Island Girl Salvage

2009-01-03T12:39:00.008-06:00

This time two years ago I was in London for the first time. We had celebrated New Years in Amsterdam, Paris and rounded out the trip in London. So I’ve been lamenting over that fabulous trip. One that we will not be taking again anytime soon because of the financial meltdown of 2008. This week I’ve been cruising websites to fill my need for European design.

I found LOMBOK. How Oh How could I have missed this store?? I would just like to run my fingers over some of this teak furniture. It looks like chocolate! And I just love their approach to their displays. I could just move right in. In my opinion the English are always the best at conservatory furnishings and LOMBOK just proves that out.

LOMBOK is Eastern inspired décor with a truly English twist. While I’m not a huge fan of Asian furniture I do like the LOMBOK take on Oriental design. The big plus for me is the attention paid to using recycled and natural materials in their designs. I firmly believe this is the future of design on all levels. This is one area that our industry can change the perception of “used” into unique and it’s crucial that we all get on board to save the environment.

With the designs that LOMBOK creates you can have a high end piece of furniture and rest easy that you’re doing your part to support the environment.

So check out LOMBOK’s bookcases! Nice wide selection but I’m drawn to the Half Height Bromo Bookcase. This could fit into any room and would look good with an eclectic collection or books.

I’m particularly attracted to the Canton Desk. Rugged yet sophisticated, clean, dark, beautiful. Made of ash with a traditional black lacquer rubbed out. I’m always looking for a good sturdy desk.

I’m also a fan of the traditional wooden bookcases. While you can purchase these in the U.S. it’s the Indonesian Teak wood that is desirable and hard to find in furnishings here.

Right now is a good time too because SALES ARE GOING ON! There just isn’t a better time to make that overseas purchase.

Cheers!

Tab

Halstead Antiques at Round Top

2008-04-12T11:04:00.018-05:00

The first show of the year just wrapped up at Round Top and Marburger Farms in Texas last weekend. I still haven't found the time to make the trip down to Texas to see this extraordinary antique flea market show. Every year Liz and I start dreaming about it in Feb then March rolls around and by the time that we'd have to make the decision to go, the hotels are booked plus we'd have to drive. We would of course be buying fabulous things and no airline would allow us to carry on the items I'd have to have.

So we live vicariously through our friend Carol Halstead. Carol owns Halstead Antiques and works with a partner, Betty Johnson who owns Applejack Antiques. Both in Texas, they are exclusive to the Round Top shows. Carol's passion is toward the architectural, garden with some country, sconces and some art and Betty goes more for the "dressy." "It makes for a nice mix and I think that's one of the draws to our booth plus we offer reasonable prices." Carol's interest in antiques started when she was a teenager and she's collected various things and visited antique shops since that time--accumulating way too much, she decided to start selling. Betty has been in the business for over 20 years.

"I truly love buying and hunting for our treasures and it is a lot of fun meeting our customers and visiting with them." "It feels really good when you find a treasure to pass on to someone who also loves it." Carol sent us photos of her booth at Round Top. They inspire us and I hope they do you too. Visit Carol and Betty at booths 323 & 324 at the next show this fall.

March 27th 2008

2008-03-27T16:59:00.003-05:00

Where oh where is Spring?

Electronics Recycling

2008-03-22T16:58:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you but, along side my regular paper and plastic recycling I have been collecting a myriad of other items that I don't think I should throw in the garbage. So over time I have accumulated quite a pile of items that are collecting dust and taking up space in various corners of my home. There is an old TV, well not the whole TV, it was big, once it went kaput it really took up a lot of space. It was too big and heavy for me to move so I took it apart and while it is still too heavy to move it can be concealed much better. But I digress, in addition to this TV tube, I still have my very first computer and monitor (a Tandy) a keyboard, a mouse, broken antenna, busted cd player, a really old cell phone and more but you get my point. Where do you get rid of this stuff?

Now to my point I found this website and it gives you information on electronics recycling by zip code. My Green Electronics.

Second Day Of Spring 2008

2008-03-21T10:12:00.004-05:00

I think the picture says it all.

Update , Reusing, Reviving a Bathtub

2008-03-18T12:21:00.006-05:00

Here is the finished bathroom. Thank you to our customer for remembering us and sending on these photos it really is one of the best things when we get to see the items that we salvaged given a new life.

Click here for the original post.

Planetreuse.com

2008-03-17T16:04:00.005-05:00

Planet Reuse

Today is the greenest of all days during the year thanks to the Irish! It's also the launch day for a new green website, http://www.planetreuse.com Planet Reuse brings anyone interested in building green, together on their website.

It's like Ebay for builders, Designers, Architects, Salvage Companies, and DIYers. Yours truly has a listing along with several other salvage companies. Over time this may be the best place to start when looking for materials. Because we all have a specialty area (like I avoid flooring projects for instance) Planet Reuse will allow you to search for green materials for all aspects of the project rather than having to shop each piece at different locations. Check them out and bookmark them at Planet Reuse!

Why didn't I think of this? Good going Brad and team!

Tab

Reusing, Reviving, Reinventing Bathtubs

2008-03-04T12:13:00.000-06:00

One of the nicest things about our business is that we often get to see what people do with the items they buy from us. We really do think of ourselves as responsible for finding good homes for the items we sell. Kind of like a matchmaker. This is a story about a perfect match.

Steve and his wife drove up from Urbana, Il. last summer in hopes of finding a vintage, left hand drain, art deco corner tub with a “wrap around” apron. A hard to find piece and it had to be in excellent condition. It was a serendipitous moment as we had just received word on such a tub. We moved quickly to rescue the tub and bring it back to the store for Steve to see. Here's a recent email from Steve:

Tabitha and Liz, I'm a customer from over a year ago, but we're finally going on our bathroom project and I wanted to forward you a picture that includes the centerpiece, an awesome corner tub that DIDN'T need refinishing, that you helped me cram into a little white toyota station wagon last year and drive down to Urbana. Our contractor was so skeptical when he sweated the dirty tub (in our garage for a year) up our narrow staircase, "what the heck are these guys thinking?" Since I cleaned it up, it's been the talk and pride of him and every subcontractor to come through. It's awesome! Thank you guys for finding it for us. I'll forward another picture when it's all done.

Before After

Playing with Color (again)

2008-03-03T11:47:00.003-06:00

We have had these stars for a while now and decided to give them a fresh look with some new paints I have. The dark blue is from a company called Citron Paint and the coverage is great and no smell. The colors are deep and rich. This color is called Suffragette. The greenish star, I used one of the Benjamin Moore Aura paints called Lush. They are resting in this cool antique shopping cart that we just pickedup.

FliptStudio Update

2008-02-25T10:03:00.003-06:00

I posted a couple of weeks ago about this new blog and how Shelly had given my step by step instructions for upholstering an old coffee table. Well she has since added that to her blog here is the link

How to Make an Upholstered Bench Out of An Old Coffee Table
A trip to one of my local Goodwill stores yielded this ugly, stained wooden table, probably homemade, but perfect for a conversion.

More Goodies

2008-02-25T09:32:00.000-06:00

Too Cool

2008-02-18T14:00:00.002-06:00

These are lights from a 1930's home.

Business Card

2008-02-13T10:08:00.002-06:00

Just a little bitty post. I found this in a box of other things that we had gotten.

C'est Moi is Moving to Vintage Pine

2008-02-12T16:50:00.000-06:00

Join us on Saturday, February 23rd

to toast our time on Damen and celebrate our move to Vintage Pine

11 am - 6 pm

C'est Moi

2129 N Damen

Chicago, IL 60647

We'll have champagne and goodies galore!!!

We've got about 2 and half weeks left at 2129 North Damen so

...it's time for 40% off the entire store.

All times are final sale and this does not apply to special orders.

Call if you want something held!

2129 North Damen Avenue Chicago, IL, 60647

773-269-2116

Nohea Interiors

2008-02-09T16:31:00.000-06:00

Nohea is a Hawaiian word that means beautiful, handsome and/or lovely. It's also the name of our new friend, Calie Anderson's design firm, Nohea Interiors.

I often go out on the net looking for inspiration for our store displays. Searching for new trends and colors, and home ideas, so it's no surprize that I came across Nohea Interiors. Calie exudes a style that was/is immediately appealing to me. Turns out this San Franciscan woman and I have a common thread, we both have family ties to the Hawaiian Islands.

Now here's the thing about Hawaii. It's one of the most diverse states in the U.S. Several different ethnic groups have found their way to the islands for jobs with the plantations. Then you have the military base on Oahu that continues to bring in mainland folks and their families. Having been a sociology major, I've always thought it is the one place on earth where you can really, truly study anthropology and gain a better understanding of human nature and mixed cultures. It's the only place I've been in the world where complete strangers ask you "what are you?" and not "what do you do?" and there's no wierdness about it. I'm German and Swedish with a Tutu (Hawaiian for grandma) that's Pilipino and proud of it!

That said, my point here is that someone from Hawaii has a deep understanding of multiple cultures and a strong awareness of what that means. Then of course there is so much beauty in the paradise of the islands. All of this makes for a great design perspective and that's what you get when working with Calie Anderson.

Check out http://www.noheainteriors.com/ and Calie's blog at http://nohealookbook.blogspot.com/

Calie is working on wallpaper designs that are fabulous! I'll be posting about them as they evolve.

Tab

Fliptstudio Blog

2008-02-08T17:47:00.000-06:00

So here I am all ready to tell you all about a new blog. I actually was first introduced via Curbly.com. I was looking for information on ideas for this hideous coffee table that I found when to my rescue came Shelly with step by step instructions for upholstering the table and making it into a bench. Anyway I was checking out her new blog fliptstudio.blogspot.com and she's got a really great post about us. (Thanks Shelly).

Not to be outdone, here are some of my personal favorites of her pieces. :)

Newest Finds

2008-02-07T13:33:00.000-06:00

Seems like I have been more off than on lately with my postings. Sorry about that. We have been quite busy rearranging things in the store and bringing in new inventory. Here is a little bit of what we have gotten in the last week or so. Enjoy.

