An update from our design team — a large lateral conversion and full refurbishment of a romantic apartment on a grand Victorian Square in Westminster, London.
News & Views
15 April 2021
Maria In Conversation: The Pitzhanger Design Series
Country Life interiors editor, Giles Kime, in conversation with three experts in architecture and interior design; Maria Speake, Max Rollitt an Tom Bartlett, as they discuss Soane’s use of architectural detail and form and the influence it has on their own work and today’s interiors.
Inspired by Soane: Architectural Detail and Form
15 April 2021
Retrouvius included in "By Design: The World's Best Contemporary Interior Designers"
Retrouvius are thrilled to be included in Phaidon's new publication — an authoritative global survey of the best and most creative interior designers and decorators working today
15 April 2021
our latest newsletter - subscribe for the full version
Our latest newsletter celebrates little loos.
Garden Soirées are back on the cards as lockdown eases(in the UK) and these tiny rooms offer perfect relief to visiting guests.
12 April 2021
Les 100 Décorateurs du Moment - AD 100
Retrouvius are thrilled to be included in the AD 100 list - highlighting the leading talent in the world of design and architecture.
Out now in AD France — a special decoration edition for 2021.
12 April 2021
showroom re-opens!
Our showroom and warehouse has now re-openend in line with UK government guidelines
Open 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday
Please make an appointment before visiting and we ask that you wear a face mask to cover mouth and nose
Indicating the type of stock you are interested in will ensure we are available to help
24 March 2021
on site with our design team
Our team and clients have done a brilliant job keeping the show on the road during the past 12 months of lockdown. Here's an update from one of our projects for a full family home refurbishment in West London.
19 March 2021
Listen: Podcast "The Well Crafted Life" Reuse, Repurpose, Restore with Sarah Spiteri
Maria in conversation with Homes & Garden's Sarah Spiteri, with Russell Sage and Sebastian Cox
19 March 2021
House & Garden: Design Ideas
House & Garden include two of our home office solutions in their March magazine feature, Working From Home
11 March 2021
Re-use in Action: Ceramic Hooks, Toothbrush Holders and Soap Dishes
These Belgian made tiles are dead stock from the 1970's and were probably made for domestic use. We love that they were fashionable at one time and the popularity for their look faded - yet remarkably they have sat unused for decades until Adam chanced upon them.
11 March 2021
Museum of the Home Auction:
Behind the Door is a new campaign to tackle the issues faced by women and families experiencing homelessness in the UK: an increasing but under-resourced problem.
Fashion designer, Anya Hindmarch, food writer, Skye McAlpine, interior designer, Maria Speake, luxury wallpaper studio, de Gournay, artist, Amy Revier, textile designer Catarina Riccabona and establishments such as MATCHESFASHION and Claridges, are some of the brands and creatives who have donated items to the Behind the Door auction. The auction, which is open to all, will support Behind the Door’s creative, community, and frontline activity.
The auction opens on Friday 19 March and will last until 25 March 2021 and will help to fund the creative, community and frontline activity of our Behind the Door campaign.
03 March 2021
RETROUVIUS - COMPLETED DESIGN PROJECT
A home for a young family with three small children
19 January 2021
Re-use in Action: STONE
Our current stock includes pieces of limestone, granite and marbles that were saved from a Park Royal stone merchant who moved.
19 January 2021
ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST GERMANY - 100 CREATIVES
Maria is included in Architectural Digest Germany's - 100 Kreative - the most important and influential designers working in interiors, design and architecture. Thank you AD DE!
06 January 2021
A Retrouvian's Favourite Stock: Layla
Layla is head of finance for our design studio. Her favourite item - chosen from the website - is our graffitied iroko school laboratory tops.
06 January 2021
RETROUVIUS Opening Hours
6th January 2021
The Retrouvius warehouse operates online only — please contact us by phone or email for all enquires, collection & deliveries.
Adam is always available on 07778210855
Monday-Friday 10am—6pm
1016 Harrow Road
Kensal Green, London NW10 5NS
+44(0)20 8960 6060
mail@retrouvius.com
Our design team continue to work remotely
01 December 2020
Retrouvius designed home in House & Garden
Our team's project features in the January 2021 edition.
