FOUND OBJECTS... HOW THEY CAN MAKE YOUR DESIGN STAND OUT.

It has been a while since I’ve done a blog post. Sorry about that. It has been super busy — and frankly, I have been a bit overwhelmed by everything that has been happening in the last year in our country — that I was much too emotional energy to write. But I’m back — excited to start posting fun things again. I’ve been busy with Hospitality and Vacation Rental Designs and creating unique ideas that will help them stand out in a very busy market! Found objects are not just about creating a wow factor — but about bring items with soul and character into your design projects — whether it is your home, business, hotel, motel, inn or vacation rental — it really does add character and warmth to any space.

The gallery walls in the newly renovated rooms at Basin Harbor Resort, a historic hotel, resort, inn, on the shores of Lake Champlain. The found objects, artwork, original oil paintings, vintage art pieces and décor, we found at look antique shops, second hand locations and flea markets. We also added the shiplap wall to add character and depth to the rooms.

Shadow boxed vintage nautical flags is an easy way to give a lakefront room some character. These flags are all different in the Champlain House building at Basin Harbor Resort.

This bedroom styling project for Yankee Barn Home and Cottages and Bungalows Magazine was a fun one because I could show with a search at your favorite antique shop, you can create a whole room with found objects. These lovely antiques are from Vermont Antiques Mall in Woodstock, Vermont.

An old wicker table that was once dark brown got a paint job — this bold green really makes the piece pop in the room, giving it a more contemporary feel to the farmhouse.

This live edge headboard is created from found piece at a lumber yard. Many lumber yards are given trees from urban projects or felled trees from a storm or even under water. These reclaimed pieces of wood can really add character to any space — as a headboard, table or even wall art. The rooms at Main and Mountain Bar and Motel, are all unique thanks to these special pieces of found wood.

Sometimes a found object is something as simple as cabinet doors. We renovated this entire house to become a fun vacation rental (check out the cool story about the kitchen on Domino) and reused the old cabinet doors we took out of the closet and painted them gray and created a headboard. Other fun found objects here are the second hand side tables, vase, wall art and pillow made from an old skirt.

Giving an old dresser a contemporary look, just took some black stain and new knobs. I love turning old dressers into vanities and for this barn- turned vacation home — was not different. This home was futured in Country Home Magazine, Dwell, and Yankee Magazine.

This old kitchen cabinet was turned on its side — literally — and given some stripes and feet. Instant coffee table. This is just one of the many DIY’s featured in my book, Salvage Secrets Design and Décor. Found at a Rebuild Center for only a few dollars, it transforms this room into a more modern and hip space to be in. .

The ways to use found objects are endless. From porch posts cut in half and used as part of the lobby bar to a vintage wooden box for décor… get creative with found things. You will have a blast.

Four Easy Ways to Add Charm + Character with Vintage + Salvage Finds

Whether it’s reclaimed, repurposed, recycled, vintage, or antique, I’m seriously, over the moon, excited about it. I hope that through my website, blog and books, I’ll change the way you think old stuff.  One-of-a-kind, DIYs, found or recycled items stand-out and give personality and charm to any space. Here are some ways that will guide you on your journey to create, locate and decorate a stylish look that combines distinctive objects and materials with today’s comforts. I hope you create your own unique approach to blending the old with the new and creating striking spaces that tell a story. xoxo Joanne

1. ADD A VINTAGE PIECE

Instantly bring character and charm to any space by simply adding a vintage piece — whether it be furniture or something you turn into a fixture.

Finding a dining table and chairs from your local antique shop is not only fun but it is a great way to add some juxposition to a modern home. Interior Design: Joanne Palmisano After Picture: Susan Teare

The counter cabinet, found at an architectural salvage shop was once brown. Painted white it fits in beautiful in this modern industrial style kitchen renovation. Design: Joanne Palmisano After Picture: Susan Teare

The double-drainboard and double bowl vintage cast iron is perfectly suited for this old world charm kitchen. Design: Joanne Palmisano After Picture: Lindsay Selin

A vintage dresser stained black, gives this bathroom tons of character and warmth. Design: Joanne Palmisano After Pic: Lindsay Selin

An old industrial cart found at an antique shop turned into a instant kitchen island. Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo Lindsay Selin. Old carts also make great instant bars.