Newest Items

2008-01-29T14:42:00.000-06:00

We have gotten these three wonderful pediments from the East Coast.

Got Peanuts?

2008-01-19T06:55:00.000-06:00

We're always trying to do our best to reduce materials in our landfils and curb consumption of non-biodegradable items.

Recently I was in Hawaii visiting family and doing some research on how they handle trash locally. It got me thinking about how we here at Island Girl Salvage can do a better job as well. One area of interest is packing materials. In Hawaii there are organizations that receive used packing materials from residents and then these materials such as boxes and peanuts are made available to businesses to use for shipping their products. It's a win, win for the environment because these items stay out of the landfils and the local businesses because packing materials are quite expensive. If everyone recycled their unwanted packing materials we could keep some of the handling costs down.

When I returned home to Chicago I started looking around here for the same kind of setup. Unfortunately, I can't find any. That's where all of you come in. We'd like to receive your unwanted packing boxes, peanuts and bubble wrap. In return we will eliminate packing and handling fees on any item that we are able to reuse the received packing materials.

You can rest easy knowing that we are all doing our part to save the environment.

Thanks,

Tab

Vintage Bark Cloth

2008-01-18T11:08:00.000-06:00

Is that your grandmother’s pillow on the couch? Or is it a trendy new accessory featuring vintage fabric from the 1940s wartime period?

The thick textured fabric – a.k.a. bark cloth -- that seemed mod amidst the décor of homes in the 1940s – 1960s is now showing up in more than just garage sales. In fact, bark cloth fabric is making waves today with its tropical Hawaiian floral, Oriental prints and colorful patterns.

Although the origin of using the inner bark of trees, such as fig, breadfruit and paper mulberry, to make sturdy “tapa” cloth dates back to the 6th century B.C., it was around World War II that the fabric became more world renown. Many servicemen stationed in Hawaii saw first hand the brightly colored bark cloth curtains, home furnishings and even shirts and in turn brought them back to the mainland and abroad. In the late 1940s and through the 1960s, bark cloth became a staple fabric in the home interior textiles market. The most collectible of these are the atomic “Eames era” prints that made a name for themselves in the 1950s and 1960s.

Here are just some of the samplings that we have had here at Island Girl.

Salvage Challenge from This Old House

2008-01-15T05:54:00.000-06:00

This Old House is looking for your stories on what you have done with Salvage. Click here to learn more. Below is an excerpt from the site.

See yourself in This Old House Magazine! Send us your ideas, tips, and photos of your projects for a chance to be published in our special June 2008 reader-generated issue.

Rescued Railing
I purchased a 1917 foursquare fixer-upper. One of the previous owners had turned it into a duplex, putting in a second front door, tearing the stair railin... more – Posted by Jean J.

Show us the creative things you've made with salvaged materials, and tell us how you did it.

Tab in Hawaii

2008-01-14T14:01:00.000-06:00

Some of you may know that my grandparents have lived in Hawaii my entire life. I've flown over to Kauai every year to visit for as long as I can remember. Last year we lost my Tutu (grandmother in Hawaiian) so the visits are now more frequent and less vacation like. This trip I'm working on the yard. The tropical plants just run ramped over here so someone has to constantly trim trees and plants back and that's me this year.

There is so much rubbish to dispose of and yet there isn't a really good system for composting or recycling over here. I came in to do some checking online and it seems that quite a bit of the recycling is voluntary. It doesn't appear that the green trend has reached over here yet.

One program I did find seems really great and could probably work anywhere in the world. Kauai Recycling for the Arts (KRA) is a non-profit educational organization. Check them out at http://www.kauaiglass.org/

Kauai Recycling for the Arts was created to help educate our community about the importance of recycling in a fun and exciting way – through the use of ART! Kauai Recycling for the Arts will be turning yesterday's trash into tomorrow’s treasures! Kauai’s only landfill will reach capacity in 2009.The landfill crisis that faces the residents of Kauai is closing in on us quickly. It is a known fact that by the year 2009 Kauai’s only landfill located in Kekaha will have reached capacity. Each of us who have the privilege of living as well as visiting this beautiful island bears the responsibility of participating in alternative solutions to burying and dumping our trash on our island paradise. We are Kauai’s first hot glass recycling facility. A team consisting of local artists, educators and environmentalists generously donated their time working with the County of Kauai and Allison Fraley, County of Kauai’s Recycling Coordinator to create Kauai’s first hot glass recycling facility. The hot glass studio is located at the Kauai Resource Center at 3460 Ahukini Rd. in Lihue, just past the airport. In February 2004, Kauai Recycling for the Arts, a nonprofit educational organization was awarded the contract to operate the glass studio.

What do we do?Kauai Recycling for the Arts offers programs that demonstrate the exciting techniques of transforming glass bottles, that you usually throw in your trash can, into a hot molten liquid that KRA artisans then form into art. We offer the community beautiful products that also help to reduce landfill waste. After seeing this process once, we are sure that you will never look at your trash the same way again! You can help too!We invite everyone to participate in this exciting innovative project by taking a workshop, volunteering, or becoming a supporting member of KRA! Your kokua (help) is appreciated!

Ma halo,
Tab

Addendum to the Recycling Afterlife

2008-01-10T10:34:00.000-06:00

I was visiting my sister a few weeks ago and we got to talking about recycling and what can and cannot be recycled. The conversation was happening while trying to get the young ones ready for bed (brush your teeth and put on your PJ's) and she turned and said "what about toothbrushes" Can I put them in the recycle bin? I did not know the answer. But a little googling later and I did find some interesting information.

Radius Toothbrush "our cellulose handle is processed from sustainable yield forests into 100% renewable resource plastic." There is a lot of information on their website on each of the individual products.

Recycline This company makes more than toothbrushes, and they use post consumer yogurt containers for the handles. They also have a built in recycling program for their products to make it easy for us.

A Fresh Squeeze

2008-01-03T06:39:00.000-06:00

The Recycling Afterlife Beyond the Bin

Brought to you by A Fresh Squeeze a really great local site. "We started A Fresh Squeeze in the spring of 2006 with the idea of making it easier for Chicagoans to live a greener life."

Sure you recycle, but what actually happens to your recyclables? We caught up with Mike McNamee, director of recycling collections at the Resource Center, to demystify the post-drop-off process.

The Resource Center, the city’s only non-profit recycler, uses more than 99 percent of the materials they pick up to make new products. But that journey from the bin to retail store shelves is a long one.

Like many recyclers, the first stop is the sorting facility. At the center’s main yard, four employees separate clear bottles from green ones, aluminum cans from steel and so on—all by hand. It’s a task so intimate that, when a customer dropped her engagement ring into a recycling bag, the team sifted through a pile of newspapers the size of a small house to find it.

A few days to a few weeks later, McNamee says the sorted recyclables are taken by truck to various local facilities he calls intermediaries. They sort the materials further and then sell and ship them to companies throughout the world.

Eventually, that glass is smelted and made into more bottles. And plastic is usually compressed into bales and turned into anything from carpet and clothing to landscaping material. “It’s like mining in reverse,” McNamee says. “You’re taking materials that could’ve been thrown out and using them to manufacture something.”

But the journey doesn’t have to end there. To incorporate recyclables back into your home, look for products with recycled content. Take the handcrafted, eco-friendly home products from Chicago’s Bean Products for example. Their furniture made of recycled soda bottles brings the process full circle—from the bin back into your home.

To find a Resource Center drop-off site near you, click here. Or learn how you can become a part of the city’s Blue Bag recycling program at the Department of the Environment website.

Recently Rescued

2007-12-29T07:16:00.000-06:00

These goodies are from a house in Wilmette, IL

Lined Window Boxes
Great Arched Transom Window from the coach house
Chimney Pot also from the Coach House
Porch Light

Handbags and Rings These are two of My Most Favorite Things

2007-12-24T05:34:00.001-06:00

Pivot EcoSmart Fashion New York designer Beck Hickey creates these one-of-a-kind handbags from recycled skateboards.

Zola Jones Designs The Bumpy Ride Handbag. Recycled Car Seat Belt Closure. Fabric Handles Inner Patch Pocket Outer Side Pockets

Jessi Taylor Etsy Shop or website

I just loved this and she used vintage tile.

The Green Project of New Orleans

2007-12-21T14:36:00.000-06:00

I was lucky enough to attend a trade show in New Orleans several years ago that coincided with Mardi Gras. I know all sorts of imagery come to mind. It was my first time in The Crescent City and I felt right at home. Like all of us, when Hurricane Katrina hit I sat glued to my television crying over the enormous loss. Since then we've received several emails from residents of New Orleans asking if we'd be interested in purchasing salvage from homes ravaged by Katrina. It breaks my heart because New Orleans has such a unique architecture. And while I understand the need for immediate financial support I firmly believe that local preservation of this architecture is the long term answer to financial stability of the city through tourism.

The Green Project is an organization that goes above and beyond the call for preservation and being green.

The Green Project operates a WAREHOUSE STORE that resells high-quality, salvaged building materials at low cost to the community. They feel strongly that the materials from New Orleans stay in the city and they won't knowingly send materials to buyers out of the area. The store is dedicated to helping the environment by reducing the amount of usable materials placed in landfills or disposed of improperly. They also SALVAGES AND DECONSTRUCT damaged or collapsed buildings by hand, in a way that saves between 45 and 70 percent of the materials. This preserves New Orleans' unique architectural history and benefits New Orleans' residents by returning their ruined building materials to use elsewhere in the city. These services alone make my heart happy but this group takes even further steps to protect their environment. The Green Project store also serves as a local RECYCLED PAINT resource by reclaiming, combining, and reselling surplus paint. This keeps paint out of the region's landfills and water system while providing affordable paint to the community. They also serve as a RECYCLING center. They currently recycle cardboard, newspaper, regular paper (plain and colored), aluminum cans and household e-waste (electronic equipment like computers, stereos, printers, monitors, cell phones, etc). They don't accept plastic or glass at this time because no one in the city can pick it up. And scrap metal has to be disposed of at the scrap metal yard, not The Green Project. But that's not all!

