STRASBURG — SJ Murphy has always had a flair with finding and creating sustainable upcycled furniture. So much so, she’s built herself a successful upcycling business known to her customers as Lilac Cottage — a nod to her favorite color as well as her cozy living space in the mountains.

“I think a lot of people assume things that are vintage or antique are going to be super expensive,” Murphy said. “And while some of them are, I would say they're more reasonably priced today compared to what you can buy new. So not only are you purchasing something that was once well-loved, you’re also playing your part in helping our environment.”

Seeking a way to fill her time after her daughter went to college, Murphy opened her first booth at the Strasburg Emporium, which she filled with antique furniture and vintage items, along with a mix of items she upcycled from remnants she’s found along the road.

“I had one and then ended up with three,” Murphy said about her booths in the Emporium. “I now have two. One is mostly antique furniture and the other is a little more of my upcycle style: a mix of vintage Pyrex, Corningware and cool things like that.”

While her interest in upcycling furniture goes a ways back, it took a creative turn when she saw a pile of furniture sitting on the side of the road.

“Perfectly good furniture,” said Murphy, who recognized that not everyone has access to trash services that will haul away large, unwanted items.

“It kind of broke my heart,” she said. “You know, you see it sometimes on the side of the road and I find myself thinking, 'Gosh, why would someone do that?'’’

Often the pieces were thrown away because they had a broken leg or a missing drawer — an easy fix for those who know how.

“I can piece things together or repurpose something so that it’s useful again,” she said while pointing to a chair she recently added new legs to. “It’s really amazing what people will throw out.”

Someone else’s trash quickly becomes Murphy's treasure — including plenty of antique finds like a chest of drawers or headboards.

“There’s nothing like an antique piece of furniture. The average piece of furniture that you buy today, the last time I looked, only lasts about 10 years,” she said while sitting at an antique table she recently upcycled.

Murphy takes her time in repurposing or upcycling each item she locates. Before making any noticeable changes, she researches its history and decides what direction she wants to take it. Sometimes it’s as simple as a wipe-down. Other times it can be more drastic repairs. Each piece tells its own story, and Murphy wants to keep it that way.

“I appreciate really good wood,” she said. “But sometimes the damage is too much and painting is the best way to go because the repairs would do more damage.”

Murphy enjoys keeping items out of the local landfills, which she said, is taxing on the environment due to the number of trees that are cut down for furniture production.

“Character,” she said. “I love things that have character. Especially older vintage things. If I love it, won’t someone else?”

Murphy, who is self-taught thanks to YouTube and Pinterest, said her journey has mostly been trial and error.

“I would much rather try something and if I fail, I know I can just try again,” she said.

Murphy said she keeps up with colors that sell and what style of furniture her customers are looking for. Other times, it's what happens to be in her booth. Take a recent buffet that was sold to a family looking for an entertainment center. Murphy said she hasn’t been able to keep buffets in stock.

“A lot of items are being appreciated by younger generations more than they were in the past,” she said. “I think it’s not just because they’re antique but because you know when you walk into someone's home you may see something you wouldn’t in someone else's.”

Shoppers who visit both of Murphy’s booths are sure to notice her love of lilacs as she strategically has lilac-scented candles placed throughout her spaces, so customers can almost feel as though they’re walking through her lilac gardens.

“I love the creativeness and the flexibility,” Murphy said of her work. “What’s good for the environment is good for the rest of us.”

Find Lilac Cottage inside the Strasburg Emporium, 160 N. Massanutten St.