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Architectural Salvage Decorating Ideas for Autumn

October 1, 2024 by Kimberly Snyder 28 Comments

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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 for the Fall season, you will love these Architectural Salvage Decorating Ideas!

Old window hung over salvaged fireplace mantel

On this blog, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase via the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.  By using my affiliate links to shop, it helps me to be able to continue bringing you fresh new ideas and projects!  Thank you! 

A few years ago, I spent a few days in Waco, Texas.  I stayed at a home that incorporated a lot of architectural salvage elements into the decor.  To learn more about the beautiful vacation home , please check out this post Our Airbnb Waco Home

I will share some photos from my stay there as well as some photos and ideas from my own home.  I hope you will enjoy seeing these ideas!  Hopefully it will spark your creativity!

Before We Get Started!

As an added bonus today, I am joining several of my blogging friends in a Fall Blog Hop.  You will find links to all of their amazing ideas at the end of this post!  I hope you will consider checking each of the ladies posts for autumn inspiration! 

No matter how you arrived here today, whether you are one of my regular readers or you “hopped” over from Sara’s blog Birdz of A Feather, I am so glad you are here!  My name is Kimberly and I have a passion for flowers (a former florist) and flour (a former pizzeria owner) and many things in between!  Especially rusty and chippy items!

rusty shovel leaning against a rustic fence

I love to share all the things I have learned over the years.  Sometimes I tell stories about my life.  Other times, I will share a craft or a recipe.  I often use the word “thyme” in place of “time”.  I hope you enjoy your thyme here today and learn at least one thing during your visit!

Let’s get started with a brief introduction into what architectural salvage is! 

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!

old porcelain sink as found

Reusing these items keeps them out of landfills.

Why am I drawn to Architectural Salvage items?

Farmhouse built in the late 1800s

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!

Look what I found at Round Top!

 What in the World is Brocante?

Once you have found them, you can begin using them to make some beautiful additions to your home. I love the texture of the old wooden floor grate! 

old garden tool used to prop up a lid

What is Brocante Style?

Architectural Salvage Decorating Ideas

Fireplace Mantel

My friend found this amazing mantel for me in Round Top, Texas.  

fireplace mantel from an old home

It finally has a place in our home!  More details about the old window hanging above it can be found a little further down in the post!

example of architectural salvage used in the home

While unpacking boxes one day, I made a very quick and easy display on top of the mantel!

Fireplace decorated for Autumn

Doors

Display of old doors

Old doors have so many uses!  They can be used for their actual purpose, turned into a table 

Fall Vignette with hay bales & mums

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.

pair of old European Doors

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!

glass doorknob on an old panel door

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 wooden door with a glass door knob

Old Windows

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!

Architectural Salvage Window over the Farmhouse Fireplace

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

Architectural Salvage - matching pieces

Architectural Salvage - Triangle piece

Vintage gingerbread

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?

Architectural Salvage used as headboard

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

Barnwood covered 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.

Early Fall Display on the Farmhouse Fireplace mantel

 

architectural salvage piece

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.

Vintage child's sailor shirt

A Few More Examples

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

Winter dough bowl arrangement on pedestal

Garden Style vignette

I used a small piece to hold the sign .

The long piece that used to be on our mantel in the farmhouse is now on top of my cabinet in the office.

Architectural Salvage piece on top of cabinet

Small shutters and an old wooden grate used in this Autumn themed vignette:

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.

Old wooden window without glass displayed over an old door

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

French doors with old porch railing displayed above them

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!

For More Autumn Ideas, Please Follow Along on the Hop!

rustic themed autumn photo

Shop at Blu

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Gathered In The Kitchen

An Organized Season

Everyday Edits

My Home and Travels

Now Choose Life

Birdz of a Feather

From Farmhouse to Florida

At Home With Kristy 

The Stylish Maker 

Tea and Forget-me-nots

 

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. The opinions here are all my own. It helps me to continue to bring to you DIY and projects on my blog.

Please see my disclosure page for more information.

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Filed Under: Blog Post, Decorating & Design Tagged With: Architectural Salvage, Farmhouse

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Comments

  1. Kim says

    October 1, 2024 at 6:33 am

    I adore salvaged pieces, Kimberly! I am always on the hunt for something unique to add to my decor. Old windows are my favorite. It’s a good thing we have a pick up, because this girl definitely stops for treasure on the side of the road! Ps- that Waco house looks incredible! What a fun place to stay!

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      October 1, 2024 at 2:06 pm

      I wish we lived closer! I bet we could have a wonderful time looking for treasures! Thanks for organizing the hop!

