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Get to Know Robert Kulp
As a former Naval Officer, Robert is all about “attention to detail” and “running a tight ship,” a source of pain and entertainment for the rest of the Black Dog Salvage crew.
Robert's Latest Projects
See All PhotosElegant and Eclectic Upcycling
Robert Kulp (left) and Mike Whiteside started their salvaging business, Black Dog Salvage, on a whim in 1999, but they soon realized it was no mistake. Besides salvaging, they also create and sell one-of-a-kind treasures, like this door panel coffee table, in their Roanoke, Va., showroom. Here are 19 of their coolest projects as seen on Salvage Dawgs.
Photo By: Sam Dean/ Getty Images ©2013, DIY Network/Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
17. Custom Industrial Bookcase
Quite the showstopper, Black Dog Salvage created these bookcases from salvaged iron and horse-kicked wood from The Homestead Stables in Hot Springs, Va. The arched, blue doors were claimed from the Washington Mills factory in Mayodan, NC. Those mid-century modern-inspired chairs? They're made from reclaimed Old Navy clothing racks.
Photo By: Brett Winter Lemon/Getty Images ©2013, DIY Network/Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
16. Claw-footed Couch
Black Dog Salvage comes across vintage tubs often, like the one that Robert and Ted Ayers removed from a 78-year-old church in Salisburg, N.C. This "Breakfast at Tiffany's" couch was upcycled from a vintage bathtub.
Photo By: Brett Winter Lemon/Getty Images ©2013, DIY Network/Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
14. Upcycled Dressers
Salvagers find abandoned furniture all the time. It's amazing what a sanding, new knobs, and a fresh coat of paint can do. For a nontraditional twist, try a bright, vintage huge.
Photo By: Brett Winter Lemon/Getty Images ©Copyright Notice: 2013, DIY Network/Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
13. Horse Tack Coffee Table
In the Black Dog showroom, you're likely to find just about anything. They make ordinary furniture extraordinary with cool found objects, like this coffee table with horse tacks legs.
Photo By: Sam Dean/ Getty Images ©2013, DIY Network/Scipps Networks, LLC All Rights Reserved.
12. Foot Locker Sink
Robert and Mike met while serving in the Navy, so this project surely had sentimental value. The crew took a USNR (United States Navy Reserve) foot locker and repurposed it into a rustic sink with storage.
Photo By: Keith Wright / Wright Creative Inc. ©2013, DIY Network/Scripps Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.
10. Window Pane Coffee Table
For another eclectic coffee table, designers created this piece with a window pane and incorporated salvaged aluminum printing plates into the sides. The visible storage would make a great shadow box.
Photo By: Brett Winter Lemon/Getty Images ©2013, DIY Network/Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.