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Jun 10, 2026
Designing with Salvaged and Reclaimed Materials
Sometimes salvage isn’t worth it
with MARIA SPEAKE — Reclaimed Materials Interior Designer
Lesson 10 of 34
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As with so many things in life, there are highs and lows in salvage. Something you think may be a guaranteed winner and is 100% worth salvaging, can turn into a huge liability. Maria explains why certain materials can be problematic.
From the Lesson Workbook
Sometimes salvage isn't worth it
As with so many things in life, there are highs and lows in salvage. Something you think may be a guaranteed winner and is 100% worth salvaging can turn into a huge liability.
Travertine
A beautiful material that is hugely versatile and can be used in a myriad of ways. When we initially salvaged a particular lot from an office building in London, we were certain we'd be able to find a wonderful use for it quickly, but it has now been in our warehouse for over three years.
Why this batch is problematic
- Its initial use means it is mounted onto chipboard, which makes it very thick and thus difficult to use as flooring in residential projects.
- In Britain we are used to having 'softer' stones such as terracotta or limestone and are not so accustomed to travertine floors.
- The stone is bonded irreversibly to the chipboard that we are unable to separate the two, which limits the ways in which we can use it, especially when it comes to underfloor heating.
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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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