A Nod To The Knob!

Garlan Gudger, Jr’s fascination with door knobs began as a young boy. He would spend hours sifting through the buckets of knobs sitting around his father’s antique shop looking for just the right ones that caught his eye. He quickly learned to recognize the knobs that were unique, even rare, and would pull those aside to add to his own stockpile. Over the years his fascination grew from rummaging through the store to seeking out specific knobs to add to his ever growing collection… a collection that has grown into one of the largest in the nation.

Ask Garlan which knob is his favorite and you may get a different answer each time. There are SO many to choose from! One that he often points out as his favorite is an unfinished buffalo knob. This oval knob still has the casting tab attached and is missing the shank. When this design was taken out of production by the manufacturer, this particular knob was cast aside and never finished. The knob, to Garlan, represents a wonderful work of art in progress. It is a rare and prized acquisition, one that Garlan sought out as an addition to his collection.

A fan favorite among visitors to our showroom is the Ludwig Kreuzinger “doggie” knob. This hand crafted design from the 1870′s has been acclaimed a masterpiece of industrial art by collectors. Many would deem this knob as their most prized acquisition. The animal designs included in Garlan’s collection always draw attention from spectators and include several dogs, lions, deer, and a hummingbird, among others. The intricate detailing of each one is simply fascinating.

Looking through the collection it would be hard to ignore the vast accumulation of glass, mercury, and crystal knobs. Clear to colored glass, smooth to cut crystal, controlled bubble mercury glass, the sparkle and shine of each one quickly catches the eye.

The entire door knob collection is currently on display in Southern Accents showroom. Stop in for a visit and tell us which one is your favorite! Of course if you’re looking for a little door bling of your own, we have a large selection of antique knobs and backplates to choose from. Whether you fancy cast brass, glass, or porcelain, we are sure that you will find the perfect knob that will add just the right amount of character to your door. Visit us online or stop by our showroom to view our ever growing selection.

The lion was probably the most popular animal motifs used by 19th century industrial artists.

This controlled bubble knob catches everyone’s eye!

Another favorite… the Irish Setter knob, circa 1890.

Beautiful glass & crystal knobs

Southern Makers… Success!

Gather the most talented group of artists, craftsman, chefs, musicians and designers in Alabama for one day in a curated event and what do you get… Southern Makers Success! We were privileged to be able to ‘set the stage’ for this debut festival at the historic Union Station Train Shed in Montgomery, Alabama this past Saturday. The first time event was extremely well received, drawing an estimated crowd of around 1,500 despite questionable weather earlier in the day. If you missed this event you will want to mark your calendars and make plans now for next year… we’re going back!

Southern Accents jumped on the band wagon a little late in the game, but it didn’t take us long to catch up! We worked tirelessly for several weeks proceeding this event designing and constructing five unique areas for the sold out festival: the entrance, stage, work shop area, inspiration chalkboard, and the “collage” dumpster wall. Southern Accents mission to rescue, restore, and protect articles of historic significance fit seamlessly with the overall theme of this event.

Timber frame entrance built specifically for the Southern Makers festival

Southern Makers attendees first view Saturday afternoon was a timber frame entrance that we constructed specifically for the event. We couldn’t help but show off our new toy, a 1955 Chevy truck, parked just outside the entrance! Inside the shed, we transformed the wood fencing surrounding the dumpster into an artistic display of salvaged goods. Our large “What Inspires You” chalk board was in the middle so the kids and “kids at heart” could draw and write about what inspires them. Throughout the day, many took time to leave their mark on the board, letting us know where they derive their inspiration.

Brightly colored doors, salvaged wood, windows, chain drapery and antique wood carts created an artistic ”stage’ for the performers

A wall of brightly colored antique doors created a backdrop for the stage which was fronted by salvaged barnwood. Windows connected with chain and decorative chain drapery seemed to hang from the sky overhead, while wooden carts were scattered around to create seating.

Rounded church windows, old shutters and a salvaged wood table top created just the right atmosphere for the workshop area.

