Architectural Salvage for Historic, New Houses
Environmentally-Friendly Option for Historic House Preservation
Nov 16, 2009
Older houses often make a statement no matter their size due to unique exterior and interior details that differentiate them from other houses. While large homes often feature more details, size does not dictate the potential warmth and attractiveness of the older home.
After all, New Orleans-style shotgun houses with gingerbreading and small Chicago bungalows can be just as visually appealing as enormous Queen Annes, Mansard-topped mansions or prairie-style homes.
Interior Structural Element Choices
Inside, historic homes of all sizes often contain carved fretwork, lovely ornamental fireplace mantels and hearth tiles or other details that showcase the house's bones, or structure. Even during the Industrial Revolution with its increase in factory mass-production, houses in the nineteenth century often sported eye-dazzling details not found in most modern homes.
Whether the intent is to restore missing or damaged elements or to create a period feel, architectural salvage shops make it easier to find woodwork, glass, tile, and other necessities to improve a home's appearance and functionality.
Reversing Previous Design Choices
Of course, the character of these older homes also means that the houses have often experienced many owners who may have changed the houses to fit their needs at the time. For homeowners who plan to restore their homes to a near-original state or who want to modify it with period pieces, architectural salvage businesses prove vital for materials, advice, and financial considerations.
Origin of Salvaged Items
Since the business' items are salvaged from other houses or buildings slated for demolition or remodeling, there is usually a wide assortment of objects grouped together. For example, in one area of the business, there may be cases or boxes of glass, metal, and ceramic doorknobs while in another section one could find hundred of doors of various sizes and details.
Find Pieces of Local History for Sale
Turn-of-the-century sinks and clawfoot tubs may be just a few feet away from pelican-adorned fountains while enormous quarter-sawn oak bars sit next to 1940s-era light fixtures. In some ways, it can be a scavenger hunt to find just what is needed, but the staff can help locate things if there is little time to rummage around. In some cases, the staff may be able to tell you where a specific item came from, especially in cases of large items or if it once graced old theatres and other community landmarks.
Unique Treasures Found in Salvage Shops
When looking through old doors and wooden furniture, buyers can find unique woods such as burl, tiger maple and quarter-sawn oak that can give a piece an extra glow and are difficult to find in new construction. Many of architectural salvage shops also sell smaller antique pieces such as vases, frames, and other things at reasonable prices.
Environmental Benefits to Using Salvaged Parts
As a result, many homeowners restore their historic houses not only to preserve the house's sense of identity but also with the intention of using recycled materials that fit the home. By buying old house parts, those pieces stay out of the landfills while also saving the resources needed to recreate them. This also saves the homeowner money since buying new customized parts to match the original details can be much more expensive than buying modern standard items.
New House Owners
Owners of newer homes can also benefit from these places, especially if trying to recapture earlier eras through interior decorating. If creating specialized rooms such as media rooms or bar areas with a fun old-time feel, accents such as period lighting or saloon-style wooden bars can bring the ideas to life while ensuring that the rooms will be different from neighbors' homes.
Elements for Art Deco, Moderne for More Modern Feel
Specific details could be found in houses from the spare colonial period through the exuberent antebellum and Victorian periods and continued through the craftsmanship-oriented Arts and Crafts era and the Art Deco period, which still evokes an inherent sense of modernity. Those looking for more stream-lined decor might find the Art Deco and Moderne pieces something that they want to incorporate into their own interiors.
Advantages of Architectural Salvage
For those hoping to restore their homes through matching antique details or by adding new period touches, architectural shops are a great resource. The staff tend to be knowledgeable and prices are competitive. While architectural elements such as these might not work for everyone, architectural salvage businesses are there to help those looking to create their own bit of history in their homes.
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