Joanne Palmisano - Salvage Secrets Design & Decor: Transform Your Home with Reclaimed Materials

Amazing kitchen floors can be created with salvage material in hundreds of different ways. Of course, most people like to stick to wood, tiles, concrete, or similar materials for ease of cleaning and the non-slip factorrarely do you see a wall-to-wall rug in these areasbut that doesnt mean a wonderful vintage or salvage area rug or upcycled carpet remnant wont look great, perhaps under a moveable island or as a runner near the sink. Once you have a feel for what kind of flooring you want, you can start your salvage search.

Easiest to find are reclaimed wood options, concrete with recycled aggregate (fly ash or glass), recycled cement tile, and recycled bricks. Hundreds of companies, easily found on the Internet, sell and create these materials throughout the country, making it simple to find one near you. And another benefit: Many of these products can be custom made or finished to your exact style.

If you already have a wood floor, but its dated or worn, you can change the look of it instead of replacing it. Many homeowners dont think a dark stain will work on their floors, but Ive seen some dated white oak turn into a rich espresso color in a flash, transforming the entire feel of the kitchen. Another way of handling old floors is to paint them either a cottage colorgrays, greens, or bluesor give them a checkered pattern for a vintage kitchen look. Will they scratch? Possibly, but by using floor and porch paints and with a proper seal they will last much longer with very few touchups over the years. Follow the advice of a floor refinisher, including doing the upfront work of sanding, and you can repurpose your existing floors without removing a thing.

DESIGN TIP

Remodeling your kitchen? Dont start ripping everything out without first having a plan. Can the cabinets be left in place and simply painted or refaced? If not, can you use them in the laundry room or the kids playroom? Reusing your own materials is the best way to salvage. And even if you cant use them, remember that someone else can! If youre getting rid of a nice architectural piece, an architectural salvage shop will pay you something for it. You can list it on Craigslist or another online site (although youll have to deal with strangers coming to your house). Recycle centers are another option. You can drop your stuff off or pay a fee for pickupand even if you do pay for pickup, youll still get the donation value and wont have to spend a fortune on dump fees. (Plus, recycling is much better for the environment.) Dont underestimate what can be recycledpretty much everything has another life in it. Salvaged sinks, lights, countertops, cabinetsthese are just the beginning of a kitchen youll love, use, and live in.

When starting with a new structure or remodeling, reclaimed wood is a great choice. It is easy to find and the look and feel cannot be duplicated with new lumber. Reclaimed wood is one of the most popular salvaged material on the market todayit can be found everywhere, and more and more businesses are dismantling buildings that have gorgeous old wood and bringing it back to you in the marketplace. Also, many kinds of wood once frequently used in old buildingschestnut, oak, old-growth redwood, heart of pineare now almost impossible to get as new lumber (especially at wide widths) because those tree species are either protected, restricted, endangered, or less abundant than they once were. Old wood from decommissioned buildings is likely from old growth forests, not tree farms. Wood from old growth forests grows at a slower rate than on tree farms, giving it a tighter grain so its hard as nails and has loads of character. (Another reason to recycle our materials instead of putting them in the dumpster.) And some of the woods we had in the past are now completely unavailable as new lumberwe must help preserve their presence in our lives and our homes.

DESIGN TIP

If youre building new, think old. Reclaimed lumber or salvaged tile can be used for the floors and cabinets; recycled glass is perfect for lighting or tiling. Even concrete countertops can be made with up to 85% recycled materialwhether its glass or fly ash. Vintage sinkscast iron, porcelain, slate, soapstone, and moreare in abundance at architectural salvage shops or online. Review your design and think about what you can use that is either salvaged or made from recycled material. If you are buying something new, then think about its futureis it built to last? Can it be recycled? Some research suggests that creating products from recycled materials uses up to 98% less energy than producing them from new material.

Concrete and tile floors can have a significant amount of recycled material in them. The added benefit of concrete is that its incredibly durableand, in the unlikely case that it needs to be removed, it can be recycled again. Concrete was once considered just a subfloor material, but when its the main structural floor of the house, carpet or new wood flooring does not necessarily need to be added on top, saving money and the need for additional raw materials. Plus, salvaged materials added to concrete mix can offer a thousand different looks: Recycled fly ash gives concrete the appearance of stone; recycled glass crushed into a powder can also give the appearance of stone; or, with a natural dye, you can achieve a bright, colorful look. Large chunks of glass or local stone aggregate provide a variety of textured looks. Non-toxic dyes and sealers can be used to finish the concrete, whether you want a matte surface or a highly polished one that reflects light. Add radiant heat to your recycled concrete or tile floor and you have a modern, energy-efficient salvaged product for any style home.