Leaning Into Historic Design with Architectural Salvage

Salvaged Mantlepiece from historic building

Did you buy your home because of it's specific architectural period? Are you in love with a particular design era? Are you embracing your home's Mid Century Modern build date? We have two words for you: Architectural Salvage.

Architectural salvage is the process of removing materials from a building or home that is scheduled for demolition or remodeling. The purpose of salvaging materials is for them to be reused and reinstalled into another space. This includes every building material that has been made with definite design and craftsmanship: columns, corbels doors, doorknobs, fountains, lighting fixtures, mirrors, mantelpieces, tubs, tiles, windows, sinks, shutter dogs, sculptures...you get the idea.

Whether you are restoring, renovating, or remodeling, think about using Architectural Salvage pieces in your design. Adding a salvaged piece creates interest and gives you a focal point in your home or room.

Not only that, it's a greener way to build. Salvage companies are the last stop before the landfill for materials from demolition sites or large remodels. Many developers don’t know that salvage exists as an option before demolition, so along with educating the general public, companies often reach out to prospective clients and explain why it’s important they work with these historic pieces.

So, where can you go in Los Angeles to find great architectural salvage? Here are four places to start in the L.A. area...

  • Olde Good Things, 1800 South Grand Ave, Los Angeles. With a warehouse of over 100,000 square feet, and locations in three states, there’s a good possibility that Olde Good Things will have the perfect thing for your space. While well known for its vast architectural library of amazingly restored and rescued pieces, you can’t miss its fun mix of upcycled furniture and quirky objects.

  • Pasadena Architectural Salvage, 2600 E. Foothill Blvd, Pasadena. This salvage company has doors, lighting, plumbing, hardware, stained glass, steel windown, bathroom accessories, and more. With a very well-organized website, Pasadena Architectural Salvage also sells online. They are always on the lookout to save great architectural elements from historic homes, circa 1880-1950, so if you have something they should see, you can email them.

  • Big Daddy's Antiques, 3334 La Cienega Pl, Los Angeles. With a unique assortment of vintage, reproduction, custom furniture, lighting, art, and garden pieces from around the world, Big Daddy's has locations in L.A. and San Francisco. Big Daddy’s Antiques also has an in-house team of welders, wood-workers, refinishers, and design professionals to create custom pieces of furniture and lighting.

  • Wells Antique Tile & Pottery + Eric's Architectural Salvage, 2110 West Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles. Wells Antique Tiles & Pottery and Eric Ramos’s Architectural Salvage have joined together and moved to their new location with 8000 sq ft on two levels. Wells Antiques has a large inventory of antique tile from the US and Europe; Eric carries vintage lighting, antique building elements, period hardware and plumbing. This combination of inventory makes for a shopping destination for antique enthusiasts, interior designers, architects, landscape architects and contractors.

Congratulations on your restoration, remodel, or renovation. And if you need a period stove for your retro kitchen, check out this article on a much loved O'Keefe & Merritt.

Cecilie Korstarchitectural salvage, remodel, restoration, renovation, ///