2. WORK WITH NEW PRODUCTS MADE FROM RECYCLED MATERIAL.

New product made from old materials. There are many tiles, metals and other products that are made with a fair amount of recycled material in them. They are easy to find and use.

Fireclay is a company that uses recycled materials to create their new tiles. This tile is from their Debris Series, with over 80% recycled content, including old sinks and toilets. Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo by: Susan Teare

Interface and FLOR have amazing carpet tile lines that are made with recycled materials. These pieces have over 75% recycled material in them. Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo by: Lindsay Selin

Even fabric on cubicles can be made from recycled material. More carpeting with a high recycled content is placed in this office as well.

3. Create Affordable Custom Pieces

Make it with reclaimed material and have the piece be uniquely yours in size, shape and color.

A custom entranceway bathroom vanity made from 200 year old wood gives a dramatic flair to the ultra modern marble sink. Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo: Susan Teare

Custom countertop made from old schoolhouse slate chalkboards and a reclaimed wood wrapped stove vent hood are just two of the many reclaimed and custom made pieces in this farmhouse style kitchen. Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo: Susan Teare

Open closet made from left-over paneling from another build project (which we painted green) and left over pieces from the reclaimed live edge headboards that serves as a bench, show how simple it is to find and use reclaimed wood. Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo: Lindsay Selin

Old cabinet doors, no longer needed in a closet turned bathroom, but are perfect to make an instant headboard. Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo: Lindsay Selin

Get the stone counter look without the stone counter price. Left-over stone tiles or pieces (2 x 2) are perfect to use to create your own look. You can look from them at your local tile shop, rebuild center or stone yard. Scrap pieces of stone can be cut to size (just make sure they are the same thickness).

4. Add Depth and Texture to Your Walls

Whether it is an accent wall, or adding character to a simple structure with very little character, you can add some features that will really change the look of your space.

It is as simple is grabbing some dimensional lumber from your local Rebuild Center, painting them black and creating a stunning custom bookcase wall. Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo: Susan Teare

In this townhouse project, we added salvaged wood — given a white wash — to the walls to give them texture which really add an exceptionally amount of depth without a lot of cost. Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo: Susan Teare

Finding a handful of left-over tiles on a local marketplace website, such as Craigslist or Front Porch Forum, was easy. Keeping the vanity, painting it, and adding a backwall of tile gives this bathroom a ton of character.

Rustic, modern, country, farmhouse, chic… a wood wall can be any style you want, depending on how you finish it — leave it natural, white wash, or paint solid. Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo: Susan Teare

Mix and Match, recycle, reclaimed and reused! :) Have Fun! Joanne

Design: Joanne Palmisano Photo: Susan Teare

Wood...n't You Know! Beautiful Ways to Use Reclaimed Wood in Design

Hello! I’m so excited to chat about Reclaimed, Repurposed, Salvaged, Recycled and Urban Salvaged Wood and how you can incorporate these materials in your design — and why it is so important. I recently watched a show, hosted by broadcaster, David Attenborough, A Life on Our Plant, a MUST WATCH! So good and important. And one of the topics was trees and how important they are to the health of our planet and to us! So with that in mind, I decided it was time for a blog post about reclaimed wood — since I talk about it in all three of my Salvage Design books and use it constantly in my interior design work, whether it is my residential projects or hospitality and commercial ones. :)

The back wall of this townhouse was given gorgeous texture and depth by reclaimed wood found at the local non-profit, ReBuild Center, dark and covered in dirt. I cleaned them (with a scrub brush and a mixture of soap, water and bleach), let dry well, and then I whitewashed them for the builders, who applied it to the wall in a chevron pattern. The farmhouse table was also made from reclaimed wood found at the local Salvage Shop, including the old porch posts, that were used as the legs. The mismatched chairs were found at Habitat for Humanity. Photo by Susan Teare

Don’t Judge a Book by It’s Cover

Many times reclaimed old wood that you see at a salvage yard, recycle center or lumber yard is very dark due to oxidation, dirty and dust. Remember, that it will be either sanded well or planed so the natural color will shine through. So bring a piece of sandpaper and a bottle of water with you — to test the wood colors (sand a little area and then pour water on it — which will give you an idea of what the wood will look like with a sealer on it — such as polyurethane, wax or Osmo.)

