LURE of the COUNTRY October 2017

PAGE 28
In Sarah Smith’s
capable hands,
an old egg
basket became
a light fixture
and a hardware
counter became
a kitchen island.
Sherwin Williams brand for creating better quality finishes.
He also offers many other vintage items like rugs, dishware,
lampshades, candlesticks, upholstered furniture, mirrors, clocks,
tables and more.
“I find stuff everywhere. I have pickers and customers who
bring me items and I go to auctions.”
In addition, he has partnered with a woman who makes decorative
pillows and an electrical engineer who assembles one-of-akind
upcycled lamps.
“I coached him to develop a more rustic, industrial look to mix
old with new and give people the light fixtures they’re looking for,”
he said.
Preserving History
In Iowa City, the Salvage Barn helps preserve history while
diverting materials from the landfill. The organization began as a
partnership between the Friends of Historic Preservation and the
city of Iowa City.
“The materials we save are higher quality and longer lasting
than new products, as they are from old growth wood. How can
we justify throwing it in the landfill?” said Alicia Trimble, executive
director of the Friends of Historic Preservation, which oversees
the barn.
The Salvage Barn features items from homes that are at last 50
years old. People can donate items, or a building owner can call
and a team of volunteers will remove them, including old radiators,
tubs, woodwork, doors and more.
If you need a piece of trim for your old house, this is a great place
to look. Want a vintage door? They have dozens. Paneling to create a
stylish wood bar? An old sink? You never know what you’ll find.
The Salvage Barn also runs a tool library, perfect for DIYers. For
a $25 membership, members can check out tools for a week. >
28 LUREOF THE COUNTRY