Over the past several years, I’ve been keeping a close eye on my neighbors’ trash. I live in a historic section of my city, and lately, there many old houses have been restored. The one thing I’m on the hunt for – old doors.
I’ve noticed that old doors are being upcycled for so many different uses. Search Pinterest and you’ll find thousands of ideas. When I visited a restaurant in Maine, I just loved the one I saw in the ladies powder room, which hung on the wall with a full-length mirror. I also spotted one being used as a decorative item at a garden center in Rhode Island. Baskets were hanging from it that highlighted flowers of the season and it inspired me to incorporate one into my own garden. In fact, I even salvaged antique doors and shutters and incorporated them into my wedding décor a few years ago.
When I read about the Find Art Doors project, Richmond, Virginia’s largest public art installation in 15 years, I was immediately intrigued. The idea came from Andrea Butler, who works to raise funds for Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH), a nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness. Forty doors were saved from the landfill from a renovation of one of VSH’s communities, and they now tell the stories of the men and women who were once homeless.
A huge collaboration began from Butler’s idea – working with local artists, city officials and other nonprofits, there are now 40 unique doors scattered throughout Richmond. They can be found on public and private properties, including city landmarks, parks, museums and historic sites, and VHS has posted a map on its website, which notes the location of each door. A prize was even being offered to the first person who posted a picture of themselves with each door on Instagram.
The display will run through October 15 and then the doors will be auctioned off. If you’re in the Richmond area and see a door you love, mobile bidding starts in September.
Over the past several years, I’ve been keeping a close eye on my neighbors’ trash. I live in a historic section of my city, and lately, there many old houses have been restored. The one thing I’m on the hunt for – old doors.
I’ve noticed that old doors are being upcycled for so many different uses. Search Pinterest and you’ll find thousands of ideas. When I visited a restaurant in Maine, I just loved the one I saw in the ladies powder room, which hung on the wall with a full-length mirror. I also spotted one being used as a decorative item at a garden center in Rhode Island. Baskets were hanging from it that highlighted flowers of the season and it inspired me to incorporate one into my own garden. In fact, I even salvaged antique doors and shutters and incorporated them into my wedding décor a few years ago.
When I read about the Find Art Doors project, Richmond, Virginia’s largest public art installation in 15 years, I was immediately intrigued. The idea came from Andrea Butler, who works to raise funds for Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH), a nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness. Forty doors were saved from the landfill from a renovation of one of VSH’s communities, and they now tell the stories of the men and women who were once homeless.
A huge collaboration began from Butler’s idea – working with local artists, city officials and other nonprofits, there are now 40 unique doors scattered throughout Richmond. They can be found on public and private properties, including city landmarks, parks, museums and historic sites, and VHS has posted a map on its website, which notes the location of each door. A prize was even being offered to the first person who posted a picture of themselves with each door on Instagram.
The display will run through October 15 and then the doors will be auctioned off. If you’re in the Richmond area and see a door you love, mobile bidding starts in September.
