Andrea’s Salvaged Home in Western Australia

Name: Andrea Crickmore
Location: Byford, Western Australia
Size: 200 square meters (2,153 square feet)
Years lived in: 3 years; Owned

I didn’t even have to get to the door of Andrea’s home to know that it was going to be something completely different from any other home I have photographed before. The front of her yard is like a treasure trove of collectibles that are just waiting to be transformed, reused and re-purposed into something different, and after walking in the house, you can see that Andrea knows how to do just that.

Andrea, a single mum and part-time primary school teacher, spends almost all of her free time treasure hunting. She loves scouring roadsides and delving deep into the backs of thrift stores. Sometimes she sells her finds to others through her Instagram shop, Reclaimed Treasures, but most of the time she keeps them to use in her own home.

This home is absolutely chock-full of raw DIY; there are tin signs lining the kitchen walls, kitchenettes and old cupboards make up almost all of the storage solutions in the entire home, and there are so many pieces that are being used entirely differently from their original purpose.

Andrea describes herself as a “simple person who despises waste” and says that “extravagance is not an option.” Her views on life are reflected in every corner of her home. Everywhere you turn, every wall, every surface is almost entirely made up of found objects. Having two young children, leading by example is her top priority.

My Style: Raw, rustic, and pre-loved.

Inspiration: Intrinsic, op shops, and minor influences from Instagram

Favorite Element: Almost everything I own has been loved by someone else. Every element carries its own story within.

Biggest Challenge: Fitting it all in!

What Friends Say: “You have so much stuff! You’ve changed things around again.” And the most common one: “Oh, that’s different.”

Biggest Embarrassment: Having to justify the hoarding.

Proudest DIY: My kitchen space—the whole room is created from found, reclaimed, and thrifted pieces.

Biggest Indulgence: My music system—old radios just don’t cut it for me.

Best Advice: When decorating your home, be comfortable expressing what you feel, don’t be scared to try, and definitely do not consider others’ opinions. Embrace change, regularly.

Dream Sources: I’d love to scour abandoned buildings and warehouses for unique, one-off, well-made, handcrafted pieces.

• Living room (above): Dulux Natural White
• Master bedroom: original paint from previous owners

• Oak buffet: Gumtree
• Door decoration: tablecloths and doily from thrift store
• Tangram man art (on wall): cut from old linoleum and mounted on an old cupboard door found on verge
• Shutters: picked up at a building site
• All other pieces: thrift store

• Leather lounges: secondhand furniture shop
• Rugs: thrift store
• Kitchenettes: Gumtree
• Wall hanging: thrift store
• Art works: thrift store

• Table: verge collection
• Chairs: verge collection
• Bar fridge: gift
• Mirror: verge collection
• Pantry: verge collection
• Wooden drawers: verge collection
• Flooring: verge collection
• Tree picture: verge collection
• All other pieces: op shops, tip shops

• Lockers: verge collection
• Signage: verge collection
• Sink: IKEA—an emergency buy after Andrea dropped and smashed her intended sink on installation
• Sink unit: verge collection
• Wooden wall box: verge collection
• Drawers: verge collection
• Countertop: verge collection

• All cupboards: verge collection
• Danish lamp: thrift store for $8
• All artwork: thrift store

• Pedestal basin: Bunnings
• Seeing eye chart: garage sale
• All other pieces: verge collection, op shops

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