Hello Everyone!
Wow… what a busy year. It’s been 13 months since I have even had a chance to look at my website. I know it could use an upgrade… it is on my list… number 735. :) Beyond thrilled with the work I have been able to do this year and the current projects I have. I mean… I’ve helped renovate an old church converted into a condo and now it looks spectacular — cannot wait to share it with you. Plus, current projects such as a lovely historic resort in Vermont and another one in Florida, a gorgeous post and beam house, some updates with old clients, including a sitting area in a bar and much, much more. And on the personal side, great family times, time with our daughter who just moved from Vancouver, BC to San Clemente, California, a 3-week trip to the South Pacific with my husband and a month in Italy with my twin sister (and part of it with our husbands as well). Lots of fun.
ONTO THE TOPIC…DESIGNING WITH RECLAIMED, REUSED and RECYCLED.
As more and more architects, designers, and homeowners focus on sustainability and conservation practices, the idea of “salvage design”—reusing old building materials and other types of recycled goods—is becoming increasingly popular, both for its environmentally-friendly functionality and for its design aesthetic. It’s so lovely to go through my Instagram feed (my only social channel) and see so many amazing designs with almost all of them have some element of vintage or reclaimed material, even if it is just a little bit. Let’s keep going in that direction. Beyond thrilled. It has been a passion for my for more years than I can count…
We cannot always build with these materials, whether it is the style of the project, or the structural/code issues — but we can try and see if there is an opportunity (even a small one) to reuse what we have and recycle when we can.
From my three Salvage Design books, I’m going to share with you some fabulous pictures and projects from amazing folks around the country, who have used it in their designs. I was thrilled to meet them and be able to share their homes and spaces with you in my books. Let’s start off the new year in the right direction!
Cheers! Joanne
This house in Southern Vermont is incredible. The homeowners ability to put pieces together was amazing. From vintage doors with stained glass to old counter store bins she now uses as her wardrobe… this is just one closet in this stunning house — and this is just the closet. :) This house is featured in my book Salvage Secrets.
A talented designer/homeowner created this bathroom with recycled glass tiles and a vintage sideboard as her vanity. I love the vintage light fixtures as well. It just goes to show you can create any style you want. I also love using old dressers and sideboards as vanities…
Another favorite house — this ski family really created a cozy welcome home area in their kitchen/mudroom space. The red lockers are not only fun to use as a design feature but super functional. Many ways to use recycled and reclaimed material does not have to be structural. This house is featured in my first book as well, Salvage Secrets.
If bigger pieces still feel daunting to you… start small, like this homeowner did, who loves to garage sale and in the Southwest of US, she found lots of great finds. Beautifully displayed, you can create a vignette in your own home. Salvage Secrets Design + Decor.
This cottage is just one of many designed by Jane Coslick on Tybee Island. Slipcovers can easily help you keep good furniture pieces and a variety of old pieces painted brightly can bring out that ocean side cottage feeling. She is an expert of creating fun and charming looks on a smaller budget.
Chairs, tables, lighting, trim work, mirrors… I could go on and on. These are just a few items you can find at a salvage shop, local second hand shops or your favorite second-hand online stores. In my second book, I talk much more about where to find and how to use these items.
Finds by style… This homeowner searched out her lighting and vintage barware at a store that specialized in mid-century. There are lots of ways you can search… that’s where all the fun is! In the hunt.
My sister’s house in Oregon was super cool. She created some fun designs. I love the vintage curtain turned into a shower curtain. I always say, look at items and see if you can create 4 things with it in your mind. It is all about training yourself to see things differently. A curtain is a shower curtain, or a cover of an ottoman, or wallpaper for the back of a cabinet… or a matte for a picture frame… on and on… :) Textiles are a fun way to easily update a piece of furniture, pillows, cushions, art and showers :)
Not to put a feather in my own cap (I had to) but I loved creating these feather pieces out of recycled paper bags. Yes, it can be that simple. In this renovation project, the homeowner had some lovely vintage mid-century furniture and when it came time to photograph this house for the third book, I knew just what to put up on the walls. Creating your own art out of recycled materials is an easy way to add character and charm to your space.
Pulling it all together. In this design project (one of mine). We really went crazy to try and reuse as much as we could. The countertops are old slate chalkboards from an old school house, left over tile from a project, reclaimed wood from the house itself, old porch posts and reclaimed wood table and a recovered bench… just to name a few.
Go big or go home :) I love these Oregon designers and their projects are always stunning. Their use of vintage pieces, lighting and cabinetry is exceptional. We photographed this whole house for our third book, Styling with Salvage.
Not all wood is created equal. Old wood is usually much stronger and harder than newer wood… not only is it filled with character but almost all of the pieces have a patina that is hard to match. This custom vanity I designed for a client is made from wood that came out of a 1800’s barn. Mixing old and new, modern and rustic… it is a stunning piece.
That’s a wrap for now. I’m sitting on this amazing reupholstered piece by a talented trade person in Oregon. Not only do I talk about the importance of reuse in my final book of my three book series, but I talk about the importance of the trade industry itself. I do believe this last book is my most passionate and personal yet.
