For anybody who thinks salvaged materials don’t make for stylish interiors, homeowner Lyndsey Lewis of Little House in Little Rock is here to set the story straight! She’s been sharing the story of certified green home, being built by Bret Franks Construction in Little Rock, in a series called At Home with Green Design. Check out her first two posts (here) for more info about the construction, because today she’s getting down to specifics with sinks, hardware and wallpaper!
One of the biggest perks of building my little house it that splurges in design choices pack a major punch without blowing my budget. Iâve planned for extensive trim work (bead board walls, wood planked ceilings, etc.), custom storage units, unique hardware, and many other upgrades that wouldnât be feasible had I chosen more square footage.
Iâve been collecting furniture, art, accessories, and fabrics throughout the entire planning phase of construction.
My very first purchase was a pair of stained glass windows from Antique Warehouse of Arkansas, in Botkinburg, AR. One pane will be hung inside my kitchen window. The larger glass will be installed on the wall that divides my master closet from the bedroom. Itâs difficult to imagine, but this window placement will highlight the design of the closet space.
Imagine the above stained glass installed on one wall of the galley closet pictured⦠I lose a bit of storage but the awesome factor makes it totally worth it. (Can you tell the closet is my favorite âroomâ in my house?)
At Architectural Salvage by Ri-Jo in Mena, AR, I found a truckload of amazing salvaged doorknobs. There were ceramic, metal, and glass knobs to choose from⦠and I ended up buying a few of each.
To be able to utilize the knobs for my interior doors, I had to find mortise locks for the knobs. These locks fit antique spindles and can be found at specialty hardware stores. Unfortunately, each lock cost more than $70. But when you only have 4 interior doors, the cost isnât really a huge extravagance. Knobs that arenât used for doors will be mounted to use as hooks for the entry or master closet.
Bathrooms are a great space in any home to add some extra âwow.â Unfortunately, bathrooms are also an area to add LOTS of extra spending.
Luckily for me, I found an amazing corner-mounted sink at Architectural Salvage for only $100! Not only will it save space in my 5âx7â bathroom, it will also bring a vintage feel to the space. Plus, the allowance in my contract for my bath vanity faucet alone was $145, which I deleted by using the existing hardware on the sink. Free and cute? Whatâs not to love here? (Note the crack in the front of the sink: I had this checked out by a professional glazer. He told me that the sink is completely usable, but the crack cannot be cosmetically âfixed.â I was actually excited to hear this, since I love the defect. Adds characterâ¦)
Wallpaper has really made a comeback since the floral mess that adorned my sisterâs bedroom in the early 90s. Iâm planning to paper my foyer ceiling with a watercolor-style print I found at Anthropologie. Since most wallpaper sells for over $100 per roll, Iâm very thankful for my 5âx5â entry. Less is so more.