First of a twp part post dealing with how to source and use Recycled architectural salvage…..

When a ‘period look’ is required there is no better solution than to re use authentic traditional materials.

We needed to create a lobby from nothing- the front door opens onto the street and the traffic noise, dust and weather could come straight into the home- nowhere to put wet coats and shoes, so a lobby was the sensible solution.

Two items, one from the clients garden and one from an auction, formed the design concept for the lobby- these have been given a new life and added to the period feeling of the home.

The clients had an old oak church pew which was in the garden,slowly rotting away. We thought it would become a lovely feature and functional item for the lobby and in fact it was the pew that lead the design and build.

The pew was taken apart, cleaned, the old rotten oak discarded and the salvaged sections rebuilt into a seat of the right proportions for the lobby-it looks great and importantly, we can see already that it will function really well as well as appearing to have been there for years!

Next was the floor of the lobby- tongue and grooved floor boards were the existing surface and we wanted something that was more ‘solid’, durable and pleasing to the eye.

First the boards were lifted and a marine ply sub floor laid- this added strength waterproofing and a great base to fix to.

We sourced the slate tiles from a TW GAZE Architectural Salvage auction- got them at a great price too. They are said to come from the floor of Kings College Chapel Cambridge and we have no reason to doubt this, they certainly have considerable age to them.

The tile were laid in a flexible waterproof tile adhesive onto the ply- setting them out was tricky- we had no spares to play with!

Once cleaned up and pointed with a NHL Lime mortar they will function perfectly and look in keeping with the oak pew.

The lobby door will be one re used from within the house, so that all the finish features will be of a period nature.

Now for the contemporary bit:

Having set out the main features we needed walls that would help to keep the heat inside the home and the noise, dust etc out.

SJ Specialist Brickwork building a lobby

The ideal solution was a stud wall constructed from treated timber and insulated with Extratherm board. Foam was used to fill any gaps ,stopping drafts and the whole lot will be clad with panelling in a period style.

The lobby is not complete just yet,but well on its way- we will clean up and point the tiles ,oil the pew,clad the walls and fit the door.

A ceiling will be set into the oak beams .leaving them exposed in part and a electric metre cupboard will be built, again from recycled furniture, probably a period cupboard front bought at auction for a song!

Our work building a new lobby

PART TWO FOLLOWS SOON!