Flash Sale 20% Off Over $75 - Code SPRING24MORE INFO

Olde Good Things

Architectural and Altered Antiques

20 Fun Facts about the Flatiron Building

Posted on by

stock photo of Flat Iron Building

1. The Flatiron Building is located in Manhattan, New York City. The construction of the Flatiron Building began in 1901 and was completed in 1902, taking approximately a year to finish.

2. Designed by Daniel Burnham, it became an iconic symbol of New York. Daniel Hudson Burnham (1846 – 1912) was an influential American architect and urban planner. He was born in Henderson, New York, and went on to become one of the most prominent architects of his time. Burnham played a major role in the design and planning of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, often referred to as the Chicago World’s Fair. Burnham’s work had a lasting impact on American architecture and urban design. His ideas shaped the aesthetic and functional development of cities across the United States.

3. Positioned at the crossroads of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, the building acquired its unique triangular structure. Its precise address stands at 175 Fifth Avenue, solidifying its place in history.

4. Upon completion, the Flatiron Building stood as one of New York City’s tallest structures. Presently, One World Trade Center, reaching a symbolic height of 1,776 feet, holds the distinction as the city’s tallest building.

5. Initially dubbed the Fuller Building, it bore the name of its proprietor, George A. Fuller, who oversaw its construction and ownership during its early years. The Fuller Building was officially renamed the Flatiron Building in 1899, owing to its distinctive triangular shape resembling a clothes iron, not long before its completion in 1902.

stock photo of Flat Iron Building

6. The utilization of a steel frame in the building’s construction marked a groundbreaking innovation during its era. This structural advancement not only ensured stability but also facilitated the creation of its iconic and unconventional triangular design.

7. The Beaux-Arts architectural style significantly influenced the design of the Flatiron Building. This style’s emphasis on grandeur, classical elements, and intricate detailing can be observed in the building’s ornate façade and overall aesthetic, adding to its timeless allure.

8. The Flatiron Building has attained iconic landmark status through its appearances in diverse films, photographs, and artworks. Its distinct triangular silhouette and historical significance have caused it to earn its place as a celebrated symbol of urban architecture and culture.

9. The building’s slender profile and distinctive design posed challenges in efficiently using its interior space. Architects had to devise innovative solutions to accommodate functional layouts within the constraints of its triangular structure, showcasing their creative adaptability.

10.In 1966, the Flatiron Building earned the designation of a New York City landmark. This recognition underscored its historical and architectural significance, safeguarding its legacy for generations to come.

stock photo of Flat Iron Building

11. A cherished tourist destination, the Flatiron Building embodies New York City’s architectural heritage. Its striking form and historical prominence make it a quintessential symbol of the city’s rich urban legacy, captivating visitors from around the world.  It is among the most photographed buildings in the world.

12. The vibrant Flatiron District, named in honor of the iconic building, has evolved into a lively neighborhood in Manhattan. Characterized by its dynamic atmosphere, diverse businesses, and cultural attractions, it stands as a testament to the building’s enduring influence.

13. Positioned advantageously, the Flatiron Building provides captivating vistas of Madison Square Park. This strategic location enhances its allure, offering both residents and visitors a splendid panorama of the park’s natural beauty and urban surroundings.

14. The building’s unparalleled design has served as a wellspring of inspiration for architects and designers. Its innovative triangular form and groundbreaking construction have ignited creativity, shaping contemporary architectural thought and pushing the boundaries of structural aesthetics.

15. The Flatiron Building’s cultural significance has been enriched through its appearances in television shows and literature. These portrayals in various media forms have contributed to its iconic status, solidifying its place as a cherished symbol of architectural and artistic allure.

stock photo of Flat Iron Building

16. Enduring the trials of the Great Depression and evolving urban landscapes, the Flatiron Building has stood resilient. Its ability to weather these challenges showcases its enduring legacy and resilience in the face of changing times and contexts.

17. The Flatiron Building resonates with the vibrant pulse of New York City. Its distinctive presence symbolizes the city’s dynamic spirit and serves as an architectural embodiment of its lively, ever-moving energy.

18. The exterior of the Flatiron Building is primarily constructed using terracotta, a type of fired clay. This material gives the building its distinctive ornate façade and contributes to its unique appearance and historical charm.

19. To safeguard its historic attributes, the Flatiron Building underwent substantial restoration during the 1990s. More recently, its exterior has undergone meticulous renovation, ensuring the preservation of its architectural significance for current and future generations to appreciate.

