the happy living Blog

architectural salvage i.e. glamorous trash picking

My dad is the world's best trash picker.  Besides my Hot Wheels tricycle, my first three bikes came from the trash.  If I need to find something for a project at home, like window sashes or old shutters he will get them for me.  He must have perfect 180 degree periferal vision when he drives. 

Luckily we don't always have to have a professional trash picker in the family or wait for a neighbor to discard that perfect cast iron sink.  Architectural salvage is a huge business and the selection of items available gets better all the time.  Unfortunately people have begun to recognize the value in the old and that old door or toilet is not always as cheap as it used to be but you can still find great pieces at reasonable prices.

Of course there is always ebay and craigslist.  I find that they both require more time to sort through all the junk.  It boggles my mind the stuff people will list on there for sale and if you try to do too detailed of a search you risk filtering out something good.  Also, I enjoy being able to look at something in person before I buy whenever I can.  That is why architectural salvage yards and shops are great.

Don't you just love that sink?!  Only $450 from Restore. (pic from Restore)

Here's a list of salvage shops and what they specialize in (where available):

Provenance Architectural Salvage: Architectural Salvage from some of Philly's most historic landmarks.  Philadelphia

Second Chance Inc: "We rescue the wood, metal, marble, plaster, stone and other architectural elements that make the building special. We give these pieces new lives, in new homes, in new ways, with new uses." Baltimore, Philadelphia and DC

Portland Salvage: has four floors of architectural pieces, reusable building materials, tools, fixtures, collectibles and antique period materials.  Portlant, ME

Old House Parts Company: Our focus is on 18'th, 19'th and early 20'th century restoration and home improvement Architectural Salvage and Architectural Antiques like french doors, antique windows, antique doors and other architectural salvage for exterior and interior design.  Kennebunk, ME

Nor'East Architectural Salvage Antiques: We stock an extensive inventory of architectural salvage and antique building materials from 1700-1940.  South Hampton, NH

Architectural Antiques: Mantles, bars, doors, antique beds, mirrors, paneled rooms, ironwork, stained glass, lighting.  Philadelphia

Ohmega Salvage: At Ohmega Salvage we are committed to preserving the architectural heritage of the Bay Area. To this end, we buy and sell usual and unusual building materials.  Berkeley, CA

Architectural Salvage, Inc.: Doors,hardware, plumbing fixtures, mantels, lighting and more. Denver, CO

Architectural Antiques (the Original):  High quality stuff! and they take the extra step to help you integrate your item into your space. 

Salvage One: Everything from Andirons to Wrought Iron.  Chicago

Architectural Accents: All the usual including fired tile, columns and garden items.  Atlanta

The Demolition Depot:  This is a personal favorite.  I am on their site all the time.  A unique source of vintage plumbing fixtures, doors, windows, shutters, railings, gates, grills, mantels, stone and terracotta pieces, religious objects and so much more. NYC

Frank's Demolition Salvage: architectural antiques and building materials such as granite, marble steps, cast iron radiators, ashlar (stone), brownstone, bluestone, keystones, distressed bricks, field stones.  Woodlyn, PA

Olde Good Things: locations in Manhattan (2 actually), Los Angeles and Scranton, PA

ReStore: A Philly favorite, they have plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, hardware, mantels, doors stairwell parts, iron fencing, cast iron ornaments, marble, stone, slate and tile.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reinvent!  Philadelphia

Sylvan Brandt: a specialist in resawn and antique flooring, they also carry beams, doors and other architectural elements.  Lititz, PA (PA Dutch Country!)

This is by no means an exhaustive list.  These are just some of my favorites, some local and others not, places I have actually been to, or know a little about.  If you have a favorite salvage shop near you please comment about it!

reduce : reuse : recycle : reinvent

happy trash picking!

quilts and miniature quilts

Ever since I was in architecture school I have been mildly obsessed with quilts.  My family is not a quilting family.  We are great sewers, seamstresses and pattern makers, but unfortunately I don't know a single quilt was ever made on either side.  My whole thesis project in my last year of school was based on the idea of the quilt as the journal of the family and how the house also became a record of the family.  I made these paper quilts early on.  It combined my obsession with quilts and paper into one activity.  I was lucky to marry INTO a quilt-making family and we have two quilts handmade by the boy's granny and aunt.  But enough about me.

I was at the Traditional Home Show this year and came across Kate Adams' miniature quilts.  Oh my.  They are gorgeous.  And really mini!  The designs and detail are amazing.  You should check them out.  She has a great gallery of larger and small quilts, patriotic designs, samplers and Amish patterns.  These below are either 9 inches by 9 inches or 7 inches by 9 inches.  Enjoy!

