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How Architectural Salvage Yards Work
This Old House — In a house that used to be a church, with big bones and funky spaces, standard-issue sinks just wouldn't cut it. So homeowner Mark Dvorak headed to Ohmega Salvage to sort through pieces of San Francisco's architectural history and find some sinks ...More…
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How to Buy Reclaimed Lumber
This Old House — If you own an old house, you already know the satisfaction of having something that's unique, and when you renovate, you look for one-of-a-kind materials. Unlike other materials whose appeal lie in their looks, reclaimed wood has beauty and ...More…
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Facade Fragments
This Old House — By 1900, terra-cotta decorations had become more popular because they were mass-produced in molds for half the cost. In the 1800s, most ornaments were carved in stone by European immigrants who traveled with their tools from city to city. In ...More…
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Shapely Staircase Spindles
This Old House — Turned balusters like these at Demolition Depot in New York City cost about $25 each, though dealers will often cut you a deal if you buy in bulk. The fancy newel post at the end of the stairs always gets the attention, but it's the ...More…
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How to Build a Table From Stair Parts: Overview
This Old House — Butt joints give the table's apron a rustic look and ease the carpentry. My friend David Menendez came to me with a problem. How to create a central repository for keys, dog leashes, and mail in his tiny front entry without gobbling up precious ...More…
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How to Build a Tub-Foot Umbrella Stand: Overview
This Old House — Claw-foot tub interiors were coated in porcelain, but the outsides and feet were usually bare metal and periodically required a fresh coat of paint, typically white, to prevent rust. Metallic gold or silver feet were also common, and I had an old ...More…
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Vintage Metal Doorknobs
This Old House — The period 1860 to 1900 in the Victorian era was the golden age of cast bronze, brass, and iron knobs. After the turn of the century, manufacturers began pressing hardware out of cheap tin and metal alloys. To figure a knob's age, check its back. ...More…
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How to Make New Cabinet Doors From Old Shutters: Overview
This Old House — All it takes is a sharp chisel and a steady hand for painting. Some of us can't afford a display-worthy flat-screen TV. And even if we could, there'd still be the wires, the DVD player, and audio equipment to contend with. Better to keep it all .. ...More…
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How to Turn a Salvaged Sink Into an Outdoor Bar: Overview
This Old House — If you're handy with a drill/driver and a jigsaw, you're golden For months my coworker Hylah Hill has been inviting me to her boyfriend's lakefront cottage. Sure, she enjoys my company. But she also wanted to build the outdoor bar that ...More…
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How to Make a Folding Screen Using Old Hinges and Shutters
This Old House — Victorian-era metal hinges cost between $15 and $30 each, depending on size and decoration. Individual salvaged shutters start at about $25 Assembling the screen is simple, but be prepared to get grimy while rooting around the salvage yard for ...More…
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How to Make a Dressing Vanity from a Vintage Door: Overview
This Old House — Some tough finish carpentry is made a lot easier with power tools. The Victorian-era cottage door was the people's door. A door for the regular Joe, "the bone and sinew of the land." (That last one comes from the writings of the snooty yet . ...More…
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The Beauty of Glass Door Knobs
This Old House — There once was a time 80 or so years ago when multifaceted glass doorknobs with mirrored star-burst centers were standard issue in new homes. Today, they are mined like diamonds at salvage yards and flea markets. Unlike the flimsy "builder's ...More…