Restore. Recycle. Repurpose.: Create a Beautiful Home

by Randy Florke, Nancy J. Becker, Country Living

Renovation that’s eco-friendly…AND economically smart

From Country Living contributing editor Randy Florke (Your House, Your Home) comes a gorgeous guide to decorating sustainably and inexpensively.  Providing inspiration as well as instruction, Florke shows how everyone can achieve a look that’s both harmonious with the environment and beautiful. 

 Color photographs show examples of rooms, all radiating country charm, created on a budget, and designed with the three “R”s in mind: restore, reuse, and repurpose. Florke clearly explains why going green is so important, how to use what’s already there, find a focus for every space, and determine what makes something environmentally friendly.

Anyone hoping to transform a home from ordinary to extraordinary will find eco-friendly, thrifty, and stylish ideas.   

With its emphasis on simplicity, thrift, and respect for historical integrity, Randy Florke calls his philosophy the "anti-keeping up with the Joneses.”  Comfort, style, and economy are the bellwether elements of his approach to decorating.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adult, Design, Sustainability, How To, Interior Design, Crafts

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved this book. I agree with other reviewers that it didn't have anything revolutionary regarding the genre. Nonetheless, the pictures were beautiful, the ideas were creative and the layout was perfect. I loved how it had little "fact" boxes throughout, as well as "hand-written" notes pointing out interesting tidbits about the furniture pieces. These type of features made it easy to quickly scan the book before sitting down to read the meatier parts of it. It was also very helpful that they included references to related websites and businesses. The fact that the author used many pictures/ideas from his own home was a plus. It's always a good sign that the author practices what he preaches. I actually borrowed this from the library, but now I plan on buying my own copy.

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the Better Homes and Gardens one I just read. The pictures were cleaner, less clutter, better colors, I liked the themes of the rooms. Now the environmental aspect of it was a bit much for me, but all in all, great ideas and beautiful ideas together. I could see me using some of these ideas better.
Of course, my idea of reduce, reuse, ad nauseum, is to take the box the rabbit cage came in, cut it, fold it, and make him a tunnel through the living room. Because there is a rabbit cage the size of a large vintage coffee table in my living room. Hey, he could gently distress some nice old furniture for me.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The author is passionate about the environment and reusing items in beautiful ways. He does a great job of showing how reusing old items isn't just good for the earth (and generally the budget) but also often produces better items than you can generally buy new. The book is full of photographs and shows all different ways to use older items in a sophisticated, beautiful way. The author is clearly dedicated to his grandmother's memory, as the entire book is filled with the wisdom she passed down to him regarding this theme. Our oldest child is now renovating her first house and as we were strolling a home improvement store with her the other day I kept thinking of this book and the author's advice, and that the new items for sale there really weren't nearly as well made, beautiful or interesting as things we could find and repurpose.

[Astrid Yrigollen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book because it didn't have any one project in it that "grabbed" me. The rooms and items that were re-purposed seem very lack luster. When looking over the rooms they seemed like rooms that were either too crowded or had perhaps one re-purposed item in them. So take your pick, live in a crowded second hand shop or have your one little milk vase turned flower holder. Maybe I was expecting too much?

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book filled with ideas on reusing furniture and found items in your home. The author adds informative sidebars with information on keeping it green. He also imparts wise advice from his grandmother who mastered the art of creating an ecologically friendly home on a budget years before it became the in thing to do. As a devoted yard-sale aficionado I loved looking at his second hand finds making up these beautiful rooms.

[Jinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful "green" ideas for a stylish, artistic home. There are grandmother's tips, and awards for Green, silver and gold, for great recycling deeds. Instead if trashing things, find a second thrid or even 4th use and create original living spaces. Loved this book, got the creative juices really flowing!

[Meleofa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love decorating books and I love being as green as one can. This book was a nice combination of both. There are lots of good ideas as to what you can do instead of throwing everything away and buying brand new. I enjoy finding out new ways to be less wasteful, and this gave me a few good ones. Ideas, that is.

[Amberwench · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of pretty, staged photos of vintage pieces in huge rooms and houses. A few good tips for decorating, but not-so-much specific to upcycling as choosing furniture in general.
Good for: someone who likes pictures of pretty rooms for inspiration.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book to check out if you're updating or remodeling your house. Doesn't go into much detail about how and why to buy organic materials but the pictures are nice.

