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Weekend Fun: Hit the Salvage Spots
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and a stay-at-home mom.
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst,... More »
I love architectural (and other types of) salvage. Fortunately, here in Baltimore, we're lucky enough to have two really fabulous salvage places. The first, called Second Chance, sprawls out across multiple warehouses and includes everything from moulding and chandeliers to cool old doors to giant marble showers (pulled from old mansions) to relatively new kitchens coming from builder overstock.
The other, Housewerks, is much smaller, but also more carefully curated (and yes, curated is the right word). It's kind of like a museum for salvage, which means that every visit, I find something cool that I can't help but take home. Last month, we found an old metal desk with an attached stool. It had been in a prison, but with a little sanding and a lot of paint, it became a glossy addition to my son's room.
So if you don't have any plans for the weekend, why not scout out some salvage of your own this weekend? If you need some inspiration for using older pieces in your home, here it is:
The other, Housewerks, is much smaller, but also more carefully curated (and yes, curated is the right word). It's kind of like a museum for salvage, which means that every visit, I find something cool that I can't help but take home. Last month, we found an old metal desk with an attached stool. It had been in a prison, but with a little sanding and a lot of paint, it became a glossy addition to my son's room.
So if you don't have any plans for the weekend, why not scout out some salvage of your own this weekend? If you need some inspiration for using older pieces in your home, here it is:
by French Larkspur
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This old wooden ladder is a smart and interesting towel rack.
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Industrial springs turned into barstools: absolutely genius!
by Dreamy Whites
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Old doors are relatively easy to find at salvage houses and they have a multitude of uses. I love this makeshift headboard.
by Dreamy Whites
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And this door, refashioned as a mirror, is fantastic.
by Kerrie L. Kelly
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Of course, sometimes an older door doesn't need a "purpose" - other than to provide texture and interest.
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| Right now, Housewerks has a few old boat propellers and we're considering buying one for our yard - just to add something sculptural. This one is cleaner and prettier than the ones I've seen, and equally cool. |
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While they're easy to miss, sometimes the best buys from salvage places are the smallest: like this dish drying rack...
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by French Larkspur
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| Or this little tray, which gives just a little salty edge to the sweet pitcher. |
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I love riddling racks and so wish I had room for one in my house. Around here, they're all at expensive antique stores, but if you live near wine country, you still might find them at junk shops or salvage yards.
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Second Chance, near me, has about a million clawfoot tubs. While few of them would clean up this nicely, they've got many purposes - I love them as funky backyard planters.
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Even old crates have a ton of value, when they're used creatively.
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I've seen lots of old metal industrial shelves at salvage places - a little paint and some cool baskets and you're in business.
Architectural salvage places are always full of old mouldings and mantles, too - which can be used in lots of spaces (though they sometimes need lots of TLC before they're presentable).
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This website has a list that looks like a good place to start: http://www.useitagainpa.org/How/architectural_salvage.html
I am adding a couple of pix of what Housewerks has. Fabulous things. I've gotten a few great pieces for my house from there. I just bought my sister on of the amazing green glass fishing floats for her pool area.
pls chech out our link...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=103369&id=720921782&l=9575a9bfb5
our ENTIRE range is CREATED OUT OF SALVAGED MATERIAL. 100 %
SEEK YOUR COMMENTS.
I love salvaged materials, but in Sydney we don't seem to have as many places to find things (at a reasonable price) anymore. Many of our councils have gotten rid of the traditional road-side clean-ups and salvage yards are very expensive. Still, I find some treasures in the small op-shops occasionally.
Good salvage is limited and highly priced in Australia.
I try to recycle and reinvent thrift finds from the tip (dump)
I decorate with these but my options are limited.
We have been doing this since 1977!