20. You have the opportunity to possess a fragment of the Flatiron Building’s history. Olde Good Things obtained a significant collection of salvaged copper window frames from the building’s renovations. These frames have been ingeniously transformed into mirrors, preserving their legacy in a new form. Please view this product online here.

Blue Sky Studios Channels a Historic Florida in This New Luxury Orlando Restaurant

Posted on by

The Pinery is Orlando’s freshest upscale restaurant due to open in Fall. Hosted in the new nine-story high-rise Ivanhoe Village, The Pinery promises to offer “Florida-fresh cuisine” in a 4,200 square foot, 150-seat space of thematic history.

Named for the “Ivanhood” neighborhood’s 1885 pineapple farm origins on Lake Ivanhoe, the innovative restaurant is a project of design firm Blue Sky Studios, known for projects such as Hard Rock Park and Crowne Plaza Orlando. The history inspired all phases of design, from shocking new uses of old materials, integral repurposed materials, and pineapple-related color and texture.

Green glass mosaic tile, an antique screen from a former Orlando bank, and unfinished brass pipes add an elegant historical-industrial component to the space.

The Pinery features one of OGT’s copper shingle handmade oversized mirrors. View all the copper mirrors available online. It provides another example of how our reclaimed, repurposed architectural salvage brings history, glamor, and ambiance to contemporary settings.

The reclaimed oak industrial flooring dining table tops were fabricated in the OGT’s table shop. These table tops are available online. The tables were paired with photographic murals, framed maps, photos, antique postcards, and vintage artifacts were incorporated into the design style of integrity and authenticity.

Other polished features include a white quartz bar top, emerald wall tile, and hints of upcycled pecky cypress which harmonize to create the feel of Old Florida in a modern environment.

 

The Pinery is a solid example of how design firms can use green materials, upcycled and reclaimed elements, and antiques to create a vision that is both contemporary and sustainable with a clean and classic feel.

For more ideas and salvaged artifacts and antiques to incorporate into your home or business projects, contact one of our reclaimed architectural experts at Olde Good Things. We always welcome you to drop in and browse our store and warehouse locations in NYC, Los Angeles, or PA.

OGT Items Add Charm and Functionality to a Rustic Cabin in Idaho

Posted on by

A few distinctive reclaimed items from historic places can take your space from plain rugged to rustic luxury. Architectural salvage always carries a story with it. When you know the story of your items, you can surround yourself with the fascination and warmth of times gone by in your contemporary setting. Take a look at how these homeowners transformed their cabin in Idaho with a few select items from Olde Good Things.

This salvaged gate highlights an entry to the cabin. OGT iron and wooden gates can be used both functionally and for decor, depending on the piece you select and your needs. Gates are available in various architectural period styles for a solid statement piece.

OGT end tables bring together a cozy living area and add functional, beautiful surface space to the bedroom. OGT salvaged furniture and building materials are green; we negate the waste of the manufacturing process and keep fine, older furnishings out of landfills. Our reclaimed furniture is also higher quality than what you can find in stores today, whether it is an intact salvage piece or one of our pieces designed in-house. You can find just about anything you are seeking — farmhouse tables, end tables, coffee tables, accessories, and lighting when you browse our quality reclaims.

Notice how this OGT mirror complements a rustic contemporary bathroom in the Idaho cabin. Our mirrors are salvaged from some of the most famous architectural landmarks. There are a wide variety of frames to choose from, including various metal and wood mirror frames, and stunning copper frames! Visit our line of altered antiques to see what we have available. We are always glad to offer suggestions on specs, design, and framing.

An industrial rustic fire door adds a wow factor to the cabin’s kitchen. This piece gives an edgy look to the overall design. You can see how the metal complements the prevalent wood in the cabin, giving the entire space sheen and texture.

We have doors for every use, many of them from iconic buildings. Check out our wide selection of salvaged doors in every style. Some of our latest includes doors rescued from the famous Waldorf Astoria in New York City!

The clients were pleased with the result of incorporating these charming home elements to their “little” barn-house in Idaho, as they call it. It only takes a few significant pieces to change the shape and feel of a space. Olde Good Things has a little something for everyone. Contact us for ideas today, or visit one of our locations.

NYC Flatiron Building Reclaimed Copper Clad Windows at Olde Good Things

Posted on by

Olde Good Things always has architectural treasures reclaimed from some of the most famous historic buildings, just waiting for the right person to find them. These copper-clad window frames from New York City’s Flatiron Building are part of our treasure trove of architectural history.