The background for the workshop area was a gorgeous display of arched church windows and old shutters. We also constructed an artistic table from a collage of different colored salvaged wood, beadboard and fluted trim that served as a display counter for the various speakers.

If you were one of the fortunate ones to get a ticket for this exciting, sold out event we would love to hear from you! Stop by our Facebook page and leave us a comment. Let us know what you loved most about the event. Tell us which spot you enjoyed the most:

1.  Stage & Backdrop
2. “Collage” Dumpster Wall
3. Inspiration Chalkboard
4. Timber Frame Entrance
5. Workshop Area.

We are already brainstorming to come up with new design ideas for next year’s festival!

The “What Inspires You’ chalk board drew a lot of attention!

The dumpster wall was constructed from a collage of antique and salvaged items

A close up of the dumpster wall.

Southern Accents 1955 Chevy was on display just outside the entrance

One of four trailers loaded and ready to roll to Montgomery!

2 Years Later…

April 27, 2011… a day long to be remembered and often discussed by those of us who bore witness to the utter destruction that nature leashed upon us. We had several days warning of the impending storms. The news media had tagged the weather forecast for that day as a set up for ‘the perfect storm’. No one in our town was immune. By day’s end, if you had not suffered some form of property damage, you knew someone who had. Hundreds of businesses across the city alone had been damaged, dozens within a four block radius destroyed. A greater number of homes, many over 100 years old, heavily damaged or completely obliterated. No favoritism was shown by the twisters that day as churches were reduced to rubble. Our streets were lined with ancient hardwoods that once faithfully took on the colors of each passing season creating a picturesque scene likened to a Thomas Kinkade painting. Folks across our city have mourned the passing of so many of our beautiful trees as our landscape was forever changed by an F4 tornado.

Southern Accents – damage following the tornado and weeks later.

Southern Accents – 2013

Downtown Cullman took a direct hit that day during a second wave of tornadic activity. The destruction was like nothing any of us had ever seen before. A war zone was the only proper description for the piles of rubble, scattered debris and unrecognizable terrain in the downtown area. As soon as the storms passed, the streets were filled with people. Friends and strangers alike immediately took action checking on the health and safety of everyone that was passing. The buzz of chainsaws filled the air as the many felled trees were quickly cut away in an attempt to clear a path for emergency and rescue workers. Strangers showed up to help business owners gather scattered goods. Storm warnings continued in to the night as word began to spread of the unimaginable destruction that was being levied across our state.

The days and weeks to follow showed proof of what we had known all along; our community spirit came together like never before. Our resolve was tested and we passed with flying colors. Those who managed to escape the storms unscathed worked side by side with those who had lost everything. It has been a long journey, but two years later, our city and the people who call it home is better for having weathered the storms. Although the landscape is forever changed, the downtown is coming back stronger than ever. After the storms, the City Council established design guidelines to help preserve the historical aesthetics of downtown Cullman as well as offered incentives to business owners to encourage revitalization. The revitalization effort, which was started well in advance of this fateful day, was actually jump started by the storms.

The Little Bit shop – a total loss

The All Steak opened the doors of it’s brand new restaurant in March of 2013. The restaurant was built in the former location of the Little Bit shop.

Many businesses that were destroyed, like the Busy Bee Café, have rebuilt and reopened. Some, for various reasons, chose not to rebuild, giving way to new businesses in the downtown area. The Little Bit store, which suffered a complete loss, was one business that chose not to rebuild. Just last month, the All Steak restaurant opened it’s doors in Little Bit’s old location. The All Steak incorporated brick and other materials salvaged after the storm into it’s beautiful new building. Eastside Baptist and Christ Luthern Churches both suffered total losses on April 27th. Their rebuilding process is quickly coming to a close as both facilities are nearing completion and will be reopening their doors in the coming months. Although boarded up windows and blue tarps can still be spotted in the area, recovery efforts are around 95% complete.