      Reply
  2. Rachel - Tea and Forget-me-nots says

    October 1, 2024 at 7:17 am

    Kimberly, your home is a dream. I hope to have as many pieces with interesting lives in my home one day. Fabulous inspiration.

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      October 1, 2024 at 2:07 pm

      Thank you , Rachel! It has taken awhile to get the Florida house looking how I want it! I still have three huge pieces of gingerbread bouncing around in the back of my car! I am waiting for my husband to leave for a few days so I can bring them inside!

      Reply
  3. Donna says

    October 1, 2024 at 8:18 am

    Hi Kimberly! I’m also drawn to architectural salvage pieces! There is so much beauty in them, especially items like gingerbread! Your fireplace mantel is fabulous and looks so cute dressed up for fall!

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      October 1, 2024 at 2:08 pm

      Thank you, Donna! I am so happy to finally have that mantel attached to the wall and the window hung over it!

      Reply
  4. Cindy says

    October 1, 2024 at 8:32 am

    I adore salvaged pieces If I can’t find them sometimes I create them from new pieces.

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      October 1, 2024 at 2:09 pm

      That is a great idea, Cindy! I may have to try that!!!

      Reply
  5. laura says

    October 1, 2024 at 8:47 am

    Hi Kimberly
    I love architectural salvage finds! I have the bread box too! xo laura in Colorado

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      October 1, 2024 at 2:09 pm

      Aren’t salvaged pieces fun? Thanks for helping to organize the hop!

      Reply
  6. sara allen says

    October 1, 2024 at 9:41 am

    Wonderful ideas Kimberly! It’s so fun to hunt down salvage and curate the pieces in a home as you have. I’ve never heard the term Brocante before; I must be living under a rock lol! I have a soft spot for gingerbread but not a single piece in my home; I’m so inpired by your pictures to be on the hunt next time we’re at a ‘brocante’ 🙂

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      October 1, 2024 at 2:12 pm

      I just love the word “brocante”! It sounds so much fancier than flea market! I love gingerbread too! I have three large pieces still in my van waiting to be brought inside. My husband needs to leave for a few days…..

      Reply
  7. Sharon says

    October 1, 2024 at 10:34 am

    I love to go antiquing! I’ve always been drawn to salvaged pieces too. I think the salvaged windows are my favorite. So many great ways to reuse these pieces!

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      October 1, 2024 at 2:12 pm

      Thank you , Sharon! Thanks for joining us on the hop today!

      Reply
  8. Stephanie | Gathered In The Kitchen says

    October 1, 2024 at 11:53 am

    I love so many of these ideas!!! My house is full of glass doorknobs (because it’s an 1886 Victorian!) – unfortunately, our 1st floor had been redone in the 1980/90s and a lot of the original woodwork was replaced. So my husband and I have been working on adding it back in with vintage finds!

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      October 1, 2024 at 2:14 pm

      I bet your home is lovely! When I sold the farmhouse, someone wanted me to take all the doorknobs with me. Sadly, I didn’t take even one. Thanks for joining us on the hop today!

      Reply
  9. Carol Karl says

    October 1, 2024 at 1:58 pm

    I love salvaged pieces but they are so hard to find where I live. These are some amazing ideas here. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      October 1, 2024 at 2:15 pm

      Thank you , Carol! Thanks for joining us on the hop today!

      Reply
  10. Sue at Blu says

    October 1, 2024 at 3:45 pm

    Oh Kim! Salvage is one if my favs! What a way to really personalize your home. Great tips! Pinned.

    Reply
  11. Kristy says

    October 2, 2024 at 5:08 pm

    I absolutely love your architectural salvage pieces, Kimberly! The way you’ve incorporated those unique pieces into your home is inspiring. Adding fall touches to them is just the icing on the cake—such a beautiful blend of style and season!

    Reply
  12. Rosemary Palmer says

    October 3, 2024 at 6:59 am

    I used to use a lot of arcrchitectural pieces in our house, but ust doesn’t quite work in our apartment. Have you visited Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke? They were at Haven with pint. You would love it.

    Reply
  13. Linda Johnston says

    October 3, 2024 at 8:20 am

    Kimberly, wonderful ideas and inspirations! I’m going find Jim’s grandfather’s shovel to use by our back porch door! Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply

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  6. Spring Home Tour - Farmhouse Style - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
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Hello! Kimberly (Kim) Snyder and I'm glad you're here. An entrepreneurial spirit, I've owned a flower shop and antiques store, a pizza parlor and now we're in Florida living a new adventure. Join me as we downsize into our new digs and continue the adventures! WRITER & BLOGGER

Kimberly Snyder shares the adventures of moving to Florida and beginning again in a new space as a herbalist, a creative, and a serial entrepreneur

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