Creativity, Craft and Second Chances at the Flour Mill
Step inside Hampton & French at the Flour Mill and you’ll find more than a shop. You’ll find a space filled with colour, creativity, conversation — and the quiet confidence that comes from things being made, remade and loved again.
Founded by Deb, Hampton & French is a unique blend of upcycling studio, creative workshop space and curated homewares boutique. It’s a place where furniture gets second chances, creativity is contagious, and customers are welcomed like old friends.
Alongside her husband Greg, Deb has built one of Summer Hill’s most distinctive creative businesses — and an integral part of the Flour Mill community.
From studio space to creative destination
Deb’s journey at the Flour Mill began in 2020, at the height of COVID uncertainty. She was searching for a studio, somewhere to keep creating, keep upcycling and keep her hands busy while the world felt paused.
Lockdowns meant a messy, stop-start beginning. But instead of walking away, Deb made a decision.
“When we were finally able to open properly, I decided I’d give it everything.”
She added a small gift and homewares shop to the front of her space — a way to catch the eye of passers-by and complement her lovingly restored furniture. What began as an experiment quickly grew into something much bigger.
Hampton & French became a place where people didn’t just shop — they wandered, fossicked, chatted and stayed.
What Hampton & French offers
Today, Hampton & French is part studio, part workshop, part boutique — and entirely Deb.
The business offers:
- Upcycled furniture for sale and commission
- Creative workshops, including furniture upcycling and craft sessions
- A curated range of gifts and homewares
- Specialist paints, tools and supplies for upcyclers and DIY creatives
Every item is chosen with intention, leaning towards pieces that are deliciously different — intriguing, beautifully unusual, and full of story.
A brand with its own universe
If Hampton & French were a person, Deb describes it as creative, interesting, intriguing and welcoming — much like herself.
There’s no direct competitor, because Hampton & French isn’t trying to fit a category. It’s a universe of its own, blending craftsmanship, personality, reuse and style in a way that can’t be replicated.
Customers are treasure-seekers — people who appreciate quality furniture with history, who love the thrill of discovery, and who value creativity over mass production.
Looking after people, properly
Deb cares deeply about how people feel when they walk through the door.
She keeps workshops fresh, displays ever-changing, and offers honest, practical advice to customers and fellow upcyclers. She stocks exactly what people need to keep their own creative sparks alive — and she does it with warmth and integrity.
What makes her customers happiest?
Good service. Honesty. Kindness. Feeling safe, capable and welcome.
Deb wants every visitor to feel uplifted — to sense the positive energy of the space — and to leave knowing they’ve been treated with care.
Passion, creativity and community
Deb is deeply passionate about reducing unnecessary waste, and upcycling has become her most rewarding creative journey. Giving old furniture new life isn’t just a business, it’s a philosophy.
Outside of work, she’s an obsessive crafter and reader. And for those who get to know her well, there’s a fun surprise: Deb has performed in three musicals, a hidden talent that delights customers who only know her as “the crazy woman from the Flour Mill shop” (her words, said with a grin).
Why the Flour Mill matters
Deb loves the Flour Mill for its sense of village life.
“It’s one of the friendliest communities you could ever be part of,” she says. “We share. We look out for one another.”
Her favourite part of the day is opening the shop early, as the neighbourhood wakes up — greeting locals as they wander past to start their morning.
The reality of small business — with heart
Running a small business is a rollercoaster.
“One minute I’m an accountant, the next a merchandiser, social media manager, psychologist, fortune teller or furniture magician,” Deb laughs.
All while being a wife, mother, daughter and carer — and somehow doing it all with a smile.
Through it all, Deb has built something truly special: a place bursting with colour, creativity and connection. A place where old things become new again. A place where people feel welcome, inspired and part of something bigger.
Hampton & French isn’t just a shop.
It’s the beating creative heart of the Flour Mill, the flagship business that believed in the potential of the Precinct, and a reminder that beautiful things often come from second chances.