Move to Barcelona, start a design studio, and rescue thousands of square metres of materials from a historic stone yard slated for demolition. This isn’t your usual relocation, but this is the story of Leleni Studio. Founders Alessandra Monarcha and Charlie Paddick share the remarkable journey, from their first project, Liberation from Landfill, to collections crafted from rescued materials.

Moving to a new city and starting a business is hard enough. Doing so while questioning established industry systems is another challenge entirely. Just because material offcuts are being wasted, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t worthy of more, and what better case for the campaign to liberate them from landfill than Leleni’s designs? 

Drawing from their experience in architecture, design, and reclamation, hear about the beauty of working with natural stone, salvage stories, and how their work is helping to mobilise reuse in Spain and beyond. 

See images from the projects we covered in the episode here

We touched on Australia's decision to ban the use of engineered stone. Read more about it and the potential health issues here

Explore Leleni Studio

Find Leleni Studio on Instagram @lelenistudio

Find their other collaborative business Urban Resources Recursos Urbans on Instagram here

Find me on Instagram @reclaimedwoman & TikTok @reclaimedwoman

And please share this podcast with fellow reclaimers, vintage junkies or anyone you are trying to introduce to the joys of the reuse lifestyle. Thank you!

Music courtesy of Pinecone Moonshine, Sanity & Soundness, Flapdoodle by dgoHn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reclaimed Radiators founder David Lucas shares his journey — from restoring dainty decorative antiques, known as “smalls” in the trade, to architectural heavyweights: original cast iron radiators. We discuss salvage stories and the restoration and reuse of reclaimed radiators. It’s a fascinating chat if, like me, you’re exploring efficient ways to heat an older home or are curious about how the past can help shape the future, while reducing the carbon footprint of your renovation.

David also gives me a tour of his kitchen, featuring a beautifully experimental radiator finish and his 1950s cabinetry so you might want to see visuals while you listen. Images and more at reclaimedwoman.com (scroll to the end of this story here about salvage in And Just Like That... You'll get the method to my Manhattan reference when you listen) or on socials linked below.

Explore Reclaimed Radiators 

Reclaimed Radiators is a member of the Salvo Code, a world-leading reclamation assurance scheme for businesses that meet high standards in responsible sourcing. 

Find Reclaimed Radiators on Instagram @reclaimedradiators

Find me on Instagram @reclaimedwoman & TikTok @reclaimedwoman

And please share this podcast with fellow reclaimers, vintage junkies or anyone you are trying to introduce to the joys of the reuse lifestyle. Thank you!

Music courtesy of Pinecone Moonshine, Sanity & Soundness, Flapdoodle by dgoHn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It all began with a mid-century Mexican hand mirror that now hangs in my hall. Think of the things that give a home feeling, and meet Opto, a homeware brand of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces founded by Brian Tufte and Marcus Stemp. Our conversation gave me a lot of peace ahead of the next phase of my home renovation, so I am excited for you to hear their approach to collecting and designing their home. Slow design can be easy to preach and harder to practise in a world accustomed to next-day delivery. Even though I had experienced the benefits of taking my time, living in my old flat to get a feel for the space while gradually sourcing reclaimed materials, I was able to do the actual renovation in one go. By contrast, my current reno is happening piece by piece, room by room, which has been an adjustment. 

Tips from Marcus' mum and their take on the evolution of a room recharged my commitment to getting to know a home before making changes. We chat about timelessness, sourcing travels, and my thing for their vintage mirrors.

Explore Opto 

See their upcoming pop-ups here 

Find Opto on Instagram @optoldn

Find me on Instagram @reclaimedwoman & TikTok @reclaimedwoman

Images and more at reclaimedwoman.com

And please share this podcast with fellow reclaimers, vintage junkies or anyone you are trying to introduce to the joys of the reuse lifestyle. Thank you!

Music courtesy of Pinecone Moonshine, Sanity & Soundness, Flapdoodle by dgoHn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Threading a line between the past and present with the hair accessories Nina Kovacevic handcrafts, reusing antique decoration. We chat about early influences since she came to London, fleeing the war from former Yugoslavia in the early 90s, Dolly Parton, and changing attitudes to shopping secondhand. I learn how to start a new season Nina style by revisiting precious pieces in your wardrobe, and you’ll also hear how her approach to vintage shows up in her home. Delicious shelves anyone?

Explore War & Drobe

Find War & Drobe on Instagram @waranddrobe

Find me on Instagram @reclaimedwoman & TikTok @reclaimedwoman

Images and more at reclaimedwoman.com

And please share this podcast with fellow reclaimers, vintage junkies or anyone you are trying to introduce to the joys of the reuse lifestyle. Thank you!

Music courtesy of Pinecone Moonshine, Sanity & Soundness, Flapdoodle by dgoHn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.