Reclaimed materials are the perfect choice of any vintage lover. Green, sustainable and often quirky to look at they can also save you a lot of money. Whether you use them in the construction of your home or look for furniture and design made from up-cycled pieces.
One of the easiest ways to use reclaimed materials is within a home renovation. Visit salvage yards for original marble fireplaces, floorboards, parquet flooring, metal beams and other industrial items such as lights and shelving and make your vintage home look amazing.
Look for items like architectural blueprints that are normally stored away or tragically, even thrown away and make them art. Frame them in groups and enjoy their unusual beauty every day.
Add a piece of reclaimed furniture to your home and have a piece of design that’s is totally unique. Look for pieces that show age or remnants of their past lives such as advertising prints or old paint and mix them on with your existing vintage pieces.
Use everyday objects and make them beautiful. Sometimes reclaiming the cheapest/simplest items and using them in groups can have the most impact.
Rescue distressed damaged pieces and get up-cycling! Here an old vintage door is used as headboard. We think it looks fabulous!
Make you kitchen feel homely yet still cool with reclaimed wood crates for shelving. Contrast with a white subway tile and let your cans and jars be seen this pride.
Add some cute touches by using cushions and soft furnishings made from vintage materials such as tweed, mohair knits or retro prints. How about a draft excluder or letter cushion of your initials? Perfect for making any space feel cosy.
Add character to your garden with pieces such as driftwood, reclaimed metals and unique items such as these chairs made from vintage wine barrels. Beautiful and unusual and guaranteed to look better every year as it ages.
Written by Sarah Gorlov
Sarah is a stylist, writes fashion blog Always a Blue Sky Girl, is owner of creative consultancy Blue Sky Visual Merchandising and was the stylist on ‘Style your Modern Vintage Home’ by Kate Beavis. Brought up by antique dealer parents and starting her career as a Harrods window dresser, her passions include fashion, interior design and collecting 1960’s vintage
