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“A manicurist’s nightmare.” | That’s how best friends and business partners Tabitha and Elizabeth describe their architectural salvage business. Wrestling clawfoot bathtubs, grappling with stone gargoyles, even toting a 12-foot plaster alligator rescued from an amusement park, are all in a day’s work for the co-owners of Island Girl Salvage in Elk Grove, Illinois.
“The fun is in never knowing what we’ll find,” says Tab, who discovered a love of architectural salvage as she sought out period pieces to restore her 1926 Cotswold cottage. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a hand-carved oak mantle or a funky plastic ’50s light fixture. We love it all – and sooner or later we’ll find a customer who’ll be thrilled to get it.” That’s especially rewarding, she adds, since many of these historic finds would otherwise end up in landfills.
The self-described “island girls” (Tab hails from Hawaii, Liz from Long Island) go to great lengths to preserve the history and romance of the architectural pieces they salvage. Most items, right down to individual door hinges, are labeled with the address and type of home from which they were rescued. Wander through their 5,000-square foot warehouse/showroom and you’ll find everything from antique urns and kitschy clocks to ornate vintage tennis rackets and a bushel basket of brass and crystal doorknobs. |
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 “Our customers appreciate that each piece comes with a connection to its past,” notes Liz, who specializes in restoring stained glass windows and refinishing furniture. “They love their homes, and they enjoy adding elements that come with great stories. New stuff is boring, but salvaged pieces are fascinating!”
So is the hunt for salvageable goods. Tab and Liz visit auctions, estate sales and flea markets as well as bid for salvage rights on whole houses and businesses. “And that’s when the fun really begins,” Tab says. “These buildings are scheduled to be torn down, so we have to get in and get out fast. And the working conditions are – well, I guess you could say they’re ….”
“Brutal!” blurts Liz. “There’s usually no electricity, no lights, no heat, no AC. So it’s beastly hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter. To think, we gave up office jobs for this!” Both women use Duluth Trading safety glasses and Blister Buster Gloves. Liz likes Dr. Klick’s Kit to clean tight corners and crevices in the pieces she’s refinishing, while Tab swears by the Leather Work Boots, Overachiever Overalls and Knee Pads.
“We’re constantly working around broken glass, nails poking out, even holes in the floor,” Tab explains, “so we’re forever getting bumped and jabbed and scraped. Having serious work gear isn’t just about comfort. It’s the only thing between us and severe pain!”
Salvage work does have its glamorous side, though. Tab and Liz get regular calls from interior designers and production companies seeking unique pieces for movie sets. In addition, the colleagues, who jokingly call themselves ‘demo divas’, have been featured in the national home décor magazine Domino, as well as Chicago magazine.
“The magazines showed up with photographers and stylists and make-up artists – they made such a big deal out of it,” Tab laughs. |
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| “We like how Duluth Trading Company runs photo shoots,” adds Liz. “You’re really down to earth: you don’t bring make-up – you bring tools!”
Learn more about the adventures of Tab and Liz at islandgirlsalvage.com. |
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