< DIY Crafts Projects - Trash to Treasure - Architectural Salvage

My Junk

This page is where I show how I've used Junk and Found Objects in my home. Click thumbnails for a larger view

Creative Space

I thought I'd start with this room, as it is the place that a lot of my ideas come to be. This is my indoor creative space.

When I got tired of my creativity being in a closet. I decided to turn half, of a mostly unused guest room, into a more useful space.

My goals were:
Have everything creatively, close at hand
Organized
Out in the open
Displayed in a creative way
Still have room for the fold out couch for guests
And have a door

Mission accomplished

Family Room

Like most families we have a main room, where the TV is, and a nice comfie couch. This is the place to plop down, watch a show, grab a blanket on a cold night etc. Our family room is the only living space in our downstairs. We have no formal living room, which is fine with me. And it is not short on Junk.

We'll start on the TV wall, I mean we all have one right.And before DH got the big screen, it was all nicely tucked away in this TV Cabinet. But not any more. On each side of the black hole, I've hung some great shaped window frames, with 1/2 spindles in each one. An old arched window frame is above the black hole.
>One of the reasons I like Junk as decoration is that it can be very inexpensive. I like to change things up often, and junk allows me to do this without breaking the bank. Think about framed art. You know how much it costs to get a print, matted and framed, it's outrageous. Well junk frames up much cheaper.

Above the couch I have a collage of frames (all purchased from garage sales), with various junky objects inside. On the left is a candelabra, meant to clip on to the back of a pew. A couple of ceiling tins in the top one, a couple of old door plates on the right, and 3 old shoe forms on in the bottom one.
We are blessed with a wood burning stove, and I've accessorized it with 3 wonderful old wooden gear molds I picked up in MN.
I love the iron piece on the coffee table. We actually found this while digging a flower bed. I think it's some sort of livestock trough. Not any more, I added a little pea gravel and some candle cups and now It's a coffee table centerpiece. The room is very long, and could actually be considered 2 rooms. It's great for gatherings, but a little strange to furnish. I placed a bistro table in this corner with a chess board on top. We rarely actually play so I put an old post card display on there, with family photo's in it. On the wall to the right are various old gate hinges, and on the left is an old windmill inside a re-purposed frame.

The architectural collage was one of my first projects ever. It's made up of a hodge podge of architectural remnants.
The little table sits next to my husband's area It was a small old library cabinet. 2 drawers were missing. I glued a frame over the missing drawer holes and added 4 legs from the hardware store. It's great for pencils, paper, remote controls, etc
What I have out on side tables changes often, right now I have this old lantern with a family photo and an arrangement of old garden pots.
I hope you enjoyed my family room. It is one of my favorite rooms in the house. As you can see, Junk can be used in traditional decor as well. It's not just for shabby chic or cottage.

Hallway, and Master Bathroom

This is my brag wall where I have many family pictures. I've made 2 shelves out of old ceiling crown molding to add dimension to the display.

Then you proceed into the master bathroom. This is something I made to hang my earrings on. It's simply lace attached to the backs of 2 old frames. The fishook earrings just slip right into the holes in the lace.
And old chippy door, complete with great old hinges, and a glass knob hangs on the wall just above my tub.
We are real proud of this bathroom remodel and did most of the work ourselves. I set the tile floors and the granite tile counter tops myself. The only things we contracted out were the plumbing, and the tape & bed work for the sheetrock. We also had the cabinets ordered and installed but I painted them. We saved a lot of money by doing the work ourselves and you can view the whole process here.

Master Bedroom

I have definitely surrounded myself with junk in my bedroom.

I've never had built-ins before. But the Master of this house had one. We have lots of book, but I didn't want to just fill it with books alone. So the books keep company with some specially chosen junk and old pieces.

The lamp beside my side was made from 4 spindles. This was one of Ki Nassauer's past projects.
Under our window I have a table I made from an old cabinet door. with various junky bits on top and underneath.
My DH made me this faux fireplace. To make the "hole" look real, I used felt, which reflects no light, and adds to the illusion that it is real. I've actually had people say "Oh you've got a fireplace in your bedroom". I place an old rusty heater in the space where the hole should be. The mantle display is always a work in progress and change. currently I'm using empty frames, and an old gear here. Don't blink, it will change again.