Christ Lutheran Church – reduced to rubble

Christ Lutheran Church – Re-construction process nearing completion 2 years later

As the two year anniversary draws near, still vivid memories will prompt stories that will once again be shared, stories of courage, kindness, sacrifice and perseverance. The face of our town looks different, most would say even better. As recovery efforts continue we are reminded that it is the people of Cullman, not the buildings, that make this a very unique and special place. We would not want to be anywhere else!

This pile of rubble was all that remained of Lee Powell Insurance Agency after the storms

Lee Powell Insurance Agency – 2 years after the storm.

Barkley Plumbing was one of the businesses on this block that was obliterated.

Barkley Plumbing rebuilt in the same location. The lot next door remains empty

The Busy Bee Cafe reopened it’s doors on the one year anniversary of the tornado that destroyed the restaurant.

The historical “Green House” suffered significant damage but thankfully was not a total loss

“The Green House” was repaired and became the new home to The Candle Garden a year after the storms.

Eerie reminders remain 2 years later – buildings were marked as rescue workers searched for survivors. No lives were lost in downtown Cullman that day.

Although blue tarps and boarded windows can still be found downtown, recovery efforts are 95% complete!

Written by: Lisa Jones

Edited by: Garlan Gudger, Jr.

Calling All Shutterbugs – Photo Contest

Mark your calendars… Southern Accents is having a photo contest on Saturday, April 27th! We get constant requests from photographers asking to use our showroom, outdoor lots and alley for location shoots. One of the things we love most about photographers is that each one sees the treasures in our showroom from a different perspective. The same scene shot numerous times looks different depending on the person behind the lens. With our ever changing inventory, the landscape of our showroom is constantly changing, creating a continuous need for new photos. They say a picture paints a thousand words… we use thousands of pictures to promote our business online as well as in print.

The contest will take place beginning at 9:00 am until 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 27th. You do not have to be a professional photographer to enter. Amateurs, bloggers, photo hobbyists, shutterbug wannabe’s are welcome. The contest will be open to the first 30 people to show up that Saturday, digital camera in hand, ready to register for the event. Registration will begin promptly at 9:00 am. Each participant will be allowed to submit up to 5 digital photos via e-mail. All submissions must be sent to saccents1969@gmail.com by 5:00 pm on Sunday, April 28th. One winning photo will be selected by a panel of judges. The winner will receive a $250 cash prize! The winning photo will be announced by Friday, May 3rd.

The purpose of the contest is to open up our showroom, warehouses, and outdoor lots to those interested in photographing our inventory of beautiful architectural antiques. In return, we get to use the photo submissions to help promote our business. Each participant will be asked to sign a copyright release form upon registration. Please CLICK HERE to read the contest rules and fine print as well as print off a copy of the release form. Please address any questions you may have to: lisa@sa1969.com.

We are going to be taking a few pictures of our own that day! We want to get snap shots of our customers and find out where you are from! We are constantly amazed at how far some of our customers travel just to visit our showroom! We will be taking pictures and documenting travel distances for an upcoming online feature. We want to make this a fun filled day for everyone involved so… we will have the Big Green Egg going in the alley! We’ll be giving away grilled burgers, dogs, and ice cold drinks around lunch time!! Plan now to join us for this exciting event! Get your cameras ready, set, shoot!

By: Lisa Jones

3 Generations – Tripp On His First Salvage Trip!

One of our primary goals at Southern Accents is to preserve the stories of the architectural elements we obtain. Having a family owned and operated business for 54 years means that we have a treasure trove of personal stories to tell as well. Dr. Gudger started this business in 1969 when his love for collecting architectural antiques quickly filled up his garage and he decided to take his hobby to the next level, turning it into a small business. 54 years later his son, Garlan, Jr. now manages the business and is passing his love for preserving the past to his two sons, Garlan III (Tripp) and Pierce.