In this townhouse vacation rental, we added character to the fireplace wall by creating a bookshelf surrounding it. We used reclaimed dimensional lumber and painted it black. The books we found at our local library used book sale. Photo by Susan Teare

Types of Reclaimed Wood

We all naturally think of old wood from factory floors, or old buildings that are being deconstructed — and that is great — but there are so many more types of wood you can use that are from second hand sources. There is dimensional lumber (you know, 2 x 4’s, plywood, etc.) that are usually found at Rebuild centers, or online on your local forums. There is also Urban Salvage wood — which is wood that has to be cut down from a local city or town due to disease or construction — these are usually gorgeous old tree species that are very hard to find today. There are companies that work with the city’s and town’s to help them with these — so they don’t go into the chipper (shudder). And of course, let’s not forget all the amazing second hand wood furniture pieces out there.

This table was custom made using reclaimed wood from a barn that was deconstructed by the local architectural salvage store. The wood pieces, which I handpicked, where gorgeous pieces. From a late 1700’s barn to a modern farmhouse table, filled with gorgeous character, it is a looker! It only given a light gray stain before it was sealed so you can still see all the grain lines and other natural character through it. This modern style farmhouse table, fits perfectly in this contemporary lake house. Photo by Susan Teare

When I’m Looking for Wood

Depending on what I need, will inform where I go first. If I’m looking for dimensional lumber to paint black and create bookshelves, I’ll go to my local ReBuild center. If I’m looking for gorgeous old urban salvaged wood for a solid table top, I go to the lumber mill that takes those in. If I’m looking for old wood for paneling, flooring, or barn doors, then I head directly to my Salvage Store — such as an Architectural Salvage Shop or a place like Salvage Works, who basically have a grocery store for reclaimed wood. Many times, when I’m working on a renovation project, I ask the clients and builder to set aside all the wood from the demo — and then we reincorporate it back into the project. Heck, even reclaimed Urban Lumber has a network that you can search your town for on it.

When a client calls me, they usually know my passion for using reclaimed and local materials. Here in this gorgeous lakefront home, the fireplace is local slate and the owners created the exterior of the building using old wood bleacher seats from the local university. I was thrilled to see the owner’s son create a gorgeous coffee table out of reclaimed live edge wood. Even just considering reclaimed wood in your furnishings is a step in the right direction. Photo by Susan Teare

What to Consider

It is always good to get your wood from a place to really understands it. If you are looking for reclaimed wood that is for a structural purpose (such as beams in a home), then get them from a place that can help with weigh bearing issues, loads, and much more. Also, budget will play a factor in your choices. Every location measures wood differently — some charge by the linear foot and others by the square foot. Drying, cleaning and caring for the wood is important before it is used — so consider if it is worth paying extra for the perfect salvage yard wood — or are you going to do that yourself? The character, strength, depth of wood is so vast that I recommend that you go and look at it and see what all your options are.

This interior design project was tons of fun — hard to believe this room used to be a storage room. One of the wood walls we cut open to allow the dining room and the kitchen to be integrated and the piece of wood that was cut out, we set aside which became the kitchen’s island table. Reusing what you already have is always the best choice. The wood corner cabinet the homeowner found at her local architectural salvage shop. It was brown but she painted it white to blend in with the white subway tile wall. Photo by Susan Teare

Why Use Reclaimed Wood

Because the beauty and soul it brings to your design project is immeasurable. But even more important then that, it helps us reuse what we already have, save exotic and old growth trees from being cut down, and it creates jobs. Yes, it may seem be a little bit more work to educate yourself on the best choices, to but if you go to the right places, they will make it simple for you.

