Salvo architectural salvage and antiques 2017 news review

Posted on | By Shirley Kay
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Kent, UK - In 2017 SalvoNEWS covered news and views about architectural salvage, reclaimed materials, antiques, auctions and fairs. Design trends and ideas using salvage and antiques and green issues were other favourites. Here is my review of some of the topics covered.

Guest writers are appreciated. In 2017 we had a few contributions from the USA, one of which was Florida-based Schiller's Salvage with a fascinating past life story of old doors salvaged from a 1940s hotspot, The Glass Lounge, a quaint but reputable establishment for servicemen looking for a good time on the town. Discovering and saving items from being lost to time is what they said they love about the salvage business.

Tiny reclaimed housing featured as a suggestion from SalvoNEWS guest writer, Michael Morel, as a possible solution to the housing crisis. He gave us the American perspective: 'Something strange and new is happening in America. Two of its opposing cultural mythologies-the American Dream and the Great American Road Trip-have morphed into a bizarre new hybrid lifestyle with its own unique identity. The unlikely force that brought them together? The tiny home movement.' This was mainly aimed at younger people struggling to buy a home or attracted to a minimalist lifestyle. However it can be an answer for pensioners stuck on a fixed income who want to stay independent but still be near relatives. It could too, as has Dallas proven, also be an answer for homelessness.

Design trends and ideas were covered from minimal to maximalism, for kitchens and living spaces, but my favourite was for bathrooms. The trend was for larger more comfy spaces in which to relax and get away from the strains of modern life. Decor with aged raw beauty, antique tubs and vintage furniture fit this perfectly. Creating a space to meditate, read, maybe have a cup of tea or glass of wine and listen to music sounds good to me.

Brexit dominated the news. The EU Construction Products Regulations had officially outlawed the reuse of reclaimed building material lacking CE marking. But the UK trade (and salvage businesses in EU countries) can still sell old bricks, stone, fireplaces, bathroom fittings and the like because governments, as a result of pressure from Salvo, have ignored the anti-salvage clauses (now embodied within UK construction regulations) - a procedure known as 'derogation'. So with Brexit and with the UK now leaving the EU it gives an opportunity for the UK government to ditch the offending clauses completely.

Salvo continued to campaign to actively encourage the reuse of reclaimed building material and architectural salvage in order to save carbon emissions and reduce global warming.

Care for the planet has increased with green and sustainable becoming buzz words. Green issues such as reducing plastic and increasing the use of electric cars (Salvo displayed its new electric car at the Salvo Fair this year) have been popular causes. Reuse, reclaim and upcycle are eco-friendly tenets but the carbon benefit of reclaimed building materials has been neglected. Salvo requested people to write to planners and local councillors about applications involving older buildings and demolition requesting that they place a condition or recommendation that old materials are saved for reuse, in accordance with UK and EU law.

Classic statement pieces such as antique fireplaces, and reclaimed stone or wood flooring always add value and character to any home whatever the current design trend. Encouragingly, decorative salvage elements, antiques and mid-century pieces have been on trend and attracting younger buyers who prefer the unique to more mass-produced.

Dealers sold in diverse ways, such as Instagram, increasing online appeal with good images, news blogs with past life stories and design ideas, and made new trade contacts and increased their customers base at fairs and shows.

SALVO 2017 with over ninety exhibitors and with some excellent PR coverage was a great success. The Salvo fair has long been acknowledged by many as the best in its field for unique salvage, reclaimed materials and antiques. This year Sara Morel - reclaimedwoman.com - added an eco fashion vintage and recycled popup. However with the current focus for Salvo on our core business, the online marketplace and directory, SalvoWEB in 2018 will be taking a fair sabbatical.

In 2017 the world of salvage and antiques sadly lost Gervais Duc, who set up Architectural Antiques in Hammersmith, Carl Willows, who for many years was auction expert and valuer at T W Gaze and Neale Hargreaves, a founding member of the Falkirk based family business Hargreaves Reclaimed Flooring.

Please contact us with your news and views on architectural salvage and antiques in 2018.

For those who would like to join in with the Salvo team giving Christmas fundraising for MSF, Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders see the link below.

In the meantime we wish all our readers around the world a Happy Christmas from Team Salvo.

[Images: ©saramorel aka Reclaimed Woman include reclaimed bricks from Architectural Salvage Source, her own reclaimed kitchen, antiques from Tall Boy Interiors, electric cars at SALVO 2017 and a reclaimed fabric bag from Mahala. Image 2 Antiques from ©DoeandHope. Image 7 Reclaimed 'Glass Lounge' door ©Schiller's Salvage.
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Story Type: News