When buying or renovating an older home -- or even if you\'re just going for a vintage look with a newer home -- it can be difficult sourcing those special architectural finds to match, replace or embellish your home. Here in Palm Desert, you won't find many homes older than the 1940's, so that means most of the salvage available will be for mid-century modern homes of the 40's, 50's and 60's (that latter of which are mostly Alexander homes) and beyond.
The first step to restoring any historic property is to do your research. A great place to start is with your real estate records and deeds -- learn about the age of your home and the context in which it was built. If you don\'t have these available, contact your local historical society. Here in Palm Desert, that\'s the Historical Society of Palm Desert Museum and Archives.
Once you have an idea of the look that represents the era of your home, you can more easily identify which objects in your home are original or were replaced. If you have original pieces, then you can take photos of them to your local salvage stores and they can help you find matching pieces or suitable replacements. Ebay and Etsy will also be your friend -- there are many craftspeople on Etsy that you can commission to make reproductions.
Speaking of custom reproductions, if you really get stuck on finding a match, then considering making your own plaster casts and molds -- or find someone with a 3D printer and some CAD software to 3D print what you need!
Not sure if your architectural elements can be rescued, restored or replaced? Give us a call so we can schedule a site visit to evaluate your historic restoration needs. Some materials can be restored more easily than they can be replaced, and may not be as damaged as they appear