This old 1800’s barn was converted into a camp, then converted into a family home. One of my favorite bathrooms I have designed is this updated bathroom with local slate tile, a vintage wood dresser turned vanity and the wood from the exterior of the building that was removed for bigger windows, used as the sliding barn door to the room. Proving that you can have a modern look using salvaged materials. The dresser, once brown and scuffed up, got a beautiful coat of black stain. I love using old furniture and converting them into bathroom vanities. Character, style and texture are added when you bring in pieces with history and soul. Photo by Lindsay Selin

From here to there. Read all about it…

Hope you get a chance to read my books… Here is the cover of my latest Salvage Design book, Styling with Salvage, by Joanne Palmisano, Photos by Susan Teare. This yummy photo by Carey Nershi.

Grab your vintage wooden bowl full of popcorn and go watch the movie, A LIFE on OUR PLANET. :) Great for the whole family.

XOXO Joanne

5 BEFORE + AFTER -- INEXPENSIVE DESIGN UPDATES FOR YOUR HOME + VACATION RENTAL

My last post was in April. So much has changed in the world. Many of it for the better. We have learned to pivot, understand our limits and our levels of compassion and understanding. We have learned to make do — and do better. I ready to make changes for the better. I hope moving forward I can play my role in that.

As I find myself getting a ton of calls about small renovation projects, updates for vacation rentals from all states (virtual design is now a new reality), I realize that folks are craving ways they can physically make changes to their homes, boutique hospitality locations and businesses. We all need something we feel we have control over — and if it is a small DIY Home Improvement project — then so be it.

I thought I’d share a few before and afters of things I’ve designed and have featured in my latest book, Rock Your Rental (I wrote with my twin sister, Rosanne) to inspire you. I’m thinking of you all and looking forward to the time we can all be together again soon. xoxo Joanne

BEFORE

AFTER - CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE THE ENTIRE PROJECT

AT BEAR MOUNTAIN INN, MAINE. There were so many transformations at this lovely inn, you need to see them to believe. It was a fun project and many of the rooms required only cosmetic changes to make them stand out as a modern, yet keep the charm of this lake region Maine Inn. From a reclaimed wood panel wall to a painted headboard, walls and floors. To adding beadboard ceiling and new light fixtures… These changes have truly made this room inviting and welcoming. After Pic: Molly + Victoria Photography

BEFORE

This PROJECT HOUSE 2019 for magazines, Cottages and Bungalows and American Farmhouse Style, was a fun project. I was asked to be one of the three designers for this project — I choose the three bedrooms. I did these almost entirely virtually (even before COVID) except for the one day install and styling of all three bedroom. I picked out the peel and stick wallpaper from Wall Flora online, the Ethincraft Bed, Parachute Bedding, then headed to The Vermont Antique Mall to grab all the amazing vintage pieces that we added to the rooms. To see another one of my rooms I designed check out the pages of the magazine at the Yankee Barn Homes link. Photo by Ridge Light Studios

BEFORE

AFTER

Sometimes you just can’t see the forest through the trees. I find myself walking into a vacation rental design project or home renovation project and realizing that the owners just can’t see the whole picture because they are too close to it. This vacation rental redo (check out all the pics here) was fun because it was all about adding some character — through built-in shelving, updated furnishings, rearranging layout and adding some styling — we totally transformed the space. This transformation has dramatically increased the rental rate and booking rate of this townhouse. Look around your space — can you arrange things differently, can you add some texture — like shelving, beadboard, shiplap, or gorgeous flooring, that will bring comfort and enjoyment to you and your guests.

BEFORE

AFTER

Who has a room in their house or vacation rental that they really would love to take from awkward to awe-inspiring. Here is your chance. In this vacation rental transformation I did in Michigan with owners, we took a small angled-ceiling bedroom and created built-in twin beds. There was no way that this room would ever accommodate a double bed comfortable — so why force it. Not only did we take advantage of the angled wall, but now there is more room to move around, store stuff and enjoy. Check out the rest of this Victorian Home turned Vacation Rental Transformation.

