Affordable Decorating Ideas: Give Salvage a Second Chance

When you need design inspiration, make a visit to a salvage store. Whether you are looking for small relics to add a layer of patina or want to give reclaimed building materials a second life, the options are endless, so don’t get overwhelmed by all the inventory. If you’re searching for decorative pieces, take a trip around the shop for anything that grabs you. It could be as small as an old piece of cornice to put in a bookcase or a new glass doorknob for the bath. If building materials are what you’re after, examine everything to get your thoughts flowing. Imagine that painted mantel framing the living room fireplace or that handsome door and its transom in your entry. The age of these materials will give your home an instant lived-in feel. Before you purchase, check with your professional contractor or builder to be sure that your pieces are the right size and up to snuff for your project. Most can be easily altered if needed.

Our Favorite Salvage Shops 

• Allison’s Adam & Eve Salvage, West Palm Beach, FL; adamandevesalvage.com 
• A&O Architectural Salvage, Kansas City, MO; aoarchitecturalsalvage.com 
• Architectural Salvage, Louisville, KY; architecturalsalvage.com
• Caravati’s Inc., Richmond, VA; caravatis.com 
• Crossland Studio, Charlotte, NC; crosslandstudio.net
• Discount Home Warehouse, Dallas; dhwsalvage.com 
• Old House Salvage, Piedmont, SC; theoldhousesalvage.com 
• Pinch of the Past, Madison, GA; pinchofthepast.com
• South Front Antiques, Memphis; southfrontantiques.com 
• Southern Accents Architectural Antiques, Cullman, AL; sa1969.com