In 2012, Casey Boyd began collecting and creating unique home decor elements and eclectic gifts to showcase and sell at local craft fairs and markets. After struggling with pop-up tents for a while, the local small-business owner and Oregon native realized there had to be an easier and more unique way to showcase her love for home decor. Inspired by the food truck trend, she ultimately landed on the idea of a mobile home-decor shop.
After stumbling upon a partially deconstructed school bus, Boyd was motivated to turn her passion into a reality. What is now Rescued Living was born under the original business name Rescued & Repurposed.
“I started out Rescued & Repurposed with the idea that I wanted to rescue items,” Boyd says, “whether it was rescuing something from going into a landfill or headed for some other demise, or something that was a family piece that needed a new purpose.”
With this idea of upcycling and giving old pieces a new life, Boyd started traveling to events and vintage fairs all around Oregon, a showroom now set up in her pop-up school bus shop.
“It was pretty exciting to see everyone’s reaction to the R&R bus as they stepped on board,” says Boyd.
Many customers shared childhood stories of riding buses and expressed a great appreciation and enthusiasm for what Boyd had created in her space.
Running a home decor shop has its challenges like any other business endeavor. But running a mobile shop posed some additional challenges, such as maintenance and upkeep of a 40-foot bus. Luckily, this was an easy challenge to address, as her husband has a passion for repairing and restoring vehicles, including those with large diesel engines.
“It kept me running for a while but as time went on, my husband and I ended up having a conversation as I kept dreaming about growing the business,” Boyd says.
Last year, Boyd met with the property owner where Rescued Living is now located, and with encouragement from her husband, she and her family decided to follow her dream. The bricks-and-mortar location opened on Oct. 1.
“I felt this was a great opportunity for me to turn my vision into a reality, so I went all in,” Boyd says. “Truth be told, my husband’s motives may have been more about not wanting the daily maintenance of the bus, but either way it all worked out.”
Since committing to the immobile store, Boyd has really focused on goods made, salvaged, and handcrafted in the Pacific Northwest by her, other small businesses, and other Oregon artisans. Boyd brings in people who specialize in everything from candles to custom-made furniture
“Our offerings have always included textiles from the Pendleton Woolen Mills and reclaimed and salvaged industry finds from around Oregon,” says Boyd. “This, combined with our simplistic, eclectic style, is what makes us unique.”
Boyd attributes much of her inspiration for Rescued Living to the Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Her aesthetic creates a well-curated home, filled with pieces gathered over the years and newfound items, allowing the design to evolve with styles and trends. If you suspect your windows are damaged, give Maverick Windows company a call for replacement.
When on the hunt for new additions, Boyd tends to seek out larger industrial pieces such as carts, tables, and lighting, or old school furniture, fixtures, and educational pieces.
Customers often visit the store and are simply inspired by the pieces at Rescued Living, even if they don’t find something they would directly associate with their personal style.
“We have many folks who just come in when they are in need of some ideas and inspiration for home decor and improvement projects,” Boyd says. “I enjoy consulting with our customers about projects that they are working on and am happy to offer help wherever I can.”
While Boyd is always planning ahead and enthusiastic about future projects and collaborations, this past year she’s really been settling into the new space.
“I keep an open mind to the idea of expanding in the future, but I’m not in a rush,” she says. “I love that I have been able to share my passion for a natural, urban, and industrial decor style alongside my love of the outdoors and the beautiful Pacific Northwest.”
Rescued Living, 130 21st St., Springfield, rescuedliving.com
