How to Use Old Indian Doors and Architectural Salvage In Your Home

We have been traveling to India for over 25 years sourcing old doors and architectural salvage.

Working with home owners, designers and builders to find the perfect set of teak doors, antique carved beams, old columns, or decorative corbels is one of our favorite things to do. But we also use these found pieces to create one of a kind furniture for indoors and out.

Our best days in India involve walking acres of architectural salvage full of treasures collected by our expert contacts in Rajasthan. These are the best of the best finds from all over the subcontinent - entire estates and havelis are bought and transported to these yards when modernization sadly comes calling. Saving these antique teak pieces from destruction is a point of pride, and it's heartening to see these old beauties rescued and respected for future use. We are so lucky to have this direct line to the history and beautiy of Indian craftsmanship.  

Carved doors catching the afternoon light in Rajasthan.

If you've been following along for a while you've surely seen this photo - a shot of Linda's bedroom in her old adobe home here in AZ where she had a stunning pair of studded Indian doors installed for a truly dramatic entry.

Antique carved beams waiting for a creative new project...

Here we used a beam like the ones in the previous image, had the corners mitred, fitted with a thick top and shelves - and created a beautiful sideboard bookshelf. It's amazing what our talented carpenters can accomplish in India - we are continually amazed by their excellent craftsmanship.

Sometimes we find a gorgeous pair of teak doors and have them made into coffee tables with a thick piece of glass floating on top. These pieces become the the anchor in an expansive living space - the focal point around which the room revolves.  

Another practical way we use old doors that aren't tall enough for architectural use in our modern homes is to have a set cut in half and installed side by side in a big buffet cabinet like this. Here the patina and hardware of the original doors is kept, while the casing and shelves within are made from additional reclaimed wood. These pieces make wonderful entertainment cupboards with TVs atop and loads of storage within - or as generous buffets in dining rooms with ample space to lay out a meal for all to share.

One of our favorite ways to use antique architectural salvage is to create amazing canopied daybeds that can be used inside or out. These magical pieces take old columns, carved panels, archways from door surrounds, and various corbels and oddities to make fantastical follies that just scream for piles of pillows and diaphonous draping. Pure fairy tale - and an absolute magnet at any party for photos and intimate escapes!  

Seriously - they are soooo much fun to style!

Old carved door surrounds can also magically be transformed into all sorts of new treasures too...

Like our towering carved bookshelves that make the most astounding display spaces! We love to pile these beauties with colorful finds in the store, but they look equally lovely filled to the brim with books.

Beyond furniture creation, door, installation and architectural elements, we also find truly amazing one of a kind pieces as well. We love sourcing arched colonnades like this stunner in solid teak entirely carved in intricate patterns. Over the years we have had clients install these as supports in covered patios, as backdrops in living and dining rooms, and as room dividers in restaurants. They always bring the big drama!  

Of course if you've been to visit us in Scottsdale you've surely noticed our favorite architectural find - our sales counter! We found this beauty on the side of the road in Jodhpur almost 20 years ago and had it shipped over in one of our containers - all 68 parts of it - and reassembled. It is the front of an old house that had been saved from complete demolition by some truly creative dealers that kept its stunning antique carving intact. The center section once held the doors that we halved and made into the two back cabinets you see here - we had the interior carving moved to the front, and a Jaisalmer stone top made for the counter. On the backside we have practical shelves and drawers.

It was a big leap of faith that worked out so very well - none of us could imagine the store without it!

The back stacks of TDL are some of my favorite places to show customers - it's always a treasure hunt as we gather the guys to help us page through the doors, old windows, and ceiling panels we have piled up. The excitement runs high as we unearth ideas for projects both big and small. It brings us right back to those dusty afternoons in the salvage yards in Rajasthan...