BUILDING A NEW HOUSE WITH OLD THINGS: Stained Glass Window
BUILDING A NEW HOUSE WITH OLD THINGS:
Stained Glass Window
In a world where everything seems fleeting and disposable (and so new, might I add), there's a certain allure in embracing the timeless charm of old things.
From weathered wood to antique fixtures, these treasures of the past hold stories within their seams, waiting to be woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. Imagine walking through a front door that was salvaged from a historic building, cooking in a kitchen adorned with reclaimed materials, or washing paintbrushes in an art studio sink recovered from an abandoned schoolhouse.
Building a new house with old things is not just about construction; it's about crafting a home infused with nostalgia, sustainability, and a deep sense of connection to the past.
In this series, we'll explore the magic of integrating salvaged treasures into modern home design as I personally walk through the journey myself!
From sourcing vintage finds to the creative process of styling, we'll delve into the practicalities and the aesthetics of marrying the old with the new. But more than just a design choice, this endeavor is a testament to our commitment to sustainability and preservation of both materials themselves and the memories they carry.
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Perhaps you’ve seen me post photos on social media of the bathtub area in my current home. I share it a lot because, well, I’m pretty obsessed with it.
Soaking in the tub and watching the colors glimmer through the stained glass window - for me, there’s not much more that can melt stress away and simply put my mind at ease.
This particular spot is one that I will deeply miss about our current home - especially because I didn’t think I would get to incorporate stained glass in our NEW home.
Buuuut, this house is making my DREAMS come true in so many ways.
Here’s what happened…
It’s only fair to show you a photo, right off the bat, of the stained glass window I set my eyes on and decided I *HAD* to have in my new home.
Stunning, right!?
Building a new home with old things means trusting your gut – at least that’s what I tell myself (and my builder, and my husband)...when I find things to include that weren’t really in the original plans.
Anyway, this beauty was salvaged from an OLD (and I mean old) church in Tennessee. The building was originally constructed in 1911!
I loved this window FIRST for its obvious beauty, and SECOND because it’s a reminder that beautiful things can still exist in sadness. It’s unfortunate when buildings like this church are torn down – yet it's a gift that pieces like this can be salvaged and repurposed in a home where it will truly be loved and admired for generations to come.
When I saw this window, I immediately knew I had to have it, so I began brainstorming where we could place it in our new home. At the time, we were already in the framing process so time to make such a big decision was limited!
Then it hit me…
My new studio has a high pitch in the ceiling - aka the PERFECT spot for the window. Almost like it was meant to be! Maybe it WAS meant to be, because this room, in particular, is all about inspiration. My goal is to fill it with unique pieces that inspire in their own ways – so a colorful window that reflects light into a place where people will create?
Sounds like a no-brainer to me 🙂
Alas - I made the important phone call to our builder to inquire about adding a window to my studio because remember…having a window here wasn’t in the original plans! Out of curiosity, I requested a quote for a “standard” window, and guess what - the antique window was cheaper.
Again – meant to be! Dreams coming true!
I called the salvage store and told them I wanted to buy the window AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
A consistent theme in building a new house with old things is that things don’t always go according to plan. You have to be willing to go with the flow! If you missed my story about the sink from the haunted school house, check it out to see what I mean.
This story of my gorgeous stained glass window is no different.
While I requested it be delivered within a week - an unexpected cleaning process and some (totally avoidable) communication errors extended the process much further than would have been ideal.
Luckily, our incredible builder came to the rescue. He got the salvage store to bring a window template to the house and hired a carpenter to build the frame. Finally, after almost two months, the window arrived, and the frame was all set. They got it installed a week later, and wow, it looks amazin
I won’t lie - there were several moments throughout this process when I doubted my decision, and thought I was pushing too hard on something that I really did want, but might not work. Questions ran through my mind like…would it look weird from the outside? Would the placement, so high up in my studio, feel “off”? Would it look out of place? Was I being to ‘extra’? 😅
Now that I’m on the other side of these (totally reasonable) doubts, I can tell you with full conviction that IT. IS. MY. FAVORITE. THING.
Gazing up and seeing it makes me so happy. The light coming in is perfect, no matter the weather. I have visions of myself in the room, being inspired with creativity and watching the light shine not only through the stained glass window, but right into my soul ✨
My encouragement to you is this: when you’re inspired by an item, go for it! Trust your gut, even when it feels like there’s a lot pushing back on you. If it doesn’t work out, that’s okay. But fighting for your vision will always pay off in the long run.
SOURCE YOUR STAINED GLASS: Below are a handful of recommendations for where you can begin your search for a stained glass piece of your own! Be mindful that this process can take time. I encourage you to avoid letting the search process add stress and rather invite it to be an avenue of adventure and inspiration throughout your design process.
Etsy (beware of shipping costs)!
Local salvage yards
Places I shop in the south
Southern Accents
Preservation Station
Preservation Company
Local antique stores
A place you know is being demolished
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As always, if I can be of assistance in your design journey, I’d love to help! Click here to drop me a line + schedule a consultation.