Our GARDEN is blooming. The Green Project provides gardening workshops where residents can learn how to make the most of a small space, recycle yard and kitchen waste into compost and improve the soil. RECYCLE FOR THE ARTS merged with The Green Project in 2003. R4A provides art materials to individual artists, schools, art programs, galleries, and other non-profit groups at minimal cost, as well as offers monthly recycled art workshops. THE GREEN ROOM is an interactive community space that promotes using garbage and salvage as artistic material. The space is used to display the work of local artists and is available for workshops and community events.
The Green Project is also involved in GREEN BUILDING & SPECIAL PROJECTS like our solar panels, biodiesel and community outreach. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, The Green Project had the largest array of operable photovoltaic solar panels in Southeast Louisiana. The photovoltaic solar panels were damaged in the storm and are FINALLY back up on their roof. They work with NOBI (the New Orleans Bio-Fuel Initiative) and the Alliance for Affordable Energy to create a recycled vegetable oil mixture as fuel for their diesel vehicles.

Truly a well-rounded organization doing their part to save our environment! Kudos to The Green Project! To find out more contact The Green Project at info@thegreenproject.org or visit them on the web at http://www.thegreenproject.org/

Thanks, Tab

Photography

2007-12-20T15:45:00.000-06:00

Cliquot Club Extra Dry Ginger Ale

2007-12-19T13:17:00.000-06:00

We were at a house the other day and the great thing about it was there were all these crawl spaces and attics all over the place. In the attic above the garage we found these two old bottles from Cliquot Club. One is Root Beer and the other is Ginger Ale. I found quite a bit of information on the web about the company. It is finding things like this that is one of parts I love best about what we do. A glimpse into popular culture and business history. As for how two empty bottles of soda came to be up in the attic above the garage, I can only guess but I like to think that this was the secret hiding place of some young boy or girl and they spent many hours with friends up there drinking soda and playing games.

The following ad from a 1920 Ladies Home Journal matches the label on these two bottles.

Founded in 1881 in Millis, Massachusetts, the beverage company was built by Henry Millis from money he had received from his father Lansing Millis. The company produced mainly sparkling cider for the first few years but later on Millis would experiment in other flavors as well. The sparkling cider was soon dropped and the company began focusing mainly on ginger ale. In 1885 the town of Millis, MA was founded in his family name. During this time the soda company hired a significant amount of the town's residents and would continue to do so for years to come. Millis continued to improve upon his beverages through his philosophy of making the drinks as though he were making them for his own friends. He imported high-quality exotic ingredients including Jamaican ginger, and Cuban pure refined sugar. These two were the key ingredients to his ginger ale making the company stand out in this field.

Bryant Electric Company Sconces Patented 1907

2007-12-16T07:26:00.000-06:00

The Bryant Electric Company was a manufacturer of wiring devices, electrical components, and switches founded by Waldo C. Bryant in 1888 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. The company was purchased by Westinghouse Electric in 1901 and continued operation as the Bryant Electric subsidiary of Westinghouse. By 1928, Bryant sold over 4,000 different products and eventually became the world's largest plant devoted to the manufacture of wiring devices. As part of a larger process of regional deindustrialization, Westinghouse shut down the Bryant Electric plant in 1988. The closing exacerbated the neighborhood's already bleak economic situation. Westinghouse sold its remaining interests in Bryant Electric to the Hubbell Corporation in 1991. Bryant's 20 building, 6-acre site in Bridgeport's West End was torn down in 1996 to make way for a new industrial park.

For Bryant Socket Patent Information click here. We have a pair of these sconces marked Bryant, 250W 250V, PAT May 7, 1907, Made in USA.

Victor S. Pearlman Co. Patent #D49075

2007-12-15T14:27:00.000-06:00

Victor S. Pearlman design for a bowl (shade) for lighting fixtures.
Patented May, 1916 filed Mar 31, 1916. Shade is marked Pearlman Co PAT. NO. 49075. Pearlman filed in Cook County, Chicago. Click here for the actual patent filed. We have two of these fixtures rescued from a home in Wilmette, IL.

History on Pearlman: From the Baraboo Daily News of November 18,1915:
The lighting fixtures that have been installed in the new A1. Ringling Theatre are as beautiful as found anywhere. The central chandelier in the auditorium has forty-eight lights, trimmed in silk and verre de sole glass engraved panels. Each of the seventeen boxes has a Pearlman antique provost finished light with a silk tassel on the stem. There are silk light fixtures in the ladies rest room and through the foyer are candelabra bracket fixtures trimmed with silk shades. In the stairwell is a Pearlman design, cathedral glass panel. There are six tubular candelabra lamps inside. Many of the fixtures mentioned have gold wreaths on the outside design. The lobby fixture is antique gold, finished with soft highlights. There is a calcite cut glass bowl, inverted top, and three large lamps in the bottom. About the fixture is a laurel band of cast bronze, hand done. The fixtures are finer than in most theatres, seldom being so rich in design, quality, and finish. Victor S. Pearlman, 75 Adams Street, Chicago, designed the fixtures and they have been installed under the direction of Leslie C. Milner of the same city.

On Monday, June 5, 1916, hundreds assembled for the dedication of the Jesse W. Fell Memorial Gateway. The plan was instituted by The Woman’s League of Normal as a gateway that connects the university (University of Illinois) with the town. They stipulated that it should be plain and noble in design—a tribute to a great man of the community.
To the Founder of Normal Jesse W. Fell, Friend of Education, Lover and Planter of Trees, Philanthropist of Mighty Vision, This Gate is Dedicated by The Woman’s Improvement League And His Many Friends.
The massive bronze lanterns, which sit atop the center pillars, were made by the Victor S. Pearlman Company of Chicago, and complement the entire design for the gateway.

CHICAGO THEATRE: Owners of the Chicago Theater, Balaban and Katz spared no expense on the workmanship and materials for this miniature Versailles. Marshall Field's supplied the drapes, furniture and interior decoration. Victor Pearlman and Co. designed and built the crystal chandeliers and lavish bronze light fixtures with Steuben glass shades. The McNulty Brothers' master craftsmen produced the splendid plaster details and Northwestern Terra Cotta Company provided the tiles for the facade. The Chicago Theatre first opened its doors on October 26, 1921 with Norma Talmadge on screen in "The Sign on the Door." A 50-piece orchestra performed in the pit and Jesse Crawford played the mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ. After a "white glove inspection," a staff of 125 ushers welcomed guests who paid 25 cents until 1 p.m., 35 cents in the afternoon and 50 cents after 6 p.m.

1975 Application for the National Register of Historic Places for Shea's Buffalo Theatre 646 Main Street, Buffalo, NY
With a Chicago architectural firm and a Buffalo contractor, John Gill and Sons, the finished theater was the combined product of technical expertise and materials from both cities. The terra cotta for the Main Street facade came from an architectural terra cotta firm located at 203 South Dearborn Street in Chicago. The interior decorations were done primarily by William Hengerer Co. of Buffalo [Ed. note: the design of the interior was by the Louis Tiffany Co., as is evidenced by the drawing on display in the grand lobby], while the lighting fixtures were the exclusive domain of Victor S. Pearlman and Co. of Chicago. Heating and plumbing contracts went to George H. Drake Inc. of Buffalo. Another local enterprise of international fame, the Rudolf Wurlitzer Co. was responsible for the mammoth theater organ which was built at the time of the building's construction with pipes ranging from the size of a straw to 32 feet in length.C.W. and George L. Rapp's movie theaters were widely acclaimed in their day as "outstanding architectural creations" of the motion picture industry. Likening these splendid theaters to Roman amphitheaters and "Temples of old," P.G. Carlson wrote in 1928 in "Theatre Management" about the sumptuous interiors of Rapp theaters, "other theatres of course may have all these colors, but once a theatre built by the Rapp family is seen, there can never by any doubt as to the style they affect" (Carlson, P.G., "In the Motif of the Ancients: A Firm of Chicago Architects Lean upon the Splendors of Old to Build the Motion Picture Theatre of Today," "Theatre Management," January, 1928).Fifty years later, these sensational movie theaters have become rare monuments in urban downtowns. They have disappeared at an alarming rate or have suffered drastic interior renovations to simplify maintenance. "The Buffalo" has been spared this fate despite the presence of the same economic forces. The building was sold by Shea's Publix Theater chain to Loew's Theaters who more recently sold the building and continued to rent it. In December, 1974, the theater fell into the city's hands through foreclosure when the former owner failed to pay back taxes. A non-profit group known as "Friends of the Buffalo" is seeking an arrangement with the city to handle the maintenance of the building while Loew's continues to rent it.One of the best preserved big city movie theaters of its vintage, "The Buffalo" still contains an overwhelming amount of its original decor. It is representative of the most lavish of Rapp and Rapp's commissions and is a priceless record of an exuberant period of American history.

Light Fixture Patents and Company Info.

2007-12-15T14:15:00.000-06:00

When we do our own fixture salvaging, seldom are we able to know what we are purchasing until we have the fixture down from the ceiling. This causes quite a bit of excitement over who made it and when on the drive back to the shop to start the investigation. Today, Liz and Jim picked up a set of three fixtures that have no markings on the wrought iron frames but the shades are marked with the name and patent number of the maker. The patent number is the key that opens the door to the past. From here on out we'll post our findings as there is very little even on the Internet that can help fill in the pieces. Please let us know if you have further info to broaden our references and let us know if you find this helpful. To find fixture history I'll tag all entries as Lighting History going forward.

Thanks,
Tab

Energy Efficiency Myth-Busters

2007-12-13T17:15:00.000-06:00

I picked this up at my local Green Drinks meeting in Chicago. I don't know who actually put this list together but it has some helpful tips for all of us Green Thinkers that are concerned about energy loss in our homes.

Myth: Compact Florescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) are harmful for the environment because they contain mercury.

