Salvaged Style: Decorative Uses for Architectural Embellishments

Flea marketing and de-cluttering may seem like totally irreconcilable passions, but we've found that they can actually coexist happily in a home where salvaged treasures are thoughtfully arranged. Here are a few examples where re-purposed architectural details step up to the plate as art-with-history, without transforming the home into a crowded junk shop...

• 1 Ceiling medallions may look frou-frou surrounding light fixtures, but grouped on a wall, their pleasing circular shapes have a clean, bold impact. We like the way the green accent paint highlights their forms through sharp contrast, but we think they'd also provide great textural variety on a white wall.

• 2 Beautiful antique doorknobs make us swoon, but there are only so many doors in a house, so we loved how these were given another equally useful purpose.

• 3 Wood Molding Corner Blocks come in so many interesting varieties. We love the way these were mounted and grouped. They'd look wonderful arranged on top of a high bookshelf or a window ledge.

(Images: 1: Living Etc., 2: Pottery Barn Home Book, 3: Country Living)

Comments (8)

I love the look of the medallions. An unusual way to add texture to a room. Could also paint those in contrasting colors for even more interest.

posted by AGirlNamedMe on March 11th 2009 at 2:33pm
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While I like the medallions, the way they are mounted is too random to the point of distracting.

posted by leehou on March 11th 2009 at 3:42pm
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Clever use for the ceiling medallions.

posted by designclique on March 11th 2009 at 5:41pm
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i LOVE and NEED THOSE medallions... what a great project that nearly anyone can do.

posted by wampler on March 11th 2009 at 8:14pm
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the medallions are beautiful, and I love the way that are mounted. To me, they arrangement adds even more interest.

posted by dennisd on March 15th 2009 at 5:41pm
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Not fond of the medallions at all, I find they look way too artificial and "stagey".
Love the door knobs though.

posted by Daniel Poitiers on March 15th 2009 at 6:56pm
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I love that crazy big black lamp! I wonder who makes it?

posted by LuvModern on March 15th 2009 at 9:12pm
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I love the look and I especially love them as collected and shown on Learning to See (the cover of Vicente Wolf's book):

http://www.vicentewolf.com/home/collections/1/2

But I have never, ever, found these sorts of objects in my shopping (online, local salvage yards, even resorting to big box home stores) and wonder if anyone can point me toward some reliable resources?? Old preferred but new might be OK, I just want something I can start experimenting with, TIA.

posted by Rucy on March 15th 2009 at 11:22pm
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