31 Days of French-Inspired Style Day 28: Architectural Salvage

One great way to add some French-inspired style to your home is to use architectural salvage, which can instantly add a feeling of time-worn beauty and a sense of age.

The key for me is to mix older, worn salvage pieces in with newer or less worn pieces. I want to give my home character, but I don’t want to live in an architectural ruin or a junk shop!

Done well, the addition of architectural salvage can really make a room.

Look at the way this homeowner layered these distressed shutters behind the bed…..

Old corbels can be used in many ways. Here they are used to hold up a shelf…

Here the homeowner used vintage corbels in the doorway to her dining room…

Corbels can also be used as bookends or just as decorative objects. Here, a corbel is used as a plate holder…

I’ve used a salvage window to give some interest to the pass through window between my living room and sunroom.

Architectural salvage pieces that you can use include corbels, windows, stained glass, shutters, iron pieces, old doors, spindles….virtually any piece from an old home or an old piece of furniture. Just look for pieces that are interesting to you and try to find unconventional ways to use them in your decor.

Not only will you give your home some character, but hunting for architectural salvage is half the fun!