Saturday, August 21, 2010

Maine Antiques and Salvage


The other part of my carpe diem day in Maine included stopping at a few antique and salvage shops.  I'm not sure how Maine ended up with so many wonderful antique shops but I'm happy they're only a short drive from Boston.

The shops at Wells Union on Route 1 just north of Route 109 in Wells are wonderful and Smith-Zukas antiques is one of my favorites.  Not only does Art have some unique garden and architectural gems, he recrafts old furniture and house parts into new and wonderful items.  Need something special?  Art can probably make it!  The mirror above is a piece that was made out of old trim or window casings, mirror squares that have been aged to look old and brass lion head tacks at the corners of each mirror give it a distinctly neoclassical look.




Everywhere you look are unique items that get the creative juices flowing.  I love the glass and iron sphere but little mill stone sitting on the urn...


...made the trip home with me.  It will probably end up a stepping stone at the bottom of the side staircase to my garden.



I loved these glass-front cabinets the moment I saw them last year, stripped of most of their paint, and I've been trying to think of a way to use them in my house.



Here are some large beautiful 1920s vases repurposed as lamp bases.  


A few doors down is Riverbank Antiques where antique items are always paired with gifts from the sea.



Stone, wood and coral...all looking beautiful together.



On Route 9 in Kennebunk, just about next door to Snug Harbor Farm, is Antiques on Nine.  I would have missed it as it doesn't look like much from the street but For-the-Love-of-a-House Joan recommended I stop at this place as well as my next stop so she deserves credit for the find, but I'm happy to share it with you.

Antiques on Nine is part antique shop, part Home Design Store.  Most of the place is set up as rooms and that are nice mix of antiques many of which have been freshened up or reupholstered, new rugs (Dash & Albert), linens and pillows and antique accessories...


...often displayed in collections which are very impressive.  (Kelley, I thought of you when I saw these.)


Lots of pillows made with repurposed textiles.



I don't even know what to say about this vignette but it's lots of fun.  I love the letters with the lights.  I wonder if I could get my name in lights?



I love this combination of glass and silver, gray granite and wood wall.



Kelley, here's a bunch of rusty buckets.  (If you haven't read Kelley's repurposing post on The Tale of the Five Buckets on The Polished Pebble, you can read it here.)



Also in Kennebunk is Old House Parts on Trackside Drive just off Route 35.   This is by far the largest architectural salvage warehouse I've ever seen.


There is bin after bin of old doorknobs...



...thousands of old window sashes including rack after rack of old stained glass...


...just as many doors, mantles, shutters, casings, old fixtures...



...and a really cool cat whose stripes spell "JOY."  Can you see it?

There's so much here, it's overwhelming.  I'll have to take measurements for some of the things I need for the house and make another trip back.  I could easily spend a day here.



On my way back home, I stopped so I could share a photo of this house dubbed "The Wedding Cake House."  Not my taste but quite fun to see.  You can learn more about this house here.

So that was the rest of my carpe diem day.  I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the sites along the southern coast of Maine.

And, Joan, thank you for the tips!

12 comments:

  1. Those places look wonderful! I love the "lettered cat" and the wedding cake house too. Maine does have a lot of great antique shops, that is strange isn't it!

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  2. hi steve,

    i really loved it all and i want that cat now!

    ~janet

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  3. My pleasure!!
    We were in Maine just yesterday for Dan's birthday! I eyed those very glass decanters at Ants on 9!
    Do you not love that cat?! He is so lovey! And I'm with you... I don't know how Maine ended up with so many wonderful shops, but I'm SO happy they did!
    Enjoy your weekend!
    joan

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  4. UO has the letters for your name in lights....
    http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=80&startValue=81&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=16815151&parentid=A_FURN_WALL&sortProperties=+subCategoryPosition,+product.marketingPriority&navCount=392&navAction=poppushpush&color=&pushId=A_FURN_WALL&popId=A_DECORATE&prepushId=&selectedProductSize=

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  5. OK-exactly how many hours in your day?? I feel it would have taken me a week to see all you did in one day! I love the salvage place.

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  6. These shops make me drool. It's a good job they are a continent away, or I would be there with my piggy bank and the back seats out of the car!

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  7. Those photos are gorgeous! Thanks for summarizing the treasures off Route 1- I'd forgotten all about these shops until I saw your link on Shelterrific.
    It's not so strange for Maine to have a lot of great antiques as some readers have mentioned. It's a history-rich place that has been host to many an old industry (timber, granite, textile, etc.). The men (and of course women) behind these vast empires had a lot of money to spend (as evidenced by much of the elaborate architecture). And now we get to enjoy the remaining bits and pieces. :)
    Thanks again for the tips!

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  8. Oh yes, I so miss Maine and its abundance of beautiful, beautiful antique stores. What great places you found, and so wonderful that they're not too far from Boston.
    And what great photographs you took! I especially love the rusty bucket one - it looks like bucket sculpture!
    Trina

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  9. Hi Steve,
    You always seem to find the most beautiful and scenic places. It looks like you had the most extraordinary day ever! It's so much fun seeing different parts of the country - we have very little architectural beauty here in the midwest and definately our shops are no where near equivalent to antique stores in the east!
    I spied a few things that I think I'd have to go back for - definately, I would try to work in those fabulous cabinets.
    I love the stone you chose - it will always be a reminder of your beautiful day away.
    I was thinking about your handrails - black iron, somewhat simple would be so pretty.

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  10. I always wanted to get to that Good House Parts, looks so much fun to explore.

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  11. Be still my heart!!!

    Steve, you're killing me with all of these amazing posts from Maine!
    and thanks for the shout out too.

    The buckets are still quite happy, I might add : )

    xx....kelley

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  12. Nice work.
    You found some gems.

    You should check out Noreast salvage. It is awesome. Not far from Portsmouth, NH

    http://www.noreast1.com/

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