeline Grace)
Mrs Manning said while it was her life passion, her business is also about environmental sustainability.
“I think it’s really important to keep old furniture from ending up in landfill,” she said.
“Why buy cheap new furniture when you can do-up old furniture. You’ll be preventing it from ending up in landfill and it’s usually better quality.”
You can find Carts & Millie online and in Main St Beenleigh.
