Architectural Salvage

Architects, designers, and homeowners are increasingly on the hunt for salvage materials whose superior grade and character have passed the test of time. “I think a lot of people are tired of thinking something is quality, putting good money down for it, and then a few years later it is not holding up,” says Don Short, owner of West End Architectural Salvage in Des Moines. Noreene Parker, owner of Pinch from the Past architectural salvage stores in Greensboro and Savannah, Georgia, agrees. “You can no longer get the materials at any price that are the quality of antique materials—they simply do not exist.”  

In addition to enduring quality, people choose salvage because it affords something unique in a sea of new-product sameness. Offerings range from 10¢ nails to $200 lighting fixtures to $17,500 19th-century gargoyles. “As far as what sells, there is an ebb and flow,” says Matt White, owner of Recycling the Past in Barnegat, New Jersey. “When we started about 15 years ago, the hottest thing was to make a lot of furniture from recycled materials, and then that slowed down, but now it has shot back up again. Doors and mantles are always popular, and industrial stuff has been hot for the past 4-5 years.”

“I love that you can’t pigeon hole the customers,” says Elizabeth Scalice, founder of Architectural Salvage of San Diego. On any given day, shoppers might include an architect looking for antique French doors, a designer trying to find a retro pink sink to compliment a vintage ‘60s bath, or grandparents reminiscing about the past. Urban dwellers snatch up things like art glass or large mirrors framed with repurposed ceiling tin to use as decoration, while loft and condo owners value burnished flooring for its touch of warmth and nostalgia.  Owners of older homes buy period building materials and fixtures for restoration projects; owners of new homes are simply looking to add distinction. “The drive to add character to newer homes is huge for salvage,” says Short. “For instance, you can buy a beautiful old door for around $600 that would have to be custom-made today and would cost $5000 new.” You may need to reframe the door to make it fit, but your efforts will be rewarded with something that makes your house stand out for decades to come.

If quality and affordability aren’t enough reason to join the treasure hunt, factor in the sense of buying a bit of history and nostalgia along with the idea that repurposing is a very smart way to go green.