Northwestern Connecticut's quiet beauty has long drawn some of the region's most creative artisans. There we found a concentration of contemporary furniture makers and potters (and one rug visionary crafting simple-yet-sophisticated pieces for the home. By Christie Matheson.
When Tim Byrne, a native of Dublin, Ireland, and the designer and owner of Get Back, (Oakville, 860-274-9991; getbackinc.com), spots a vintage industrial machine part or furniture remnant, he sees rebirth. In his hands, one man's detritus becomes a functional object of beauty; a one-of-a-kind table, chair , or light fixture imbued with his old-school-meets-edgy style. His workshop, located in a former pin factory, is itself a revival. Get Back has been there since its founding in 2000, and Byrne chose it because "the history behind our building is a great backdrop for our line."