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Thursday, February 17, 2011

Old Architecture...Pieces From Our Past




My home is filled with architectural antiques.  I am fascinated with these items that once functioned as "something" in homes & buildings, now long forgotten, torn down, or God forbid "renovated". Their stories never to be told, but to leave me wondering "where did this come from?"; "where did this piece fit into the scheme of the decor?"; what function did this have?  So today, I will share my collection & hope that it inspires you too.


 

 I have a "thing" for old door knobs.  Can you tell?  When I have restored or built our homes, I always have the builder use vintage door knobs.  They open the doors to the past....

Old chippy, rusty metal objects "draw me in... hook, line, sinker!"  All of these items are displayed on my mantle in my great room.                         









Don't you love these old floor grates?                           

 Old locks & porcelain casters...

Flower frogs are found all over my home & people always ask "What is it?"


             Old stain glass windows give us a "glimpse into the past"....
 Lost objects...now found & new again...

This piece reminds me of part of the columns that once graced the front porch of my Grandma's home.  It now hangs in my breakfast room.





  This beauty once was the focal point for a coal burning fireplace. Now it serves as a screen for our fireplace in the great room.








 
                   What did these keys open?  Treasures to the past?!?
 Pieces of trim and molding "re-purposed".  Don't you just love the original                                                       color & patina?







 I think this was a piece of an old fence possibly from Louisiana!
Chippy banisters cut to be candle sticks on my mantle in the keeping room
One of my favorite finds is an old electrical meter from Philadelphia. Look at the awesome detail! It is definitely a conversation piece that sits on my coffee table.
So just remember when your are out scouring the lands for found objects...each one tells a story of the past & you can preserve that little bit of history by finding a place for it in the present.  The Queen Has Spoken!




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24 comments:

  1. FRENCH LAUNDRYFebruary 17, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    OMG, I love love love it! My favorite thing to do is to poke around architectural salvage places. SQUEAL!

    Judy

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  2. AnnFebruary 17, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    These are some of my favorite things too. The fireplace screen and matel pieces are chippy gorgeous. Have a great day.
    Ann

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  3. Liz @ the Brambleberry CottageFebruary 17, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    Love all of your wonderful relics of the past, Tiffany. I could never be happy living in a house where everything is new. I think older pieces add such character and charm.

    Thanks for joining the party. Be sure to enter the giveaway, if you haven't done so already.

    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  4. EllenFebruary 17, 2011 at 3:20 PM

    You've got great stuff, Love it all!! I too have a thing for old door knobs, got a few myself. Love seeing how you have them displayed, very creative.

    xoxo,
    Ellen

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  5. Betsy@My Salvaged TreasuresFebruary 17, 2011 at 6:20 PM

    Can I come shop at your salvage store? I especially love those old grates. I have them all over my walls as artwork too. Thanks for sharing your beautiful old treasures.

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  6. ColoradoladyFebruary 17, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Oh, I need to come shop too! I love all your goodies today, thanks for sharing. Happy VTT!

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  7. very merry vintage styleFebruary 17, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    You've got some beautiful things here. I just went to an architectural exhibit that featured lots of these detailed, finely crafted pieces--just like what you have. Modern builders just don't put the time or money into these treasures anymore. So glad they have found their way to you!
    Mary

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  8. AnonymousFebruary 17, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    These are wonderful. Those grates remind me of an old farmhouse in New Hampshire belonging to a friend of my dad's.

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  9. Cindy AdkinsFebruary 17, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    Oh my gosh, Tiffany, I love it all!!! And those door knobs are amazing!!! I also love that sign that says "Housework makes you ugly!" I am laughing so hard...it's hilarious--and true! I must be beautiful...lol
    XO

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  10. JaneFebruary 17, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    I felt like I was looking at my collections!! I have so many of the same things. I love your old electrical meter, that is a very unusual piece.
    Have a great weekend.
    Jane

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  11. Ann from On Sutton PlaceFebruary 18, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    Great collection. I think my favorites are the door knobs. Your blog is very fun...I'm a follower now. Nice to meet you...I'll come back and visit soon!

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  12. Wanda @ Just VintageFebruary 18, 2011 at 2:39 PM

    You know I love them all. The pics don't do them justice. They're wonderful in person!

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  13. EMBELLISHFebruary 18, 2011 at 8:52 PM

    Your collections speak to my heart. I also collect old door knobs and yours made my heart skip a beat.

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  14. JeanneFebruary 19, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    I love architecturally salvaged pieces, and stained glass windows, and.... I look forward to you sharing more!

    http://jeanneselep.blogspot.com/2010/03/stained-glass-treasure.html

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  15. MarigeneFebruary 20, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    You have a wonderful collection of salvaged pieces. The door knobs are my favorites, especially the brass ones.

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  16. SheilaFebruary 20, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    Hi Tiffany,
    Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment...I love the name of your blog, so FUNNY lol...I am an instant follower now.

    Smiles,
    Sheila

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  17. Sonya BadgleyFebruary 20, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    Hi Tiffany,
    Thanks for becoming a follower and entering my giveaway!
    I love all your old architectual antiques. I have a thing for old door knobs too. And I would love to find one of those coal burning fireplace front pieces! It's fabulous! Thanks for sharing.
    I have been to Montgomery, Alabama when I was 10 years old. And I remember very well the hot humid, suffocating weather of August! But thanks to that weather, I also remember how beautiful the southern womens complexion was too. Which I covet! (not the humitity, their complexions)!
    Have a great week. I will be back!
    Blessings,
    Sonya

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  18. amy of studio four cornersFebruary 21, 2011 at 6:29 PM

    Tiffany - love all those salvaged pieces too! your blog is charming...and thanks so much for visiting mine and leaving such a sweet comment...enjoy the rest of your week!
    amy of four corners design

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  19. Lou Cinda @ Tattered HydrangeasFebruary 22, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    Tiffany, I love so many of the same things you do! Old keys, glass doorknobs, flower frogs and those gorgeous architectural pieces! I am so glad you found my blog, it led me to yours! I love to shop at Blossom Antiques in Attalla, it is one of my favorites! I am a follower and I will be back!

    Lou Cinda

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  20. VickiFebruary 23, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    I just love all these little find that you have displayed around the house. They are gorgeous! The rusty old electric meter is really fun. Following you!

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  21. TrishiaFebruary 25, 2011 at 4:40 PM

    Tiffany, Merci beaucoup for visiting my blog. I hope you will drop in often. As it is said down south, "Y'all come back now, ya' hear?" I lived in Texas for about 30 years. I joke that I left as soon as I could:) I am a northerner by birth but all my relatives are Okies, Arkies and Texans. I think it's great that you embrace being a Southern Belle and do it with such charm. I do remember the humidity and undies sticking!ha! I love all your architectural pieces. I have an old rustic painted board standing up against the wall in our living room. A single board -- with a hundred years of character! It's my 'wall art' :)

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  22. time worn interiorsMarch 2, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    I'm lovin all that stuff!
    Theresa
    aka:tot

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  23. UnknownMarch 9, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    i love all your pieces. especially the knobs and the rusty pieces that you've collected. i would love to come across these things. old door knobs are on my list.

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  24. UnknownMarch 9, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    ive just awarded you a stylish blogger award . please stop by and accept..
    lauren

    ReplyDelete

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