Architectural Salvage in Your Garden

There probably isn't an easier place to go green, than in your garden. Re-purposing home decor and architecturally salvaged items such as furniture, old boots, area rugs, doors or shutters bring personality and uniqueness to any outdoor space. It is a great way to let your creativity and personality express itself in a fun and informal way.

You can use an old salvaged chair such as the one shown. Add a flowering plant and you have created a beautiful architectural salvage piece for your front porch. I once used an old chair that had a rotten rattan seat. I inserted a half round moss filled basket of overflowing plants into the seat and the ivy grew down the legs and up around the back of the chair. It looked beautifully whimsical and stood guard on my front porch for many years until it finally fell apart.

The Bay Area has several Architectural Salvage yards. Berkeley is home to

Ohmega Salvage and Urban Ore. Both places are great for architectural salvage. You can find fascinating items from old residential and commercial buildings. Stained glass windows from old churches to reclaimed wood and antique fixtures will inspire you to incorporate these beautiful items into your personal space. San Mateo is home to one architectural salvage business Whole House Building Supply and Salvage, also known as Driftwood Salvage. They have recently moved  here from East Palo Alto. I paid them a visit and brought home three extra tall solid wood doors with glass inserts to use as a pseudo fence between my new deck and the utility yard beyond. I applied a vinyl sheeting on the glass to give it an opaque appearance and now the light shines through but the view of my recycle bins does not. I spent a grand total of $15.00 per door. If I had selected the hollow paneled doors I would have gone home without paying a cent. They were giving them away free!

My all time favorite project was the architectural salvage door              

and  shutters I used to hide my neighbor's house. I live on a zero lot line thus the neighboring home is a mere 10 feet away from my dining room window. I built a lanai spanning the distance and placed a salvaged door and shutters between the lanai posts. The neighboring house disappeared and now we look out on our "secret garden" door. We have had guests to our home that have actually attempted to open the door, thinking it led elsewhere.  I couldn't have gotten a better compliment.