6 Reclaimed Materials Designers and Architects are Widely Using

Design by A Storied Style, Lights from Olde Good Things

Fans of such TV home renovation shows as Fixer Upper, Design on a Dime, and Property Brothers are familiar with the term architectural salvage. But if you’re not, it’s the booming business of reclaiming, upcycling, and repurposing architectural building materials. The architectural salvage marketplace, once the sole province of old-house owners and a curiosity to nearly everyone else, is going mainstream in a big way.

As more people are fixing up their homes but still want an eye to the past, designers may seek to add a historical touch to their milestone purchase by incorporating architectural salvage. Upcycled antique fixtures ranging from vintage tin ceilings and historic chandeliers to porcelain bathtubs and refurbished flooring add the perfect sustainable transformation to the home. Below, we rounded up six vintage materials and a few of our favorite ways to repurpose them to create a home that is filled with character and life.

Vintage Glass

Door from Olde Good Things

Chicken wire was the forerunner of today’s safety glass. Invented in 1844, it was a mesh wire commonly used to fence in chickens. It was made of thin, flexible, galvanized steel wire with hexagonal gaps.

Design by Malibu Interiors

Fireplace Mantels

Design by Elizabeth Roberts Architect, Fireplace from Olde Good Things

Industrial Factory Lighting

Design by A Storied Style, Lights from Olde Good Things

Tin Ceiling Tiles

Ceiling tiles from Olde Good Things

Tin ceilings were first manufactured and sold in North America in the mid-1800s as a more affordable option to emulate the look and elegance of the ornate plasterwork that was popular in Europe at the time

Subway Tiles

Design by Nusla Design

Industrial Wood Flooring

Design by J.D. Ireland Architect Design, Countertop and industrial lights from Olde Good Things