Lars Andersson's Story
Lars Andersson: Turning Old Wood into New Treasures
If you’ve ever stopped by the New Canaan Swap Shop on a Saturday morning, there’s a good chance you’ve met Lars Andersson - friendly, quick with a laugh, and usually talking about his latest upcycling project.
Lars has deep roots in New Canaan. His family moved here from Stamford in 1960, and he grew up attending West School and Saxe (including a memorable year when Saxe was housed in the old police station). He was part of the second graduating class from the “new” New Canaan High School - still the same one standing today.
In 1999, Lars and his wife, Marian, moved back to town to care for his mother and to give their kids the benefit of New Canaan’s great schools. They’ve been active community members ever since.
Lars joined the Swap Shop volunteer team in January 2023, and he’s been an enthusiastic part of the crew ever since. “It’s amazing how the Swap Shop has evolved into such a community hub,” he says. “You see old friends, meet new ones, and there’s always a story behind the stuff that comes through.” Fellow volunteers will tell you—Lars’s humor, energy, and knack for seeing potential in just about anything make him a joy to work with.
Lars is an avid upcycler, always finding ways to turn castoffs into something useful or beautiful. “Spray paint and super glue are two of my favorite things,” he laughs. On a larger scale, he loves rescuing wood from old furniture destined for the landfill—especially cherry, maple, and mahogany. “Good wood shouldn’t go to waste,” he says. “It’s practically begging for a second act.”
Recently, Lars salvaged pieces of cherry wood from a broken desk at the Swap Shop. Back in his workshop, he ran the boards through a surface planer, cut them into strips, glued them together, and turned them into stunning cutting boards—each one sanded, sealed with a food-safe finish, and branded with a custom iron. The cutting boards became groomsmen’s gifts at his son’s wedding—a perfect example of giving both wood and memories a second life.
While cutting boards are a favorite project, Lars’s true passion is woodturning. He creates elegant salad and decorative bowls, often donating them to local causes like the New Canaan Land Trust (in support of Bristow Bird Sanctuary), Planet New Canaan, and the Mystic Bowie Cultural Foundation, which funds educational programs in Jamaica. His handcrafted pieces have raised funds through auctions, raffles, and donor gifts—each one made with heart, history, and a touch of sawdust.
For Lars, volunteering at the Swap Shop is more than sorting donations or keeping the place tidy. It’s about creativity, connection, and community. “There’s something satisfying about seeing things get a second chance,” he says. “Whether it’s a piece of furniture or a friendship.”
That’s exactly what makes Lars—and the Swap Shop—so special. With a bit of imagination, a dash of humor, and maybe a little super glue, he’s proving every day that one person’s “trash” really can become another’s treasure.
Planet New Canaan
P.O. Box 121
New Canaan, CT 06840
Email: [email protected]