Fact: While it's true that CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury (according to the EPA), CFLs can prevent mercury from ending up in our environment due to their energy efficiency. Because of this, fewer emissions are created by the coal power plants required to create electricity.

Myth: Leaving your thermostat at a constant temperature 24 hours a day uses less energy than setting your thermostat back and then having to continually heat up/cool down the air temperature.

Fact: The longer your house stays at a reduced temperature when heating, or at an increased temperature when cooling, the more energy and money you'll save. This is because your heating or cooling costs depend mostly on the temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor environments. When you adjust your thermostat down in the winter, or up in the summer, you reduce this natural temperature difference. If you set your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours while you are asleep or at work, your energy savings range from 5% to 15% of your monthly energy bill.

Myth: When an appliance is turned off, it is no longer using energy.

Fact: Items turned off continue to consume power, sometimes as much as when they are on. There are a large number of appliances that continue to use power unbeknownst to consumers. This is called "standby power," and can only be eliminated by unplugging an appliance.

Myth: There is no point in insulating ceilings and walls if doing so will just allow more heat to escape in less insulated areas.

Fact: The insulation of certain areas of your home will not place more pressure on less heat efficient areas. However, poorly insulated areas in a home do lose the most amount of heat and should be addressed before improving better insulated areas.

Myth: Washing dishes by hand uses less energy than running an electric dishwasher.

Fact: According to Gaiam Community, "this is one of the few instances where modern technology beats the old fashioned method." A recent study showed that using a dishwasher does not require pre-washing by hand; this practice can waste up to 20 gallons of hot water.

GreenDrinks Chicago

2007-12-12T19:08:00.000-06:00

We've written about Green Drinks before but we attended another get-together this past Monday and as always I was blown away by the organizers, attendees, and the speaker panel. The subject of the evening was finding "green" or sustainable jobs. Great information, attentive and enthusiastic audience always makes for a wonderful evening. Green Drinks is an international organization. Check out there website to see if they have a group going in your area.

Monday night we met Dr. Sarah Warren. She's a sustainability coach here in Chicago. To learn more about what she does you can visit Dr. Warren here.

Tab

Tiling a Hearth

2007-12-11T12:52:00.000-06:00

Tiling a Hearth from This Old House Online

By: Harry Sawyers, , December 2007

www.islandgirlsalvage.com/Tile

Garden Displays

2007-12-11T12:46:00.001-06:00

Just some photos of some of our Garden Displays that we have had at one time or another.

I Can Garden

2007-12-10T12:37:00.000-06:00

Gardening is a year round passion for some and while we are on the periphery of the gardening community we love what we have seen done with the garden architecturals that our customers have purchased. Along the way we have hosted a few garden clubs at our shop. I was really pleased to find this website and the wealth of information about gardening called ICanGarden.com.
ICanGarden.com began in 1995 by Master Gardener, Donna Dawson, with a view to providing information to gardeners. Since its origin, ICanGarden has grown to include information on over 480 garden clubs, reviews of over 700 books, almost 300 public gardens, over 6300 articles from over 150 garden writers, gardening events from around the world, over 1200 links, over 940 suppliers and thousands of forum and member items. Be sure to also check out the garden tours!
With the holidays upon us bringing the outdoors in is a wonderful way to create that wonderland feeling at the table or in the gathering room in your house. Here is a lovely article that I found on the site.

With the holidays upon us bringing the outdoors in is a wonderful way to create that wonderland feeling at the table or in the gathering room in your house. Here is a lovely article that I found on the site.

Holiday Greens
by Lisa Halvorsen
December 9, 2007

Many people usher in the holiday season by decorating their homes with evergreen boughs, sprigs of holly, garlands, and mistletoe. Although now considered a Christmas tradition, the origin of this practice dates back many centuries.

The Greeks and Romans were among the first to bring evergreen boughs indoors in winter. They were amazed that the evergreen remained green year-round, even during the bleak winter months, and decided that it must have supernatural powers. To them it symbolized nature and the promise of spring when the earth would be verdant again.

During the Victorian era, the custom of bringing evergreen boughs and other greens into the house at Christmastime was revived. Many people made elaborate arrangements for mantelpieces and tables using boughs, ivy, laurel, yew, and hemlock.

In the 1800s greens were used in this country to make memorials to honor loved ones who had died. Evergreen boughs and other greens were woven into wreaths, crosses, and stars and placed on graves in cemeteries. Around holiday time, they were brought home to use as indoor decorations.

A kiss under the mistletoe, another popular American custom, came from Scandinavia, where according to mythology, Balder, the son of Frigga, the Norse goddess of love, was struck dead by an arrow made of mistletoe. As Frigga wept, her tears fell onto the mistletoe and turned into small, white berries. She declared that mistletoe should no longer be used to kill, but to encourage love. Thus, anyone found standing beneath the mistletoe must be kissed.

Mistletoe also played an important role in the Druid celebrations of the winter solstice. Because it appeared to grow in the air--the plant wound itself around the tree, its roots never touching the soil--the Druid high priests believed that it was a sacred plant. During the solstice, they would climb the trees, cut down the mistletoe, and toss it to the crowd below. It was considered bad luck if even a single sprig touched the ground. Catching the mistletoe ensured that livestock would be fertile and reproduce.

Holly and ivy are often used together in holiday decorations, a tradition that stems from a Middle Ages belief that holly was male and ivy, female, and so the two should forever be intertwined. Holly was also thought to have protective powers while ivy stood for love.

The tradition of decorating evergreen trees for the holidays began with Martin Luther in the early 1500s. Legend has it that he was walking through the woods one Christmas Eve and noticed how the sparkly stars shone through the branches of a snow-covered fir. Wanting to share the magic with his children, he chopped down the tree and brought it home. He decorated it with candles to represent the stars.

In the 1600s families in France decorated fir trees with gold foil, paper roses, apples, and sweet treats at Christmastime. German immigrants brought the tradition with them when they settled in America. However, Christmas trees did not become widespread in America until the 1800s. Although first sold commercially in New York City in 1851, it wasn't until four years later, when President Franklin Pierce placed the first tree in the White House, that many Americans adopted the tradition. Electric Christmas tree lights were invented in 1882 by Edward Johnson, Thomas Alva Edison's assistant.

This year, as you deck your halls with boughs of holly, ivy, and other holiday greens, think of the history behind these traditions and of the many generations before you who heralded the arrival of winter holidays in much the same way as we do today.

Lisa is a Garden Writer with the University of Vermont Extension

Curly Hair Blues

2007-12-03T13:22:00.000-06:00

Sorry to have been off the blogging for the past week or so. I was visiting with my family in NY and things have been a little bit crazy. Though I have one or two new subjects for posts from this experience.

On the same day that we met Angela of TodaysFind we met Diane who was with Angela. Well She and I share a similar problem; crazy curly, thick hair that we like to wear straight. I am here to tell you that it is all about the brush. I have tried everything, from infomercial blowdryers, two flatirons one ceramic, I cannot even count the amount of products that I have on my bath vanity to try to make this easier and it still took nearly an hour to fully dry my hair and iron it.
Invest in a really good brush that grabs the hair. I have gotten my routine down to some anti-frizz leave in conditioner my brush and my blow dryer and 1/2 for drying time. Take a look at picture on our Blog home page "Meet Our Wrecking crew". Guess which one is me? In the humidity the mess just seems to get bigger and bigger.

This week I have been staying with my sister whose hair is twice as bad as mine in the humidity. So I let her use the brush and she loves it. Biggest plus in her mind is that it doesn't get tangled at all. I promised to get her one. I got mine at Ulta in Chicago. There is one near my Mom's on the Island so I ran out really quick before the family dinner and of course they are completely sold out of that particular brush. Here is the brand Double S Pro Brush

New Friends

2007-12-03T08:35:00.000-06:00

On Saturday morning we had the pleasure of meeting two women who came to our store to shop. Angela Trainor has a shop in New Buffalo, Michigan called Today's Find, she gives new life into older, not in the best shape furniture. Here are a couple of samples from the Gallery page on the website.

Aura Paints Revisited

2007-11-30T14:27:00.000-06:00

Okay I am getting very close to the sold category on this stuff. I went out and got four sample jars in fairly dark colors. A long while ago I had started this project of painting an old school desk but was never very happy with it. So I figured it was the perfect piece to test this out on. I did sand it down first this time. The color I chose is Dinner Party. A very dark red. I have gotten one coat on the top. Judge for yourself. While I still think I would stick with two coats for coverage, the color with the one coat is exactly as it is in the jar. No primer or anything. I put the lid in the picture so you can see the color of paint as it is before you apply. Pics No coat, one coat two coats

Customer Photogs

2007-11-30T13:52:00.000-06:00

This is short and sweet. A new customer of ours is restoring a 100 year old farm house and he sent us pictures of the house 100 years ago and one current. I would love to be renovating an old farm house.

As I am writing this I got another email from this customer and he sent some pictures of a house he had previously owned and renovated. So correction not so short but still just as sweet.

"This home was used as an orphanage and rooming house for much of its life, so no "improvements" were ever made. It's original interior was almost completely intact and unmolested, including 9 sets of pocket doors, 7 mantels, a hand carved breakfront, and miles of original murals and frescos. I lived in the house for almost 7 years, and did extensive restorations throughout, including the 3rd floor ballroom." The first picture is a collage of the interior and the other is an original photo from 1895 of the exterior of the house.

Benjamin Moore Aura Line of Paints

2007-11-29T13:39:00.001-06:00

I know I had a post a while back on Low VOC paints but this is an update of our own experience with the Benjamin Moore Aura line.

Last night we attended an ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) outing for the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago Chapter where the guest speakers were Benjamin Moore. Now, as owners of an architectural salvage retail store we try to create distinctive displays for our inventory that emphasize the craftsmanship of the past. So we’re always applying new paint to our backdrops in our showroom.

We have been waiting anxiously for the new low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints to be readily available. When I started my cabinet (see previous posts) I looked for the Aura paint. The new selections of low- and no-VOC paints that release no, or minimal VOC pollutants, and are virtually odor free.

