The Salvage Squad: A Home Makeover Show with a Difference!
The Salvage Squad is a fun new home interior makeover series packing an important sustainability punch. Each episode features two families who have the opportunity to get a room makeover with a twist - everything must be freecycled, up-cycled, sustainable, second-hand or salvaged!
This series is all about bringing joy back into tired spaces. The Salvage Squad designers, upcycling experts and trusty tradespeople are tasked with the transformation on a budget of €1,000 and just three days to sustainably turn a neglected room into a gorgeous, functional new space. But this isn’t a budget show – it's all about thinking outside the box and putting sustainability to the forefront.
Pat McDonnell Paints – Sustainable Paint Suppliers to The Salvage Squad
Pat McDonnell Paints were delighted to supply paints and painting accessories to team Salvage Squad! For the most sustainable option, we felt that Ralston was the perfect fit!
Ralston uses the latest technology to create paints that are not only high-quality but also friendlier to our environment. This water-based paint range uses premium raw materials derived, where possible from natural sources to minimise the environmental impact of their products. Extending the life cycles of their paint products, and striving to reduce waste, water usage and CO2 emissions are core to their manufacturing principles.
Ralston's biobased range is VOC-free and made from fully renewable, sustainably extracted organic ingredients while maintaining best-in-class paint performance. The BIOseries contains raw materials that can grow back within the lifetime of the paint. These materials are extracted from renewable sources, produced responsibly and don’t negatively impact on the food chain.
Designer Peter Irvine reveals his paint colour choice to Leah & Paul
House 1: Leah & Paul in Drogheda
For this makeover, designer Peter Irvine (aka @thewhitehome) went with a dark and moody look that evokes smoke-filled jazz speakeasies. The aim was to create a multi-purpose living room space suitable for hosting friends, relaxing with family, and playing with little baby Evie.
To achieve this look, they painted the walls and the "tardis-like" wooden porch area in Crow by Ralston. This colour would create a cosy, cocooning feeling while beautifully setting off the brickwork. This was complimented by a lighter shade called Luna on the windowsills. To prepare the wooden furniture for painting, the team first applied a quick-drying shellac product called Ray’s Primer to prime and seal the knots. This was followed by a coat of Ralston Aqua Matt in Crow.
"I absolutely LOVED this colour and the coverage was superb!! 👌🏼 Black/‘Crow’ is so often mistaken to make a room feel enclosed and cold and this did the opposite! The room felt just as huge and so so cosy!
Would highly recommend 😊
Thanks team for providing not only gorgeous colours, but SUSTAINABLE paint ranges!! 🙌"
~ Peter Irvine, Interior Designer
House 2: Cara in Delgany
For the second makeover, "sustainability queen" Gwen Kenny (@gwen_kenny_designer) helped Wicklow mum, Cara, reclaim the living room for herself, her four teens and puppy Milo. Gwen took inspiration from the local woods where the family regularly take nature walks. She wanted to create a warm and inviting space that brings to mind "golden hour" light. The idea was to create a beautiful space that encourages the family to spend time together (not the easiest feat in a house full of independent teens!)
To achieve the feeling of a never-ending "golden hour", Gwen opted to use W23630 on the walls, ceiling and newly installed wooden shelving and panelling. This was complemented by G18050 and G18510 on the wooden furniture and shelving. You can purchase all of these colours in-store at Pat McDonnell Paints!
"I loved that colour on the walls, it is the perfect neutral.👏"
- Gwen Kenny, Designer
One of the stand-out aspects of the room was a stunning light feature made out of... of all things... a washing machine drum! To give the piece a polished and refined look, the drum exterior was spray-painted with Ambrosol Spray Paint in Black while a gold colour was applied to the interior.
You can tune into The Salvage Squad on Sundays at 8pm on Virgin Media One or online via the Virgin Media Player.