Dr. Gudger, Garlan Gudger, Jr. & Garlan Gudger III (Tripp)

Garlan, Jr. reflects, “Growing up as a child I remember watching my father work hard at something he was passionate about. He would often ask me on Saturday morning if I wanted to go to work with him. There weren’t many Saturdays that I did not accompany him. I would sweep floors and put coal in the furnace on chilly mornings to heat the store. We were the only business on our block in the down town area at that time. As a young boy, I would spend hours searching the store for treasure. My dad would take old door knobs that he collected and dump them in buckets. I would go through every bucket and examine each individual knob. I would pick out the ones that were ornate or had unusual faces and unique designs which is how I started collecting door knobs. My father encouraged my imagination by allowing me the freedom to create things from salvage pieces I would find in the store. Each day in the store was an adventure! Working alongside my dad, I not only developed my own passion for historical artifacts, but I also gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from listening to his stories. By the time I was 13, elderly friends and customers would come by the store and were always surprised that this kid knew more about the ‘old stuff’ than they did! Now 37 years old, I don’t remember a day I haven’t helped with this business in some way. As a grown man, I am still hunting for treasure. Instead of digging through buckets of knobs, I now realize that the true treasure lies in preserving the stories and history of the artifacts that we collect. My father’s passion for historical preservation of significant architectural pieces is something that I now want to pass on to my two boys.”

Dr. Gudger mentoring Tripp on his first salvage mission. This post which Tripp removed will remain a family keepsake.

If you have been following our posts these past two week’s you already know that we have been salvaging two houses in Arkansas, one of which is on the national register. Even though salvaging these houses is a double edged sword for our family, we are thankful that the owners gave us the opportunity for such a significant find. Three generations of the Gudger family traveled together for Phase I of the salvage operation; Dr. Gudger, Garlan Jr. and for the first time Garlan III (Tripp). Tripp’s first salvage job saw his Grandfather watching over and mentoring him… all the while encouraging that same passion for architectural salvage that he instilled in his own son Garlan Jr. years ago. Tripp has started asking questions and showing an interest in the business that Garlan Jr. is hoping to foster in both his sons. There just might be a few floor sweeping days for the young Gudger boys in the very near future!

Tripp Gudger on his first salvage mission!

Southern Accents Newest Team Member

Meet Ryan Walker, the newest member of our Southern Accents team. Ryan joins us as sales manager of our Wood Warehouse. He is a timber framer by trade with an extensive background in wood construction coming to us most recently from Renaissance Woodworking in Decatur, Alabama. Southern Accents has worked with Ryan on various jobs for over 10 years. We are familiar with the excellent quality of his work as well as his vast amount of knowledge and are thrilled to have him join our team!

Having Ryan available at the Wood Warehouse is going to be a huge plus for our customers! Our salvaged wood is warehoused a mile from our showroom in a 20,000 square foot old basketball gym. In the past Garlan or Jeff has had to leave the showroom and travel to the warehouse to meet with customers. Ryan will now be available at the Wood Warehouse during regular showroom hours to assist customers with any salvaged wood needs. He is currently in the process of organizing the warehouse and is available to pull orders for our customers as well as address any questions pertaining to our salvaged wood. This allows Jeff and Garlan the ability to better serve the needs of our showroom customers.

When asked about his new working relationship with Southern Accents, Ryan said, “I am excited to be a part of Southern Accents. I have known Garlan for a long time and have worked with him on various projects over the years. I am passionate about my work and have always been drawn to Southern Accents. I’ve often found myself wondering around the store during my down time, taking in all the beauty of the antique wood work. My association with Southern Accents has been a long time coming. My background in construction paired with Garlan’s background in architectural salvage is a natural fit.”

Please feel free to stop by our wood warehouse at 250 Janeway Drive, Cullman, Alabama during regular showroom hours of Tuesday – Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. You can also e-mail us at info@sa1969.com or call our showroom at 877 737-0554 with any wood questions. Our inventory is constantly changing. Whether your project is large or small, we would love to assist you with your salvaged wood needs!

