In this age of reuse/renew/recycle, we at live-work-play strive to incorporate renewable systems and reclaimed materials. What does this mean?
At the very basis, it means reusing your home! Adding to, changing, repurposing your space. Often older homes need system upgrades, and they were built at a time when people lived in their homes differently than they do now. We design more open spaces with the amenities people seek now in their homes. We like to blend additions into your home and the neighborhood.
More low-hanging reuse fruit: reusing materials. Maybe we can use a material again on your project– plumbing fixtures, cabinets, wood. Or, items can be reclaimed and sent to REStore, Second Use for a new life in another person’s home. 
You can be that person, and stockpile items from the many salvage companies for your project. It’s a great idea to visit salvage yards frequently over time, and pick up items that appeal to you so they are on hand for the design and construction process. It just makes sense: keep useable materials out of our landfills. We used many salvage materials in this greenhouse, school cabinets and bleachers, and reclaimed siding. Here are some great ideas for reclaimed wood from Houzz. The REStore includes the REVision Division that makes furniture from materials they salvage. Thanks Ventana Construction and REStore for sharing this photo of a cabinet made from salvage from a live-work-play project!
Beyond these ideas, there are new building materials that incorporate recycled materials into them. Starting with a few examples on the outside, Boral TruExterior durable trim made with fly ash-an industrial by product. Andersen 100 windows use wood fiber leftover from other manufacturing. Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspaper fiber. Inside, locally made Environite counters use recycled glass and Ecotop and Paperstone are made from recycled paper. The Environite example shown here is from the West Seattle Sunporch. Plus there are Ecotop and Paperstone products that can be installed outside for panel siding!