The level of VOCs in Aura is less than 50 grams per liter, and tinting with new Benjamin Moore waterborne colorants, the Affinity Color Collection, adds no additional VOCs. Although Aura is available in any of Benjamin Moore's 3,300 colors, the Affinity Color Collection was created specifically for Aura. I was able to use some of the paint last night at their presentation and was amazed by its ability to cover in a single coat and it dries so quickly. There was no paint smell at all.

Now we also got some samples of the Wasabi and Fiji aura paints. So my first order of business was to test this out in my world. I thought the Wasabi color would look great against the current color of our walls so I tested a small spot on a door that we have hanging horizontally. I did go really well but maybe a little too well as I wanted something that made it jump off the wall. So I went with the Fiji. First thoughts - I probably should have sanded the existing coat of paint on the door. (Pic 1 before)

Next thought was no smell at all that I could tell. It went on smooth and filled in nicely so you can barely see any brush lines. By the time I got to the end of the door the portion I had started on was nearly dry. Since I did not sand it first some of the previous paint coat bled through. I gave it about 1/2 an hour and then tried my best to smear it, but lo and behold it was dry. Not even the slightest bit tacky. (Pic 2 first coat still wet)

On to the second coat (which I don't think I would have needed if the paint I was covering was a matte finish. Lickety split I am done coverage is beautiful. Best part was I only needed one little jar of the sample. Which for small jobs is perfect, economical and doesn't leave you with half full quarts of paint you might never use again. Another 1/2 hour and I rehung the sconces. (Pic 3 Completed)

We are going to try some more of the colors elsewhere in the store, especially the deep reds. The last time I painted a wall barn red it took 7 coats to get it the right shade. They say these colors are 1 sometimes to coats and you can cover red with white in one coat. Well we are going to try it and let you know how it all comes out.

For the Creatively Challenged

2007-11-26T12:31:00.001-06:00

As I peruse through magazines and books I am always envious of those people who can see the potential something. Like a decorator who can look at an empty room with white walls and see a dinner party complete with rich table settings and inviting paint colors. Or and artist looking at a blank canvas but really sees a portrait or landscape. For those of you who are more like me this post is just a reference point of the many books out there on salvage and what you can do with it. This by no means even scratches the surface of the many innovative resources for decorating with found treasures it is a place to start. Anybody out there who have resources that they love please post. Thanks

Transforming You Treasures

2007-11-24T06:28:00.000-06:00

Here is a post from the Boomerhead.com website.

Cleaning out your garage, attic, or closet? Need to downsize, but you just hate to throw away that sentimental knick-knack or piece of furniture? Sometimes it just has to go! However, some baby boomers are re-inventing their “treasures.” Take a look at how old useless “junk” has been ingeniously transformed into functional items for the household.

Making Wall Shelves out of Desk Drawers
Old seasoned wood used to make hat-racks
This baby boomer transformed a broken-down stereo cabinet into a tile island for her kitchen
An old mirror frame without the mirror made into a message board

My Sappy Thanksgiving

2007-11-24T06:26:00.000-06:00

Growing up we spent every Thanksgiving at my Aunts house in New Jersey. It has given me some of the greatest memories of family and food and I don't know that it will ever be topped. My Aunt is an amazing cook, this is the stuff to rival Martha. The smells the the flavors the cousins, the laughter, eating too much. A table that looked like a scene from from a feel good holiday movie. Well worth the sometimes nightmarish traffic getting from Long Island to thier house. Years go by and the children have children and some of us move away. We no longer spend Thanksgiving in New Jersey, but it is still my favorite holiday. Every place I have lived I found amazing friends and extended my family to continue to make it really spectacular. There is one item that has always been present a silly little cake. Ask anyone of my brothers or sister what they love the most on Thanksgiving and the answer is the Chocolate Chip Pumpkin cake. (currently baking right now.) It is my contribution to today's dinner bringing a little bit of my family memories to the table.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T07:52:00.001-06:00

As a retail store owner we get to meet a lot of people and we love sharing their ideas and they will share theirs with us. We met a woman about a week ago who was working on her centerpiece for her Thanksgiving table. She has a couple of sets of candlesticks that she was looking to spruce up. She wanted to add some bobesches and prisms to them. We had some of both. She sent us a picture and it is wonderful a really simple but elegant idea. She's good.

Handmade by Who? You

2007-11-21T05:25:00.000-06:00

I was talking to my Dad the other day and he is in his mid 70's. Let me explain that this is a man who cannot figure out call waiting, or alphabetize his favorites on his bookmark page. He asks me if I remember the episode of I Love Lucy where Harpo Marx and Lucy do the mirror scene. It is one of his favorite skits of all time. He then says, "so I went to YouTube and I found the whole scene." He proceeds to then talk about the marvels of the billions and billions of bits of information on the internet and how amazing it is that you can find anything. (Frankly I think he knows how to use call waiting he just thinks it's rude).

He is right about the internet, no question there. Which brings me more to my point of this post; Here and there we make things out of other things that don't really fall into the salvage arena and it is hard to find the right customer for those items. How does an individual with great ideas, designs etc get things to market without opening a store or designing a website etc.
The internet being the marvel that it is, coupled with some entrepeneurial spirits have created numerous arenas to bring our creations to the masses. These are also really great ways to support individuals trying to make a living doing what they love.
Etsy.com

loungeluxe.com

Cutique.com

Ishopindie.com

GreenThinkers.org

2007-11-20T15:55:00.000-06:00

Oh my goodness there is such a plethora of new "green" websites and blogs out there now! I particularly like http://www.greenthinkers.org/ so I wrote Scott Smith and begged him to let me contribute to his fabulous site. I just posted my first article on (what else?) Architectural Salvage Companies are the original Green industry! Go on over and have a peek.

Tab

This is Not Your Mother’s Stove…Oh Wait, It Is!

2007-11-19T06:02:00.001-06:00

In our line of work we have come across a number of original appliances in various stages of disrepair and condition. Now, I have spent the better part of the last three years slowly restoring my own 1926 English Cotswald home, using, as much as possible, original items from our own salvaging efforts. After getting a glimpse of these wonderful old ranges, I decided that the only option for me was to replace my stove, whose touchy temperament did not allow me to use the oven and the burners at the same time, or even more than two burners at once regardless of my oven use. You can just imagine Thanksgiving at my house. More recently it had become obsessed with its own cleanliness, on more than one occasion I had found myself unable to open the oven door as it had somehow locked itself into a self-cleaning cycle. So given my situation I decided that the search for my new “old” stove needed to begin and quickly. Finding someone locally who could do the repairs on one of my “found” stoves proved to be difficult. Add to that, the fact that I am limited by space in my quaint kitchen and could not have anything wider than 30 inches.

Not being easily discouraged I dug deeper and searched wider. I found a number of companies that take these vintage gems and completely restore them. Refurbished with completely new valves, piping, insulation, and enamel finishes, these stoves are in the long run less expensive, have far more character than the reproductions, and actually cook more evenly. You might be familiar with Rachel Ray from the Food Network who cooks on an old Chamber stove and swears by it. I purchased a vintage O'Keefe & Merritt newly re-porcelained white gas range circa 1950. It’s been two years now and I still marvel at its simplicity and style. It’s the center of my kitchen. Where can you find these gems? There happen to be a few options.

Here is the picture of the stove when it was first put in and another after the entire kitchen was remodeled (see post on remodeling with architectural salvage.)

I purchased mine at SAVON Appliances and General Appliance Refinishing, Inc. both are owned and operated by Emmett Julian. Originally from Chicago, Emmett has been in the used appliance business for over 30 years, and started SAVON Appliance in Burbank, CA, in the early 1980's. You can call Emmett or Marsha directly with any questions about buying, selling, trading, resurfacing, painting, moving or completely restoring any appliance. When my stove arrived it was neatly wrapped in cellophane and crated to perfection. Not a scratch was found.

SAVON Appliance2925 Burbank Blvd.Burbank, CA 91505phone: 818-843-4840 or 818-843-4908email: info@savonappliance.com

Another resource is Antique Gas Stoves in Montclair, Ca. Since 1982, Antique Gas Stoves has been rebuilding vintage stoves of all types for it’s customers. Contact Terri Smith for more information. Antique Gas Stoves ships worldwide and stoves start at around $3000.00

Antique Gas Stoves
Antique Stoves - Sales - Service - Parts – Restoration
P.O. Box 3175 Montclair, California 91763 USA
voice: (909) 445-0300
email: cookin@AntiqueGasStoves.com

And finally, Antique Appliances.com. Antique and vintage appliance restoration is what AntiqueAppliances.com is all about. Located in the mountains of North Georgia, in the small community of Clayton, their crew of six craftsmen restore all makes of antique and vintage refrigerators and stoves, even adding unique design concepts to the exteriors. Custom colors to fit your decor are readily available. They too ship worldwide and gas stoves start around $1800 up to $50,000.00, electric stoves $1800 up to $18,000.00, refrigerators run about $1800 up to $12-$15 thousand. Restoration takes about 4-6 weeks from the time a restoration begins. AntiqueAppliances.com is currently scheduling projects out two years because of the demand.

AntiqueAppliances.Com30 West Savannah StreetClayton, GA 30525USA
Telephone: (706)782-3132Fax: (706)782-7326
E-Mail Address:John's direct e-mail: john@antiqueappliances.com Sales Department e-mail: sales@antiqueappliances.com

My next project is to tackle a vintage refrigerator. I just haven’t gotten past having to thaw out the freezer every month.

Best Packing Material

2007-11-18T07:04:00.000-06:00

This is probably not news to a lot of you, but for me this is like striking gold.

I don't know about the rest of you but I have stacks and stacks of mail and other assorted papers that I have all good intentions of shredding and recycling. Well I finally reached my limit and began the long tedious process feeding sheet after sheet into the shredder.
Anyway, we do a lot of shipping all across the country with Island Girl and packing materials can get expensive. I decided to use the shredded materials instead of peanuts and newspaper. I have a cross cut shredder which makes everything a little more compact than a regular strip shredder. You get enough bounce but not a lot of settling.

