Yesterday, I met my friend Chris in Astoria, and she took me on a surprise field trip. She wouldn't tell me where we were headed until we reached our destination. I had no clue where we were going. Can you guess?
Chris took me on a surprise adventure to Build It Green! I've heard about this non-profit resource, but I'd never been there before. I wish I had a photo of the look on my face when I walked in — my mouth dropped wide open when I saw just how enormous the warehouse is. I skipped around with my camera all afternoon, poking through rows and rows of reclaimed and low-cost salvage finds. I love how even the quiet, unmarked entrance makes it feel like a secret spot.
One of the first things that caught my eye was this massive diner sign! That gorgeous mantel is 150 years old, and it's a salvaged antique from an old Park Slope brownstone. A big piece of history.
I wish we had space for one these vintage file cabinets. I love the old cabinets with wood drawers and the metal ones with industrial style handles.
I fall in the category of weird people who don't like to take a bath (showers only, thank you.) But I do appreciate a beautiful bathtub. I could see this gray clawfoot tub looking amazing in a new bathroom.
Some of the salvage pieces made me laugh — like these mannequins.
There was an entire room of books and painting supplies (new brushes, new paint, used paint, buckets, you name it.) You could save a lot of money on supplies for a painting project.
Now this is my kind of theater seating for the home! I love these old movie seats (you can get an entire row of five connected seats for $200.) These seats would clean up so well.

Build It Green is the perfect place for a new homeowner. You'll find doors, windows, moldings, kitchen cabinets, and even appliances. What's more green than renovating with reclaimed building materials.
And there is a ton of furniture at Build It Green!! Here's a peek at a truckload of furniture that had just come in. Since it's a nonprofit, the pricing is fantastic. You can really get a great deal. I found the prices to be right in line with a junk shop or a flea market. And the people that work there are so nice. Build It Green's mission is fantastic, and I love the idea of reusing found objects and materials that will work for you. Here's a list of their common inventory. And if you're planning a renovation, you can work with Build It Green to do deconstruction — so your old materials don't go to waste.
Thank you, Chris! I had the best time. What an adventure! And I sure love a good surprise.