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THE
READING LIST
Everything Old Is New Again?
One man's trash is always another's treasure.
Reviewed by Kathleen Stoehr
Many of us find great satisfaction
in rummaging through the collective belongings of families long
past—be it at yard sales, salvage stores or even junk yards.
A city nearby mine, even, holds an annual (greatly anticipated,
I might add) “discard” event, in which pieces of furniture,
unwanted appliances, old boxes of tile, antique sink pedestals,
et al, are placed along the boulevard. Let the scavaging begin!
People prowl in cars and trucks, driving slowly, perusing . . .
and with a sudden stop, scurry over to the curb and load up a treasure.
One man’s trash is always another’s treasure.
It is a special person who finds beauty in a threadbare rug or a
weatherworn rocking chair. They view items from our past as sturdier,
more well-crafted and more beautiful than their modern counterparts—as
“reminders of the talent and artistry of yesteryear.”
If your interest lies in antique furniture and architectural elements,
or perhaps simply punctuating an ultra modern interior with a vintage
light fixture, then Brian D. Coleman’s “Extraordinary
Interiors, Decorating with Architectural Salvage and Antiques”
is a good reference guide to inspire your imagination and enliven
your environment.
Set up into 15 different interiors projects from a West Village
pied-à-terre to an East Hampton modern to a gorgeous 1897
Victorian home in downtown San Francisco, Coleman discusses the
owner’s inspirations, dreams for their homes and how well
those dreams became reality. One couple divulges that they began
buying architectural salvage 15 years prior to having a home of
their own—everything from door knobs to oversized windows—and
then laugh at themselves, saying that when they discovered the monthly
storage fees for their treasures were more than a monthly mortgage
they knew it was time to buckle down and build.
One might also be mistaken in believing that all architectural salvage
is time worn. Witness, then, the 1930s glamour of Mark Fields’
and Greg Ventura’s Greenwich Village home, an eye-popping
combination of high polished silver and gleaming alabaster.
DISAPPOINTMENTS ARE POSSIBLE
In paging through this book, however, one must realize that many
of these pieces are one of a kind. For example, consider that the
beautiful soapstone mantel one salvage junkie found—was in
a dumpster in 22 separate pieces, and then painstakingly reassembled.
Too, like many antiques collectors, often the rooms seem overstuffed
and kitschy. Whatever happened to less is more? Tchotchkes line
the countertops and bookcases, old Orange Julep dispensers, logos
intact, are upended and turned into lighting fixtures, details upon
details upon details are layered over each other, creating a cacophony
of riotous color and pattern. Like a woman who has accessorized
herself so much that you no longer see her beauty, some of the interiors
are far-removed from the boundaries of good taste.
Additionally, it would have been interesting for the author to explore
a “before and after” concept so the reader could envision
how an interior is transformed through the use of period goods.
GREAT REFERENCE
For those wishing to embark on a restoration project or wish to
add architectural salvage to an existing interior, there is a very
handy source guide at the back of the book. Companies are listed
by name and are also sorted by geographical location.
I won’t take the time to discuss the design of the book’s
interior; I will just caution you that as riotously colorful and
cluttered as some of the interiors are, you will find the typography
only adds to the problem.
This is a book worth a read, however, if not for inspiration, then
to enjoy the beauty that antiques and architectural salvage can
bring to an interior.
Kathleen Stoehr is president of Chemistry Creative, based
in Minneapolis, MN. She is a former editor-in-chief of Window Fashions
magazine and is the author of the recently published Dream Floors,
Hundreds of Ideas for Every Type of Floor, and the upcoming Dream
Windows: Historical Perspectives, Classic Designs, Contemporary
Creations. Stoehr can be contacted for comments, queries and trend
information at kstoehr@chemistrycreative.com.
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