BEFORE

AFTER

Open shelving, new cabinets, farmhouse sink, wood hood vent, custom vintage island, these seem like big changes, but taken one at a time, they can easily be done. This budget vacation rental home transformation took a small cramped space and transformed it into an inviting, charming lakefront cottage style kitchen. The beadboard behind the salvaged wood shelving are panels from the hardware store and the island is an vintage table with a salvaged piece of butcher block. Ikea cabinets and sink, and budget friendly glass pendant lights.

Rosanne and I wrote this book to help boutique hospitality locations like Inns, B&B’s, Motels, Boutique Vacation Rentals, make simple design and marketing changes without breaking the bank, but what we have found that homeowners who want to do simple renovations are loving it as well. We are thrilled the book has received all 5-star reviews! :) We hope you will check it out!

My best, Joanne

BEDROOM LOVE... Every Style and Design

I did a bedroom post in January because the weather was chilly. Now I’m going to add more because we are spending lots more time at home and sometimes it is fun to get a peek at another bedroom or two. Here are a few of the different styles I’ve done for clients - -many of these are vacation rentals, boutique hotels, motels and resorts — that are featured in my new book, Rock Your Rental, that I wrote with my twin sister Rosanne (a marketing expert). Thrilled that the book is doing so well and it is not only inspiring vacation rental owners but homeowners who want to make some changes to their rooms with a small budget. So without further ado — the bedroom blitz. Be well. xoxo J

Pops of color help when listing a rental property — from our new book, Rock Your Rental.

Transformed this room with reclaimed wood and a DIY light fixture. Make sure to seal old wood with paint very well.

A bench at the end of the bed — a great ideas especially in hospitality design — a page from our book, Rock Your Rental. A newly updated room at Basin Harbor Club.

A budget friendly vacaiton rental bedroom redo — a wall mural and a painted vintage dresser.

This vintage dresser used to be in another room. Don’t get rid of all your stuff when renovating, it could be used in another space.

Barn door sliders are much easier to make than you think. Here are Mad River Barn — we created a wall to give the queen bed a little privacy from the bunk room.

Even a day bed by a window counts — I created these pillows out of vintage wall hangings made with embroidery and crewel work.

Loved making this pillows with my daughter — out of the old wood blankets that used to be on the beds at Mad River Barn. We boiled them on high heat to give them a more closed texture look and feel.

Close up details of the new paneling, wallpaper and custom pillow.

Always love it when TruexCullins Architecture and Interiors brings me in to be a part of their design team on specific projects, including this amazing motel redo in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

So crawl in :) Kid’s rooms are fun to design… Styling it like someone just jumped up from reading and a nap. Photo Lindsay Selin.

The wide angle shot of the headboard at Main and Mountain Motel. Love it when we get to create custom furniture pieces for beds. Photo Lindsay Selin.

A cozy romantic bedroom in a Michigan Airbnb. Before this room used to be all purple (see the before and after page to check it out).

In the charming rustic cabin, called Sugar Maple Cottage, at Bear Mountain Inn, during the renovations of the inn, barn and cabin, we re positioned the bed and added a vintage dresser — now it really flows nicely. We didn’t have to add hard-wiring electrical to our budget — we used plug-in wall sconces. Photo Molly & Victoria.

At Basin Harbor Resort and Boat Club, the Champlain House, a six room building built in 1920’s, we dreamed of summer days by the lake, so we upgraded all these rooms to a have a nautical and inviting summer cottage feel while reusing some of the furnishings and bringing in some vintage pieces as well. Custom Etsy pillows, a blanket by Pine Cone Hill, and cool wallpaper are just of the few of the features in these updated rooms. Photo Orchard Cove Photography.

Don’t let an awkward room stop you from doing something clever, this tiny room with an angled ceiling used to have a double bed in it — totally difficult to get around — now this room, with its built-in twin beds against the wall with shiplap design, is cozy and makes the room much more usable.

