Some homes lift your spirits the minute you walk in. They brim with personality, spring surprises, seem to tell stories in ways that feel natural, not staged.
In Retrouvius: Contemporary Salvage, Designing Homes from a Philosophy of Re-Use, we bring together 14 such homes – projects we’ve designed this past decade, with people who are as inspiring as the buildings they inhabit. Projects that make us smile.
In her forward, Helena Bonham Carter, describes our work as “importing imagination into daily life” and our hope is that this book offers a joyful peek into how we make that happen.
Our clients are at its heart – they are people who are inspired by the qualities that salvage brings; the beauty of the unexpected, the warmth offered by texture, tactility and colour. They are people who find joy in the variety in the world and who respect what their building wants to be. Each project we’ve worked on offers its own excitement and challenge as a result. A panoramic rooftop home surrounded by a sea of green. A trio of early twentieth century artist studios knitted together with new elements. The creation of a country house in the heart of London’s Portobello. An Umbrian ruin turned into a dream. Each has its own rhythm, its own playful moments, its own magic.
At its heart, Retrouvius: Contemporary Salvage, is about how reuse can enrich design. Packed with beautiful photography and essay contributions from Emma Crichton-Miller, Bella Freud, Adam Hills and Mary Miers, each project reflects our belief that materials deserve a second life. It shows that beautiful, functional spaces can be created with care for what already exists, often allowing the serendipity of interesting finds and materials to guide design decisions.
It’s an invitation to think creatively about the spaces we live in. To let unexpected ideas in and to enjoy the delight of a home that lifts your spirit every time you walk through the door.
We hope you enjoy it as much as we’ve loved designing these very special homes.
Click here to purchase your signed copy of Retrouvius: Contemporary Salvage
