Salvage

In order to save money, we're using a lot of salvaged items. Sometimes, of course, really cool salvage might be quite expensive, but in our case, the things we're using are not pricey.

We're reworking the whole back of the house, moving a doorway and some windows. Most of the things back there weren't original anyway. Half of the back of the house was once a back porch that got enclosed at some point and the enclosure wasn't done well -- leading to our having to rebuild some of the walls and part of the foundation. So we pretty much had free reign to put things back there where we wanted them and we could use any size windows and doors we could find.

Naturally we wanted things that would suit the house, but when dealing with things you don't order brand new just for the house, sometimes you have to make compromises.

Our biggest compromise is the new back door. It was found at a Habitat Home Store and since it had sat around for a long time, they sold it for $30. It's brand new, never installed and from Pella's architectural series. It's a gorgeous and huge door that will let in a lot of light in our new kitchen. Unfortunately, it is also a prairie style. But for the price, we decided we could live with something less than perfectly architecturally matched.



We also got two long, narrow, wooden one over one windows at the Habitat store. These were also brand new and never installed and both from MW. One was in perfect condition, but since it had been sitting around for a while they sold it for $50. The other was missing the bottom sash. They sold it for $10. It drove my husband nuts to chase down the necessary competent people at Lowes, but we got the sash ordered. It cost about $51 for the sash, which should be in, in the next few days. They aren't as big as the original windows which were wider and about 8 feet tall, but being wood and one over ones like the originals keeps them from standing out as different.

And then finally, we are using a real salvaged old window, which was also a bit of a compromise. I wanted a decorative window that matched the diamond pattern in the front windows of our house to sit over the clawfoot tub (also salvage) we'll be installing. The only windows I found that were an exact match, were pretty expensive. We found one with bigger diamond panes for about half the price of the perfect matches and I think it goes well enough.



We'll be trimming the door and all the new windows with trim that matches what's original to the house and everything has been installed at heights that are in keeping with what is original. While a later owner may easily be able to tell that none of these were part of the house, I think we're mostly maintaining the character and style -- or at least in the case of the back door, putting on something really nice that some one with more money can replace later.