Green Home and Garden Ideas - Using Reclaimed Materials

We’ve been seeing a lot of old, rustic materials finding their way into modern home and garden design. Using recycled, reclaimed or salvaged materials in your home or garden renovation makes a lot of sense, both financially and design wise.

For the Garden

Gardens are a perfect place to start incorporating salvaged materials into your design. You can find anything from used bricks, cracked slabs of concrete or terra cotta tiles to antique metalwork to add to your yard’s design. These materials can be used in an assortment of different ways to create beautiful, distinctive landscapes while conserving resources and costs. Not to mention, your project will result in less harmful emissions to our environment. 

For the Home

Many home designers have been using the following materials to cut down on a renovation’s cost and carbon footprint.

Reclaimed and refurbished wood

Reclaimed wood can save a lot of money in a renovation. Reclaimed wood uses a fraction of the mechanical effort that fresh, new wood requires. The look of reclaimed wood is weathered, yet still very elegant. You can purchase reclaimed wood to be used for flooring, ceilings, countertops, cabinets, siding or as decorative accents.

Or, Try Bamboo

Bamboo is the ultimate alternative to old-fashioned lumber. More so than wood, bamboo is sustainable, strong and flexible. The plant is one of the fastest growing plants in the world which adds to its ability to help reduce deforestation. Bamboo is most popularly used for flooring.

Recycled glass makes a sleek statement

Recycled glass can be used for countertops, table tops or sinks and looks beautiful while being environmentally friendly. The glass makes a super sleek look as well. When used in a countertop it’s extremely functional and long lasting. Installation of a glass countertop is easy, and the finished product resists scratches, stains and heat.

Want to find some reclaimed materials for your upcoming home or garden project? Visit http://reclaimingdetroit.org. This organization's mission is to divert as much material from Detroit’s 78,000 vacant structures from landfills as possible.

If you need help financing a renovation, look into our Home Equity and Home Improvement Loans.