A Unique Collection of Old and New
An interior designer’s dream, UrbanBurb Furniture offers consignment and handmade furniture for any style home. By Samantha Costa Photos by JPG Photo & Video (jpgphotoandvideo.com)
M
y husband and I were taking a stroll on Main Street a year or two ago when I spotted it: my childhood toy chest. The plaid-patterned vinyl exterior shone in the sun, perfectly intact – no cracks, no worn edges. It was in like-new condition. It brought me through a time loop, back to the ‘80s – containing all of my treasures, like the Fisher-Price Little People airplane or my bucket full of wooden blocks. It was a hand-medown from my older siblings, born in the ‘70s. I quickly took a photo and shot my family a text message. They were as shocked as I was, and I considered buying it for a second. But, with little purpose for this piece, I simply enjoyed the nostalgia on the sidewalk in front of UrbanBurb Furniture. Stories like these bring great joy for UrbanBurb Furniture owner and designer, Joe Donahue. UrbanBurb, located at 4313 Main Street, opened in December 2018. There, Joe has a collection of high-end vintage consignment pieces and custom, live-edge furniture. “When it comes to vintage items, we’re always looking out,” Joe said. “We love things that aren’t being made anymore.” One of Joe’s most memorably consigned pieces includes a Warren Platner dining set. It had a steel tubing base, a round glass top, and six chairs. He bought it from someone in Philadelphia, and the collection went to a happy owner in Detroit. The chairs alone were $2,000 to $3,000. It was a handmade first edition from the 1960s. Alternatively, those who have an eye for design or an artistic spirit can have just about anything created by Joe and his team: dining and coffee tables, benches, fireplace mantles, entertainment units, and more. There are various wood types and epoxy resin designs to choose from. “There is a lot of thought and craftsmanship that went into these pieces, so you take a double look at the things that come out of UrbanBurb because it’s really remarkable,” Joe said.
The Journey to UrbanBurb Getting into this sort of business wasn’t a direct path. A woodworking class ignited Joe’s passion for furniture. After years of owning a children’s gift store, he also credits his mother’s artistic eye and said it’s all in the family. “I think I got that from her – noticing different qualities, and when something is a lot nicer than something else,” Joe said. The Art Institute of Philadelphia graduate who focused on industrial design always wanted to work with products and furniture. He started with odd jobs, like creating lock bodies 30
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