Return to form — a generous 19th century house in Hampstead has had a sense of harmony restored by Maria Speake of Retrouvius. Words by Christopher Stocks.
18 November 2020
On site with our salvage team
An altar and wall cladding made of English alabaster offer our salvage team a rescue mission and a hefty workout.
10 November 2020
NEW LAMPS FROM SALVAGED STONE — GEOLOGY OF THE UK
Our latest batch of lamps celebrate the geological breadth and variety of stone found in the UK - from the richly coloured Polyphant of Cornwall, Dorset's Purbeck stone and alabasters, Lincolnshire Ancasters to Derbyshire limestones.
06 November 2020
5th November 2020 - Open Online Only
In alignment with UK Government guidelines, from Thursday 5th November RETROUVIUS will be operating online only.
The shop will be closed.
Our warehouse is open and we can arrange delivery to customers or collection with a prearranged timeslot.
21 October 2020
WATCH: Ways of Seeing Panel Discussion at The New Craftsmen
The New Craftsmen presents Ways of Seeing
Last week's panel discussion at The New Craftsmen ft. Maria Speake (Retrouvius), Aimee Betts (Textile Maker) and Gareth Neal (Furniture Maker).
Moderated by Emma Crichton-Miller (The Design Edit)
Filmed by Fraser Stephen
Illustration by Caroline Aitken
14 October 2020
ES MAGAZINE visit our showroom
Leonie Cooper from The Evening Standard visits the Retrouvius showroom to have a nose around — and discover our latest finds
13 October 2020
House & Garden Top 100 - 20th Anniversary Edition
Our team is included in House & Garden's Top 100 alongside many hugely creative and talented studios — thanks as ever to all the House & Garden team
17 September 2020
London Design Festival - Retrouvius - The New Craftsmen
This Autumn, The New Craftsmen presents ‘Ways of Seeing’: a collaborative project bringing together maker and interior designer. The New Craftsmen will invite three prestigious interior designer studios - Maria Speake, Founder of Retrouvius; Emma Burns, Senior Design Director at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler; and Sasha von Meister and Tom Bartlett, Directors of Waldo Works - to explore the different ways they view and value craft.
04 September 2020
Recently refurbished by our team — Adam & Maria's home in The World of Interiors
Adam & Maria's rooftop 1970's built and recently refreshed home is featured in the October issue of the WoI
01 September 2020
Architectural Digest Spain
Our remodel of a North London family home is featured in the September issue of Architectural Digest Spain.
13 August 2020
Country Living, Vintage Home
Retrouvius are profiled in Country Living's Bookazine Vol 2. Vintage Home Special
31 July 2020
Elle Decoration September 2020: Kitchen Inspiration
Our striking kitchen using remnant Victorian shelving to geomtric effect is featured in the current Elle Decoration UK, a kitchen special.
31 July 2020
Homes & Gardens, September 2020
My Life in Ten... Maria shares some of the things that make her tick with Celia Rufey for Homes & Gardens
14 July 2020
Caring For Your Iroko
A Retrouvius guide to caring for one of of best sellers. Our salvaged iroko is a tropical hardwood from school science laboratories — most commonly reused for kitchen worktops.
07 July 2020
House & Garden July / August: kitchen inspiration
Salvaged panelling and museum cabinet doors offer an alternative solution to standardised kitchen designs.
26 June 2020
FT House & Home feature Retrouvius
Helen Barrett of FT House & Home speaks to Retrouvius
From pools to playrooms: five home-enhancing projects to plan now
25 June 2020
Our top tips on door re-use
RE-USE IN ACTION: DOORS
Doors are one of the most commonly reused architectural salvage components.
Here we share some of our latest reclaimed finds and examples of their reuse.
15 June 2020
SHOWROOM OPENING HOURS
15th June 2020
In line with Government policy the Retrouvius shop is now open again.
Hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm.
Saturdays are, for the time being, by appointment only. Please email us or call our sales office on 02089 606 060 to make an appointment.
Adam is always available on 07778210855.
05 June 2020
Attic Rescue. An antique dealer's hoard of chairs
Adam went fossicking in a former antique dealer's attic and rescued an assortment of hardwood chairs.
