Memphis Apartments

Remember when people used to renovate a house and much of the debris would end up at the curb? Before Rachel Ashwell’s “shabby chic” style burst onto the world in 1996, after the publication of her book by the same name, things like old mantels, ceiling tin, and other architectural pieces were often discarded for trash pickup, and most people would not have given them a second look as they drove on by (although many savvy decorators—pros and amateurs—have always kept their eye to the curb, looking for treasures). Today, shabby chic is still one of the hottest decorating trends around, and you’d have to fight off the budget decorators (and even interior designers) if you happened across such a pile. Architectural pieces are rare finds at the curb today, but they can now be found everywhere from flea markets to pricey antique shops, and the more battered the piece, the better.

If you’re lucky enough to find architectural elements at a reasonable price (or even for free!), here are a few ways you can use them to decorate your Memphis apartment home:

· Corbels. Create a unique shelf by mounting two corbels to the wall and placing a wood or glass strip on top.

· Mantels. They’re not always easy to find, but if you keep your eyes open, you may stumble across them. (They are abundant at some of the antiques flea markets I visit-ones that cater to dealers.) Although the prices may sometimes seem high for the tightest budgets (I’ve seen them from $65 to more than $1,000, but I find most fall in the low $100s), they can completely transform a room. Use larger ones as a headboard, and smaller ones as a creative focal point for a room that lacks detail.

· Moldings. Strips of deep crown molding make great shelves, perfect for propping framed art and displaying small trinkets.

· Doorknobs. Abundant at flea markets and typically very affordable, old doorknobs can be used to create plate racks, coat racks, and many other usable treasures. They’re also beautiful in their own right. I once visited an antiques shop and saw a crystal bowl filled with crystal doorknobs used as the centerpiece on a formal table.

· Ceiling tin. Sheets of ceiling tin are available at reasonable prices (I’ve seen them as low as $15 for a twenty-four by twenty-eight-inch piece) on eBay, at salvage yards, and at flea markets. Get a pair of tin snippers, and you can use ceiling tin to create picture or mirror frames (snip out the middle section, insert art or a mirror, and secure wood backing). You can also create a very simple fireplace screen (slightly bend a square section, and it’ll stand on its own). Some of the squares I find are so decorative, they look great just hanging on a wall all by themselves!

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