Wonderful Graffiti :: lucite letters

I like these lucite letters by Wonderful Graffiti.

 

Hmm.  What could you do with them?

Lotta Jansdotter fabrics...

They are now available online.  This is the event of the month, well maybe the year.  Hold me back.

still waiting for spring over here

Today in West Chester, PA it's been 60 degress, with torrential down pours, then sunny (with a rainbow), then we had some hail, snow flurries, 50 mph wind gusts and now it's heading down into the 20's tonight.  Quite a full day.  Where is spring? For some reason this year more than most I am waiting impatiently for those perfect spring days and for our last frost so that I can plant my caladium bulbs.  Friday I called out sick from work (had a multi-day headache) and the only thing I accomplished all day besides getting some much needed rest was starting a garden journal for the new-to-us garden.  There is only so much House of Babies, Bend it Like Beckham and MTV Cribs that one person can endure when not watching the inside of ones eyelids.

I had all this stuff in a binder (yea, I'm a binder freak like that) but it was too rigid.  I think this is more free and condusive to creativity.  I left some room around some of the clippings to make notes like where to plant some of the flowers.  I got this idea from the current issue of Country Home and also thinking about Victoria's inspiration journals.

Are you guys excited about gardening this season?  Planning on planting or growing anything new?  I am actually planning on doing quite a bit of container gardening this year since I would like to see what comes up in the planting beds first before I start tearing stuff up.  Container gardening is great if you have very little or no yard.  I actually enjoy it more because it can feel more manageable.

Hope you are all having a great weekend.  It's quiet here since the boy is in Utah on business.  Yesterday was such a bust with my quasi-migraine but today was better.  For breakfast I made scrambled eggs with cut up bits of tortilla that I sauteed in oil first.  I added a little salsa to the eggs and some seasonings.  I got the idea from Nigella Express but for the life of me I can't find the recipe.  It was yum.  I am going to try it out on the boy when he gets back.

plonka - dalinda

Yea, I am still here.  Just taking care of the other parts of my life.  But I have been meaning to tell you about Linda of plonka - dalinda from Norway.  I bough quite a few things from her etsy store as Christmas gifts for all the girls in my life and I plan to buy some more!  It's the fabrics she uses that I love.  See pics of a few things below but don't miss her notebook covers, pillows, bags, pixie hats and more!  All pics by dalinda.  And I found out about her from decor8.

Pottery Barn :: Spring 08 colors

Have you seen them?  IMHO I am thrilled to see that PB has finally ventured on beyond country red, blue and ochre (although I will eternally love ochre myself!) in their catalog.

photo display

I love this anti-matchy-matchy photo display from Pottery Barn.  Great inspiration!

chalkboard wall

I would like a chalkboard wall in our kitchen.  These are fun.

1. Stephanie's Chalkboard Wall, 2. chalkboard wall, 3. chalkboard_wall_detail_2, 4. chalkboard-wall.jpg, 5. to do, 6. S7301241, 7. Chalkboard wall, 8. Chalkboard Wall, 9. new chalkboard wall, 10. Chalkboard drawings, 11. Chalkboard Pantry, 12. Chalkboard Wall, 13. tours_203_284x426.jpg, 14. Chalkboard kitchen, 15. Kitchen chalkboard, 16. 10.jpg, 17. Looking out to the back door, 18. chalkboard, 19. chalkboard wall in effect, 20. Chalkboard, 21. blackboard drawing, 22. thomas obrian kitchen, 23. pantry wall, after, 24. thinking pictures, 25. to-do WALL

around here

The house is decorated for the most part.  I went with a more minimal approach this year instead of decking out the entire house.  I love what I call our vintage tree.  It's actually a tinsel tree I got at BJ's last year decorated with vintage glass ornaments my grandmother gave me and Pier 1 gift garland.

I splurged this year for two new stockings from Hable Construction and they are so worth it.

I made some soft trees from Stephanie Barnes' pattern.  I haven't sewn in quite awhile, so it was a great little project to try out on my great aunt's sewing machine that I so luckily inherited.  It is also a great project if you have never sewn and want to try.

And I tried two recipes by Shauna James Ahern (the Gluten-Free Girl).  Both the Lemon Olive Oil Cookies and the Spicy Ginger Cookies are delicious.  I want to try the Holiday Fruit and Nut Balls but my food processor conked out on me.  I have asked Santa for this, but I think I am maxed out on my wishlist.