With the holidays coming up and lots of packages going out I recommend trying this option. I have used this as padding to ship Christmas ornaments and other fragile items.

Organic Fashion

2007-11-15T13:27:00.000-06:00

Not exactly salvage but we do love clothing and fashion. There are oodles of new companies and enterprises out there are combining the art of design and sustainable organic materials. Pretty incredible.

Of the Earth

The Mission
"From a personal dream of bringing organic sustainable products to the world’s market, we believe we can make a difference and so can you. Since 1992 we have strived to be the premier resource for fashionable alternative and organic apparel.Our Mission
From a personal dream of bringing organic sustainable products to the world’s market, we believe we can make a difference and so can you. Since 1992 we have strived to be the premier resource for fashionable alternative and organic apparel."

Annatarian

"Annatarian’s mission is to unite the global community through fashion. The one of a kind dresses serve as an example of a perfect world, where different colors, textures, cultures, and patterns are blissfully intertwined."

Nau

Design Philosophy
"The balancing of beauty, performance and sustainability drive everything we do, from developing better, more environmentally friendly fabrics to raising the bar for functional, elegant designs."

Green Stuff Connection

Tada - The Cabinet is finished.

2007-11-14T13:27:00.000-06:00

Here is the final installment. I think it came out okay. Not perfect but certainly useable. As you can the dark wood knob won the contest and it is well deserved.

1954 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight

2007-11-13T14:50:00.000-06:00

We have a friend that buys and restores vintage automobiles and on really nice days he will take one out and bring it around for us to ooh and ahh at and go for a ride. Well today was just such a day and this car is a beauty. The paint is original and the dash board is a fantastic deco design.

First Coat on the Cabinet

2007-11-12T15:39:00.001-06:00

I went with the orange family and I absolutely love this color. It is Benjamin Moore Autumn cover. This is just the first coat and will definately need at least one more. Trying now to decide on the pull that I want to put on. Here are some of my choices. Any thoughts are welcome.

My Cabinet Project Updated

2007-11-10T14:40:00.000-06:00

I have gotten the shutter resized and primed. I will be painting and hoping that paint covers a multitude of sins. Can I just say that painting shutters is not much fun, getting in between the slats without clumping the paint is harder than I thought. I have been rather taken with the variety of orange paint colors while this will in no way match anything in my office. Here are some pics of the work in progress. This will hopefully work on the cabinet below as a door.

More From This Old House

2007-11-09T12:50:00.000-06:00

Fabulous Fall Colors

from This Old House Online

The bright pigments of this time of year may be on their way out, but indoors the vibrant shades of autumn can live all year long. Check out these glowing examples of rooms with a hue.

We just loved the rich deep colors and of course all to the vintage architectural elements in these rooms, Mantels, room dividers, and built in bookcases. Here are some similar items that we have in our inventory now.

At the Warehouse

2007-11-09T12:00:00.000-06:00

We met a couple at Salvage Fest in NY in August and were very intrigued by what they were doing. They have created a Market Place around their Architectural Salvage business, Silver Fox Enterprises www.silverfoxenterprises.com.

Albany’s only year-round Multi Functional Market within the city boundaries offers year round indoor space designed for specialty foods, crafts and antique vendors. A significant portion of the warehouse will support the architectural salvage business which will be dispersed throughout the market adding to its ambiance. They have vendors for the Café, Bakery, and specialty teas, that create an atmosphere for the public to relax, shop and explore. And a Dance studio that offers space for creative expression.

During the warmer months, the market expands outdoors to include a Farmer’s Market, Antiques & Crafts, and garden statuary. Individual shelters are constructed to enhance the permanence of the venue, eliminate the look of a “tent city,” and ease the set-up process. Under consideration include plans to host small festivals such as Medieval fairs, “Llama Days”, and Antique car shows. Additional ideas are always welcome for discussion.

To visit the Warehouse online go to www.atthewarehouse.net

Tab's Dreaming Again...

2007-11-08T13:31:00.000-06:00

I've been dreaming about re-doing a ranch. I know it sounds completely out of character for me but I finished remodeling and decorating my current home this summer (look in the archive for photos) and so I'm itching for a new project, a new adventure. And I recently tumbled down my stairs in the middle of the night and broke my wrist. First thing my husband said was "we should buy a ranch". It's what he grew up in and finds familiar comfort in but...a ranch? It's been nearly eight weeks and I'm out of my cast and in occupational therapy now (totally hurts) and for some reason the idea of a ranch has permeated my dreams at night.

My parents are famous for finishing a restoration and then placing the house on the market and unfortunately I think I've got this disease as well. I'm thinking something a little sparser and open with a much greater mix of periods and styles. This keeps bringing me back to a ranch where I can play with mixing and not feel guilty about staying true to the architectural integrity of the original design. Who really cares about the integrity of 70's ranches? Is there even any?

I've been wondering through blogs and websites for ideas to convince my husband that we should get serious and start looking for a ranch while the interest rates are down and housing prices are falling. All I need is a house with good bones. All else can be reconfigured to suit our needs.

Here's what I'm thinking... white on the walls in the hallway/entryway

and a mixture of my favorite French gilded empire mirrors along

with paintings by my husband Pete.

I nabbed this photo from LivingEtc. Magazine.

This is a clean line design and I think I'm moving towards this kind of decorating. I would use my existing antique furnishings from my family but streamline my choices a bit. I'm feeling the urge to unclutter and accentuate some of the great pieces I already have. Now if I could just get my husband on board...

Tab

Meet the RoboJunker

2007-11-08T07:29:00.001-06:00

Some people look at a window and they see a window (for the most part I would have to say that I fall into this category) then there are some people who see a window and in their mind's eye it is actually a greenhouse, or backdrop or some other equally creative and so NOT a window anymore. Anyway in my wandering the web looking for just such creations I found Robo Junker and I would like to share what she and others have done with "windows?" and some other great uses for salvaged house parts etc. Here are some of her wares.

I am going to take some of the ideas to heart and for my first project I am going to put a door on this little cabinet in my office and paint it some really funky color. My office is a disaster area and I can do better so I will start with cleaning out this bookcase and putting a door on it and we can keep all our non-perishable food stuffs and napkins etc here rather than in the whole top drawer of my file cabintet. I still have to find the right piece to make it work. So far everything is much too tall and not easily cut down to size. Stay tuned.

2007-11-06T16:12:00.000-06:00

Found this article on http://www.cooltownstudios.com/

Ani DiFranco and her church-turned-concert hall
Monday, November 05, 2007

Ani DiFranco and her church-turned-concert hall
Recording artist Ani DiFranco wanted to energize the downtown of her hometown of Buffalo with some creative spirit. So she did what any other person would have done - transforming a doomed 19th century church into a 21st century destination that houses a concert hall (pictured), a record studio, an art gallery and bar/lounge.
The city slated the 1871-built church for demolition in 1995, and within a year DiFranco and her record company president launched a community-wide effort to save it, ultimately purchasing the building three years later. The renovated church reopened in spring 2006.
Known as The Church (aka Babeville), the building features:- The concert venue, Asbury Hall, which hosts banquets of 300 to live performances with crowds of 1000.- The gallery and screening room, which belong to Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, whose mission is to bring the newest and most challenging work in the contemporary arts to the interested public.- Righteous Babe Records, Ani's own indie rock label.
"I think it will be a really dynamic place that will have a momentum of its own once all the creative people are in there, and there is music happening at night, and art hanging on the walls and crazy cinema in the basement. I think that the collective energy of all those people coming together will emanate out through the neighborhood. The space itself has a soul - it's vibe-y, it's cool and it's beautiful." Ani DiFranco

I just love Ani's music and now I know why!
Tab

The Greening of NBC this week!

2007-11-04T14:38:00.000-06:00

I was so excited to see commercials on every NBC Channel about the national and local stations going green this week. Then I went out to their website at: http://www.nbc.com/green/ and I was even more excited! They have done this so right! All of the stations shows are participating in Green Week. I'm so proud to be in a green industry! Check it out and join the movement!

Tab

Make a Folding Screen Using Old Hinges and Shutters

2007-11-04T08:40:00.000-06:00

This is something that we have been doing at our shop for a couple of years now. We have oodles of shutters and we make the screens to give our displays a little more definition. Okay and we use them to hide things like our work area which is always a mess. But here are the detailed instructions from This Old House. with Amy R. Hughes, , November 2007

Fred Claus

2007-10-30T12:06:00.000-05:00

Fred Claus has lived his entire life in his brother's very large shadow. Fred tried, but could hardly live up to the example set by the younger Nicholas, who was just a perfect, well, saint. True to form, Nicholas grew up to be the model of giving, while Fred became the polar opposite: a fast-talking repo man who's run out of luck and money. Over Mrs. Claus' objections, Nicholas...

Ever wonder where film crews get all the cool stuff for sets? They shop at stores like ours. We're very excited about the release of Fred Claus Nov 9th! It was filmed here in Chicago last year and we've been looking forward to seeing our goods on the big screen! The cast includes Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, John Michael Higgins, and Elizabeth Banks

Should be a great film!

Tab

Solar Decathlon

2007-10-24T06:03:00.000-05:00

I caught the end of this on TV last night and checked out the website this morning. Some really interesting innovative ideas. The Solar Decathlon joins 20 college and university teams in a competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house.

Teams of college students design a solar house, knowing from the outset that it must be powered entirely by the sun. In a quest to stretch every last watt of electricity that's generated by the solar panels on their roofs, the students absorb the lesson that energy is a precious commodity. They strive to innovate, using high-tech materials and design elements in ingenious ways. Along the way, the students learn how to raise funds and communicate about team activities. They collect supplies and talk to contractors. They build their solar houses, learning as they go.

The U.S Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is the primary sponsor of the Solar Decathlon.

