10 WAYS TO DECORATE WITH SALVAGE

Unique nds create a characterful look in Gemma’s home. Katherine Sorrell shows us how to incorporate patinated pieces in our own interiors

How to bring intrigue and history to your space with patinated furnishings

1 WELL WORN BOARDS

Reclaimed floorboards are not only beautiful but also environmentally friendly, and their patina simply can’t be compared with that of a new floor. While the characterful surface that has been built up over time is the point, it’s worth letting the salvage yard do the hard work for you and paying extra for boards that are problem-free: all the same thickness and without woodworm, stains or broken tongue and groove.

2 INSTANT CHARACTER

The most memorable interiors are all about displaying individuality. Integrating salvaged furniture is a relatively fuss-free way to inject personality into your home. Look out for functional pieces that complement your existing furniture in terms of scale, form, colour and pattern. For more unique, attentiongrabbing pieces, scour salvage yards and fairs (try salvoweb.com) for items that were designed for use in a school, church, museum or even a factory.

3 IN THE CHARTS

If you find the prospect of buying salvaged furniture or architectural fittings daunting, dip your toes in with wall art. Happily, old school charts are still fashionable, and their heritage ensures they sit well with antique and vintage furniture and complement period properties. As with all art, the hang is key – here, formal rows add impact.

4 TEXTURAL CONTRAST

One of the main advantages of using salvaged, reclaimed or upcycled pieces is that the minor flaws of ageing simply add to their appeal. In bathrooms (which tend to be composed of hard, shiny, regular surfaces), salvaged furnishings – a small chair or stool, a light fitting or, as here, a washstand made from reclaimed wood – add textural contrast, warmth and patina.

5KITCHENS WITH CHARM

Opting for reclaimed materials in kitchens is a sure-fire way to introduce a unique touch into a space that can feel impersonal. The cabinets in this Cotswold cottage were made by hand using reclaimed timber.

6 ROMANTIC FEEL

Salvage is versatile – the right piece can enhance softer schemes. Here, antique shutters are used to make decorative headboards. For safety, secure them to the wall. For similar shutters, try English Salvage.

7 STATEMENT SIGNS

Whether it’s a bus destination sign or an enamel advertising board, the quirky charm of a vintage sign is hard to resist. They look especially good in functional spaces – downstairs loos, kitchens or utility rooms.

8 BATHING BEAUTY If buying a salvaged cast-iron roll-top bath, it’s important to do your homework. Check for length, width and depth, as well as style and whether or not it has been restored. An unrestored bath can be cheap, but the work required to get it up to scratch is often lengthy and expensive. A fully restored bath could cost as much as a modern reproduction, or even more, but is likely to be deeper and more comfortable. Sourced from an antiques shop, this roll-top bath was restored and then installed, with a set of silver-painted claw feet, in a bathroom designed by Sims Hilditch.

9 SLIDING DOORS

Salvaging old doors is often the only way to ensure that they complement the style of a property. However, they don’t have to be hung conventionally. These glazed doors – like those in Gemma’s kitchen – have been suspended from a sliding rail, tucking back against the wall to save space. This feature creates impact while also linking the salvaged parquet flooring and mid-century furniture.

10 CREATIVE TOUCHES

One of the joys of using salvage materials is that surprising – and even perhaps playful – elements can be incorporated into a scheme without looking gimmicky or contrived. Here, a section of a Victorian lamp post has been cut in half, sandblasted and then used to support the long, narrow breakfast bar in a classic-contemporary kitchen. Its highly ornate style contrasts wonderfully with the pared-back, sleek design of the dark painted cabinets and metal bar stools, introducing an unexpected and showstopping effect.

For similar boards, UK Architectural Antiques has re-sawn reclaimed pine square-edged floorboards at £48 per sq yd. The wallpaper is Paradise in Feather, £151 per roll, Little Greene.

This homely kitchen was designed by VSP Interiors, £POA.

Find similar vintage wall charts, from £140 each, at Wild Strawberry Prints. Meadow Saffron poster (just seen) by Jung, Koch & Quentell, £367, Mighty Vintage at Pamono.

Washbench 600 made from reclaimed teak, £850, Fired Earth.

Kitchen designed by Gunter & Co Interiors, £POA.

RE often has a good selection of vintage advertising signs, from £80 to £200.

Paris Rose double duvet cover, £50, and pair of Oxford pillowcases, £20; Woven Linen Check fabric in Grey, £75 per m, all Cabbages & Roses.

This resplendent bathroom features Jasper Peony wallpaper by Lewis and Wood, £68 per m, F&P Interiors. The curtain is made from Sonoran Oyster fabric by Threads, £69 per m, TM Interiors. For a similar tub, try Antique Baths of Ivybridge.

All the furnishings pictured here were sourced by Retrouvius.

This classic kitchen with a contemporary twist has been designed by Woodstock Furniture and costs from £35,000.