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Friday, May 31, 2013

Salvage Job: Norfolk, VA - Ghent Row - The Painted Lady Restaurant & Tea Room


The Black Dog Crew recently headed to Norfolk, VA to salvage a block of homes, known as Ghent Row, prior to demolition.  Two of the houses were home to The Painted Lady Restaurant & Tea Room (pictured below), a well loved local landmark.  


We are very thankful to the Hoover family for making a special effort to see that the architectural details from these properties were saved from the landfill prior to demolition.  They were owner operators of The Painted Lady and admired her as much as her patrons but unfortunately the buildings were no longer sustainable.  The neighborhood is currently going through a transition and in her place will be a new 164-unit apartment complex called The Green at Ghent, which will be one of the most environmentally advanced apartment buildings in Norfolk, with two "green walls" for energy efficiency.  


Robert reached out to his old college friend (Go Hokies!) and fraternity brother Scott Crumley, owner of Crumley Group, Inc., to help with this salvage job.  Robert worked for Scott, prior to moving to Roanoke to start his own general contracting business, Blue Ridge Residential.  Thanks to Scott's mom, here's a look back at the early years, circa December 1994! 

Robert, Patti, Janette, Scott

Crumley Group has been building award-winning homes in the Hampton Roads area since 1985 and Robert knew they would provide invaluable support.  When the project was proposed, Scott was the first in line to volunteer his time and resources to join the "fun"!




Next to the three homes was a fish shack, which boasted a salvaged iconic '7-Eleven Cupola'.  Thanks to Scott, we were able to bring it back to the shop in one piece!


Speaking of 7-Eleven's.... Roanoke just happens to have two of the best around!  If you're in town, stop by and say 'hi' to owners Susan and Rob Lipes - their Grandin Village and South Roanoke stores are known as 'The Happiest Place to Be!' and even have their own facebook group!



The Painted Lady's Bar proved to be a challenge to remove but was safely brought back in time to be sold to the set of the TV series Banshee  - look out for it on Cinemax!


While the crew was gone,  Lonny was busy in the wood shop fabricating this custom sink - made from a US Navy Reserve Footlocker (fun fact: Mike and Robert both served in the Navy).
For the Ebay listing, click HERE.

To see the current inventory from The Painted Lady, please visit our Ebay Store.




If you know Mike, it's no surprise that he returned from Norfolk with a boat!  This came from The Bill Hoover Boat Collection and was the one of the first fiberglass Chris Crafts made.  No doubt there are grand plans for "Cheek to Cheek".... stay tuned!

Saturdays at 11pm
Sundays at 6:30pm
Saturdays at 8:30am

Roanoke, VA

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Multiple sets of Antique Eastlake Decorative Hardware just arrived!


The Black Dog Crew recently returned from salvaging this 1890 home in Knoxville, TN.  They were able to salvage many architectural details including these beautiful antique Eastlake Door Hardware Sets.  We have a total of 9 sets available (please call for a current count) for $375 each.  Each set includes a decorative mortise lock, door knob and backplate.


Here's an interesting history of 'Eastlake' design, found on www.buffaloah.com:

 Origin
To some historians, the Eastlake Style was simply a decorative style of ornamentation found on houses of various other Victorian styles, primarily the Queen Anne and Stick styles.
Other historians would classify Eastlake as a separate style: "A Queen Anne building is noted for its extensive use of curvilinear, slender profile forms, whereas the Eastlake is often noted for its geometric, more massive forms." - Charles Nelson, The Bric-a-Brac Styles
Eastlake is named after Charles L. Eastlake (1833-1906), an English architect who wrote Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery, and Other Details, published in 1868. The book was reprinted in America in 1872 and became so popular that it required six editions within eleven years.
In his book, Eastlake promotes a peculiar kind of furniture and interior decoration that was angular, notched and carved, and deliberately opposed to the curved shapes of French Baroque Revival Styles such as the Second Empire. Traditionally, furniture makers imitated architectural forms, but Eastlake reversed this process. Eastlake houses had architectural ornamentation that had copied the furniture inside the house.
He made no furniture himself, his designs being produced by professional cabinet makers.

It was not only the custom designers who were inspired by Eastlake's ideas. The manufacturers of the machine-made furniture which Eastlake deplored also copied the Eastlake style as it was illustrated in his book.
Eastlake style became a kind of catchall term meaning different things to different people. Eastlake himself commenting on his influence in the United States, said, "I find American tradesmen continually advertising what they are pleased to call Eastlake furniture, the production of which I have had nothing whatever to do, and for the taste of which I should be very sorry to be considered responsible."
Henry Hobson Richardson, an American architect, was one of the foremost proponents of the Eastlake style in the United States. The furniture he designed for the Woburn Public Library and the North Eastern Library in Massachusetts are very similar to pieces which appear in the illustrations to "Hints on Household Taste."






Thursday, May 23, 2013

Black Dog Salvage will be CLOSED Monday, May 27th for Memorial Day


We will be CLOSED on Monday, May 27th in observance of Memorial Day.

Our regular business hours are Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm, closed Sunday.

We hope to see you soon!


Friday, May 10, 2013

Black Dog Architectural Salvage - New Episodes of Salvage Dawgs begin June 1st on DIY Network!!!

The crew loads stained glass salvaged from a church in Salisbury, NC - photo courtesy of DIY Network

The Black Dog Salvage Crew just finished wrapping up the first season of Salvage Dawgs, as seen on the DIY Network and HGTV!

Mike, Tay, Captain Hook, Robert and Ted - photo courtesy of DIY Network

The first 5 episodes premiered November 8, 2012.  The mid-season premiere,  launching the final 8 episodes of Season 1, will begin June 1st at 11pm on DIY Network.

Mike and Sally, the Salvage Dog - photo courtesy of DIY Network
Set your DVRs!
To find your local listings, go to:

Robert Kulp and Mike Whiteside, owners of Black Dog Salvage, with Sally, the Salvage Dog - photo courtesy of DIY Network

The crew has had a busy salvage schedule, with many new stories and treasures to share with viewers!

Grayson, Mike, Robert, Ted and Tay  - photo courtesy of DIY Network
Meet the newest crew member... Grayson! Grayson adds the perfect balance, we're thrilled to have this Roanoke native join our team!