Updating the 14 rooms in the original farmhouse turned historic lodge building at Basin Harbor was really exciting, because we were able to show that you can keep the charm of an historic space, while making it comfortable and clean for today’s modern traveler. Linen bed skirt, cotton bed throw, vintage style pillows and gorgeous blue wallpaper and some vintage style bass lamps, blend beautifully in this cozy space. Photo Susan Teare.

This farmhouse building, built sometime in the early 1800’s, was updated but not wanting to lose the feel, and with a small budget, we stuck with soft colors, lots of textures and kept things simple.

There are 74 cottages on the 700 acre property at Basin Harbor Resort and slowly we are renovating each one to reflect their unique personalities while updated amenities for the guests. Photo Susan Teare.

This guest room at Bear Mountain Inn, didn’t have a bathroom but had a giant closet. So we turned things around — we tucked the bed into the closet — added a gorgeous reclaimed wood headboard and some wall sconces, then we had enough room to add a bathroom. Getting creative with space in a bedroom can add a whole bunch of possibilities. Photo Molly & Victoria.

When asked by Cottages and Bungalows and American Farmhouse Style magazine to work with them and Yankee Barn Homes on their 2019 Project Home — I said yes — to the bedrooms. I love transforming these spaces. With drawings and dimensions, I created a concept and the folks at the magazine reached out to the amazing people we wanted to highlight, from carpeting, to peel and stick wallpaper, to bedding, to furniture and vintage finds, we gathered all the goodies and in a day, with a couple of helping hands, we transformed three empty bedrooms into what they look like here. Photo RidgeLight Studio.

The close up shot of the downstairs master bedroom from the Project House. Ethnicraft bed, vintage dresser, Parachute sheets and coverlet, and some amazing peel and stick wallpaper. Photo RidgeLight Studio.

Creating a kids room filled with vintage finds— thanks to the help from the folks at Vermont Antiques Mall. Pink beds and floral prints — love!

Then there is the old… turn an outdated bedroom into a fun, hip, vacation rental space… Check! The budget friendly star idea in this bedroom is turning old closet cabinets into a stunning headboard. Photo Lindsay Selin.

I love close up shots — these bedrooms at Mad River Barn in the old Annex Building, now called the Longhouse, are just as cozy as the rooms in the Inn — except these rooms have TV’s — so sometimes a little more sought after :) But we hope the gorgeous bedding and reclaimed wood are enough to draw you in. Photo Susan Teare.

The rooms in the inn at Mad River Barn are totally transformed from the skiing days were folks were sleeping on mattresses on the floors (seriously). We still can’t believe how amazing these industrial rustic style bedrooms turned out and the amazing of recycled and reclaimed materials we used, including the step by step DIY faux leather headboards! Photo Susan Teare.

Sometimes just combining some unique pieces and painting the walls white is all you need to make a bedroom shine, like the one we redid in Michigan for a vacation rental property.

Sometimes the words, simplify, simplify, simplify are all you need to be reminded of when designing a getaway place — your bedroom should feel like you have truly escaped the real world. Bold blanket, throw pillow and area rug, all complement each other and add texture to a simple and calming bedroom palette. Photo Lindsay Selin.

For those of you who love flea market style and a funky eclectic salvage style… this bedroom is for you! Photo Susan Teare.

When you have a funky wall “put a bird on it” — or a bed — or two. We love to transform closets into cozy built-ins — whether they are bunk beds or a daybed, do you have a space you can add a sleeping nook in?

Loved how these 14 bedrooms turned out at this outdated (auctioned off) motel redo — showing that a budget project can still look modern, hip and cozy! BTW — a custom live edge headboard is not difficult to make… Photo Lindsay Selin

Another room we were able to transform (in this old barn turned vacation home), shows that throw pillows and blankets can transform a look of a bed from clean and comfortable to down right cozy. Photo Lindsay Selin.

Until next blog… I’ll be dreaming of summer days overlooking the lake.