Bargain Materials, Put Together with Style
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Bargain Materials, Put Together with Style
One day when Derrick Harrington was meditating, he was interrupted by the unwelcome sound of his kitchen ceiling collapsing—the result of a slow leak from the apartment above his.
The extensive water damage made a complete renovation necessary, including kitchen, bath, and living space. Derrick met the challenge with his design sense, prior home renovation experience, and knack for finding bargains on the necessary materials. He took the opportunity to change the layout of the space, creating a second bedroom and a utility closet while also rethinking both bathrooms. It took five years, but the renovated space is truly worth the wait.
The Reuse Center at Boston Building Resources was one of Derrick’s go-to resources. To restore the kitchen, he put together four different used cabinet sets: cherry and white cabinets forming a two-tone L shape, an island with a butcher block top and fully inset cabinet doors, and a run of wall cabinets with simple slab doors above a bar cart. The kitchen faucet and tile backsplash were also Reuse Center finds.
Much of the tile from the renovated bathroom also came from the Reuse Center at BBR. One of the biggest challenges was just getting the tile and other heavy, bulky materials into the apartment, which is located in the South End and has no parking. “All of that tile was curbside delivery. I carried it in on my back,” he said.
Using his eye for color and pattern, Derrick arranged tiles for the bathroom sink backsplash to look like a pattern of flowing water. He mixed a paint color specifically to match the pale green of tempered glass. In the living area, he added a touch of purple to a five-gallon bucket of light gray wall paint, giving it an amethyst undertone.
Hunting for bargains took Derrick to a variety of places. “I was looking for things in as many obscure places as I can find: hotels, liquidators, warehouses, Freecycle, Craigslist,” and reuse centers including BBR and Build It Green NYC. He carried around samples as photos in his phone, ready to compare to any new finds.
From his days watching This Old House as a college student, Derrick has continued to approach any home improvement projects with a budget-conscious, do-it-yourself attitude. “It inspired me to want to make a beautiful home for anyone.” Of course, TV shows and videos often make projects look deceptively easy. “It’s all easy until the ceiling falls down on you.”