Whether you are remodeling your existing home or building a new one from scratch, reclaimed materials are both affordable and earth-friendly. Reclaimed flooring is both an affordable and timeless option for your modern home. In fact, you won't have to settle for vinyl, you'll easily be able to afford a high-end floor when you use reclaimed materials.
Reclaimed Stone Flooring
Whether it's marble, granite, slate, or limestone, reclaimed stone flooring adds a touch of Old World class. Some of this stone comes from old limestone and slate flagstones and cobblestones. If you desire a slightly organic and rough look, limestone and slate could be just the thing. On the other hand, marble and granite are just the things for a sleek, sophisticated, modern look. Marble and granite are often pulled from old buildings, such as hotels and movie theaters slated to be torn down. These are classic building stones, used in palaces and temples for millennia.
Reclaimed Lumber Flooring
Reclaimed wood floors are warm, welcoming, and full of character. Rather than cutting down living trees, the lumber for salvaged wood flooring comes from a variety of places. This can include old barn wood, bowling alleys, and old homes. Some companies, like Old World Lumber Company, know that before a building is torn down, any valuable lumber is salvaged, processed, and cut into new flooring. You can find it in both narrow and wide planks, as well as many different finishes. Reclaimed lumber is not only rich with color, character, and depth, but also history. You can find reclaimed wood flooring in oak, pine, hickory, maple, chestnut, beech, and many others. It is perhaps the most affordable and readily available type of reclaimed flooring.
Reclaimed Tile Flooring
Vintage tile is another option that can work well in a bathroom or a kitchen. However, matching vintage tile is often offered in very small quantities. This means, you probably won't be able to get enough to do the whole house in matching tile. You'll be lucky to find enough reclaimed tile to do an entire room, other than a small bathroom. However, mixing and matching tiles could create an interesting mosaic. Vintage tile is best used as an accent. Vintage tile can make a fabulous kitchen or bathroom backsplash that complements your reclaimed wood flooring, or stone floor.
Reclaimed flooring materials are just the beginning; your modern home could also use reclaimed windows and doors, as well as vintage door and cabinet hardware. Everything old is not only new again, but also environmentally friendly.
