Salvage & Design Experts Share Unique Repurposing Ideas for Home, Office, Restaurant and More

Restoration Resources, Boston’s only 7,000 square foot showroom for salvage and antiques is truly one-of-a-kind and Boston’s only 7,000 square foot showroom for antique architectural salvage, vintage furnishings, unique décor and unusual gifts. The South End retail store is an enchanting museum of treasures from centuries ago. Each item contains a burst of inspiration for the design-oriented individual. It was the perfect location for “See, Sip and Salvage”, an ArtWeek Boston exclusive event focused on the value of using architectural salvage in design and décor. On this Thursday evening, event attendees filter into the retail store and sign in while a man finishes up a conversation with Bill Raymer after an unusual piece in the window caught his eye: “They don’t make ‘em like this anymore,” the man notes, while tapping the keys of an antique typewriter that sits on an ionic-style column.

Bill Raymer, owner of Restoration Resources, and Brendan Haley, award-winning designer and builder of Bhaley Designs, are a great team when it comes to explaining the many reasons why turning to architectural salvage is not only an eco-friendly choice, but a choice that aesthetically enhances traditional or contemporary spaces. While event attendees leisurely sipped on beer and wine and enjoyed some light snacks, Bill and Brendan extolled the virtues of using salvaged materials. “Often, guests come into the store to browse and an item will speak to them and in turn inspire an idea,” explained Raymer. This is just what happened to Caryn and Michael Bradley, who came into Restoration Resources looking for a skylight. After purchasing the skylight, the couple decided to repurpose it as both an entry table and a mirror and they still have a portion left, which they plan to transform into a coffee table for a relative.

Brendan Haley, now an accomplished designer/builder, reminisced on the many years he spent “hanging around Restoration Resources ad nauseum”. He noted to guests that, in many cases, when he is designing a space like a restaurant, he focuses on three specific words that inform or shape the space. Using Milton’s Steel and Rye as an example, Brendan explained how he had the words “garage”, “open” and “fun” in mind throughout the project. Event attendees were able to see how this concept was put in to practice via Brendan’s creative use of vices in the restaurant’s bar, antique schoolhouse lights, and a mailbox panel salvaged from Harvard Law School that was repurposed as the face of the host stand. Brendan noted that the use of salvage makes the design process “serendipitous”.

There was a diverse crowd at the “See, Sip and Salvage” event and each attendee was interested in the value of using salvage for a different reason. Ellen Murphy, a project manager who had recently purchased a home in Somerville, registered for the event after hearing about it on Facebook. Ellen was interested in installing antique pocket doors in her home and wondered how to go about doing it. “Once I find the doors, I’ll be all set!” said Ellen cheerfully after chatting with Bill. Janet Finlayson, a second-time ArtWeek Boston attendee at Restoration Resources, was motivated to come to the event because she has a love of blending old classic pieces into both period properties and contemporary settings. Janet has a profound respect for antique beauty and craftsmanship. “I can’t imagine not using salvage,” said Finlayson. Candy Yang, an artist, was inspired to come to the event after seeing a woman at a flea market transform old or broken objects into creative works of art. Candy employs the use of a different type of salvage in her day-to-day life while working at a pop-up workshop at MIT and teaching others to make bicycles from bamboo.

ArtWeek Boston hosted over 170 unique events throughout the Greater Boston Area this fall. “The event was great!” said attendee Mary Woodleigh, “and I never would have known about this unique retail store had I not discovered this event through ArtWeek!”