Design Notes: Maria Speake of Retrouvius on Sustainable Interiors

Maria Speake, co-founder of Retrouvius and House & Garden's Interior Designer of the Year, shares her philosophy of resourcefulness, reuse, and radical sustainability in this in-depth design conversation. Speake's approach treats every space as a living archive, weaving together history, narrative, and modern living through the art of recontextualisation. Her projects champion the rich patina and imperfect beauty of reclaimed materials — from old industrial Iroko lab benches and vintage Dutch cheese boards to gymnasium flooring and architectural remnants — transforming them into deeply tactile, functional elements. Rather than chasing the sterile perfection of new manufacturing, Speake proves that spaces shaped by past lives carry a grounding warmth and character that brand-new interiors simply cannot replicate. #SustainableDesign #Retrouvius #MariaSpeake #ArchitecturalSalvage #InteriorDesign #Lykstage #LykstageVideo #LykstageCreator #LykstageCommunity