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Our Story
Once called the “Paris of the Midwest” because of its grand architecture and
broad, tree-lined streets, Detroit is now the unfortunate poster child for urban
blight, plagued by social and economic troubles, a dwindling population and a
decaying landscape strewn with tumbledown abandoned houses and buildings. From
charming Arts-and-Crafts bungalows to richly ornate Victorians to stately
neo-classical mansions that were home to the titans of industry, the city's
structures are being neglected and demolished, their exquisite details lost
forever. These late 19th- and early 20th-century architectural treasures were
built by anonymous European master craftsmen—hardworking Italian, French, Irish
and German immigrants with expert skill in handwork. Today, the high-quality
methods and materials they employed are rare and prohibitively expensive, found
only in historic houses and exceptionally-built newer homes.
Founded by a Detroit native with a passion for the warm patina, exceptional
craftsmanship and intriguing past of the residences that once surrounded him—and
an obsession with home décor and interior design—Old World Charm was born out of
efforts to rescue antique woodwork and architectural elements destined for
landfills and give them new life.
With the hybrid DNA of an architectural salvage yard, artisanal atelier and
secondhand store, our
tiny western New York workshop's mission is simple: to use superior old-growth wood (used
in pre-1940s structures) to craft one-of-a-kind casual and rustic hardwood
products that add beauty, function and a sense of
instant history to spaces. Highly prized by top-tier builders, cabinetmakers and
connoisseurs for its exceptional natural beauty, remarkable strength and
long-term durability, this wood is centuries old and considerably more valuable than new lumber.
The Motor City is among the last sizable repositories of this
ever-diminishing resource.
Our ever-expanding array of reborn creations and repurposed found
objects—rich in character with the patina of age—stand alongside vintage finds
and exclusive items, all marked by an unwavering commitment to handcrafted
quality, authentic history, casual elegance and tasteful luxury.
We invite you to follow us as we create, re-create, grow and evolve.
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