Give Your Home A Traditional Makeover With Architectural Salvage

 One of the hot new trends


when it comes to interior design is what is known as salvage style, which


basically involves transforming lucky finds  into unique


pieces for your home .Check out charity shops and boot fairs, and uk freecycle.org, a network that matches local people wanting to get rid of items with people who want to give them a good home. There are some projects you’ll need a little extra help with and upholstery is definitely one of them. We rescued from the rubbish a beautiful armchair which required a little bit of attention, we gave it a new lease of life at an upholstery workshop by reviving its padding and covers.




A touch of wood filler and a lick of olive-green paint transformed a Georgian bay window panels into a stylish headboard. We tracked down panels at an architectural salvage yard, which was packed full of wonderful pieces. They can seem a little daunting at first but don’t be put off as they’re brilliant if you’re searching for specific items and you can also get expert advice on restoration




We first came across this style  in an old country hotel  in Tuscany . The building was around five hundred


years old and  the owners had decided


that it would be inappropriatre to decorate or furnish it with contemporary pieces so they did the whole place up  with carefully  selected  architectual


salvage. All  they then needed to do  to finish off the look was to pick  a few de luxe


aromatic  candles


manufactured by brands such as


Heyland and Whittle  or True Grace candles and the look was complete. And you can do


exactly the same in your own home , albeit on a more limited scale.  An old wooden door


is easily repurposed  into an unusual   dining table by


adding simple metal trestle legs and topping off with a clear acrylic panel . Look around your local area


and get to know the shopkeepers – our wooden door was given to us by a local


door specialist. Skips are also an excellent source of treasure  but remember


that it’s essential to get the owner’s permission before removing any ítems . Have a good rummage around


gardens, cellars and attics – it’s amazing what you’ll discover. Vintage glass


bottles and ceramic jars are quite often dug up when gardening, so be prepared


to get your hands dirty. All they will need is a good wash in some gentle detergent


like Fairy Liquid and a rinse in warm wáter to which you have added a little vinegar


to come up shining like new!

















The author is owner of the Scented Candle Store where you will find a wide range of scented candles as well as reed diffusers .