I’m an editor here at Inspired House, and am researching the use of antique architectural elements in newer homes. Anybody have experience or interest in finding and using vintage doors, windows, floors, trim, etc? I’d appreciate the feedback – thanks!
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deb i dont think the market is in doors windows exc i think the market is leaning twords the bath tubs tolitres and when restored are some of the most arcitectural beauties found for antices writ back
Thanks, all of you, for the input. It seems most of the sources for these things are local -- if there are any great national sources, I'd love to hear about them. By the way, anyone know any architects or designers who do a lot of this sort of thing?
I'm interested, but I don't have much information, and no current plans. I'm more interested in doors and windows than in plumbing or electrical. I like the Eastlake type hardware, heavy brass and iron with bold relief carvings. I like the tall doors with transoms that will only fit in houses with high celings. I like masonry elements, fireplace surrounds, lintels, window sills. Sometimes I see exterior stuff that appeals to me, iron fences, garden sculpture, chimney pots, that sort of thing.
Every now and then I get on the web and search for stuff near Denver. Not a lot available, that I can find, anyway. Just aren't as many old houses around here as there are in places that have been settled longer. "Architectural salvage" seems to be the most productive search string. I've had some success searching for recycle building materials.
HA. I've been trying to find decent trim for the 2nd floor (which is a bit more modern than the downstairs). No such luck.
Around Chicago the only things I've found at Salvage One and Architectural Artifacts tend to be more high end stuff. Double doors the size of my front facade. Windows the size of an interior door. Corbels that weigh more than my dog. Seems to be geared more towards a house in Architectural Digest than a typical middle/working class home.
I've had more luck finding what I need (redoak flooring, Victorian interior window trim, terracotta detail, medicine cabinet and so forth) at:
1 Garage sales.
2 Demolition sales
3 Curbside during remodeling projects
It IS possible! To Rhinocoat a windowbox is approx 50-75USD for a box 7-8 inches deep by 7 inches wide by 7-8ft long. Life is good.
yes, but need more definite questions to reply to.
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I think you would have problems with the energy codes trying to use old windows and exterior doors. A problem with interior doors would be getting the proper number of doors, in the proper sizes, and hinged the proper way.
I designed and built my house a few years back, to be a brand new "old house". (1920's era 1 1/2 story; like a Sears kit house). The only antiques I was able to incorporate were full mortice box locks. I bought them from a local renovation contractor for $30 each. These locks were installed in 2-panel cherry doors, trimmed in backbanded 1x4 painted poplar.
I think to do a new house you would have to design around elements that you already had on hand, and then find a builder willing to work with them. Or if you had most of the elements and wouldn't mind paying a premium to have whatever else you needed custom made. I'm thinking of kitchen cabinets here.
Another problem as far as windows go, is finding an old window that would meet egress codes for the bedrooms. Double hung egress windows are large, and I don't recall ever replacing an old double hung window that would be big enough.
You know, folks stateside aren't much into recycling building materials yet. Locally, Habitat for Humanity operates a Re-Store, which I haven't visited yet....Demo seems to be the speciality here and has been for some time. In Austin, many folks buy a home for the lot and promptly tear it down to build a bigger, better box. In Europe there is a thriving business in reuse of building materials. folks save things from renovations and try to reuse them in the new addition or save them to share with a friend later. Our friends in italy have neat stacks of terrazo, floor and roofing tile, and even plumbing fixtures outside of their home from their last remodling project. Now, their house does date from 1707, so I imagine that makes a big difference. I'll bet ebay and places like freecycle are good places to find folks who are buying and using recycled materials. Also check with the green building groups in austin, denver and seattle/portland. They may have the finger on the pulse of folks who would consider this. For our part, my husband and I bought some architectural salvage in italy which we plan to incorporate into our home.