Get Hip Get Green Reusable Grocery Bags

2007-10-23T06:46:00.001-05:00

Envirosax Delightfully Pretty Reusable Grocery Bags

2007-10-23T06:34:00.001-05:00

Been swapping between paper and plastic for years. This would be much easier and nothing to throw away.

Flickr

2007-10-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

Spell with Flickr

The Salvage Sisters' : Guide to Finding Style in the Street and Inspiration in the Attic

2007-10-20T12:21:00.001-05:00

Duluth Trading Looking for Rosies

2007-10-19T16:25:00.000-05:00

2007-10-16T12:57:00.000-05:00

Candles always bring a warm glow to any room. We love the way votives look against some of our smaller shades. It is great and different way to light up a room.

Customer Creations

2007-10-15T14:46:00.000-05:00

Here we have a set of French Doors after the installation.

Before and After photos of a buffet.

Customer Creations

2007-10-14T13:10:00.001-05:00

We try to be creative with our merchandise but the time and ideas can sometimes escape us. What we do have is a wonderful customer base that has thier own ideas and DIY projects that involve things they have purchased at our store. The best part of this is that often they will send us pictures or even bring the items back to show us what they have done. Here is one of these items. The bench had been in the family for 50 some odd years and the fabric has evolved from blues to oranges and this is the latest rendition using vintage Eames Era barkclolth (from IGS) to reupholster it. (I am also making matching pillows for the room that this is in).

Funky Finds of the Day

2007-10-11T06:06:00.000-05:00

These are rare Halophane Prismatic Glass Lights. Incredibly cool. One is 12" and the other is 18". Both have 12 points on them. One of the points opens to change the bulb.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

2007-10-08T07:03:00.000-05:00

These are a few of the projects that we have been working on. We have lots of trim work that we have salvaged over the years and the detail on some is incredible but not always in the best shape or enough to trim out a room. So we were looking for ways to recycle and reinvent. The fabric is also vintage that I collect because I can't seem to help it. The second picture is an old sidelight window that we removed from a home the panes were broken so we cleaned it up and put in beveled mirrors we are working on a matching one that was on the other side of the front door

Funky Find of the Day

2007-10-06T15:07:00.001-05:00

Joy to the home

2007-10-05T14:40:00.000-05:00

When you get a chance check out this blog. Jeanette and I have been corresponding over the last year or so. She has fantastic ideas for the home and offers a wealth of experience flipping homes.

P. S. she mentions us in the post titled 'Fisher's Folly '.

Joy to the home

Tab

The Latest

2007-09-29T14:39:00.000-05:00

Here is our latest inventory...

Funky Finds

2007-09-28T07:47:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while we come across something that for one reason or another we are drawn to. These lamps and fixture are a couple of those items. We just fell in love with the shades.

Playing Around with Pictures

2007-09-18T07:58:00.000-05:00

6704

2007-09-18T05:59:00.000-05:00

We have had this piece of stained glass for a bit now. I figure it will take us a while to find someone who either lives with an address of 6704 somewhere lane or has a birthdate of June 7, 2004 or mayyyybeee April 1967 ...its a stretch. Other thoughts?? Update, here is another picture that shows the fantastic coloring of the glass on this window. I have had way too much coffee and I just could not keep the camera steady, but the colors come through wonderfully.

2007-09-14T07:26:00.000-05:00

Found this while clicking around on Curbly.com
www.coopamerica.org

74 South Evergreen Beginnings

2007-09-13T06:06:00.000-05:00

Lately I find myself flipping through a lot of old photo albums and packs of pictures that I had forgotten about or just never did anything with. I have a bunch of said packs in my file cabinet at the store. Most of them are not so great. But I do have some good ones of our first store. Which was an expansive 780 Sq. feet. (we used to have to base our inventory on whether it would fit through the front door). But that aside, it was great space and we had a lot of fun with it. - Liz

Salvage Fest 2007

2007-09-11T12:19:00.000-05:00

We just returned from Salvage Fest 2007 in NYC! This was the first ever salvage festival put together by Jon Butler of Brownstoner.com. (I pulled the "about" info from Jon's site below. It's a great site. Check it out!)

Brownstoner.com is a site about Brooklyn real estate and renovation, and all the tangential topics that impact life inside and outside the home in Brooklyn. Launched in October 2004 by Jonathan Butler, the site currently has about 100,000 unique visitors per month.

Liz and I had set out on Thursday to Long Island (Liz's home) and drove straight through getting in late Thursday evening. Salvage Fest was on Saturday in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. A fabulous section of what seemed to me to be late 19th century brownstones. The fest was held at a public school (PS11). The vibe was good and everyone from the exhibitors to the shoppers were excited about the turnout and the enthusiasm for a strictly salvage show. Rich Ellis from Architectural Salvage News was there. I forgot to ask but it seemed like people were going crazy for the first ever architectural salvage directory. Even though I've written for Architectural Salvage News and talk over the phone with Rich often, it was the first time we'd met in person. We took a photo to share with all of you which I'll post later (forgot the USB cord).

We met Fred Shapiro and Camille Gibeau of Silver Fox Enterprises out of Albany, NY. They had great salvage from that area. We purchased a couple of light fixtures.

Lisa with "This Old House" was there as well taking photos and interviewing exhibitors for an upcoming article.

All in all it was a great experience. Thanks go out to Jon for coming up with this format and hopefully we'll do this again next year!

Tab

Zero or Low VOC Paints

2007-09-06T05:23:00.000-05:00

Having been hearing a lot of buzz around about low or zero VOC paints and truthfully not knowing too much about them I decided to do a little research and learn a bit more. I came across this site and I thought it was a good introduction.

http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_paints.htm.

Adaptive Reuse (thisoldhouse.com article)

2007-08-30T06:56:00.001-05:00

I came across this article on This Old House.com and thought it had some really creative and ingenius ideas and designs for renovating and reusing material and buildings for new living spaces. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20052183,00.html

WhirlyBall

2007-08-26T08:39:00.001-05:00

With all the happenings going on with the storm and the power outage, I completely forgot to make the post about our outing to play whirlyball. I had heard of it but never played before. For those of you not familiar, it is a strange combination of lacrosse, basketball and bumper cars. The object is to scoop up a wiffle ball and shoot it into your teams net while riding around in bumber cars smashing into one another. It was a riot, soooooooo much fun. Our backs were a little sore and you tend to bump you knees on the on steering handle but totally worth it. No skill necessary.

Storm Pictures

2007-08-25T08:47:00.000-05:00

As of 7:30 this morning the power is still out at the shop but I grabbed the usb cable, here are the pics. I don't think the sky was quite that dark in the last pic but I thought it looked really cool.

Storm Stories

2007-08-25T04:55:00.001-05:00

If you are not in the Chicago area, we had some crazy storms the other day. Horror movie lightning, jump out of your skin thunder. Tornado sirens going off. It came up so quickly, one minute it started to rain and the next the trees were bending almost to the ground the rain was horizontal, then out went the lights. Never seen aything like that before. I will admit I was shakin', all of us moving far away from the windows as possible. I am clicking off things in my head, like get under a table, stand in a door way, no no that's an earthquake. Possible tornado go the basement, we don't have a basement, we have bathtubs. Repeat new mantra, "please let the roof stay on, please let the roof stay on."

So the worst passed. There were branches from trees that we have no idea where they came from. I just hope the sunglasses that we found in the driveway weren't on someone's face when they flew away. We had some branches and debris in our area but considering the damage in other parts of the area were were very lucky. Still without power though. I am writing this post from home. We took pictures, I remembered the camera, I remembered the extra batteries and charger for it, but oh yeah, where is my USB cable, AT THE STORE argghhh. So pics will have to wait.

Starting Your Own Salvage Company

2007-08-22T14:42:00.001-05:00

People ask us all of the time “how did you get started in salvage?” or “I’ve had this dream for years, how do I start a salvage business?”
We are truly flattered by all of the wonderful comments sent to us about our business but I also giggle to myself because if you had been filming us in the early days it would have made a top rated comedic “You Tube” video today.
It has definitely been an upward battle with great losses and enormous gains monetarily. Many character building moments, ah ha moments, complete break down moments, and rebuilding both relationships and spirit moments.
I don’t know who said it but we live by the saying that “if it were easy to start a business, everyone would do it”. And it’s true. There are fabulous and not so fabulous things that come with owning your own business such as your time is truly yours. We work much longer hours than we ever did while working for someone else but when it’s yours and it’s your passion, time doesn’t seem to matter. We’re able to leave and do the everyday things most people have to wait until the weekend to do. What’s funny is that there is always an urgency to get back to the showroom and see what going on, whose emailed, is there a new opportunity waiting for us in voicemail? The downside is that you are completely tied to your business. And you have to be to make it into your fifth and crucial year of business. Ask my husband, I live and breath Island Girl Salvage. It’s like a child that I’m raising to be an upstanding citizen.
I digress, how to get started you ask? The first and probably most important thing we did was to reach out to the Woman’s Business Development Center in Chicago. We signed up for a seminar series called “Jump Start Your Business”. The seminars were taught by successful entrepreneurs that held nothing back. It was hard work and they kicked our butts weekly but we learned more there than anywhere else. The series taught how to create a business plan, how to get financing, what type of business do you have, Retail, wholesale, service? What kind of capital do YOU have to start? Ah yes, consider those pedicures and manicures luxury items when you get started. What does your business model look like? How will you make money? We learned that we still had to hone our selling technique. How do you get people to come into your store? Heck, what kind of store do you have? Is it brick and mortar, online, consignment, word of mouth out of your garage? And then, how do you get them to buy something from you? This is where the type of merchandise that you sell comes into play. Salvage is tough and there are many levels of what is considered salvage. Are you selling museum quality pieces? Are you selling house parts, commercial parts, and industrial items? Are you going to rewire your light fixtures? Think overhead, think about services. Are you able to deliver, ship, can you handle a claw foot tub? Are you able to hire a crew for demolition or are you going to rely on extracted inventory? And let me tell you, salvage is not a valued commodity as far as the banks are concerned. If you’re planning on getting a loan to start you may want to reconsider. Banks can’t value your salvage inventory. There’s no basis for tracking what the value of a claw foot tub is. Salvage is an industry where it’s whatever the market will bear.
Now what about the integral people you’ll need to maintain your business. How are you going to track inventory and sales? Are you familiar with QickBooks? Take a class. Hire an accountant to help set up your books and your taxing. You’ll need an attorney to file your business and help you figure out all of the liabilities of owning a business. Are you going to trademark?

