Shopping in the past - architectural salvage - Brief Article

Sunset, Feb, 2000 by Aimee Oscamou

Salvage-yard treasures can add instant character to your home

A hand-carved pediment from a public library, nearly 100 years old, beckons from a shadowy corner in a large warehouse. Nearby, two numbered theater seats, dusty but sturdy wait on the sidelines. Surely, these relics from buildings past could find their place in a new home? Two shoppers spy the pediment and realize it would make a perfect mantelpiece for their great room. And the seats could serve as a bench in their entryway. Within minutes, they've snapped up both--another salvage success story.

Architectural salvage outlets are not new, but they are experiencing a newfound popularity. It's based on an appreciation of the craftsmanship of bygone eras, an earth-friendly preference for reuse over refuse, and homeowners' desires for architecturally appropriate remodeling. As savvy designers, architects, and homeowners discover the creative possibilities of salvage, more yards are opening, in more accessible locations. Salvage shopping can be done through a range of outlets, from downscale yards offering everything and the kitchen sink to boutiques displaying select merchandise in attractive settings (see "Salvage Shopping Styles," page 135).

A passion for history

But behind any salvage storefront, you'll find a dealer with a passionate dedication to protecting the environment for the future while preserving the artistry of the past. "If you can save anything from a landfill, that's a good thing," says Beverly Duhon of Savvy Salvage in Oakland, California. "I guess I'm also looking for a connection to the past. We work in such a high-tech world now that it's easy to lose that."

David Allen at Artefact Design & Salvage in Menlo Park, California, concurs. "These things are irreplaceable, and we're losing a little more of our history with every old building that's knocked down. It's really saving lost arts, something I appreciate now that I know what's not around anymore."

Salvage networks

Dealers conduct their architectural treasure hunts through a network of contacts, including demolition companies, remodeling contractors, independent salvage "pickers," and walk-ins who offer items that might otherwise be destined for the nearest landfill. Many dealers also head out on their own buying missions.

Allen, for instance, plans as many as 10 two-week road trips a year. "To get the good stuff, you've really got to be out there when the demolition happens," he says.

Dealers' displays tend to be minimal. In many cases, they want to preserve unique patinas and textures, so surface flaws are left on the items for authenticity. Some dealers do limited but practical repairs, such as rewiring old lighting fixtures. Most will also connect customers with restoration services for more complex jobs.

Whatever the scope of the merchandise, there's one constant in the architectural salvage business: Every dealer's stock is constantly changing. New items arrive almost daily and sometimes take only minutes to sell. Paul Mohilef of Santa Fe Wrecking company in Los Angeles recalls one particularly rare bathtub, a center-drain, side-fill model: "We hadn't even gotten it off the truck to wash it yet, and someone came right up and bought it!"

Such split-second buying decisions are common, but dealers recommend being prepared if you're searching for specific decorating or remodeling items. "Bring in all your dimensions or, in the case of replacements, all the parts and pieces you're trying to match," says Kurt Petrauskas of Seattle's Earthwise Used Building Materials.

Steven Miller of Hippo Hardware in Portland recommends looking closely at the quality and construction of a piece, knowing the requirements of your local building codes, and understanding the logistics and costs associated with an installation. "People should also keep in mind that what they're purchasing is not just the piece, but the individuality of the space it will go into."

Above all, dealers invite customers to approach architectural salvage with an open mind and a sense of fun--the same elements that inspire them on a daily basis. "What I like most about this business are the people that we deal with--they're very creative, imaginative, wonderful people," says Tom Sundheim, owner of both Queen City Architectural Salvage and Architectural Artifacts in Denver. "I'm always inspired by them and all the great things they do with the old merchandise we salvage." Adds Hippo Hardware's Miller: "This is the best business in the world. It's like standing in one place and having the circus come to you!"

Salvage shopping styles

No matter what your shopping style, there's an architectural salvage outlet for you. Here's a key to the general categories of salvage dealers.

* Down and dirty yard or warehouse. Visit public, general-purpose architectural salvage yards for great deals on a huge variety of items, from kitchen sinks, tubs, and plumbing supplies to windows and doors. Bring along work gloves and your imagination.

* Salvage studios. For more focused selections and unique items, check out the wares of dealers specializing in certain product categories or vintages. Reproduction merchandise, fabrication and conversion services, and custom searches are often available.