New Spaces from Salvage: Creating Perfect Interio

An imaginative and chic way to decorate a living area—whether studio apartment, multi-room house on several acres of land, or anything in between—is by taking advantage of the resources of salvage yards. As this beautifully illustrated book demonstrates, architectural salvage yards overflow with bargain-priced fixtures, fittings, and decorative pieces that represent virtually every historical era. Stone pediments, mantel pieces, lighting sconces, garden gates, benches, doors, mirrors, columns, tiles, lintels, art glass, and even entire staircases can be purchased from salvage and put to use. Better yet, these items often go for only a fraction of what it costs to buy and install new and frequently far less beautiful, less durable objects. This volume's introduction shows how easy it is to find pieces to fit every budget. Next, the authors discuss the styles of various historical periods, and in color photos they show some of the effects these items can have in today's homes. Periods considered include Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Edwardian, and Modern. The rest of the book looks at some interesting items readers can expect to find in salvage yards, and coaches them in developing a sharp eye for good pieces. Combining a running narrative with handsome, instructive photos, the authors describe projects in progress, from first conception to finished results. Here's a wonderful idea book for all who want to improve and beautify their living areas. 200 full-color photos and illustrations.

Thomas J. O'Gorman, a Chicago-based writer, is an editor at The World of Hibernia magazine and a contributor to Town and Country. He writes extensively on Americana topics, having collaborated on a photo history of Chicago's Comiskey Park during the 1977 baseball season.