Way back in the warm days of summer, Joe contacted us on our availability of hand hewn beams for his kitchen project. He is an engineer by day and an old house remodeler by night. He is working on restoring his 1900s farm house and chronicles his progress in his blog, 1900 Farmhouse. He recently…
Archives for salvage design ideas
Cody Schuster and Dustin Crooks of Imagestone 1: Deck and Sauna Project Using Reclaimed Cast Iron Tubs
Earlier this summer I met Cody Schuster and Dustin Crooks, two guys looking for two tubs for a construction project they were doing for two people. It all sounds fairly normal for a day’s work at Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage, maybe even fun – like a scavenger hunt since we have many,many tubs. The catch…
Guest Blog Post from Kerin Gale of ‘Remnants of Olde’
Yesterday I posted a blog about listening to strangers. Not the ones your parents told you to never talk to but the chance meeting stranger that sparks and idea within you. Well Kerin Gale, one of the artist I mentioned, wrote a wonderful blog about her side of the story, art and Aurora Mills Architectural…
Being Inspired by Strangers
There are times a complete stranger can walk into your life and end up making a huge impact. This summer Sarah (Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage’s newest employee for those of you who may not have met her yet) and I met two very energetic women named Tory Brokenshire and Dayna Collins. These two local artist…
Palmer/Wirfs Antique and Collectible Show 2010
We’re here! Today is the first day at the Antique and Collectible Show at the Portland Expo. We have a double booth highlighting our Industrial and Steam Punk items and it is going very well. Please come by to see us if you have the chance! Here are some photos from this morning as the…
The World Around You
When you are going a snail pace during a marathon (26.2 miles in case you weren’t sure) you notice architecture (okay, I do). There is so much around us that goes unnoticed. Maybe it is because we are focused on that morning commute or trying to get the loud kids in the backseat to school…
Just a few Steampunk and Industrial Items at Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage
Yesterday I posted an article about a house that is decorated in the Steampunk style and I promised to post pictures of a few items we have around the store that fit perfectly with this. Great Industrial look too. Take a look!
Industrial and “Steam Punk” at Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage
There is a scene in Gone With The Wind where Rhett Butler had given Mammy (played by Hattie McDaniel AND the first African American actress to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress) a red petticoat. He asked to see it and with a sly smile on her face, lifts her skirt to reveal…
Halloween At Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage
Is it too early to start thinking about Halloween? I say NO! Every year at Aurora Mills we have a pumpkin decorating contest – using architectural and other salvaged materials, of course. Here are some pictures from last year. I will be posting Halloween decorating ideas throughout the month. Mary Beth designed the…
Knowledge = Power! Books about Restoration and Using Architectural Salvage
I bought my first house when I was 25 years old. I always felt drawn to old homes. Maybe it was because so many people had passed through their doors that the walls became like an old friend. That said however, looking back, my husband and I really knew nothing. Like, I shouldn’t have tried…