ReStore Spotlight: Savvy by Design
Brooke from Savvy by Design stumbled into rehabbing homes about eight years ago when she and her husband bought a home out of foreclosure and started tweaking it to fit their style. At the time, she was in Corporate America and felt like she needed a creative outlet. She was scared to leap in alone, so she partnered with her realtor and friend, Lindy Patterson.
“We bought our first house for $40,000 and there was literally a tree growing through the floor!” said Brooke, “Thankfully, we made it through the process unscathed and I was hooked on the design process.”
That rehab gave Brooke the confidence to keep going. Since that time, she’s rehabbed ten additional homes, and buyers were so impressed, they asked for help with redesigning their own spaces.
Brooke learned about the ReStore when she lived in Charlotte, NC. Her brother was renovating his home and brought her to the ReStore to check it out. “Not only is shopping at the ReStore a great way to save money and good for the environment,” says Brooke, “But it benefits the community as a whole! It’s a win-win for everyone. Plus, my husband’s aunt lives in a Habitat house so it hits close to home…quite literally!”
Brooke has come to love saving things from the landfill. She feels that antiques bring a lot of personality and character to a design. Brooke usually visits the ReStore at the beginning of each project to see what will work. She’s purchased everything from light fixtures, to vessel sinks, to doors and tile.
When asked what are some of the most interesting things she’s found at the ReStore, Brooke answered, “I’m obsessed with some diamond patterned cement tile that I used in my last renovation! One time I found the most beautiful set of wood cabinets there, but by the time I measured to make sure they’d fit and got back to the store, they were sold!”
Brooke’s biggest advice for those interested in using ReStore products to redesign their homes is don’t be afraid to be creative and upcycle items – paint can give almost anything a new life!
Savvy by Design is a boutique residential development and design firm located in Richmond, Virginia. They specialize in creating beautiful and unique spaces within a wide variety budgets for our clients. For more info visit https://www.savvybydesign.co/ and follow them on Instagram @savvybydesignco.
