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Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of inform...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
Designing with Salvaged and Reclaimed Materials
Older pine floorboards
with MARIA SPEAKE — Reclaimed Materials Interior Designer
Lesson 25 of 34
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Maria loves using pine for flooring due to its flexible and unpretentious nature. She’ll be taking you through the different looks you can achieve, and how.
From the Lesson Workbook
Flooring
Older Pine Floorboards
I absolutely love using pine for flooring; it's flexible, unpretentious and suits most homes in some capacity. I'll be taking you through the different looks you can achieve and how.
Exploring Different Effects
- Applying a layer of liming wax or liming paint will lighten the pine.
- Pine floors can be painted, either white or any colour you like.
- Using a stain can darken the pine to your desired tone.
Bringing Out the Grain in Pine
On the whole, it's best to sand each individual plank before you lay it onto the floor. It is more time-consuming and might not always be viable, but it does produce a softer, more organic look.
Further Reading
- Bona - guide to water popping
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May 31, 2026
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May 20, 2026
Interior and exterior confidence
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of information to dive into and explore new ideas. I'm...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
Absolutely love Create Academy
Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renewing my subscription yearly because there are ...
SG
May 31, 2026
Magic in small spaces
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
Carla
May 30, 2026
Your Instructor
Maria Speake
Reclaimed Materials Interior Designer
Named interior designer of the year by House & Garden, Maria Speake co-founded Retrouvius in 1993 and leads its award-winning design studio. Her work reimagines salvaged and reclaimed objects from hardwoods to textiles into richly textured, liveable pieces. With three decades of practice, she’s helped put thoughtful reclamation at the centre of contemporary interior design.
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