Historic York
We have a certain fondness for Historic York because, when we started rehabbing our house 10 years ago, it was the only, affordable architectual warehouse within driving distance. We were making trips to York nearly every month to pick up desperately needed hardware and mantels and doors, etc. Located in York, Pennsylvania -- which has great architecture, by the way -- the warehouse carries a full array of supplies, from plumbing to stained glass. Prices are still reasonable.
Link to Historic York.





Second Chance
We were surprised and gratified when Second Chance opened in Baltimore about 2005. Even though it came late into our rehab efforts, it has nonetheless been a big help as we've upgraded our initial renovations. Prices on some items, like vintage toilets, have been dirt cheap. Prices on other, higher end stuff has been competitive. The staff is friendly and helpful. Also, Second Chance carries furniture as well as architectual stuff.
Link to Second Chance.





Housewerks
The first time we walked into Housewerks, we felt like we were in an odd, very cool museum. Housed in a restored gasworks building, Housewerks is one of the most unique places you'll ever visit and you'll see one-of-kind items, like an autopsy table or twenty-foot carnival poster. Owners Ben Riddleberger and Tracey Clark are helpful, friendly, and resourceful, offering lots of ideas about how to make the most of the stuff you're looking for. We've gotten some very good deals at Housewerks.
Link to Housewerks






Burning Bridge Antiques Market
We first met Lou Girolami, the manager of Burning Bridge, when he was managing Historic York ten years ago. Lou is a lot of fun. He has a great eye for design and has assembled some artful and witty displays in Burning Bidge's big windows. Check it out at Halloween and Christmas especially. The mall is one of the best we've visited and carries a good array of architectual stuff, some of it quite cheap. Also, Columbia, Pennsylvania, is worth a visit because it has some interresting architectual and the nation's largest clock museum.
Burning Bridge Antiques Market






Steve Shellenberger's Arcitectual Antiques
As York, Pennsylvania, has brought us lots of great finds, it has also introduced us to some interesting people. Steve is one of them. His artchitectual offerings caught our attention on eBay, where Steve has a store (see link below). When we decided to buy a really big piece he had online, we discovered that he lives in York. So we visited his warehouse. You can too. Just email him: Steve specializes in stained glass, though he also carries a wide array of mantels, columns, corbels and so on.
Steve's Architectual Antiques






Architectual Artifacts (Toledo, Ohio)
On a car trip to Detroit, Jill and I stopped at Architectual Artifacts, a 30,000 sqaure-foot warehouse in downtown Toledo, and we were amazed at all we saw. Jane and Bob, who run the place, are really friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable. They have a full-service workshop that can do pretty much anything you need doing on an old piece of salvage. They have all the basics -- from toilets to door knobs -- but also one-of-a-kind stuff, like iron cresting from a Toledo department store, and high-end beauties, like art-glass lamp shades. We think their light selection is exceptional. Bob and Jane ship anywhere.
Architectual Artifacts