Restoring charm, honoring history, and discovering what’s possible—one hidden Rochester architectural gem at a time.
Restoring a historic home is equal parts scavenger hunt and love letter to the home and your community. Rochester is lucky to have so many architectural salvage resources for home restoration making it easy to find authentic materials and expert help. These shops and resources aren’t just places to find stuff—they’re run by people who know their stuff. So ask questions. Let them dig. They’re often passionate about local history and love helping homeowners bring original character and charm back into their space.
ReHouse Architectural Salvage (Rochester)
Located on West Ridge Road, ReHouse is a local favorite offering salvaged building materials like doors, lighting, hardware, cabinets, windows, and woodwork. Their constantly rotating inventory makes it a must-stop for vintage finds.
Historic Houseparts (South Wedge, Rochester)
A true gem for those restoring older homes. Shop here for antique hardware, salvaged doors and woodwork, vintage lighting, period plumbing fixtures, and reproduction pieces.
Salvage & Reproduction Online and National Resources
Rejuvenation
Specializes in reproduction hardware, lighting, and fixtures that span historic styles from Victorian to Mid-Century Modern.
House of Antique Hardware
Offers authentic reproduction hardware for doors, cabinets, windows, and lighting with a focus on historical accuracy.
Restoration Hardware
While more upscale and design-forward, RH offers timeless fixtures and furnishings that blend beautifully with traditional and historic homes.
Schoolhouse
Heirloom-quality lighting, hardware, and home decor for homes with architectural styles that benefit from a sleek, mid-century, American utilitarian aesthetic.
eBay | Etsy
Great places to hunt for one-of-a-kind vintage and antique home goods, from light fixtures to drawer pulls. Filter by time period or style to find items that suit your home’s era.
Specific Reproduction Materials & Where To Buy
- Historic Paint Colors – Many paint brands now have heritage paint color collections – try Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, or Little Greene.
- Period Wallpaper – Find reproduction wallpaper or historic prints reimagined into modern designs and colors to fit your home’s aethetic. Morris & Co. wallpapers are drawn from the original 19th century designs in their archive. Hamilton Weston and Little Greene also have historic and classic wall papers for any era.
- Reproduction Tile – Peek under that linoleum or dingy carpet. You may just find some original tile that needs a good scrubbing. If tiles are damaged from years of neglect or layers of other flooring, all is not lost! Find reproductions of historical tiles or order custom tiles to match the originals at American Restoration Tile or Heritage Tile.
- Appliances – Smeg, Big Chill, Unique Appliances, and even Frigidaire have retro-looking kitchen appliances that add pops of color and vintage charm to any kitchen. To lean into the traditional vibe of pre-1940s homes, look to the classic American Industrial designs. They tend to be larger with cleaner lines, side-by-side oven doors, contrasting knobs, luxe metal finishes, and rich traditional color options such as these from Big Chill. If you are interested in restoring vintage appliances, look to experts like Belgrove Appliance or Don’s Appliances. While not local to Rochester, they may be a good starting point for sourcing parts.
- Bathroom Fixtures – There is no shortage of classic pedestal sinks at the big box stores, but if you are looking for something more unique, manufacturers have recently released fixtures in historic colors and designs. Check out Kohler’s Artifacts Collection for turn-of-the-century bathroom style or find modern fixtures in heritage colors. Listings for salvaged vintage bathroom fixtures are always popping up on Facebook Marketplace. Think powder blue or peachy pink sinks and toilets. Check often if you have something specific in mind.
Budget-Friendly & Unexpected Salvage Sources
- Thrift Stores & Consignment Shops
Local thrift stores (like VOA, Goodwill, and small independent resale shops) occasionally have light fixtures, small furniture, or hardware pieces with vintage character. Keep an eye out, especially during spring and summer when donations pick up. And be sure to check out Habitat for Humanity ReStores. They are nonprofit home improvement stores that sell new and high-quality pre-owned furniture, appliances, housewares, building materials, and more to the public at a fraction of the retail price. - Estate Sales & Auctions
Estate sales are a treasure trove for finding original furnishings and fixtures that may match your home’s era. Follow local listings or use apps like EstateSales.net or AuctionZip to find upcoming opportunities.
Educational and Reference Resources
Monroe County Library System – Rochester Architecture Guides
Learn about the history and style of your home with this free online resource from the Rochester Public Library. It’s packed with style guides, visual references, and helpful context for local architectural history.
Sharon Q Realty’s Local Service Providers Directory
Whether you’re hiring a local contractor, interior designer, or landscape pro, Sharon Q’s vetted directory connects you with professionals who understand the unique needs of Rochester homes.
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of community. Connect with your neighbors and local historical societies. Often, owners of historic homes form networks (Facebook groups or local meet-ups) to share tips, contractor recommendations, or leftover materials. Rochester’s preservation community – including organizations like the Landmark Society of Western NY – is very active and can offer guidance, workshops, or even tax credit programs for historic homeowners. The Monroe County Landmark Society’s “Rehab Rochester” guide, for instance, is a comprehensive handbook on old-house maintenance and rehab that was supported by the City (cityofrochester.gov). Such resources underscore that you’re not alone in this adventure.
Next Steps
We hope this inspires you to take on home restoration projects with confidence and care. Remember to take advantage of all the wonderful local resources we have, from salvage shops brimming with vintage goodies to library archives and skilled local artisans.
Ready to get started? If you’d like personalized guidance on which upgrades will best build your home’s equity or how to prepare your historic house for a successful sale, feel free to reach out to Sharon Q Realty.
