THRIFTY DESIGN
Don’t be afraid to use second-hand materials when renovating
Most people are comfortable with the idea of picking up the odd second-hand item to decorate their homes, interior designer Jamie Banfield says.
But when it comes to large renovation projects — such as ripping out a kitchen and installing a shiny new one — and using second-hand sinks, countertops and cabinets, that’s a new concept for many, he says.
Nonetheless, Banfield says it’s one worth getting your head around.
“You’re going to save money, right off,” he says. “And save things going into the landfill.”
Banfield, of Jamie Banfield Design, has a long history of working with Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores, donation centres for home and building materials that fund the charity’s housing projects for low-income families.
“They’ll take furniture, dressers, tables, chairs, patio furniture, stone, all kind of stuff like that,” he says. “And then building supplies, so you can literally go in there and buy like a used window, or it could be a window that was ordered for a project and it was just the wrong size.”
Big brands like Home Depot also donate to different ReStore locations, Banfield says.
“Something might have a broken box or might be last year’s models, so you can buy towel bars, cabinet handles, and they also take used kitchens, so homeowners can literally, when they ’re renovating their kitchen, they can donate their appliances, literally their kitchen sink, they can donate countertops the whole thing, and then the ReStore will curbside pick that up.”
Some ReStore finds Banfield has used in his projects include solid brass light fixtures, which he figures would have retailed for $200 or $300 each (he paid less than $5), as well as new towel bars and even high-end bathtubs from a local supplier that was simply redoing its showroom.
“They were floor models and had probably never been used, but were going for a fraction of the price,” Banfield says. “So $7,000 or $8,000 bathtubs going for $1,100, and on some projects, especially when you’re renovating a bathroom, that’s a saving you can put somewhere else.”
When it comes to shopping for second-hand items, the key is to go in with an open mind and have a bit of time up your sleeve “to rummage,” Banfield says.
“We took a 20-year-old kitchen that somebody pulled out of their house,” he says. “And we were able to paint it, put in brand new countertops, brand new sinks, brand new hardware, and completely update it.”
The key to finding the right second-hand items for the home is to go hunting with a vision, says Vancouver interior designer Jamie Dunlop Khau.
“When you have a specific item and vision in mind, it will be less overwhelming to find what you’re searching for,” she says. “It has to be something you enjoy and you’re willing to spend time doing. Realistically, it’s important to set aside time. Perhaps a weekend, or if it’s a larger item, a few weekends. In the end, you will love that you committed yourself to the project and the item will have so much more meaning to you because you put your love, time and hard work into it.”
She says she is often hunting for chairs, end tables, dressers, and picture frames in second-hand stores and online.
“I have used Craigslist, Kijiji, and Facebook marketplace to search for used furniture and children’s items.”
There are certain second-hand items that interior designer and Canadian television personality Jillian Harris says she tends to stay away from, such as couches and recliners.
“Basically, stay away from items you can’t re-cover easily,” she says.
Harris says she loves to hunt for second-hand mirrors, desks, cabinets, chests, wood chairs, vintage cutlery and glassware, light fixtures, chandeliers and artwork that can be reframed.
People shouldn’t concern themselves too much with being overly “matchy ” with their finds, she says, or feel the need to transform, or upcycle everything they purchase.
“I had mismatched chairs around the table in my old house,” she says. “and I don’t think people need to refinish all the time. I love a piece that looks like it’s stood the test of time. A few scrapes, stains, etc. give character.”