Very good tutorial from a professional garden...
I have subscribed to access all the courses so have watched one on interior design and this one with Butter Wakefield who specialises in small garden design. She ...
Louise Brown
Apr 10, 2026
Designing with Salvaged and Reclaimed Materials
Using salvage fabric, leather and suede
with MARIA SPEAKE — Reclaimed Materials Interior Designer
Lesson 9 of 30
Buy or subscribe to watch
You might not instantly associate fabric with salvage and reclamation yards, but it is more common than you think. Join Maria as she offers suggestions for how it can be reused.
From the Lesson Workbook
Using Salvaged Fabric, Leather and Suede
You might not instantly associate fabric with salvage and reclamation yards, but it is more common than you think. Rather than being secondhand, it is normally brand-new fabric but the offcuts or surplus from a larger project that are no longer needed.
Fabric Wall Panels
Offcuts of leather, fabric or suede can be used to create decorative wall panels. We have done this by cutting ply boards to the size we require, padding them and then upholstering the fabric over the top.
Sourcebook
- Bill Amberg Studio
- British pasture leather - ethical leather suppliers
Get the full workbook, video lessons, and more with a Create Academy subscription.
Subscribe to access the full workbookAlready a member? Sign in to watch
Rated 4.7/5 on Trustpilot
437 reviews
Read moreTime spent well
I love CreateAcademy. I came in for the gardening and floristry courses, but am also watching an interior design one at present. And the photography course is an ...
Wellesley
Apr 1, 2026
What a great investment
What a great investment, I have learned such a lot from the first three courses. My evenings have gone from not being able to find anything that captured my imagi...
sojojo
Mar 30, 2026
I loved this course with Amanda\u2026
I loved this course with Amanda Lindroth! Her approach to decorating is so relaxed and she makes it feel attainable. She explains the reasons behind her decisions...
Elizabeth
Mar 27, 2026
Very good tutorial from a professional garden designer
I have subscribed to access all the courses so have watched one on interior design and this one with Butter Wakefield who specialises in small garden design. She has a lovely personality and comes across as ...
Louise Brown
Apr 10, 2026
Time spent well
I love CreateAcademy. I came in for the gardening and floristry courses, but am also watching an interior design one at present. And the photography course is an absolute must, best I've ever done.
Wellesley
Apr 1, 2026
What a great investment
What a great investment, I have learned such a lot from the first three courses. My evenings have gone from not being able to find anything that captured my imagination on TV to learning and expanding my kno...
sojojo
Mar 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.
Access to all courses