First of all, your location is going to determine what you're going to find at architectural salvage places. If you're anywhere around the middle of the country (Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Davenport) you're going to find a lot of turn of the 20th century salvage items like brick, moldings, doors, glass, hardware, etc. Same goes for the East Coast.

Are you working with and architect (that means licensed) that is experienced with older architecture?

You might look for a house in your style that is going to be demolished, and go to the demolition sale (early) and buy everything.

Hello, all — like I said, we are in the VERY preliminary stages. We are in the Dallas, TX area.

We haven’t hired an architect (mostly because I don’t feel confident articulating exactly what I want, but I guess it’s their job to pull the vision out of us, right?) I’ve spent hours researching on my own and even doodling ideas.

@mark, do you have any suggestions for finding an architect that is experienced with older architecture?

@bpath this may be revealing my level of “newbie,” but how do I even go about finding houses that are going to be demolished?

What's your idea of old?

Having salvaged, re-purposed and sold some old house stuff, I think your best bet is to look for some special feature items you like and incorporate them into your design: like fireplace mantels, interior built-ins, light fixtures, maybe a special kitchen island. Doors, trim, cabinets, flooring, windows, hardware, etc. can all be purchased new in style and material to match any "old house" architectural style you want.

If you had enough time (and money), you could find enough salvage to build a house, but you'd have to design the house around the motley collection of materials you had found and all of it would require a lot of labor to re-use.

If you're in Dallas, you're not likely to find the type of salvage materials you're apparently wanting. You're going to need to go to much older cities to find that. It's going to be expensive, because you'll have to rent a truck and likely pay a premium for the items you want. For example, one of the architectural salvage places in Chicago charges by the linear foot for moldings, and the more elaborate they are, the more expensive they are.

How about watching This Old House and making note of the details that speak to you, then checking to see if there are modern equivalents available. Many moldings have been recreated, or can be by "stacking" layers of wood to achieve the look.

I've lived in older houses, and many times these architectural details will be covered with layers and layers of paint and you can guarantee at least some of the layers are lead-based.

Find inspiration photos, go to an architect, open your pocketbook because this type of design and detail isn't cheap, and have fun. Good luck!

So, first you have to decide...are you going for authentic reproduction, or using cool old elements in a new build?
And finding salvage, and then using it, is tricky. I live in Maine, where builders are used to coping with old, existing stuff....but it takes a lot of work. This is an antique tile, found in Iowa, installed around a modern gas fireplace In the extension of the 19th century hunting shack that is my now stupidly large late 1980’s house. It took a full year after the fireplace was installed, to finish it....the gas fireplace threw off so much heat that we had to scrap some of the all wood surround and replace it with marble.

@PPF Even starting this thread, I’m acutely aware that I am clueless when it comes to terminology and articulating what I see so clearly in my mind!
We really love the look of historic rustic farmhouses (I’m not talking about the modern spin that’s so popular right now!) and authentic European and French cottages.

Lots of wood, exposed beams, stone. I wish I could say confidently: THIS! This one thing is exactly what I love, but truth be told I like a lot of elements from those various styles

Then there is the beam that is the mantel above the 1980’s fireplace...

Thank you everyone for your responses! It sounds like, for the most part, our best bet is going to be to take the specific design elements that we love and try to a modern replicas? If that is the case, should we be taking our ideas to an architect, a designer, both or someone else entirely? I assume we’d start with the architect and then find individual subcontractors to help bring things to life such as the cabinets, flooring, etc. Am I on the right track here?

We are in the process of building a new-old home and have only managed to install one salvage item due to it's rarity--an 1864 port d'oro fireplace surround. Since that item would have been the most expensive detail to replicate due to a lack of craftsmen, we found a way to fit it in our budget. The company that we purchased it from is located in the northeast, which is an area that has quite a few homes similar to the home that we are building. For everything else (except one light fixture), we felt that it would be easier to just purchase close replicas since there are heavy code requirements in our area for plumbing and electrical.

In regards to authenticity, our main focus was to make sure that the structure is built quite strictly to the style that we were seeking to replicate. In my opinion, that is truly where classical architecture shines. And, if I am being honest, that is where a BIG chunk of our budget will go / has gone (we are entering the drywall phase).