The pictures below are a sample of what you will see at our Wood Warehouse! Enjoy!!

Birmingham Home & Garden Show – Reflections!

Wow! What a fantastic 4 days we have had! Right on the heels of fashion week in New York City with Billy Reid we were in Birmingham, Alabama for the Home and Garden Show. This was our first time participating in the BHGS. We had so much fun that we are sure it will not be our last! We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by our booth and visited with us. It was extremely busy and at times even crowded all 4 days. Several of our team members were present at various times throughout this event and were excited to get to speak to so many. We thoroughly enjoyed rekindling old friendships and establishing new ones! We were also excited about the tremendous amount of interest shown in architectural salvage. We are passionate about what we do and were thrilled with those of you who share our passion as well as those who’s interest was peaked. We hope to see many of you here at our showroom in the near future. We also encourage you to visit our website at www.sa1969.com often as well as follow us on Facebook.

We would be remiss to not acknowledge and thank our team members who worked over and beyond to make this show happen. We think that we had the BEST looking booth at the show. We had an endless amount of positive comments and compliments from those attending the show as well as other vendors participating in the show. A huge thank you to everyone involved including: Adam, Roger, Mike H., Jeff, Rogelio, Shane, and Ryan for all the incredible work putting together the flooring and display pieces,  delivering and setting up the booth,  and picking up the slack around the store so that many of us could be in Birmingham. Thanks to Lucy, Lisa, and Amy for their work in organizing the booth from concept to completion! Thank you to Mike Richard for pulling it all together and making us look awesome! Thanks to each and every team member as well as a few friends who showed up to work the booth throughout the 4 days: Lucy, Daphney, Heather, Mandy, Lisa, Jennifer, Jeff, Garlan, Michael, Amy and Sunny.

Last but not least, we would like to thank so many others who helped make this show a huge success for us! Thanks to Stacie Carter, Audrey Land, Lisa Jones, and Shelly Hodge Smith for all the amazing photographs that were used for our banners, brochures, and slide show. Thank you Suzi at Cullman Sign and Banner for the awesome job on our banners. The compliments were unceasing! Thanks to Mike at Cornerstone Media and Lori for your tireless work on the brochures. Thank you Sarah at Son & Sons for all your help!

For those who weren’t able to attend, we hope that you enjoy these pictures. Hopefully we will have a chance to meet you at a future event!

Please feel free to contact us with questions or comments. Our showroom is located at 308 Second Ave SE, Cullman, Alabama. Our hours are Tuesday – Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. We are closed Sunday and Monday. You can reach us by phone during regular business hours toll free at 877 737-0554 or e-mail us any time: info@sa1969.com.

Birmingham Home & Garden Show

We are beyond excited to be a participant in the 2013 Birmingham Home and Garden Show. This endeavor will be our first time at the BHGS. We are hoping to make this an annual event for Southern Accents. If you are within traveling distance of Birmingham, Alabama, we highly encourage you to attend. The BHGS will be held February 14th – 17th at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex at the BJCC. This year the show has been expanded to two levels and includes over 150 exhibitors.

Whether you are in the midst of a new home construction or remodeling project or perhaps contemplating either one, this is the place to be! Ty Pennington of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and ABC’s “The Revolution” fame writes “… the best place to find all the basics, plus all the hot new products – all in one place – is at the type of home shows Marketplace Events produces.”

These events are not just for those who are in the throws of home construction! If you are thinking about remodeling a bathroom, updating your home or office decor, need to replace old windows, gutters, worn appliances or heating/air units… this event will be worth your time. There will be a wide representation of companies and vendors ready to show you the latest in home trends and new products on the market. You can browse the Southern Living plant collection, view featured gardens by local landscape companies, experience the Living Fountain as well as sit in on presentations by the celebrity guests.

