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Olde Good Things

Architectural and Altered Antiques

Nomad Mexicue: Tin Roofing Reuse

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With an abundance of places to dine out in New York,  you can only assume that as new restaurants crop up, they are always looking for a unique strategy to attract clientele.  Well Mexicue Kitchen and Bar is no exception, first they arrived at an exclusive menu inspired by two of America’s favorite comfort foods: Mexican & BBQ.  They took the flavorful tastes of Mexico and blended them with smoky bbq flavors to create a mouthwatering union.  Although the food is most important at any dining establishment, the atmosphere and decor has to be top notch to spark the interest of the hungry public who have the choice of 24,000 restaurants at which to dine in New York City alone.

Restaurant designers often shop Olde Good Things looking for the unique unconventional items that will make their restaurant just a little different than the next establishment.  Mexicue designers opted to go with a warm, rustic look with an industrial flair and went shopping to find just the look they wanted to accent the reclaimed wooden planks and copper window mirrors used for decorating their Nomad location.

Galvanized roofing

They made a call to Olde Good Things and shopped no further, expected in:  corrugated roofing tin from atop a Manhattan building with that rusty look warm enough to complement the pine plank wall covering.

Galvanized tin sheet metal once protected this small mechanical shack a top a Mid-town skyscraper.  Now showing weathered wear from years of exposure to the elements, it was time to make way for the new and dispose of the old, rusty metal that once protected the small structure.

Hearing of the salvage opportunity, Olde Good Things was on the scene to remove the sheet metal and give it a chance for re-use.

 

OGT in the process of salvaging roofing tin

Mexicue was on the hunt for this very look and when they called OGT they hoped to locate the materials.  Well fortunately for them the materials were just in – and the same day it came off, it was delivered to their new 25th and 5th Nomad location just in time to complete the look they wanted.

Reclaimed galvanized tin now reused to cover the facade of the bar

Reclaimed galvanized tin now reused to cover the facade of the bar

Come dine and enjoy the comfort food, atmosphere and design of the Nomad Mexicue location.  And when you’re looking for just the right look for your next restaurant project, shop Olde Good Things, we just may have what you’re looking for!

Mexicue Kitchen & Bar

 

 

The Test of Time

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Nothing accents new design projects better than an old piece of architectural beauty given new dimension and life. Here is an old steeple clock, six foot in diameter which has been refurbished and given that new dimension in this high end residential redo in Hollywood by Julie Berchtold of Berchtold Harris, a design / build firm located in Los Angeles.

A six foot diameter bronze clock face overlooks the dining room table

The clock face is solid bronze and is over 100 years old. Here you see it up and running as a center piece to this vast open living area.

The clock face forms the center piece of this vast living area

Although the living area is ultra modern, the back-lit and now fully functional antique clock fits right in as it has stood the test of time.  Julie found this clock at our Grand Ave. Los, Angeles location and had the vision for it’s renewal in this penthouse apartment.  Take a look at this project and many others on her web site at this link.  Come visit us at one of our six locations and find that perfect piece for your next design project.

BH Tshirt Logo Back

 

 

Customer Showcase: Pearly Gates Bar Reinvention

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Pearly Gates Bar in Frankfurt, Germany just underwent a major redo

Pearly Gates Bar in Frankfurt, Germany just underwent a major redo

On a cobblestone street in Frankfurt Germany one will find a newly transformed classic venue called Pearly Gates Bar.  This one-of-a-kind local eatery and bar was in need of a dramatic and lasting redesign, and they called on designer, Madjid Djamegari, for help. Djamegari, known for his redesign of The Gibson Club, wanted to create an interior space with a classic 1920s vibe—complete with the sensual lines and simple yet stylish fixtures of an American speakeasy. Unfortunately, there aren’t many architectural salvage and repurposing specialists in Europe, so Djamegari travelled to New York to find the perfect pieces for his perfect vision. Fortunately for Pearly Gates Bar and for us, he stumbled upon a small shop filled to the ceiling with everything he needed to make his mark on a timeless German bar. He’d discovered Olde Good Things where he tapped into the wares at our Madison Avenue location, handpicking many vintage and altered antiques to create his desired look.

