With the 15th anniversary of the release of my book, Salvage Secrets, Transforming Reclaimed Materials into Design Concept, I find that reusing is more important today that it was even then. I’m beyond thrilled that for the past 15 years, with the book’s huge success (and the additional two books in the series) that I have been able to share my passion and enthusiasm for reuse in design on a daily basis.
WHAT IS SALVAGE and WHY USE IT?
Salvaged materials—that is, any material from an old building or home that is reused or repurposed in a new one—have historically had a bad reputation being once synonymous with the words ugly or expensive. Thankfully, times, technology, and design concepts have changed and more and more professionals and homeowners are seeing the benefits, both aesthetically and environmentally, of integrating salvaged materials into their design objectives. Modern, sleek, clean, simple, stylish, beautiful and chic are just a few of the words now used when describing home designs that incorporate salvage ideas.
Now that professionals are more willing to work with salvaged materials and companies have popped up that specialize in finding and selling exceptional products out of recycled materials, designs are becoming more attractive. Both homeowners and professionals in the building trades are also embracing the very important environmentally friendly movement occurring across the globe, which is changing the way we live in it. We cannot ignore the fact that the building industry produces almost one-third of today’s waste. With a little foresight and planning, together, we can make a huge difference in how we not only build but dispose of material.
With knowledge, research, and some upfront planning, today’s homes can be filled with unique and beautiful character by incorporating materials that would once have been considered someone else’s trash.
We are now sharing responsibility and respect for the places we live and how we choose to create them and live in them.
Using salvaging material today…will help us all…tomorrow.
A big thank you to Susan Teare, my friend and the photographer for all three of my salvage design books, W.W. Norton Publishing, NYC, for seeing my first book proposal and calling me the very next day and of course, all the amazing designers and homeowners and the talented folks in the salvage and vintage industries — who use and explore the joys of salvage everyday and allowing us to share your stories in my books!
Thank you all for following along on this amazing journey.
xoxo Joanne
