Searching for architectural salvage can be fun, and using reclaimed materials is a great way to get a custom look. But it will be easier if you have some idea of the original purpose of the item that inspires your imagination. And you’ll get more respect from dealers if you ask about the doorway spandrel, rather than the “triangular wooden thingie”. A reference book like The Elements of Style will help. This illustrated architectural dictionary is separated into chapters that focus on one aspect of a building, such as doors, windows, walls, ceiling, staircases, lighting and mouldings. There is extensive material on 17 periods—from Tudor to Contemporary, with smaller chapters on British and American vernacular, and on the restoration and maintenance of older homes. In each section, particular features of a home—say, the fireplace, is colour-coded to enable the reader to compare styles between periods. Of course, if you REALLY want to be in the know, the biggest bang for your buck will come from taking a BiY course about a project you’ve got slated for this fall.

The Elements of Style: An Encyclopaedia of Domestic Architectural Detail, Stephen Calloway – General Editor Firefly Books 592 pages -- about $75.