Viva l’Italia! [15 Pics of Italian Design Elements at Eco Relics]

January is national hobby month, a time to acknowledge our interests that fall outside of our professions. Leisure time was once the exclusive province of the upper class after the Industrial Revolution, clock time, and electric lights dramatically changed most people’s relationship with work. For over a century laborers fought to reduce the length of their workday, which could range…

An underground landfill fire in St. Louis has been burning for nearly four years, releasing toxic concentrations of benzene and hydrogen sulfide. It threatens to contaminate the water supply with radioactive compounds. In January 2014, sixty elementary school students and staff were hospitalized following exposure to carbon monoxide from a leaking landfill. City officials in Bozeman, Montana allowed the construction…

There is just something incredible about walking through an antique furniture shop in Jacksonville. Here are Eco Relics, we have been excited to grow our selection of antiques. We have had the chance to find some incredible treasures in our search. How Old Does Something Have to Be to Be Considered an Antique? When it comes to most things, the…

Reclaimed Lumber and Salvage *This page has been updated from it’s original publication on April 29, 2016 Reclaimed lumber and salvage are perfect building materials for projects like cabinetry, flooring, furniture, architectural details, and more. From seed to sawdust, every tree product can be reused, recycled, or repurposed. Old wood welcomes the eye with warmth, draws the mind’s attention with…

Creating an appealing look for an interior space can be a more challenging task that you might expect. Most people feel they have a good sense of taste, but interior design is governed by artistic principles that go beyond simply deciding what one might think looks good and what doesn’t. Interior design is grounded in concepts that have stood the test of time,…

Many historic buildings around the world are constructed with double hung sash windows. Unfortunately, many of these historic windows are lost to rot and replaced with inferior alternatives. Don’t let this happen to you! This simple maintenance procedure will return your windows to their rightful glory both aesthetically and functionally for decades to come. Before getting started, it is important…

In 532 CE, chariot racing supporters in Constantinople led a riot that burned half the city to the ground, including the Hagia Sophia’s second basilica, the first having been destroyed by rioting in 404 CE. Identified by their colors, chariot racing supporters in Constantinople were part street gang, part political party, and their riots often incorporated political demands. Emperor Justinian survived this…

There is just something incredible about having antique kitchenware and iron pots and pans in your home. Whether it is to decorate or to use in a functional way, it is just plain fun. What would your guests say when they see you serve a meal in an antique dish? What about when you find an item that reminds you…

It’s time for Spring projects! We didn’t have to wait for the snow to melt, but Spring still inspires the creator in all of us. Azaleas are blooming, bees are buzzing, and everywhere you look, nature’s busy builders are collecting raw materials and fashioning them into something they can use. Here’s a couple of recent projects, one from our wood…

The most common question here at Eco Relics is “Where do you get all this stuff?” While we acquire our architectural salvage by purchasing from reputable sources, that is not the only way people have gotten a hold of building materials throughout history. Less ethical salvagers have resorted to trespass, theft, robbery, and even mob action in search of building…

What is the difference between an artist and a craftsperson? That is the question I contemplated when I started thinking about the Fabrications Crew here at the Eco Relics architectural salvage warehouse. As it turns out, most of our fabricators would probably consider themselves both artists and craftspeople. Outside of work they paint, draw, and sculpt. They bring that creativity…

More than fifteen years ago, Robert and Mary purchased an old lamp base in a Williamsburg, Virginia antique store. To the untrained eye it might have looked like a candidate for the trash can. The electric components were shot, the shade was missing, and the metal base was tarnished and corroding. But Robert and Mary recognized something in lamp base’s…

Thanks to our custom wood shop, Eco Relics gets to work with some of Jacksonville’s greatest small businesses. The folks at Grassroots Natural Market recently contracted Eco Relics master fabricator Kris to construct a display shelf for their store. A Grassroots customer himself (sandwiches, smoothies, and Dr. Bronner’s Magic soap, an Eco relics favorite), Kris had a good idea what…

  Eco Relics customers always find incredible ways to build and repurpose with our stock of antiques, vintage items, and architectural salvage. Take a look and see what inspires you.