This Atlanta Bungalow Is Decorated With Salvaged Wood and Upcycled Furniture

Recycling is a cornerstone of Atlanta homeowners Hélène Ross and Eric Connolly's lives. This historic West End bungalow is their latest pet project, an upcycled marvel that had been in serious disrepair when they undertook the substantial job of refurbishing it themselves. (The couple actually live next door with their five rescue dogs and three cats.) "It was the problem house of the neighborhood," Eric says. The couple used salvaged goods from the local Lifecycle Building Center to complete their project without spending a fortune. A non-profit salvage yard with a mission of rescuing historical elements and keeping them out of landfills, Lifecycle rescues appliances, millwork, doors and anything else you can think of from properties that homeowners can then purchase at a deep discount. A number of businesses and film productions also rely on Lifecycle for vintage design elements. There's always the chance that the vintage wooden door or mantel customers pick up at Lifecycle once made a cameo in a Hollywood film production.

Atlanta's historic West End neighborhood is experiencing a growth phase with many first-time homeowners buying spaces in the neighborhood. Homeowners like Hélène Ross and Eric Connolly bring fresh, mod style to their historic home with the addition of cheeky Chinoiserie figurines on their front porch, boldly colored planters and industrial-style railings.

Though the house was built in 1921 and retains its historic vibe, subtle additions of metal like the band across the vintage front door and the stainless steel restaurant table used as a plant stand on the front porch keep the energy hip, young and eclectic.

Eric turned a livestock feeding trough into an industrial-chic water feature planted with waterlilies in the backyard.