The 100-year-old windows have been reconditioned with completely sustainable materials into stunning decorative mirrors. The rich copper color of each piece provides a striking contrast to the mirror’s glossy sheen and will add a warm element to any style of interior or exterior project. These windows also provide the warmth and fascination of the rich history of the Flatiron Building.

History of the Flatiron Building

New York City’s legendary Flatiron Building was designed by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. Considered New York’s oldest skyscraper, the 22-story edifice was built to house offices for Chicago contracting firm George A. Fuller Company and was formally known as the “Fuller Building.” The building’s nickname came from the piece of land it was built on, commonly called the “flat iron.” The structure’s unique triangle shape was designed to hug the wedge-shaped property at the converging corners of Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street in Manhattan.

When plans for the Flatiron Building were revealed, some were afraid the structure that arose straight up from street level to dwarf its neighbor buildings would not hold, particularly in this quarter of the city, famous for windy gusts. The finished structure was labeled a “monstrosity” by the New York Times and “a disgrace to our city, an outrage to our sense of the artistic, and a menace to life” by William Ordway Partridge, sculptor of “The Pieta” at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

The classic Beaux-Arts structure arose around a steel skeleton. The narrow end measures only six feet across. The facade was covered in limestone and glazed terra cotta and melded French and Italian Renaissance flavors with other architectural trends prevalent on the cusp of the 20th century. Some distinctive architectural features of the Flatiron are columns, medallions, balustrades, friezes, and gargoyles perched along Floor 22.

The iconic structure has dominated the intersection since 1902 and claimed the imagination of many as a symbol of New York City. Well-known photographers Edward Steichen and Alfred Stieglitz, along with other famous and lesser-known photographers and artists, used the Flatiron Building as a subject.

After The Fuller Company left in 1925, inhabitants of the building included the Imperial Russian Consulate and the Murder Inc. crime syndicate.

From 1959 its occupants included St. Martin’s Press, whose parent, Macmillan Publishers, gradually took over the upper floors and made the Flatiron Building their home until last year. The Flatiron was designated a New York City landmark in 1966 and a National Historic Landmark in 1989. In fact, the Flatiron helped bring the neighborhood back to life due to its popularity.

Acquiring the Windows

The 22-story building was constructed of steel, limestone, and terra cotta.  In the early 1900s, it was a common practice to utilize copper-clad wooden windows in order to protect buildings from outside elements.  As these windows aged and became outdated, in 2005 the owners began replacing them with more updated and efficient windows.  Looking at the windows after removal, one would not have thought much of them as they had layers and layers of paint from years of exterior maintenance.  The window company which did the removal, unwilling to toss this iconic building’s windows in the landfill, called Olde Good Things to purchase and hopefully repurpose them.  Sure enough, once acquired, our architecturologists stripped the layers of decades of paint from the frame of the windows, only to reveal the deep rosy luster of aged copper.  The statement piece “Flatiron Mirror” came to be, purchased by many of our customers who wanted a little piece of this most famous New York landmark.

Flatiron Building Copper Window Mirror

Historical pieces of history from the Flatiron are awaiting new homes at Olde Good Things. Windows are available in two sizes, 44.5 in. H x 52 in. W x 3 in. D and 44.5 in. H x 54 in. W x 3 in. D. Each window is accompanied by the frame’s sticker of authenticity. The top windows are the only remaining windows left in stock, as shown below. There is a very limited quantity in stock, so time is of the essence if you wish to own one. OGT cladded copper windows are versatile as either windows or mirrors, and they have been used by our clients in offices, hotels, salons, and private residences to complement traditional design themes or add a flair of nostalgia and class to contemporary decor.

Customer Showcase Gallery

 

Click to view all the Copper Window Mirrors available online.

Olde Good Things Featured on the Bronson Pinchot Project HGTV

Posted on by

What He Bought

Olde Good Things was featured on HGTV’s Bronson Pinchot Project on their ‘Main House Garden‘ episode. In this episode, Bronson tries to tame the scraggly patch of grass and shrubs next to his house that passes for a garden. But in Bronson’s world gardening involves less planting and more building. Bronson visited one of our warehouses located on Brook Street in Scranton, Pa., and purchased 100 copper shingles that were salvaged from a 100-year-old church steeple roof.  For years now we’ve been repurposing the shingles into copper mirrors, seen below. Bronson also purchased a copper cupola several months before, featured on the show. There is a similar Cupola dome with louvered sides still available.

 

Watch the Video

 

Olde Good Things