Reclaimed building materials come with ‘a story to tell’
As residential buyers leaf through real estate sections in the newspaper or surf the web for the latest options to come on the market, they may begin to note that listing brokers nearly always point out when an architect or builder has incorporate reclaimed or salvaged architectural materials in the construction or remodeling of a home. The reason Realtors do that is no marketing secret. Architectural salvage is compelling for a number of reasons. It’s environmentally considerate — the architectural “upcycle.” Often, the materials — whether it’s wood or mantelpieces, flooring or fixtures — lend authenticity and character to a home that’s otherwise new and without a history yet of its own.
When listing Realtors point out reclaimed materials in marketing materials for a property, they’re broadcasting to buyers: This home is special; this home is unique.
Shelly Tretter Lynch, a founding broker with the Greenwich arm of Compass, is representing the sellers of 1 Hobart Drive in Greenwich, and one of the many compelling features of the home is its wide-planked 100-year-old reclaimed oak flooring. Charlotte Barnes designed the interiors of the 5,646-square-foot estate on 1.1 acres, listed for $4.495 million.
“Besides being a very durable flooring material and an environmentally conscientious decision, reclaimed oak flooring is aesthetically beautiful — especially with antique wide-plank flooring. Each board has its own hand-hewn woodworking marks and the natural grain patterns, creating a unique storied work of art, with Old World charm,” Tretter Lynch suggested. “I think, for this reason, buyers are particularly drawn to homes with antique flooring.”
Preserving a timeless Victorian
“Reclaimed materials are a great feature to highlight in a home, as they hold appeal for a variety of reasons,” according to Leigh Frost, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, New England Properties. “I give a lot of credit to TV home shows for increasing the popularity of using salvaged materials. People have a better understanding of how ‘upcycling’ not only creates a beautiful décor, but also protects the environment by keeping materials out of our landfills.”
Frost is representing the sellers of 150 Riverside Avenue, an authentic 1873-era Victorian on just under a half acre, with six bedrooms and more than 6,000 square feet of living space.
“150 Riverside Avenue is full of reclaimed materials,” she noted. “When the owners undertook the first major renovation of the house, they saved as much of the original woodwork as they could. Reclaimed materials for this 1873 Victorian were also brought in from other sources. In some cases, the reclaimed materials were altered to fit the design, and in some cases, the design was altered to fit the materials.”
Some examples of how the antique home’s materials were salvaged and repurposed are the original interior doors, which were stripped, refinished, modified and rehung. “The original ceramic knobs were cleaned and reused, as well,” Frost said.
Throughout the house, wainscoting had adorned the walls. It was all painstakingly removed, repainted and reapplied. A builtin hutch that had originally been in the kitchen was stripped, restained and repurposed on the second level. The Realtor noted that it was used as a model for the new kitchen cabinetry put in during the renovation.
Lighting fixtures, cabinets, door framing and moldings were all saved and restored. Even the original radiators have been professionally sandblasted and repainted.
Not all of the reclaimed materials came from the original house. Some were acquired from other sources. For example, the living room fireplace mantel at 150 Riverside Avenue came from a Manhattan brownstone. The pocket doors that now delineate the living room and family rooms were acquired from United House Wrecking, which specializes in vintage, salvage and custom furnishings. “They are made of 2.5inch thick solid white oak. … Here again, the renovation was designed around the reclaimed materials, and the wall opening was built to fit the doors,” Frost pointed out.
The reclamation of these materials doesn’t just add authenticity to architecture of this kind, it preserves and extends their storyline.
“Seeing the amazing transformations that can be done helps people visualize what they might be able to do, but also appreciate the craftsmanship involved when they see these materials in use,” Frost said. “Reclaimed materials are a great way to bring character into a home. They often come with a special patina and a story to tell, making them both beautiful and interesting.”