Architectural Salvage Decorating Ideas

Architectural Salvage Decorating Ideas – Use Salvaged Materials For A Unique Look In Your Home!

If you’re looking for a way to add texture and interest to your home decor, you will love these Architectural Salvage Decorating Ideas!

I spent a few days in Waco, Texas  about two years ago.  I stayed at a home that incorporated a lot of architectural salvage elements into the decor.  I will share some photos from my stay there as well as some photos and ideas from my own homes.  I hope you will enjoy seeing these ideas!  Hopefully it will spark your creativity!

What is Architectural Salvage?

Architectural salvage refers to items that have been rescued from old homes or other buildings that are in the process of being demolished. Instead of simply throwing everything away, someone has taken the time to painstakingly save the doors, windows, hardware, decorative trim and even the flooring. 

Even old farmhouse sinks can be saved!

Reusing these items keeps them out of landfills.

Why am I drawn to Architectural Salvage items?

Pictured above is the house that I grew up in.  This American Foursquare Farmhouse was built in the late 1800s.  I loved the high ceilings, the woodwork and the gingerbread on the front porch.

Where Can You Find Architectural Salvage Items?

These items can be found at local salvage yards, antique stores, yard sales or online through sites like eBay and Etsy.  One of my favorite places to find architectural Salvage items is at a brocante! Brocante is the french term for flea market!

 What in the World is Brocante?

Once you have found them, you can begin using them to make some beautiful additions to your home.

What is Brocante Style?

Architectural Salvage Decorating Ideas

Doors

Old doors have so many uses!  They can be used for their actual purpose, turned into a table or used as a backdrop for a wreath or flower arrangement.  If you happen to find a pair of doors, you can even use them as sliding doors.  Pictured below is on of the ways they were used in the house I stayed in in Waco, Texas.

I would love to find a matching pair of doors like those!  I would use them next to our sliding door out to the lanai.  I just love the weathered finish!

For more ideas on how to use salvaged doors, please see this post: Curious About How To Use An Old Door?

Speaking of doors, look at the patina of this door in the Waco house.  And the crystal door knob!  Swoon!

I had doors and knobs similar to the one pictured below in my Cincinnati Ohio home.  Of course, I brought them with me when I moved back to Illinois!  The door knobs, not the doors!

Old Windows

Pictured below is an old window without its glass.  Leslie, the owner of the home in Waco, hung it over a salvaged door.  It makes a beautiful accent piece.

When we still lived in the farmhouse in Illinois, I had a window hanging above the fireplace.  The window was originally in the parsonage of the Bement United Methodist Church.  When it was replaced with a newer style window, the pastor’s wife gave it to me.  Since she was a close friend of mine, she knew that I would give it a good home!

The window is currently waiting to be hung in the Florida house.  I am thinking about hanging it above our bed.  Because the glass is still in it, it is very heavy.

The long piece in the center of the display is now on top of my cabinet in the office.

Adding Garden Style Touches to the Shabby Chic Home Office

Old windows can be hinged together to make a “conservatory” like the one pictured above.  My Dad made if for me when I still had my flower shop.  He made it so I could use it as a display.

Finding The Perfect Spot for the Conservatory My Dad Made

Gingerbread

In architecture & design, gingerbread refers to detailed embellishment like the painted lady style of architecture that is famous in San Francisco.  It was quite prevalent in the late 1860s and 1870s in America.

I found these large pieces of gingerbread when I (ok my helpers were doing the actual work) was cleaning out the barn on our family homestead in Illinois.  All the details of what else we found in the barn can be found here: Look What We Found in The Barn

The piece of gingerbread in the front was a bit smaller than the one it is leaning on.  I did let my cousin’s granddaughter give it a new home. She used it for a headboard for her bed! Doesn’t it look great?

She did amazing things with the barnwood she bought from me as well.  You can read more about her barnwood walls here: From A Pile of Barnwood to A Beautiful Wall

Back to the gingerbread:

The longer linear one was approximately 88 inches long.  I didn’t measure it before proceeding with my project.  I didn’t get a picture of it either.  Since I was concerned that it was too long to fit in the van with everything else that I needed to take to Florida, I called a contractor friend.  He was able to quickly turn the long piece into three pieces for me!  The two end pieces resemble brackets when placed on either side of the framed print.

 

Now the centerpiece looks like angel wings , doesn’t it?

My contractor friend was amazed that this task was so simple!  He thought it would be more complicated!

Here is one of the ways I used the two pieces of gingerbread in our Florida home.

This wonderful piece of porch railing is displayed over a set of French doors in the house in Waco.

Uses for Small Pieces of Architectural Salvage

I used a small piece to hold the sign .

I had an artist turn some of the barn tin we found in the barn and an old board into a piece of wall art.  She did a great job, didn’t she?

I added a small decorative piece of gingerbread to the back of this arrangement.  I turned the piece so that it looks like wings, I think!

I love that little piece of gingerbread so much, I tucked in this holiday display last year!

Save This Pin For Later

A porch post serves as a pedestal for this winter silk arrangement.  If you are interested in learning how to make an wire armature to help secure your floral arrangements, the details are here:

These spindles are actually part of the triangle piece of gingerbread.  I really need to get them glued back in place!

A Unique & Very Merry Way to Use Gingerbread

The spindles in this arrangement are actually pieces of an old chair.

Fireplace Mantel

My friend found this amazing mantel in Round Top, Texas this one spring.  I spent some time sanding it and gently cleaning the wood. It took me a while to figure out how to attach it to the wall in our home.

With the help of several handy men, I finally got the mantel securely attached to the wall.  They also hung the reclaimed window over the mantel.  

I love to use parts of old porch posts and old table legs in my home decor.  

Shining a Little Light on the Subject!

Many years ago, I had my Dad take this ceiling light down when I moved from Cincinnati. I am embarrassed to say how long the poor light sat in this box!

Finally, the light fixture found a new home! Now I just need to take a better picture of it!

I hope I have given you some ideas on how to use your architectural salvage finds! I love sharing my architectural salvage decorating ideas with you!

To learn more about the amazing vacation home I stayed in for several days while in Waco, please check out this post Our Airbnb Waco Home

The property is owned by a fellow blogger, Leslie Saeta.  She is so talented!