Lastly, you will need to determine an architectural "style" before you will be able to locate salvageable pieces. If you are looking for items associated with Spanish Colonial Revivals, you would not be able to find any related items in the midwest or northeast.

If there was any advice that I would share based off of our experience it is:

- definitely seek professional help, but do know that not all "professionals" are equal even if they do share the same credentials

- prepare your budget because knowledgeable crafts people are VERY hard to find and can be expensive to hire

- do pay attention to windows and trim /finishing. Unlike today, these items actually created with the house (i.e., not afterthoughts). So far, this has been a HUGE portion of our budget.

- be patient. Doing it right will take time and more time with mistakes mixed in. The recent wave of mcmansions has brought with it a loss of knowledge and attention to detail.

Hope this help. . .and good luck with your new adventure.

Based on your comments and questions, I think that you may be conflating architectural styles with decorative arts. The two can be used harmoniously. Your structure can be one thing and you can use interior design pieces that reflect your personality or a certain period. In our build, this is exactly what we are doing on the lower level and, also, in an apartment above our garage.

If you do not mind doing a bit of homework (actually extensive research), you may be able to forgo the designer. But, if time doesn't allow and you have the budget, it would be well worth it to get both an architect and designer on board for your project.

Is your budget large, maybe double what a ready built house of the same size would cost?

You need a designer (could be an Architect), to take your ideas and create plans that a builder will use to price the job.

You will need a builder, and subs, accustomed to this type of work.

I'd look for a builder first. They will be able to recommend a designer, and will work with you and the designer to resolve cost and material availability issues.

Expect to pay well for all this.

Seek out residential historic districts near you and research what architects have worked in the area. Researching in commercial historic districts may be helpful also. Expand your definition of "near" until you find an architect that will be a good fit for your project.

Appropriate salvaged material may be difficult to find and labor intensive to work with. Details will be very important and the materials you use may be able to be new but probably not found at a big box store.

ive heard of entire old houses that are sold for pennies but they have to be moved from where they are to your location. Maybe such a thing would be an option for you. Maybe with an addition

https://circaoldhouses.com/move-me-love-me-free-houses-for-anyone-who-can-move-them/

Google demolition companies in your area. My neighbors bought their complete kitchen from a demolition Of a high-end home. And built much of their vacation house from demos. One day I was driving by the 1956 house I lived in as a child, and a demolition sale was going on. I bought the stair railing and brackets, and the fabulous laundry room sink. The demo company owner was buying the white oak paneling. Much of the interior and exterior were spoken for.

I toured a new house that had all classical details which were new also. I loved it.

I owned a house that I installed a salvaged handrail from a demolished building on a local university's campus. I often wondered who's teeth marks were indented into railing near the bottom.

I saved this, and idk if it applies:

"Provincial style: whitewashed furniture, structural wood/wrought iron details, limestone or light-colored lime-rendered walls, and terra cotta or sandstone floors.
Bit rustic yet chic, it needs STRONG ARCHITECTURAL elements to shine... it might look bland in a GENERIC SUBURBAN home.
While many French people do like such style, they often use it merely to add accent pieces in a more contemporary setting.
[They might embrace the style in older, rustic homes/but the total look is often created for tourists in Bed/B]."

Living room from Provence · More Info

Check out "Creating a New Old House," by Russell Versaci. It's a wonderful reference on many styles of architecture written by an architect who knows whereof he speaks. Building an "old" home is more than just attaching old wood to a home. The whole structure should embody classical architecture principles such as massing, scale, and proportion, as well as good-quality decorative items (trim, windows, doors, hardware, etc.)

Just putting salvaged items in a new house won't give it that "old house" look. You need an architect that understands and uses the classical rules of proportion. Understanding the use of light and shadows is also a necessary component. That's what gives old houses that pleasing to the eye appearance that is missing in most new construction.

Also the windows are the "eyes" of the house and new flat windows and odd-height railings also are a give-away that a house is new or has been remuddled.

Here's a resource to learn more: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/

Here's a start: