REPURPOSING WITH SALVAGED MATERIALS
Repurposing with salvaged materials is a great way to save money while adding character a living space may lack.Recycling and re-purposing with salvaged materials has become de rigueur for many interior designers and decorators. Now, DIYers are joining in to take advantage of more widely available trash-to-treasure opportunities in home rehabbing and decorating. It’s not only chic to re-purpose with salvaged materials, doing so can save home owners hundreds–even thousand–of dollars in materials costs.
MATERIAL REUSE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION
Consider reuse of building materials in your new design and construction. The BMRA promotes deconstruction and materials resue, has launched a standardized deconstruction training certification curriculum for community colleges, provides local resources for homeowners who want to re-purpose building materials and finishes, and promotes DC Metro contractors who re-purpose. Not only is re-purposing popular among designers and DC Metro homeowners, it has gained favor in the construction industry. Developers are learning that they can create on-trend products that cost less to construct. There are many resources for re-purposed materials and finishes in Washington DC and Northern Virginia. See some of our suggestions below. You may have to spend some time finding exactly what you’re looking for. It will help to have your specifications jotted down in a little notebook you can carry with you (in case you stumble across a “find” when you’re not actively looking). Include measurements, a color palette, and notes or photos of the existing space and furnishings/finishes.