Salvage Yards and Flea Markets: My Pro Tips for Finding the Perfect Treasures for Your Space

Since I started DBK four years ago, sustainability has been one of the core values of my business. We work with clients and contractors to reduce our environmental impact. From demolition to selecting building materials, fixtures, and furniture, we evaluate which pieces can be donated, preserved, refinished, or relocated to minimize waste and keep items out of the landfill. We look for "new to us" materials that can be reupholstered or refinished.

I love visiting salvage yards and flea markets to find usable treasures for projects. Sure, it can be challenging to sift through all the dust and damage of items at a salvage yard to find what you are looking for, but it’s worth the adventure. Among some of my favorite things I have discovered: our family room door, fabulous cool tiles we ended up walking away from because we couldn’t negotiate on price (see tip number 6, below), and an Asian Chest and Settee for Project Chelsea.

Here are a few tips you can use to find items that you will love and that will work for you.

1. Go with a list of what you hope to find. What are you looking for? Is it a door, or maybe a sink, or some fun tiles. A list will keep you focused on your needs.

2. Bring a tape measure and keep a list of your required dimensions on your phone (or in a notebook (you carry with you at all times). That “perfect” chair that you dream of reupholstering isn’t perfect if it’s too big for the room you want to put it in. Beyond furniture, size matters when it comes to fixtures, doors, and windows.You can’t shrink a sink to fit your bathroom or kitchen. Just like with clothes shopping, you are looking for a perfect fit.

3. Look past the dust and damage to see the refinished piece. Is it the right size and style, but the color turns you off? Clothes your eyes and imagine the piece in the perfect color and location in your space. If you haven’t checked out the project chelsea reveal, there is perfect inspiration in the asian chest we transformed from its original red to a perfect plummy-purple to fit the client’s color scheme.

4. Don't go alone. Bring your spouse or a friend who loves to treasure hunt and get their unbiased opinion on the details of the piece and the pricing.

5. Don't be afraid to dig and ask questions. When you start digging you may find things the salvage yard doesn't even remember bringing in. If you are looking for a specific item, ask the owners or staff about your options. They might have exactly what you are looking for (and by “exactly”, I mean the thing you want that you can imagine refinished to your taste and fitting perfectly in your space.) They will know a lot more about their inventory than you might think and will often have a great story tied to the piece.

6. Be flexible on pricing. Know your limits—don't overspend on an item unless it truly is one of a kind—kismet for your project—and you must have it. Don’t be afraid to barter. You can always ask for a better price and often times they will be willing to come down a bit. But, be willing to walk away if you can’t get the right price.