In an era where antique lumber of all shapes, types, sizes, and histories is being featured prominently in modern interior design and architecture, one Philadelphia architectural salvage company is capitalizing on the vintage product’s enduring popularity. We recently sat down with Philadelphia-based Provenance Companies’ Brand Manager Susan Banchek who shared details about their new book, published this spring.
“We wanted clients to be able to browse all of the great projects in one easy place,” Banchek explains. “Digital publications have become popular, but there's nothing quite as tactile as flipping through a printed book.”
The 70-plus page book is just the latest edition in a series that Provenance began publishing in 2019. The book – heavy on photos depicting various stages of the design and renovation process as well as completed projects – is divided into various sections. It begins by showcasing some of the many projects Provenance has been involved with nationwide, from Miami to Venice Beach, Calif., in a variety of commercial and residential buildings. And, while Provenance is an architectural salvage company and not strictly an antique lumber company, the book’s emphasis throughout is decidedly focused on showcasing the depth and breadth of the company’s reclaimed lumber offerings. Throughout the first section, photos of the wood being installed are supported with a description about the process and the finished project. These images serve as an excellent way for the targeted audience to browse and get ideas, including “developers, architects, interior designers, and homeowners, and anyone else who wants to add richness to their environment with wood,” Banchek explains.
After showcasing a variety of projects that incorporate Provenance’s materials, the book then offers a look at how the wood is prepared for jobs by showcasing some of the machinery used in the process. Highlights then include descriptions about the various types of antique wood Provenance works with and the variety of items they build with it, including flooring and paneling.
“Walking into our showroom can be overwhelming since it's stacked floor-to-ceiling with wood,” Banchek says. “The book is an efficient way to show clients how to potentially use these materials. We also wanted to highlight our full range of inventory and manufacturing capabilities. We have a comprehensive suite of services and a quick flip through the book shows we're much more than just a material supplier.”
The book also provides a glimpse of the numerous products Provenance builds from antique lumber, including tables, stairs, and roofing support beams. One of the book’s most helpful parts for readers, however, is on the back cover. It’s there that a glossary of various wood-related terms and definitions appears, including “surfaced three sides, hit or miss, and surface checking.” The explanations help make it a publication not just for experienced architects and designers but also for homeowners looking to add style to their home.
Provenance’s main goal in publishing the book? We want “clients to feel inspired when they see the range of ways our materials can be used,” Banchek says.