Much of the seating, lighting and table tops were supplied by OGT

Much of the seating, lighting and table tops were supplied by OGT

For a touch of glimmering illumination in his interior transformation, Djamegari chose these beautiful copper pendant lights which he hung from 100 year old reclaimed tin-tiled ceiling. The tin ceiling was pieced together from actual vintage tin OGT salvaged from buildings in NYC and Chicago. You can get a better idea of the work that goes into the removal, cleaning, and restoration of tin ceilings by reading our blog post here. The pendant lights, once backstage lights at the 1930s Philadelphia Convention Hall in Philadelphia, form a glow of subtle lighting over the bar area.  The table tops were custom made from reclaimed copper and galvanized sheet metal, and were built in our custom furniture shop at our warehouse in Pennsylvania.

Leather couch and oak bankers chairs were purchased at our Madison Ave. Store.

Leather couch and oak bankers chairs were purchased at our Madison Ave. Store.

Much of the seating was supplied by Olde Good Things, including the swivel top stools, the 1940s leather couch, and mahogany banker’s chairs.

Not only did Djamegari have comfortable seating in mind, he also wanted to draw in the style and vintage charm of classic NYC with these small sconce lights lining the intimate corners of the bar. These wall lights once graced the white-tile walls of the New York City Subway system.

Sadly, the pictures supplied do not feature some other interesting items used during the redesign. These items include: vintage bathroom pedestal sinks and reclaimed doors.  Although Olde Good Things, Madison Ave is our flagship location, there are three more unique locations in New York City, one in downtown Los Angeles, and two large warehouse locations in Scranton Pennsylvania.  Each of our locations house an eclectic variety of salvaged, restored, and re-purposed items perfect for a restaurant, commercial, or residential redesign, remodel, or refurbishing.

To see what else OGT has to offer, visit our website and look through our growing inventory, or visit one of our locations in-person for a real eye-opening, design bending experience!

Entry Transformation Using Reclaimed Glass

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The craftsmanship is typical of what you would find from the days gone by.  When Paul took on this job, he decided vintage glass would bring the right finishing touch, and sure enough he was right.

Vintage hammered chicken wire glass was used in this hand-fabricated iron awning

Vintage hammered chicken wire glass was used in this hand-fabricated iron awning

Safety glass in a hammered texture is no longer fabricated new with this twisted chicken wire.  Therefore Olde Good Things specializes in reclaiming factory windows and making this glass available today.

Take a look at the gallery of pictures from this installation and view the video of Paul Lombardo in his fabrication stages.

Take a look at Paul’s creative video seen here:

Customer Showcase: Antique Hand-Stenciled Wooden Ceiling

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42 Star Island designed by first registered architect Walter DeGarmo in 1925

42 Star Island designed by first registered architect in Miami, Walter DeGarmo in 1925

A closer view of the Star Island mansionThis home, once one of the most visibly and architecturally noteworthy mansions along the MacArthur Causeway in Miami Beach was lost to the wrecking ball in 2014.  Fortunately, the architecturologists from Olde Good Things were on the scene, to salvage some of the original architectural elements prior to it’s demise.

One of those fascinating elements removed was this hand-painted stenciled ceiling done in the mediterranean style, here seen in it’s original setting.

Hand-stenciled ceiling in muted green and red tones

Hand-stenciled ceiling in muted green, orange and brown tones

These pictures show the architecturologists gently removing the ceiling piece by piece.  Each piece was numbered carefully in order for it to be repurposed by a future owner.
Piece by piece, the ceiling is being removed
Each piece has been numbered

This unique ceiling has already found a new use.  It is being implemented in a large building project in Missouri.  Here you see pictures in the building stages:

Olde Good Things has become the dignitary associated with amazing building elements salvaged from many remarkable buildings in the United States, this home being just one of them.  Take a look at the link to famous building artifacts on our web site to see other offerings at this time.

Tin-Tilating Decor at Olde Good Things

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Tin is one of the most utilized metals on the planet. Aside from its use in numerous alloys, such as bronze and pewter, it is also a stand-alone metal used most notably during the innovative and industrial 1800s.

Ornate tin ceilings became prevalent in 19th century America

Ornate tin ceilings became prevalent in 19th century America

Most Americans couldn’t afford the expensive yet beautiful intricately designed plaster ceilings so popular in the wealthy houses in Europe so they sought a less expensive, more durable, more eye-catching material—tin—to fabricate ceilings and walls throughout many of the buildings erected in the late-1800s.