[Peyton-Leigh Holmes · Rating 2 out of 5]

The photos are gorgeous, but the extra preachiness on “going green” got old. He said in the beginning of the book that he would walk the reader through tips for shopping at a flea market. I guess I was assuming there would be a section on that. Nope! You get a line here and there in each section, but the only one I really remember is to put together an antique bed at the market to make sure you have all the pieces.

This book is good if you like to flip through photos of impeccably staged rooms. I was hoping to see how to incorporate vintage/heirloom items with newer things we use every day (like a tv), but that didn’t happen.

[Stefany Zelepuza · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is great for pictures/inspiration, but based on the title, I was disappointed with how little useful information there was about repurposing. The information given seemed to be either extremely basic (how many times did they tell you to use fluorescent light bulbs? Half a dozen, at least?) or to the other extreme, "build a fireplace with salvaged bricks." Not something most DIYers are going to take on for a project. If you're looking for inspiration to repurpose salvaged materials as decor in your home, pick up a copy of Salvage Secrets Design & Decor, by Joanne Palmisano instead.

[Lanee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I loved this book that I picked up from the library while my kids were scouring the picture books. The photos are beautiful and I actually appreciated a lot of the text, which I usually ignore in coffee table books. I loved the rich textures and colors—a far cry from the pervasive neutral on neutral of other “natural” design books.

[Rebecca (booksandbreggs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice relaxing read! Great pictures <3 <3 <3

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource of home decor and furnishings for those seeking to keep their carbon footprint in mind. With these tips and bits of inspiration, you can have a unique and stylish home, guilt free.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Made me nostalgic for the early 2000s :)

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good ideas in this books

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I live in an old house, and for the most part, love looking at books like these. There are a ton of photos - which means I get all sorts of ideas for things to try. But, I have two small gripes about most decorating books. First, I live in the rural West, which means that I don't have a multitude of great flea markets or thrift stores around (and those that are around tend to have some of the same, crappy stuff my parents probably threw out years ago). I'm sure that if I were to hit my local stores every day, I might turn up a great find, but I don't have the time. Second, getting really nice old pieces is a great idea, but expensive. I love the idea of re-purposing, but when your selection is small and expensive, it doesn't always work. Why not show me how to take really ugly pieces and make them usable?

Small gripes aside, this book is well put together and the photos can be inspiring.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing groundbreaking, but it does a good job of showing how to use reclaimed/junkyard/flea market finds without making them look cheap.

Append

A good resource for lists of materials that are more green, such as reclaimed wood, renewable wood, concrete, linoleum (when installed with low-VOC, water-based adhesives) and stone.

Frustrated. The book mentions that you can remove ceramic tiles with care, clean off mortar, and reuse it or donate the tile to a salvage outfit, but does not explain how or where. Can't find any other information via Google. Grrr.

When replacing tile, you can buy recycled ceramic tiles. Can also use recycled rubber that resists mildew & mold. (When waxed periodically, it can be cleaned with soap & water.)

Can recycle your toilet, supposedly. (Crushed porcelain = concrete base for road construction.)

Look for WaterSense label for toilets.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this age of Ikea with its disposable furniture and McMansions with their energy hogging ways, it is nice to find a book that addresses reuse as a green decorating option. There is not a lot new here but I appreciated both the text for its discussion of environmental issues of different materials as well as the photographs. Published by Country Living, it was not a surprise to find that the content is more country than modern. However many of the ideas could easily be incorporated in a more modern or minimalist styles.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're new to the idea of using old items in new ways, you might get some pointers in this book. It is well photographed and had some lovely room settings.

If you've been going to thrift shops and flea markets for years to find items to decorate and furnish your home, you probably won't do more than enjoy the nice photos.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like his aesthetic (new ruralist is my stylistic jam). Sometimes he can be annoying and self-righteous, as with most books professing a "green" lifestyle. But I liked the majority of the images and rustic rooms.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas, but nothing mind-blowing.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this book, but the idea was better than the book. Not much substance; disappointing.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really new in this book

[Miki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd like this type of book better if they were written for real people who have real budgets!

[Denise Kruse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some beautiful ideas in this book. Of course, the photos are magnificent.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preeeety. Another library book I will definitely check out again someday for inspiration.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-Fiction; Home Improvement
2.5 stars

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic!! Loved this one!

[Beth Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved every single picture in this book.