A great place for vintage home details is an architectural salvage yard

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I really love the thrift store, but sometimes, it’s tiring to go through the throwaway stuff for good reason. Looking for unique vintage details to incorporate into a special project may seem like looking for a needle in a haystack. However, as an interior designer, I don’t have the personal time to try to stumble upon the perfect gem at the thrift store while my contractor’s project clock is ticking. Instead, a local architectural salvage shop is my go-to stop for cool historic, vintage or antique materials and decorative details.

Your typical thrift store takes a variety of donations in different categories, qualities and time periods. However, a salvage shop (or yard) focuses entirely on collecting architectural building materials, elements, and decorative items discarded from old buildings that are being renovated or demolished. These stores may cost more than your local thrift store. But prices are still lower than or comparable to mass-produced new-to-old imitations or online options with higher markups and shipping costs.

A salvage yard is a great option Shop a wide personal selection of unique, historically authentic finds to add character to your next project. It may not be a huge cost savings in your renovation budget. However, it will save you valuable time versus hunting in traditional thrift stores.

When it comes to your local salvage shop, the individual inventory will, of course, differ depending on your area’s architectural landscape and historic preservation efforts. But the depth of their offerings is usually quite surprising. It’s definitely sturdier and truly vintage than the mountains of cheap 90s and 2000s junk at the thrift store. In true “they don’t make ’em like they used to” fashion, these salvaged architectural details are often made of quality, long-lasting materials that are both authentic and unique. On top of that, this shopping method is incredibly sustainable, repurposing items that would otherwise be destined for landfill. It has been a great experience and I have never left empty handed or disappointed.

This Valuable old house historical items The salvage shops you’ll likely find include vintage wooden doors, waved restoration glass or leaded windows, and stained glass panels (mine had a whole set of pointed arches pulled from an old church). Available building materials may include tile, moldings, reclaimed flooring, and beams and corbels. They also often stock door and cabinet hardware, light fixtures, fireplace mantels, air vent covers, plumbing fixtures, and bathroom accessories.

You can also find one-of-a-kind custom built-ins or freestanding units such as a bar or Kitchen Hoosier Cabinets. I even saw the facade of an old theater ticket booth on my last visit! As long as you’re willing to do a little treasure hunting and creative thinking, there are plenty of opportunities to stumble upon unexpected surprises (perhaps literally … closed-toed shoes is a good call here, since we just want to metaphorically stumble). And these finds can inject some serious historic charm into your home.

While wandering around an architectural salvage shop, the grown-up equivalent of “a kid in a candy store” to me, I have a few pro tips to make sure it’s a fruitful experience. Visit as early as possible in your renovation or design process, as it’s easier to adapt plans early on to showcase one-of-a-kind elements. It is also essential to be prepared with your required dimensions, specifications and tape measure. For example, I did a personal laundry room project where I wanted to feature a pair of mini wooden French doors in a 36-inch wide opening. Because I had exact specs, the owner was able to direct me to a pair of wonderful red oak, 18-inch-wide window sidelights to be repurposed as statement doors.

It’s also important to keep an open mind, as some content can be reused in ways that deviate from the original intent. In the laundry room project example, fixed sidelights once flanked a natural wood exterior entry door. But with a little imagination, some gorgeous vintage hardware, and a heck of a door guy, they became fabulous French doors for their second life.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Unlike some thrift store employees, salvage shop owners are often extremely knowledgeable about their inventory. They have an understanding of local building history, period-appropriateness or accuracy, and the architectural significance of materials. And most importantly, don’t leave something you love behind – you’ll never see it again! Strike while the iron is hot to avoid the sinking feeling of walking away from a magical vintage treasure.