Tin ceilings withstood earthquakes, fires, and other disasters unlike their weaker, less practical plaster cousins. Understandably, the fireproof property of tin made it an in-demand building product, especially in Chicago after the devastating fire in 1871.

Once World War II began the need for tin in military applications skyrocketed which meant it became a scarce commodity for builders and interior designers. Thankfully, a few of the buildings where tin ceilings were a featured showpiece are still in existence, and Old Good Things has had the opportunity to salvage these gorgeous pieces, restore and repurpose them.

Before a building is demolished, the owners call Olde Good Things to salvage architectural pieces that would otherwise molder in the dump, alone, forgotten, and covered in layers of filth. When we arrive at the site, we get to work building scaffolding and prying each piece of tin from the ceiling with pry bars. With a little gentle nudge and a lot of elbow grease, we carefully remove the tin and transport it to our warehouse.

 

As you see here, we have quite a few tin panels in stock at our Scranton warehouse. When a customer orders a custom-made tin ceiling or mirror we get to work hammering out the dents, scrubbing and washing the panels, painting them, and covering them in protective coatings to ensure they stay beautiful for decades to come.

After being salvaged, this is where our tin ends up for you to selectA colorful pile of tin to suit your design tastes

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few more examples of the tin panel works our customers have done in their design projects:

ogt_antique_tin_ceiling (5)

 

Not only is tin a glorious addition to make any ceiling pop, it can be used in interior furniture design. Olde Good Things designs and fabricates tin mirrors, and our customers have used the refurbished tin in backsplashes, tables, wall and bar covers and other interior design elements.

ogt_antique_tin_ceiling(18)

Can you image how fabulous a colored tin backsplash would look in your kitchen? What about a vintage or antique tin mirror in your entryway, bathroom, or public areas? Business owners, would a handmade, custom-designed tin ceiling draw the eye of customers as they walk by? Think of how popular your retail space would be when people stop in just to see your amazing tin ceiling.

Ceiling tin of all shapes, colors and sizes can be created by you!

Our tin looks amazing over a mantel

If you love a rustic, vintage feel you can’t go wrong with refurbished, repurposed tin. To learn more about our salvage, restoration, or design process, contact us. To order your very own custom tin creation, contact our craftsmen through our Scranton warehouse.

Not only do we have amazing tin creations, we are also home to a growing collection of decorative iron and bronze pieces. Learn more about those here.

New Home For an Old Timer

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Tick Tock Diner on 34th Street in Manhattan
There’s nothing more refreshing than renovations using past architectural elements in new designs. Customers at Olde Good Things include builders, designers, architects and innovators who just want to add a touch of old world charm to their installations.

Here’s just one of many of our customer’s re-uses of an antique architectural element in a modern design project. This clock once stood the test of time atop a 1905 meeting hall in Cherryfield, Maine. Now it is catching eyes at the Tick Tock Diner on 34th Street in Manhattan. Send us a few photos of your project with up-cycled elements from Olde Good Things to add to our library of interesting innovations done by our customers. Even if you only have an “after” shot feel free to send your photos to [email protected]. Let us know if you are willing for us to post them to our web site, privacy observed of course.

From the Scrap Heap to the Dining Room: Our Process for Making Tables

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Tables come in many different shapes and sizes, and can be made from many different materials. At Olde Good Things, we like to keep things simple; we make our tables from only the finest salvaged wood and create masterpieces for our clients by incorporating other salvaged materials we find in our warehouses.

Curious about our table making process? Well, we’ve finally decided to spill the beans and give you a detailed account of how our handcrafted tables get from point A (the scrap heap) to point Z (your dining room). Are you ready to have your mind blown?

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Army Surplus & Private Hamfest

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We’re clearing out a huge warehouse in southwest Philadelphia, and it’s loaded with vintage Army surplus: batteries, meters, test equipment, projectors, tubes, really olde computers, and lots more. Click on an image to browse the gallery (warning, over 600 images!), peruse a partial item list after the jump, and let us know what  you’re interested in.

Volt meter Army surplus

Surplus 'weather machine'

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Time For Bed

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Clockface Headboard

Clockface Headboard

We always love it when a customer sends us a photo of the good things they’ve created. This customer used the face of a clock we got from a church tower in Brooklyn, and used it for a headboard on her bed. Very creative use of time. Originally there were of these faces on this tower built in 1899, but we only have one left that can be seen at our Olympic Ave location in Los Angeles.

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