28 May 2020
Conversations with The Calico Club: Episode 7
Finders Keepers. How to decorate using salvaged materials with Maria Speake
18 May 2020
Lucy & Co Perfect Adjustable Shelving
Before the late 19th century all libraries were essentially a front counter beyond which the public were not admitted. Precious books were ordered and retrieved by their custodians, the librarians. As literacy increased and with social reform allowing greater access to books this system was superseded. A new practical storage for this new age had to be designed which allowed the public to roam free amongst the books and shelves in a way that they could not have dreamt of previously.
07 May 2020
Architectural Digest France - Top Designers
Retrouvius are thrilled to be included in the top designer issue of Architectural Digest France
06 May 2020
Re-use in action: Utility Rooms
Utility rooms require materials that are suitable for cleaning. Reclaimed stone, brick, hardwoods and ceramic tiles are all resilient and work well.
24 April 2020
RE-USE IN ACTION: LITTLE LOOS
Smaller guest loos are often our favourite rooms to design. Free from the limitations of what constitutes good taste they offer a place for more exuberant choices...
22 April 2020
RETROUVIUS SUPPORTS RETROFIRST
A new campaign championing reuse in the built environment... .
08 April 2020
RE-USE IN ACTION: DESIGNING FOR BATHROOMS
Rooms for bathing are essential in times of lockdown and often the only place in the house with a lock on the door. But where to put the "stuff" for pampering and indulging the senses?
30 March 2020
Re-use in action: grilles & grates
Our stock of iron grilles and grates were cast in the world's best Victorian era foundries such as Coalbrookdale, Carron of Falkirk, and Ballantine and have a global reputation for quality...
19 March 2020
New Lamps from Salvaged Stone
A collaboration with a third generation stone mason to produce a set of lamps — made using a wide variety of stones from decades of off-cut and scrap material.
16 March 2020
Remodelista - Retrouvius - The Low Impact Life
Thank you to Remodelista for including a home our team recently redesigned and refurbished.
05 March 2020
Small finds boxes given new lease of life with LOT collaboration at Collect 2020
The wonderful ladies of LOT collaboration put our bi-folding boxes to use to display their works at Collect 2020 at Somerset House.
24 February 2020
Sunday Times Style
Laura Jackson graces the Sunday Times Style with her newly refurbished home and a kitchen design by Retrouvius in a rich palette of salvaged material.
24 February 2020
Enormous teak doors
Extra large teak doors from Trinity College Oxford, from the recently decommissioned Cumberbatch building.
19 February 2020
RETROUVIUS DESIGN: RECENTLY COMPLETED HOME
A Marylebone pied-à-terre in salvage couture.
03 February 2020
Elle Decoration - Cover of March Issue
Retrouvius Designed home featured on the cover of Elle Decoration March issue.
20 January 2020
Retrouvius in Häuser
Häuser, the German lifestyle magazine for architecture and design features Retrouvius in their February/March issue.
20 January 2020
Retrouvius in Elle Decoration NL - Buiten
Retrouvius designed project in Elle Decoration Netherlands Issue #1, Buiten - a magazine featuring houses connected to nature.
07 January 2020
Emery et Cie February Appointments
Gabriela from the Brussels office of Emery et Cie will be in our London showroom in Febrary.
16 December 2019
Christmas Opening Hours
Our warehouse Christmas opening hours:
Last day Saturday 21st December
Open by appointment 23rd/24th
Closed 25th Dec to 1st Jan
Re-opening as usual 2nd January
16 December 2019
RE-USE IN ACTION: FOLIOS
Sometimes Retrouvius are offered a unique batch of material and we have to think laterally about its reuse.
Such was the case with four pallets of redundant Victorian art folios from a famous London museum, once used to store collections of drawings and prints.
16 December 2019
Maison & Object January 2020 - Maria in conversation
Maison et Objet runs from 17-21 January 2020. Maria is in conversation with Meredith Xavier talking The Reuse Mindset - Leading Conscious Design with Integrity.
14 December 2019
The Interiors Boot Fair
23 November 2019
FT House & Home - Architectural salvage: antidote to the age of bling
Helen Barrett explores the Retrouvius story in The Financial Times House & Home section.