Have I scared you yet? Here are several questions to ask yourself, and then seek out an organization that helps entrepreneurs get started. Then let us know your experience!

Is salvage your passion?
Have you written a business plan?
How much can you afford upfront and down the road?
How much do you plan on spending on marketing, overhead, inventory, employees?
What is your niche?
How will you reach people?
Do people want to buy what you have to sell?
What kind of store do you envision? Is it possible?
Do you have the time to commit to a business?
How can you do it better than what’s already available?
Do you have the support around you to take on starting a business?
Where will you get your inventory?
Do you know how to soft salvage?
Do you have insurance?
Do you have a network in mind for buying your inventory?
Do you have enough inventory to fill your imagined store space? What do you need to make to cover your expenses?
Do you have a marketing plan in writing?

I'm sure I've missed quite a bit of information. Please feel free to add to it.
Thanks,
Tab

"If only I'd thought about it" Clawfoot Tub

2007-08-11T07:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a funny kind of day. Check out the last post and you will see that we got a lot of terra cotta. We worked all afternoon bringing it in. We weren't expecting it so you will also notice that Tab is not wearing proper footwear for this kind of thing. Anyway I remembered recently seeing a sneaker in the back of cab of the truck and went to go them for her. Well what I found was one sneaker and one sock. To which Tab said "That seems about right for you". All that got me thinking about some of the less than stellar moments and I guess it is time to face up and share some of the 'well that wasn't too bright" I have been reluctant to do so since most of them belong to me.

Anyway here goes. We had gotten this fantastic 4 1/2 foot clawfoot tub in great condition. We went to pick it up with my pick-up truck, promptly put in the bed and drove away, happy with our lovely new find. I got a 30 feet and stopped for a stop sign, the next thing I know I am covered in glass and the tub is practically in the passenger seat. Nothing was hurt but the window and my forehead from smacking it "stupid, stupid, stupid" The window has since been replaced and we learned our lesson. Always put the flat side of the tub in first.

Liz

End of the Day

2007-08-10T17:41:00.001-05:00

My brain can't think of anything to say right now for the time being I will let the photo speak for itself.

Architectural Salvage News Article July/August Issue

2007-08-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

Lately I’ve been hearing from peers in the industry that business is slowing down and at times this seems like an understatement. The housing market instability has slowed remodeling projects and the gas prices are making shipping and delivery costly for all of us.

I think it’s safe to say that most of us can’t afford to ride out the storm rather we must use our ingenuity to create new revenue streams. One area that we at Island Girl Salvage are exploring is cross promotional merchandising. Most communities have an area of high end boutiques geared towards those not affected by the everyday fluctuations in the markets. We’ve partnered up with just such a boutique in Chicago.

C’est Moi on Damen Ave in Chicago offers French inspired home décor items to its extensive and loyal clientele. Owner Anne Chalesle carries the best in Pine Cone Hill Linens, Company C Rugs, dinnerware, Sabre Silverware, new baby décor gifts such as David Fussenegger Throws, and personal care items. Her inventory is constantly changing with the latest trends in home décor but her display units weren’t.

Anne and I had been casually talking about partnering on some level to increase sales for both of our businesses. Island Girl Salvage is off the beaten track so bringing customers into the physical store is a constant battle for us. C’est Moi has a great location in Chicago within a high traffic area surrounded by several boutiques for a unique shopping experience. Anne wanted to try some vintage items to be used as display units but also be for sale. We handpicked some French inspired items such as a café table and chair set, a brass bed, and a red leather trunk. We’ve also brought in columns and some stained glass.

“My customers are pleased with the new accents in the store and excited about what will show up next. Architectural salvage and vintage items have punched up my existing merchandise and filled in with new colors and textures that I didn’t have before” says Anne Chalesle owner of C’est Moi in Chicago. It’s a win; win for both of us. Anne receives the benefit of new merchandise and we receive a new outlet for our inventory. There are no secrets here; we are telling our customers about each other because we have such different businesses we are able to compliment each other and provide a broader service and introduction to our customers. Customers buying Pine Cone Hill linens from Anne may also need a fabulous vintage light fixture to hang over a table or bed. An Island Girl Salvage customer comes in for a door to use as a headboard and we’ll turn them onto C’est Moi for linens. That’s where a successful cross promotion program will take you. We’ve taken the opportunity in introducing a new option in home décor to Anne’s customers that isn’t being done today.

We are creating a stronger awareness of both our businesses and along the way have created a strong personal bond between us. Anne has been a pleasure to work with. It’s been a wonderful team effort and I’m excited about the future of both of our businesses.

C’est Moi is located at 2129 North Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647. Phone number is 773-269-2116, Website is http://www.cestmoi.us/

Island Girl Salvage is located at 160 Kelly Street, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007.
Phone number is 847-593-2433, Website is http://www.islandgirlsalvage.com/

This Old House Website & Tile.

2007-08-07T09:51:00.000-05:00

Things have been just looney around here - there is always something that needs doing and never enough hours in the day to do it. Add the heat and humidity to that and it is hard to keep moving. But enough of my complaining, I wanted to quickly post that we are the Salvage Resource of the month on http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/salvage and that we have gotten tile, lot's and lot's of tile. Trent, Cambridge, Majolica, US Encaustic. We are steadily adding it to the website (new page just for tile) so please visit. http://www.islandgirlsalvage.com/

Sustainable Building

2007-08-07T05:31:00.000-05:00

Good Morning, and I am a morning person but even I cannot fathom why my internal clock has decided that 5am is way to go. So here I sit sipping coffee. But that is not the real reason I am writing this post. I was introduced to Heather via email a couple of weeks ago. This is her house and it is remarkable, Green, Near Zero Energy, & Affordable.

http://www.heathershome.info/

Sorry Jim

2007-07-24T19:32:00.000-05:00

Ok so I ran through all of the folks that helped get my house in tip top shape and of course I ended up forgetting someone that poured his sweat into the finishing touches.

Jim (aka Island Boy)
Thank You.

Tab

More of Tab's

2007-07-06T12:50:00.001-05:00

Tab's House is Finally Finished!!

2007-07-06T12:22:00.000-05:00

I can honestly say it's been an exciting year so far. We started our house project in Feb and just finished in May. Surviving a remodel tests all relationships but it's finished now! My husband and our pets seem to be very happy with the place.

We were featured in our local newspaper (The Daily Herald) on June 29th. It was a large spread and I thank the writer Debby Donovan for a wonderful article. Here are some photos of the finished product.

Special thanks also goes out to all of the folks that helped with my constant project changes. Joe at Arlington Porcelain for refinishing our tub, sink and enamel towel racks. Doug, Jon, and Rapheal at AAA Construction for figuring out my sink in the kitchen , working with 1940's cabinets and fixing my plaster and painting without giving me strange looks . Liz Ross for the beautiful vintage pillows and vallance in the kitchen window. Anne at Ces't Moi in Chicago for the kitchen rug. Sherwin at Just Faucets for my faucets. And most of all Pete for putting up with me during the project.

Diningroom features urns we have in stock at Island Girl Salvage. Master bedroom was painted in a color called "Happy Camper". Flash cards (from Pete's mom Mary when she was a school teacher) were used as a headboard. The light fixture is actually a pedastal sink leg on top of a newel post. We have them in stock at Island Girl Salvage.

2007-06-09T12:39:00.000-05:00

Whenever we first go into a house to salvage we never know quite what we are going to find. A lot of the time, in addition to some great architectural elements we find other little treasures that give us history or insight into the lives of the people who have lived their throughout the years. This takes the form of letters, postcards, photographs. We have found old bottles behind walls or fireplace mantles. For this entry it is an old newspaper and an old Better Homes and Garden Magazine. These are just fun to look through the advertisements and new products, recipes etc.. Here are some pictures from both. The magazine is from 1958 and the newspaper is from 1965.

The Road Trip to Toronto: Coming Home

2007-05-27T23:28:00.000-05:00

It's been a long day here at Mission Control. While I was out tending the garden, my technical people managed to loose contact with The Island Girls (if you want something done right, I guess you have to do it yourself!) on the far side of Toronto. There nothing like the Canadian Dark Side to disrupt communications.

Anyway, after sweating through some tense hours, we were relieved to learn about 7:30 pm CDT that Tab and Liz were nearly home, burning through the atmosphere on the Dan Ryan and heading for landing in Elk Grove Village. Someone just yelled something about a drag chute, but I don't know what they mean...

We all hope that their contact with Far Side (i.e., the Great White North) will lead to good things. Relationships with our friends, colleagues and customers are so important to us, we'd go to the ends of the earth - or at least Canada - for them. As usual, we will take it one step at a time.

Tune in next time when yours truly gets the real story of The Road Trip to Toronto. You never know - there might be some surprises lurking.

Jim

The Road Trip to Toronto continues...

2007-05-27T00:02:00.000-05:00

Dateline: Port Huron, Michigan

When last we blogged, Tab and Liz had just left for Toronto. They've made it to lovely, downtown Port Huron, Michigan. Ah, Port Huron - gateway to all that's enticing about our northern neighbors - ice fishing and Molson's, eh?

Here's Tab behind the wheel of Island Girl's delivery vehicle. Note the look of concentration and intensity - no doubt she's doing the speed limit.

And intense they have to be, with the distractions along I-94 in the LP (Lower Peninsula for those non-initiates). Here's an example of what they encountered:

Tough to stay focused, right?

Tune in tomorrow for more adventures of the Island Girls as they...Road Trip to Toronto!

Jim

PS I just know there's a movie about this trip aching to be made. Someone's ready for their close-up, Mr. DeMille