Finders Keepers. How to decorate using salvaged materials with Maria Speake
News & Views
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 As literacy increased and with social reform allowing greater access to books this system was superseded.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.
25 April 2020
SHOWROOM OPEN ONLINE ONLY
At Retrouvius the health of our staff, customers and community is at the centre of our thinking.
The showroom is open online only and we can be reached via email and telephone.
Adam is always available on 07778210855.
Our warehouse is CLOSED until further notice.
Fortunately our design team are able to continue their projects from home.
Thank you for your continued support!
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
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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.