Retrouvius

TAKING STOCK. Nika Neelova , UK based Russian Artist, joined us mid heatwave this summer where we discussed memory, time and the hidden lives of materials. In this kind of weather, the shop team had migrated downstairs into the cool of the warehouse, leaning against slabs of marble to mitigate the heat.

Nika transforms salvaged and found materials into sculptures is our most creative customer for reclaimed handrails. Head to the blog section on our website where you can read the full conversation, and find out more about her artistic practice that is paired with a fascinating philosophy.

To see her work in person, you can visit The Bomb Factory for her solo show opening today.

Thank you for spending time with us Nika!

We love to salvage copper-light doors and windows, as they very rarely get made new today, and they really do deserve the attention. The distinctive style is where individual glass panes are separated by fine strips of copper rather than traditional lead cames. The design became highly popular during the Edwardian and Art Deco era 1910s - 1920s and originated as one of the world’s first fire-resistant glazing systems.

We think they are beautifully made and our design team have been very imaginative when incorporating them into residential projects; as sliding doors, horizontal internal windows and internal stairway windows too.

Please send us any pictures of copperlights that you have used in your own projects! And take a look at our website to see what we have in stock as these tend to go quickly :)

It’s September, and the light is beginning to shift again. Warm evenings in the rolling hills of Umbria seem to have their own kind of glow, as the sun lowers in the sky. Here are a few more images of our Italian farm house project to see us into the next month.

We were totally inspired by the scenery and surroundings, and you can read more about this story in our book, launched a year ago this month. Available online and in our shop.

The Chapel in a 16th century Umbrian farmhouse. Our founder Maria explains in our book that once the new pinkish-grey lime plaster was applied, the clients and herself all spontaneously agreed to ditch the planned paint scheme and leave some of the walls unpainted. The marked details were left exempt of any masking, to instead highlight the building’s age and natural scarring of rural Italian life. We think this is where the beauty lies, and the character glows.

It’s not uncommon for large estates and farms to have a built-in chapel. For centuries this may have been the closest place of worship for many in the nearby area, for daily prayer of good harvests and health. Today, the chapel is still a sanctuary, but perhaps with a more modern kind of worship of relaxation and music….

You can explore the Umbrian Farmhouse story in our book: ‘Contemporary Salvage: designing homes from a philosophy of re-use’ available online and in our shop.

Bookmatched Walnut Cupboard Doors. Stock no.2153

We have six lightweight door panels, made primarily of London Plane with beautiful bookmatched walnut veneer details on one side, and burrowed on the other.

Thought to be removed from the old Pearl Assurance Building, now the Rosewood London.

H 1715
W 560
Thickness 25mm

Take a look at our inspiration section on our website to see how we have used interior panelling in our previous projects, we think these have the potential for stand out dressing room or kitchen cabinetry.

A bedroom in Umbria with textiles to make the textures in this Italian farmhouse sing.

The oldest part of the stone house holds memories from the early 16th century, and it shows. The layers plaster walls give us a glimpse into the interior’s chronological history.

To see more of this story, take a look at our book ‘Contemporary Salvage’ designing homes from a philosophy of re-use. Available to purchase online.

Over the past couple of months, many timber interior panels have made it into our warehouse and storage facilities thanks to our shop team. We have been excited re-discovering these bespoke panels and sharing them with you throughout the process.

And it’s still not over yet… we have new reclaimed panels dropping very soon….

Sign up to our newsletter letter to be the first to receive updates on new stock, and come visit us in Kensal Green to see it in the flesh :)

Hardwood arched window #2062

This is a beautifully made arched window that was never installed or glazed. In perfect condition for an internal or external window.

If you are considering letting more light into your home, why don’t you visit our Inspiration page on our website to spark your imagination on how to use feature windows.