Reclaiming the past
Your local salvage yard is a fantastic source of architectural treasures to enhance your home, from antique fireplaces with intricate detailing to floorboards that capture the patina of centuries of footsteps. Reclaimed materials bring an abundance of period charm to a home, and are especially useful for repairing or reinstating original features that have been damaged or lost. Reusing items rather then buying new also cuts down on the environmental impact of manufacturing and transport. Consider how salvaged items can be used creatively out of context – stained glass can be turned into decorative panels, tiles transformed into framed artwork, and chimney pots and sinks used as garden planters.
Many salvage yards have specialties and focus on finding specific materials, such as Yorkstone flags, radiators or timber beams; others will sell pretty much anything they can lay their hands on. Some yards are quite rough and ready, meaning you have to use your imagination and look harder for hidden gems; others will curate stock and show it off to its best advantage - although this is often reflected in the price. In some cases there are craftspeople on site to make repairs or restore items, so you can be sure they will function properly in your home.
Tips for buying salvaged items
• Before you go shopping, make a list of what you need and note down key measurements. When visiting yards, bring a tape measure and any samples of materials you are trying to match, such as bricks and tiles. Take photographs of anything you need to refer to.
• Stock at salvage yards is ever changing, and different days will yield different finds, so be prepared for multiple visits. If there is something specific you are looking for, ask the owner to add it to their wanted list. If something suitable comes in, they will
