We’ve made quite a bit of progress on the ol’ dining room, so when we were driving by Cullman last weekend, Matt and I took a little detour to stop by this place…
photo via theletteredcottage.net
We’d heard a bunch about Southern Accents from our pals, and it sound like just the place to find some super cool, time worn wood to build a table from.
We pulled up to a different storefront than the one seen above…if you’ll remember, Cullman was hit very hard by the damaging storms earlier this year. It was actually quite sobering for me to see this place running its daily grind with no windows. I was also struck by how many homes still had tarps as roofs, plywood for windows, and many other makeshift shelter props.
We were driving around, and I just told Matt, “there’s no reason we shouldn’t be up here fixing this. We’ve got to fix some of this.”
So….if you know of any relief efforts to put us in touch with…go for it in the comments below. We’d love your help!
Back to the task at hand (finding that dining table wood)…
We first browsed the store, and I was in a small slice of heaven. Even if it was hardware heaven.
There was tons of architectural salvage, and I found myself wanting one of everything.
As if we were in the market for a salvaged column.
We did take quite a bit longer than planned, and were almost late to the wedding in Nashville that was our final destination. (hey Nash-vegas folks who we got to meet and hang with! thanks for the awesome advice on antique places!)
After a while, even our one-on-one defense for little fingers began to fail and they began to touch waaayyy too much.
We were then taken to the warehouse by this cool guy-Kolby-and again, heaven. Heaven for a DIYer.
Piles and piles of salvaged wood lay before us, and I was scheming up one too many projects for our wallets to handle.
Oh, I’m telling you right now…if that barn wood had been in the plan, it would have come home with us for sure. Except we couldn’t have fit it in the mini-me U-haul we rented on the way home.
For, you know, hauling lumber.
Regular swagger-wagon business.
We did find the perfect pieces for the table top and some smaller beams for the legs.
Here’s what we’re going for…PB’s Benchwright table. I’m sure ours will be a little rougher since we’re using reclaimed wood, but we are planning on including the gorgeous hardware you see under the table, 2 leaves for an expanding table, and the industrial bolts you see on the ends.
It’s going to be quite a task, but we’re up to the challenge.
We think.
I was looking at all that gorgeous wood and thinking that would be perfect for my dream table, I scroll down and…you have the same picture picked-out
. Can’t wait to see how you put it together.
We discovered Southern Accents a couple of years ago. For the last two falls, we drive to north Ala. to see all the fall colors and check out any flea markets/antique malls on the way. We love Cullman and then go over to Decatur. I picked up a couple of things (fragments really) but I love this store.
We were just talking yesterday and wondering about how much damage Cullman has sustained.
Sounds like the kind of place I would love to get lost in! Can’t wait to see your table.
Girl, you know I love that place!
Rhoda and I went to the warehouse too…it’s amazing with so many possibilities. I’m in Cullman a couple times a month and I have those same thoughts about fixing it. It makes my heart so sad.
My slice of heaven, posted and pictured on your blog. Loved it.. the wood, the door knobs, the idea of it all. And the table… Heaven. Can not wait to see how you do it.
A little slice of heaven! What a great store!
I was just on Ana White’s site last night and saw this plan. Crazy timing!
http://ana-white.com/2011/07/benchright-farmhouse-table
Architectural is my most FAVE thing! To me it’s like pure sculpture and I display much of what I own just like that. I have corbels that bookend the mantle in my living room. A Balstrade inside my front door that holds my prize “Bowler” hat. A light turquoise tin ceiling corner piece I’ve hung diamond style on my living room wall. A white chipped gothic arched paneled door leaning behind my desk. An old fireplace mantle afixed to my dining room wall and an old black victorian screen door in place of the original door to my pantry. There is a lot more, but you get the picture. This was an awesome post and I wish I lived closer to this shop. What a DREAM! Thanks.
you’re too funny! i lol’d a few times reading this post. i know exactly what you mean when your eyes are too big for your wallet, bummer!!
julie
Thanks, Julie.
It was also HI-larious that while we stayed in budget, we literally ran out of room for our lumber-hauling. Wood hanging out everywhere. Country come to town. 
shaunna
Hey Shaunna! Thanks so much for this wonderful post about our store! I’m so glad you found “more” than you came for…hopefully, that means you will have to come back!!!! with a bigger trailer, of course! Kolby is a gracious host, I’m sure he gave you a good tour…..or at least, told you to make yourself at home! We love to have do it yourself-ers come in. Glad you found what you were looking for! Make sure you let us know when you get that table done. We would love to see it! I hope you don’t mind, I posted a link to your blog on our facebook page! I’m sure our fans will soon be fans of yours!! All the best!
No problem…LOVED it!! I’m most definitely sure I’ll be back…and will definitely let you know when we finish. We hope to tackle it this week/weekend. Thanks for being so welcoming!
shaunna
Fun! Can’t wait to see your work on that table!
Just bought Cottage & Bungalows this morning at the grocery store! Couldn’t wait to get home and read the piece on your house! Loved every picture, but after I was wishing there were more!
Can I ask where you found your clawfoot tub?
Hey Alima! Hope you’re doing well today!! THanks for your super sweet comment!! It was an incredible honor.
The tub came from http://www.americanbathfactory.com….and we LOVE it! We were going to restore an antique, but by the time we priced it all out, we would have spent the same or more to restore it. So, we chose to buy a fiberglass version instead, which also made it easier to lift into the attic. 
shaunna
Wow!! What a fun place…I could spend the whole day in there!! Wish it were closer:):)
this is inspiring me to go to my local salvage yard.
Hey Shaunna,
Wow…what a treasure trove of goodies!! Looking forward to seeing your final table. I’m sure it will be just what you have dreamed of.
Just browsed through your fabulous feature in Cottages & Bungalows……what a gorgeous spread.
Layla and Kevin did a wonderful job and your home is beautiful. I really enjoyed every page.
Have a great week
Janet xox
Wow!!Love all the wood!! nly live 20 miles from Cullman!!I have drove past this store,but never stopped in.I’ll have to check it out!!
* I only live 20 mile from Cullman!!Sorry!!
Looks like fun! Can’t wait to see the table!
Literally filled to the brim with excitement about your table!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like amazing fun!
I live in Cullman, born and raised! Was this your first time here? If so I wish you could have seen it before, I cry every time I drive through the hard hit areas, it will never be the same. My house was not hit but I was visiting a relative and was in the middle of it!! There is so much here, I hope you will come back. Be sure and come early and go to Duchess Backery for the best doughnuts in the world!!!!!!!!
Great photos! I can spend all day in stores like that and talking with the folks who own and operate these stores is always a treat too. Hardware heaven is right.
Looks like a fun place to spend a day in… I have family in Decatur – will have to stop in there the next time I’m that way! Can’t wait to see your new table!