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Olde Good Things

Architectural and Altered Antiques

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.

Historic La Ronda: Olde Good Things Salvaging Dream

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As an architectural salvage, restoration and preservation company, Olde Good Things has had the privilege to work with historical societies and owners of historic sites, and salvage incredible pieces from fascinating buildings all over the country.

LaRonda, a Mizner masterpiece in Bryn Mawr PA

One of our more controversial salvage projects involved the La Ronda estate in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Originally, La Ronda was a 17,500 sq ft mansion with 233 acres of estate lands owned and cherished by Percival Foerderer and his family. Foerderer made his riches in the leather goods manufacturing industry. Built in 1927 by J.S. Cornell & Son, and designed by renowned 20th-century architect Addison Mizner, La Ronda was a Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Gothic Revival masterpiece set like a jewel in the crown of lush green landscapes.

With 51 rooms, 21 of which were bedrooms, La Ronda had the distinct honor of having most of the hardware, furnishings, fittings, and other decorative elements designed and created by Mizner and his craftsmen. Because of the holistic approach to design, the estate boasted intricate and consistent aesthetic features that only added to the beauty of the mansion.

When Percival died in 1969, his family sold La Ronda to Villanova University, and after subsequent owners, the estate lands were reduced from their original 233 acres to only 3.2 acres where the mansion sat.

LaRonda in 2009 prior to demolition

La Ronda was purchased in 2009 for a paltry $6 million. The new owner chose to keep his identity secret, and some believed this was because of his next move—applying for a permit to demolish the historic mansion to build his own house.

Understandably, this had many of the areas’ historical societies up in arms, determined to find a way to prevent the demolition and save the property.   Unfortunately, despite their efforts to raise $7 million to purchase the property, they were unsuccessful at raising the funds or negotiating with the previous owner to achieve historical status.

Once the negotiations and attempts to buy the property fell through, before exchanging ownership, salvage companies were contacted to come and remove some of the more beautiful pieces of architecture.

Olde Good Things was one of the companies contacted, and we were more than willing to come to help preserve some of the original architectural elements.

Here are a few images of our salvaging experts carefully removing some of the architectural pieces of La Ronda.

Olde Good Things doing careful removal of historic LaRonda salvage

Olde Good Things doing careful removal of this historic salvage

 

Here large arched tudor windows are being removed

The architecturologists are seen here dismantling one of the cast stone arches

Here, cast stone door surrounds are being taken down

 

 

 

Many of these pieces salvaged from La Ronda have now been incorporated in a Mizner style home in Florida, where the owner wove these beautiful features into the structure.

 

Elements from LaRonda incorporated in this Florida home

Elements from LaRonda incorporated in this Florida home

Olde Good Things is honored to be a part of this amazing salvage and historic preservation project. We would love for you to visit one of our many locations to see the other gorgeous pieces we have been privileged to recover over the years.

To learn more about our salvaging services or look through our growing inventory, contact us.

 

Recent Reclamation: Terra Cotta Dreams!

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Two sided separation wall--stacked terra cotta pieces meant to draw the eye

Two sided separation wall–stacked terra cotta pieces meant to draw the eye

You know Olde Good Things is the #1 name in architectural salvage, and you know we take our work providing new homes for old items seriously, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to you that we’ve outdone ourselves with our latest acquisition.

This terra cotta wall once stood as the exterior accent wall of a forgotten NYC building. Because only the outward sides of the pieces were exposed to the elements, these pieces can be reused as interior wall décor, or as accent pieces in a garden. Imagine, you can create a peaceful oasis in your own yard using a material known to be used in ancient China.

This wall acted as a separation wall, but did more than that—it caught the eye, and eventually the hearts of OGT salvage professionals. The wall was exposed on both sides, so the amount of wear is even, but it adds a sense of timelessness that only terra cotta can evoke.

 

Salvagers take their work seriously, but they still smile!

Salvagers take their work seriously, but they still smile!

7-1/2 in. x 7-1/2 in. x 5-1/8 in.

7-1/2 in. x 7-1/2 in. x 5-1/8 in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each one of the 600 pieces of were painstakingly removed, carefully transported to our store, and are now ready for you to take and create beautiful designs of your own using pieces of NYC history.

600 pieces were removed from this wall

Each piece measures 7-1/2 in. x 7-1/2 in. x 5-1/8 in., and can be used in many different applications—interiors, exteriors, home, and office.

Stop by your nearest Olde Good Things showroom to learn more about these charming historical pieces.