Her long read article includes the provenance of recent salvage hauls and the Retrouvius approach to re-use through the homes our studio creates.
18 November 2019
GSA Edition Magazine
Retrouvius features in the recent issue of Edition from Glasgow School of Art.
11 November 2019
Emery et Cie "Exceptional Sale"
Emery et Cie are holding a Sale of stock on 23rd November in Brussels.
11 November 2019
Bella Freud's apartment in Corriere Living
Italian magazine, Corriere Living, publishes Bella Freud's apartment.
11 November 2019
AD Germany Design Summit
On November 26th the AD Germany Design Summit is held in Munich. Maria Speake has been invited as a guest on a panel discussion.
01 November 2019
The World of Interiors "Perfect Specimens"
We welcomed Jessica Haynes, Miranda Sinclair and Neil Mersh into the warehouse to photograph their Perfect Specimens shoot for the World of Interiors December issue.
01 November 2019
Cast Iron shelving system in The World of Interiors
Max Egger's shoot showcasing shelvs, plinths, corbals and frames included Retrouvius stock Lucy and Co. Cast Iron Shelving System.
24 October 2019
Re-use in Action: Lots Road Cafe
Alan Davis, owner of this intimate neighbourhood cafe in the heart of The Lots Road Design District invited Retrouvius for brunch and to give us a tour of his cafe designed using vintage items and salvage sourced from Retrouvius.
24 October 2019
A retrouvians Favourite stock: Kuan
Kuan joined the architectural design team at Retrouvius in 2016. Her favourite piece is the Ceramic Cauldron Ex Glass Kiln.
14 October 2019
Reclaiming Style in Psychologies Magazine
Our second edition book Reclaiming Style has been featured in the November issue of Psychologies magazine.
13 October 2019
Bella Freud's apartment in AD Germany
AD Germany publishes Bella Freud's London apartment.
11 October 2019
The Land Gardeners - new book
Design Clients The Land Gardeners have a new book out and we love it.
11 October 2019
Homes & Garden's Colour Bible
Featured in the Homes & Gardens November Issue supplement The Colour Bible
08 October 2019
Re-use in action: leather
Retrouvius were contacted last week by a commercial upholstery company who were downsizing storage because of the "casual dining crisis" - (recent closures of several high profiles chain restaurants).
A small mountain of surplus leather leftover from four decades of restaurant and pub fit outs was available for Retrouvius to salvage.
01 October 2019
Arts & Crafts cabinets from Maggs Bros. LTD
Adam has recently acquired an exceptional set of bespoke furniture in the Arts & Crafts style from Maggs Bros LTD, one of the world's largest antiquarian manuscript and booksellers.
30 September 2019
Retrouvius at LDF19
Over London Deisgn Festival last week, Adam and Maria both were a part of conversation panels at 100% Design and at The Pimilco Design District programme of events for LDF.
18 September 2019
Emery et Cie Autumn Appointments
Gabriela from the Brussels office of Emery et Cie will be in our London showroom October 10th and 11th and November 7th and 8th.
30 August 2019
House & Garden October 2019
Our Victorian Terrace House featured in House & Garden magazine
15 August 2019
Emery Et Cie September Appointments
Gabriela from the Brussels office of Emery et Cie will be in our London showroom in September.
13 August 2019
A RETROUVIANS FAVOURITE STOCK
Angelika, book keeper and accounts department since 2010.
Favourite piece - Mid Century French Tapestry with Bulls
11 August 2019
Maria in conversation at Decorex 2019
Maria will be in conversation at Decorex International at Olympia London on the 8th October 12pm-12.45pm.
08 August 2019
Salvage Haul - The Cumberbatch Building, Trinity College, Oxford.
THE CUMBERBATCH BUILDING (1965 - 2019)
Despite the campaign by The C20th Society, The Cumberbatch Building at Trinity College, Oxford is now being demolished.
Adam was approached by a Fellow at the College to save what he could.
