Fort
In an outer vein of downtown, one that has yet to be fully pumped with foot traffic, you’ll find an industrial loft tucked away near the 10 Freeway. Here is where FORT founder Jacqueline Sharp runs her reclaimed furniture shop. Inside FORT you’re greeted by the rich smell coming from the rolls of leather dripping over a balcony. A chair once weighed down by 5 layers of upholstery now sits pretty after Sharp peeled back the layers to reveal its gorgeous bare bones. Rows of reimagined and reclaimed retro chairs line a wall like a perfectly curated museum. Each a different shape and size much like people, some stout, others lanky, all handpicked by Sharp.
FORT got its start when Sharp moved to L.A. with a tight budget and the need to furnish her home. She got resourceful, hit up Craigslist for some reclaimed wood, and a $50 table saw. She ended up filling the house with handmade furniture or estate sale pieces she freshened up, “I love that this was a rocking chair that a grandmother used to read stories to her grandkids in.”
For those looking to learn FORT hosts $30-45 workshops. Sharp insists people bring their own tired throwaways to resuscitate with new life. These second chances are Sharp’s sweet reward. She set her sights on this developing part of downtown after a friend helped her see past the rough exterior, “This is exactly where I need to be because you have people who are going to have an appreciation for taking something old and making it new and beautiful.”
Appointment Only: Wednesday-Saturday
Written by:
Linda Hosmer
Photographed by:
Samantha Romero