Using Salvaged, Vintage Chandeliers in Remodeling

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One of the best ways to create exactly the look you want while remodeling your home is to use what has already proven successful; recruit vintage chandeliers for a new position of honor in your modern home. Using a chandelier that has been salvaged from an older home may not only save you money on your new look, but you’ll also contribute to helping save resources that are consumed in making new home design items.

A recycled chandelier can create just the vibe you want to accomplish with your home overhaul. An eclectic collection of modern furniture styled with a vintage chandelier can help a room evolve into a chic expression of the various components of your personality. In some cases, a chandelier can become the focal point of the room, drawing eyes to it in the midst of other dressings that may not be as elaborate. Playful designs of out of the ordinary materials can infuse fun and character into an otherwise plain spoken room.
Antique French colored crystal chandelierMid century modern fabulous cherry red chandelier

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you can find a vintage chandelier with an elegant design, it could well reside in your bathroom, lending an extravagant feel to a small space and making time spent in the room special. A chandelier can also be used in an unexpected place, such as a high ceiling hallway, to provide light with a classic touch. Hanging a chandelier from another era in your bedroom can steep your sleeping quarters in the aura of that day and time.

You can feed a desire to represent certain time periods through your chandelier. You may be fascinated with the Dutch and Flemish created chandeliers of the 1700s. Acquiring one of these light fixtures will allow you to accent your home with a bit of history that’s not only functional but attractive. The decadence of a Victorian crystal chandelier may beckon to you from an architectural salvage yard, and you should heed the call and bask in the multi-faceted lighting of long ago. A home office that sports a checkered tile begs for a 1950s retro style chandelier to create the complete vibe, complete with furniture in boxy shapes and vinyl.
Muller Freres Art Nouveau chandelierHuge wrought iron chandelier with curved amber glass - See more at: http://ogtstore.com/lighting/chandeliers/huge-wrought-iron-chandelier-with-curved-amber-glass/#sthash.QqyaAxsi.dpuf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a wide selection of vintage chandeliers available at Olde Good Things. Take a few minutes (or hours) and check out our selection through our website, or visit one of our many locations. You can also do your own salvaging and recycling when you ask around to see if people know of older homes and estates that may be selling the fixtures, likely in preparing them for demolition or remodeling.

Allowing a vintage salvaged chandelier to occupy a place of respect in your home as you are recreating your space will give new purpose to an old beauty. The attractive light fixture will not rot and waste away in a landfill or deteriorate slowly in an attic, tucked away from adoring eyes. Instead, it will shine even brighter as it becomes reincarnated into the fabulous eyepiece it was originally designed to be, high in the air where all stars remain.

Midtown Manhattan Makeover

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If you’ve been reading this blog for the last few months, you’ve probably come across a  post or two about designer Michael Laudati. Michael isn’t just some novice interior designer with aspirations for greatness, he has changed the face of many historical building lobbies in New York City.

With Michael’s eye for detail, taste and understated flair, and Olde Good Things’ incredible and varied selection of historical salvaged materials, lobbies that have lost their  uniqueness have been restored to their original beauty. This has increased the number of visitors to once lonely historical buildings.

Recently, we caught up with Michael to see what he’s been up to – and we were pleased by what we discovered.

His newest project included remodeling an Upper West side building lobby. The redesign was a tricky feat because part of the lobby space included an awkwardly placed storage closet – how does one make a storage closet look good?

According to Michael: “The door to the closet was custom made to fit the opening but I added a vintage elevator door grille in the opening backed with textured glass that allows light from a window behind it to shine thru”. As you can see from the image, this is one stylish storage closet, and OGT provided the materials Michael needed to make it look so good.

This Upper West Side lobby was also in need of a lighting makeover. With a lighting fixture handpicked from OGT’s stock of salvaged lighting fixtures, Michael installed this gorgeous chandelier fixture that creates an atmosphere of class and elegance that plays artfully with the new storage closet door.

So, do you want to see into the heart and home of this prolific designer?

Michael’s apartment in The Adlon is dressed with three Secession style iron grilles on the wall over the couch. These have been fashioned into a work of art. The cast iron fireplace screen, the gorgeous red and gold cafe chairs, the Secession table lamp beside the couch, and the tile top industrial coffee table are all pieces Michael found in one of our warehouses.

We’re glad to be a part of Michael’s creative remodeling and design projects. We’d love to be a part of yours as well. Check out our selection of salvaged materials, handcrafted furniture, and repurposed art pieces at any one of our six locations.

Olde Good Things