01 August 2019
19th Sept 2pm: Adam in conversation 100% DESIGN
The Importance of Restoration in a Circular Economy
Roddy Clarke in coversation with Adam Hills & Polly Waite & Aiveen Daly
31 July 2019
18th Sept 4pm: London Design Festival Talk
Maria will be in conversation with Bernie De Le Cuona, Helen Chislett and Oliver Heath at the De Le Cuona showroom for LDF2019
24 July 2019
The Future of Salvage
THE FUTURE OF SALVAGE
Adam returned from a recent weekend at Glastonbury with a message from The Greenpeace Field:
"If not you, who? If not now, when?"
Increasingly Retrouvius are asked what the future of salvage is.
05 July 2019
Re-Use in Action: Doors
In our RE-USE IN ACTION section of our website we share our experience of informed handling and salvaged material saved over the years.
Retrouvius aim to demystify the re-use process and inspire the use of specific materials in your own project.
Re-use In Action: Doors
Doors are one of the most commonly reused architectural salvage components.
05 July 2019
Salvage stock on set with Mandarin Stone
Retrouvius lights on set at Mandarin Stone shoot
23 June 2019
House & Garden Festival
Join House & Garden Editor, Hatta Byng in conversation with Retrouvius' Maria Speake and Adam Hills at the House & Garden Festival in June where they will be discussing reclaiming the past, and the future of salvage and the reuse of materials.
We have a small number of tickets to give away (RRP £20) to Retrouvius customers. To reserve a seat please contact mail@retrouvius.com
04 June 2019
A Retrouvians Favourite Stock
Esther joined the interior design team in 2012. Her favourite piece are Mirrored glass pendants with golden shades.
With a golden sparkle, only to be matched by Esther herself, these elegant mirrored pendants give off a beautiful elegant and functional light.
28 May 2019
ELLE DECORATION: CELEBRATING 30 STYLISH YEARS
Elle Decoration features Retrouvius in their anniversary issue, celebrating the influential names, interiors, icons and trends that have defined three decades of style in the home.
17 May 2019
Architectural Digest Germany - 200 most influential in design world
Retrouvius have been included in Architectural Digest Germany's special 200th edition — featuring their pick of the 200 most influential designers, architects and visionaries in the industry.
16 May 2019
Bella Freud's apartment in The World of Interiors
The June issue of The World of Interiors featuring Bella Freud's new apartment, designed and built by Retrouvius is out now.
14 May 2019
London Craft Week with Lot Collaboration
Thank you to the ladies at Lot Collaboration for London Craft Week 2019 in Retrouvius warehouse
14 May 2019
House & Garden's Designer of the year
We are thrilled that Maria Speake, Creative Director of Retrouvius Design - is House & Garden's Interior Designer of the Year 2019.
07 May 2019
LOT Collaboration — London Craft Week 2019
RETROUVIUS are delighted to be hosting three makers during London Craft Week 2019.
We welcome jewellers Sarah Pulvertaft, Jed Green and embroidery Beatrice Mayfield to show in our space.
Exhibition opening hours:
12pm - 6pm: Wednesday 8th - Saturday 11th May
IN CONVERSATION
2pm on Saturday 11th May
07 May 2019
AD 100 Collector Issue
Architectural Digest France feature Retrouvius in the 2019 AD100 Collector Issue, dedicated to the very best of interior design.
12 March 2019
Our Book - 2nd Edition, Reclaiming Style
Our first book published by Ryland Peter's & Small is now available in its 2nd edition.
10 March 2019
Conversations in Design - London Design Week 2019 (Chelsea Harbour)
Three accomplished designers – Maria Speake, co-founder of Retrouvius, Shalini Misra and Staffan Tollgård – consider the business lessons they learnt in building their award-winning interior design practices.
DESIGN BRIEFING: BLUEPRINT FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS
Sunday 10 March, 3 – 4pm
25 February 2019
Latest Stock
Sign up to our weekly updates for the latest stock, design projects & news.
24 February 2019
Emery et Cie Showroom Appointments
Gabriela from the Brussels office of Emery et Cie will be in our London showroom on the following dates:
7th & 8th March
4th & 5th April
2nd & 3rd May
To make an appointment please email Gabriela.Gavrilut@emeryetcie.com
22 January 2019
Kitchen Living by Gestalten
A kitchen by Retrouvius Design is included in a new book by Gestalten.