Laundry Room

This is my Laundry room. Recently I found this wonderful insulated container for milk. I scooped it up quick, not knowing exactly how I would use it.
It would be great for powdered soap, but I use liquid. So it is my trash can, for lint and stuff removed from pockets (not money). I replaced the basket that has been there for years. I knew someday I'd find just the right junk piece for that job. I think the thing next to it is a planter box. I just love it because It's perfectly Chippy
I keep some necessities there, like jar for the change, a jar for other stuff that I remove from pockets, Some Vintage Textile Soak, Some scoops etc. Next we move our eyes upwards, and You'll see the old shutter that I made into a window valance.
This shutter was actually found in the barn, left by the previous owners. I didn't paint it or anything. Hanging down there, is an old carriage wheel decorated with even more junk, an old door plate. Above the cabinets are 3 old locker baskets that were painted a cream color. Moving to the right and over the washer, is part of my collection of old hangers

This is actually an accidental collection. I'd see one here and then one there, that were unique, and I had to pick them up. What better place to display them? Then I have this area for hang drying clothes.
Above the bar is a shelf that has some old metal baskets etc, that hold this-n-that and some more of that hanger collection. I also have this great cart on wheels, I think it's an old post office cart. Works great as a laundry basket.

Guest Bathroom

>Now for my downstairs bathroom. This bathroom is really small. Basically a small cabinet with sink, toilet, and bath tub/shower. It is the only facilities on the ground floor and it has it's share of junk.

I used an old door handle as a towel holder just above the sink. And an old cup/toothbrush holder on the right has a candle in it.
There is a cabinet above the toilet, and it has a little built in shelf. I love this shelf for display. I have a couple of wick clips from old oil lamps, holding a family picture. And then an old group photo below that.
Above the window I have an old architectural piece as a valance, and then another random architectural piece above that.

Cottage Corner

Although my house is not decorated cottage, I do like the look. I decided to take a dormer area in the upstairs hallway and make it my" cottage corner".

On the wall I hung an old window turned into a display shelf
The table is a $4 garage sale find. I painted it and then inserted a piece of old ceiling tin into it. On the window I've hung an old stained glass window.
That is my little Cottage Corner

Junky Guest Room

It is my Junked up guest room. When my oldest son moved out, I waisted no time turning his room into my dream junk guest room. The room has 2 windows and I covered each one with a topper using an old burlap coffee bag, cut in half, and hung by old hinges, That big thing between the windows is 1/4 of a windmill I purchased in April The cabinet below is really cool when you open the doors, it is full of little cubbies. I added the feet. I found the rocker at a Garage Sale for $5. The metal candlelier was an item I traded another dealer for. It's a fun piece. And an old shopping cart as a hamper. Wooden gears and a valve handle accessorize the top of the cabinet.

I've had the dresser for at least 2 years, holding it for this room. I paid $5 for it, and painted it white and then distressed it. The mirror above it I've had for at least 5 years. Framed this-n-that on either side.
The red vanity had no top or front or mirror, I paid $10 for it, I used a piece of masonite, cut to size and decopaged old dictionary pages to it for the top and front piece. The mirror is off of an old medicine cabinet, and I screwed it onto the old mirror frame. Old Corbels (traded with a dealer) hang on either side of the large topographical survey map of Louisiana. The map is a way to cover a huge area of wall, easily. The wall needs some repair from Son #1's hanging of shelves. An ol dressform sports a vintage lace jacket and strands of pearls

Above the bed are parts from old fans. The cabinet on the left is a medical cabinet of some sort. The table on the right was a transmission stand from an old car shop. I attached an old marble top to it and now it's an industrial side table. I made the catch-all on the right from an old ammo box lid, and various hardware, and on the left is an old chippy door, complete with hinges, and knob. The lamps are re-purposed trouble lights. I've since changed out the chippy door for an old gate piece. Making it easy to change what I hang from the old gate without having to put new holes in the wall.
I continue to have fun changing and updating this space. It's a great backdrop for my junk experiments. There are lots of little details in this room, so look around the pictures and see what you can find.

You can see more of my junk by clicking here and viewing the gallery page

Recommended Reading
These are some books that I've got on my wish list. They all look great so check em out.

Have you ever made an Amazon.com Wish list? It's fun, and when someone asks you what you want for your Birthday or Christmas, you can just email them your Wish List.