A “can’t miss” event on your schedule of course will be a stop at Southern Accents booth! We will be located in booth #2206 next to the lawn and garden displays. We will have team members available throughout the 4 day event ready to meet with you and answer any questions you may have. Stop by and take a look at our salvage wood floor, view our slide presentation of over 300 gorgeous pictures taken in our showroom, and make sure that you are included on our mailing list. We may have a few goodies to give away as well! We are looking forward to visiting with old friends and making new ones.

For more information on event location, times, and tickets, visit the Birmingham Home and Garden Show online. We look forward to seeing you there!!

Making Old Things New

Given the fact that we are passionate about salvaging architectural antiques and goods, it warms our hearts to no end to see a finished project resulting from a customer’s creative vision. Daily we see salvaged goods and architectural finds go out the door but seldom have the opportunity to see the end result. We love it when our customers share their pictures with us. We are inspired by the transformations and relish the opportunity to share the photos with others in hopes of fueling their creative juices.

One of our customers, Justin Dyar, recently shared a couple of pictures with us. This incredible residence which sits on the beautiful Smith Lake features salvaged wood from Southern Accents on both the floors and walls. Justin also installed salvaged tin on the ceiling in this downstairs room. When asked why he chose to use salvaged goods instead of new, Justin said that he wanted a modern style with a rustic feel. He chose to blend the use of salvaged items with new materials in an effort to create the look and feel of a weekend getaway. Justin also purchased an antique mantel from Southern Accents for use in this home. His motto, “the older and more scratched up the item is, the better it looks in my home!” We simply agree!

Justin also chose to use a few antique items in the home’s decor. These old shutters, which were also purchased from us, are used as a focal piece behind the master bed. Justin also incorporated some old rustic iron pieces throughout the home.

When asked about his experience with Southern Accents, Justin replied; “Southern Accents has some of the most unique decor items and vintage materials that I have ever seen. I have been to many antique stores throughout Alabama and the Southeast, and Southern Accents in downtown Cullman has a better selection than anyone.” Thanks Justin… we’ll take that!

The use of salvaged goods and architectural antiques can add so much character to your home or business. It is also a way to contribute to the viability of our planet. The reuse of salvaged wood alone is a major step in the right direction. Come by and talk to us about your next building or remodeling project. We would love to help!

We would also love to see more finished project pictures from our customers! If you have an awesome picture you would like to share, please send it to info@sa1969.com. Include your name and a little information about the architectural piece or salvaged items purchased from Southern Accents and how you used them.

Take Me Down To The Little White Church!

One of the most fulfilling tasks that we undertake at Southern Accents is going out on a salvage job. Once we purchase salvage rights to a building that has been scheduled for demolition, we go in and take everything that we deem reusable. One of our favorite salvage expeditions to date was Center Methodist Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee.

Center Methodist Church, Shelbyville, Tennessee

This little, white, one room church was built in 1887 by German Morgan and his son on land that had been donated almost 50 years earlier by a man named Michael Holt. The building was expanded in 1963 when Sunday School rooms were added. By 2008 the little building was no longer in use and found itself sitting on private property. The property owner had concerns about safety as well as vandalism which lead to his decision to have the structure removed.

Southern Accents Salvage of Center Methodist Church.

Southern Accents purchased the salvage rights and was thrilled to discover that we were able to salvage almost every piece of the building for re use.

Oil Chandelier from Shelbyville, Tennessee

Our favorite item from the church was this incredible three tier oil chandelier. The picture above shows the original light as it hung in the church on the left. The picture on the right is the light as it hangs in our showroom. The bottom is a picture of a wooden board that was found by the owner while tearing out the walls. One of the names on the board is Mrs. Sue Riggs Gill and the date 1887. Mrs. Gill donated the oil chandelier which was later converted to electric and used until the building was taken down in 2008. The detailing on this unique light is magnificent! The original shades were removed and stored for safe keeping.

Closeup of gas chandelier.

We love uncovering and preserving historical content. Being able to trace the history of an item and pass it on to the new owner is the most exciting aspect of what we do. This light currently hangs above the staircase in our showroom and is available for purchase. Visit our website to view details and pricing information on this unique light.