Whether you’re restoring an old home or trying to infuse character into your new build, incorporating historic architectural elements adds a charm that can’t be replicated by anything found at your local home improvement store. From intricate moldings to century-old door knobs, these nostalgic pieces bring history and add interest. When a building is being renovated or torn down and these pieces no longer have a home, they often make their way to architectural salvage stores.
Architectural salvage stores carry building materials, architectural elements, and hardwired lighting. You often won’t find the decor elements you’d pick up at a thrift shop or flea market. Instead, you’ll find pieces that were typically attached to the home itself, like hardware, mantels, molding, and light fixtures. Many of them have been salvaged from houses that were torn down or gutted. We spoke with experts to learn what you can typically find at these types of stores along with tips for scoring treasure.
What You Can Find at an Architectural Salvage Store
Salvaged lighting fixtures, art glass panels, doors, windows, furniture, and other items incorporating hard-to-find old growth lumber are all popular items at Community Forklift, a salvage and reuse warehouse in Hyattsville, Maryland, according to Trey Davis, executive director. These items often have ornate detail and sought-after materials, yet they would be discarded if they didn’t find their way to a salvage store.
“We always look for vintage hardware, unique light fixtures, and reclaimed wood with a story. A set of ornate brass door handles, a stunning art deco chandelier, or weathered barn wood can add a lot of charm and authenticity to a space,” says Allison Kaminsky, lead designer at Lola Tucker Interiors. These are the pieces that give homes a vintage-inspired feel, yet they can be easily incorporated into both new and old houses.
Plus, many of these pieces are made of materials that have lasted for generations, and they’ll last for generations more when they make their way into a new home.
We always look for vintage hardware, unique light fixtures, and reclaimed wood with a story.
10 Tips for Shopping Architectural Salvage
Ready to uncover treasure on your first architectural salvage outing? Here are the top tips that experts swear by.
Make Frequent Visits
Inventory changes daily at most architectural salvage shops, so don’t be afraid to make frequent visits. Find a store that’s on your daily commute, and pop in whenever you have a few free minutes.
“When you’re familiar with a store’s inventory, it’s easier to spot a treasure that’s just arrived,” says Libby Quaid, an old house owner who volunteers for her local preservation group. She searched for a mantel for a year, and she was the first to know when a gorgeous antique mantel arrived at her nearby salvage shop.
Follow Salvage Shops on Instagram
If you want to be the first to know what’s been delivered to your local salvage shop, follow them on Instagram or other social platforms they keep updated. Many shops will post their latest acquisitions to their social media, as well as share sales and promotions.
Know Your Measurements
“Keep a running log of general dimensions in your phone if you have areas you plan to change,” says Vanessa Chaverri-Gratz, who’s renovating a 1926 historic Tudor home. Knowing the measurements will save you from making unnecessary purchases, which likely can’t be returned. But she also notes not to worry if you buy something that you later regret. “Don’t be afraid to make a purchase mistake,” she says. “It’s almost inevitable when purchasing salvage or antique items that something may not end up being the best fit for your home. That’s ok! Part of the fun is the process.”
Stephen Kent Johnson
Look for Details That Aren’t Often Found Today
The beauty of salvage pieces is that they often contain ornate details that you just can’t find in today’s mass market goods. When you’re shopping salvage items, let rare finds lead your search. “Look for unique, well-crafted pieces with character that can’t be replicated, such as an intricately carved wooden door or a vintage stained glass window. Pay attention to the quality of materials and craftsmanship,” says Kaminsky.
Pay attention to the quality of materials and craftsmanship.
Confirm That You—or a Professional—Can Restore It
Quaid looks for items that are worth the investment, which typically means they are sturdy, well-built, and have original details. But most salvage pieces do need some work; it’s just a matter of how much and who’s going to do it. This is as relevant for furniture and architectural pieces as it is for chandeliers and lighting, which often have to be rewired.
For Quaid, she knows when to bring in the professionals, but she also knows when to call it a day and let the patina show. “I have two mantels that I had professionally stripped and refinished, but I have a big Victorian pier mirror that someone did a decent job of stripping and I didn’t bother with more refinishing,” says Quaid.
Frances Loom
Check for Structural Integrity
Unless you plan on working on your restoration chops, it’s generally best to stick to items that have maintained their structural integrity through the years. Cosmetic upgrades are one thing, but rebuilding an item goes beyond most people’s pay grade. “Check for structural integrity and the potential for restoration,” Kaminsky says. “For example, a slightly chipped antique clawfoot tub can be refinished, but if it has extensive rust and cracks, it might not be worth the effort.”
Start Small
Don’t jump right into installing historic molding throughout your home. Instead, work up to it. Davis recommends starting with a small piece of furniture as you try out your restoration skills. “You can practice techniques and finishes without worrying about damaging something of high value and the piece’s small size and portable nature mean you can take your time to learn without disrupting your everyday life,” he says.
Buy What Excites You
When you’re strolling through the aisles of a salvage store, sometimes you find yourself struck by the intricate molding on an old mantel or the way the crystal on a vintage chandelier catches the light. Those are the pieces you need to bring home. “I buy whatever really excites me and I will eventually find a spot for it,” says Chaverri-Gratz.
She explains that she once found a striking piece of round scalloped marble. She may not have had a use for it at that moment, but she eventually attached a spinning wheel to the base and uses it as a lazy Susan on her coffee table. “I definitely wasn’t looking for that, but finding it was so exciting!” says Gratz.
Think Outside the Box
The beauty of salvage is that it can be repurposed and reused in a way that varies from its original use. You may need to get creative if you’re replacing trim or adding molding, especially if you have specs within your home that you can’t change, like the size of your windows.
“Could those antique solid wood doors be repurposed as wainscoting?” says Davis. “Would adding a piece of newly milled trim to a salvaged piece get you the size you need for that door frame?” In his own midcentury bathroom, he made a vanity from a $20 cabinet and $3 countertop combined with legs and drawer handles he salvaged from the previously existing vanity.
Start a Collection
A salvage shop is a good place to start building a collection of unique finds that catch your eye, even if you don’t use them in their conventional manner. “I love picking up old hardware; I have a collection of old doorknobs and beautiful brass ones that I plan to display in a bowl,” says Sallie Lord, founder of GreyHunt Interiors.
Mistakes to Avoid at the Salvage Shop
While there are incredible finds to be uncovered at salvage shops, there are also a few mistakes that can lead you down the wrong path. Here are the shopping mistakes to avoid on your next trip.
Consider Skipping It if You Don’t Have a Place for It
While there’s something to be said for finding the perfect piece, and then making it work later, there’s also a case to be made for letting go of items when you don’t have a plan. “When shopping salvage, don’t fall in love with an item without having a place or purpose for it,” Lord says. “It has already been stored; if you buy it, make sure to give it a new home and life.”
And that’s a nice sentiment, right? Only promise this item a new home if you actually have the home to give it.
Frances Loom
If There’s Rot or Mold, Let It Be
While it’s tempting to think you can restore an item that’s seen better days, sometimes it’s just too far gone. “Avoid items with extensive mold or pest damage,” says Kaminsky. “A beautiful old wooden beam might seem perfect, but if it’s riddled with termites, it’s best to pass.”
Don’t Leave Something You Love Behind
There’s nothing worse than the regret of leaving a one-of-a-kind find sitting on the shelves of a dusty salvage shop. You might head back the next day after thinking about it all night, only to find it’s gone. Quaid explains the feeling of that missed opportunity, “If you think you might regret leaving something behind, don’t walk away,” says Quaid. “Someone else could snap it up.”
If you think you might regret leaving something behind, don’t walk away.