18 January 2019
AD France JANVIER / FÉVRIER 2019 - BBC Television Centre
AD France feature our design for a duplex apartment at the former Television Centre in White City.
A collaboration with knitwear queen Bella Freud.
04 December 2018
Retrouvius save Sir Edwin Lutyens tables from the boardroom of The Midland Bank
Retrouvius has saved this set of tables made by Sir Edwin Lutyens for the head office of Midland Bank on Poultry Lane, London EC2.
03 December 2018
Maria's Favourite Painting: Country Life
'It’s not about looking onto a view, but about capturing the abstract quality of light.'
22 November 2018
Weekly Updates
To receive stock updates, news from our design team and our events subscribe to our newsletter.
Subscribe form in footer.
15 November 2018
World of Interiors: December 2018
The December issue of World of Interiors just arrived and features ten pages of our project in Kent - the reinvigoration of a Hugh Casson house.
13 November 2018
Helios 710 Television Centre, White City
An Elegant Penthouse Designed by Maria Speake and Bella Freud
After a three-year transformation, Television Centre - the former BBC headquarters in White City - has reopened as a mixed-use development. At its heart is The Helios: a circular Grade II listed Modernist building opened in 1960 and now home to apartments. Bella Freud and Maria Speake were invited to design Helios 710, a penthouse created by the architects Piercy&Company.
01 September 2018
Salvaged Leather Panels
RETROUVIUS has just saved many worn and patinated leather fronted panels. Once forming shelves in a prominent and famous London library the tactile leather surfaces are highly distressed and torn in places from years of use.
06 August 2018
Barn Storming for Country Life
Maria offers advice on barn conversions — and how to make the right decisions when choosing anything and everything from textiles to furniture for large spaces.
11 May 2018
London Craft Week 2018
Maria Speake of our Retrouvius Design team, Guy Hills of Dashing Tweeds and textile and surface designer Daniel Heath discuss sustainability, re-use and their approach to crafting with Wallpaper* journalist Bethan Ryder.
01 February 2018
HOUSE & GARDEN CREATIVE KITCHENS - 3 OF OUR DESIGNS MAKE THE CUT
Thank you to the House & Garden team for including our home designs in the kitchens edit of the current Feb 2018 issue.
14 December 2017
Christmas Spirits at RETROUVIUS with BOROUGH WINES
Enjoy guided tastings with a few of Borough Wine's favourite producers – Quick Brown Fox, Puni Italian Whisky and Surendran & Bownes. Hear the stories behind the bottles, sample the spirits and sip cocktails.
Thursday 14th December, 7pm start
Tickets via BOROUGH WINES
17 November 2017
ALFRED STEVENS FESTOON FIRE SURROUNDS by COALBROOKDALE
Our latest stock includes two festoon fire surrounds designed by Alfred Stevens and manufactured by Coalbrookdale in 1875.
22 September 2017
Re-Use IDEAS: Handmade Paper - Wall Coverings
We have just salvaged a quantity of unbound copies of Christopher Isherwood's, A Single Man, printed on quality handmade paper. We also have unbound copies of Sherlock Holmes books.
Both are suitable for reuse as interesting wall coverings.
See stock items #0572 #0552
06 May 2017
CRAFT WEEK TALK: Maria Speake & footwear designer Tracey Neuls in conversation with Hettie Judah
As part of London Craft Week, Retrouvius are delighted to host a talk exploring the tactile nature of materials in our design processes.
With our good friends Tracey Neuls and Hettie Judah.
Saturday 6th May, 2-4pm
£15+vat (limited places)
To book tickets please contact mail@retrouvius.com or via eventbrite
11 April 2017
COLUMN INSPRIATION - The World of Interiors May issue
Thank you to Max Egger and the marvellous World of Interiors team for using the Retrouvius terrazzo panel and mini marble columns as a back drop to their swatch May issue. We enjoyed hosting you!
Beautiful pictures by Anders Gramer.
28 February 2017
SALVAGE ADVICE - GRAND DESIGNS
We give salvage advice for your home project in the latest Grand Designs magazine.
10 January 2017
W. Lucy & Co. Perfect Adjustable Shelving
Retrouvius has just salvaged many sets of Edwardian era shelving from a well loved university library.