Something New From Something Old

When talking about antiques, most think about expensive pieces from bygone eras that are bought as an investment and for something to display. What most don’t know though, is that some antiques are affordable and can be used other than display purposes.

Repurposing salvaged materials to be used as functional decor has been around for some time, and many who are into it often find themselves in antique shops such as Architectural Salvage.

Take old doors, for example. An old door that has been salvaged could be used as a patio table.

Or, you can take an old lamp and either clean it, rewire it and use it as a quirky lamp to accentuate your existing decor, or you can set it up as a fancy bird bath for your lawn.

Old ladders can be used as a nice magazine rack, or old carpets can be cut up and used as placemats for pots.

If you are handy, you can modify some old stuff to repurpose them for even more creative uses. Old television sets can be made into aquariums for instance, while baby cribs can be converted into a work desk.

I’ve even seen someone take old banisters and made it so to create a nice couch.

Antiques need not be an expensive hobby, it can also be an affordable and fun way to let your creative juices flow by seeing the functional decor within salvaged materials.

If you need inspiration or just want to look around and see what comes up, visit Architectural Salvage at 2600 E. Foothill Blvd., or you can visit http://www.pasadenaarchitecturalsalvage.com for more information.