Written by: Marissa Allweiss, PR/Information Officer at the Preservation Salvage Store

Gary Zeringue, a native of New Orleans, has always reserved a special place in his heart for The Big Easy. While Hurricane Katrina left him unemployed, as it did with a number of residents, Zeringue made the executive decision to remain in New Orleans and to move forward picking up the pieces as he goes: literally. These gathered pieces, in addition to his undying love for his treasured city, would soon become his newfound inspiration for starting his own furniture business, known today as ‘Nawlins Reclaimed’.

After the storm, Zeringue and a group of others got to work gutting a total of 70 houses in Old Metairie and Lakeview, where he witnessed a vast amount of building materials being discarded. He reflects upon this stating, “It was really overwhelming. I was throwing so much away, that I finally got to a point where I needed to start saving some of the items. People were telling me, ‘Gary, just throw it all out,’ but I couldn’t. I saved a lot of wood and used a lot of wood on my home when rebuilding.” With these salvaged pieces of wood Zeringue diverted from the waste stream, the foundation for Nawlins Reclaimed was established.

Crafted from a cypress door, purchased from the Preservation Salvage Store, that was transformed into a hallway/sofa table

When I first saw Zeringue’s handcrafted pieces, I was completely blown away. In solely using reclaimed wood from the city of New Orleans, Zeringue pulls out the beauty, history, and authenticity in every piece he creates. “Although older stuff may be hard to work with, the finished product is undeniably gorgeous,” he states. And, indeed, they are.

52” Round Barge Board Pedestal Table built from materials purchased at the Preservation Salvage Store

Getting straight to the heart of his pieces, which range from coffee tables, to benches, to dining room tables, Zeringue emphasizes why it’s so important to reuse the wood found in New Orleans. “You can’t buy this in a regular store! It’s just not made anymore! This is New Orleans’ history right here. Every bit of wood you see here has a story.” He points to a piece of 150-year-old bargeboard he salvaged from a home and, with a hint of nostalgia depicted in his voice, states,” If only these boards could talk. I mean, this is New Orleans right here! This is the real deal.”

An insert from a salvaged cypress door and reclaimed barge board used for the legs make up this repurposed bench

While only recently being introduced to Gary Zeringue, who often purchases his items from the Preservation Salvage Store, and his reclaimed furniture pieces, I would have to agree. Through his work, Zeringue embodies the history, character, and hardships of New Orleans’ past and allows it all to carry on into the future.

Gary Zeringue does not currently have a storefront, but if you would like to learn more about him or want to see more of his amazing pieces, visit his facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NawlinsReclaimed.

And for more information about the Preservation Salvage Store, its mission, materials, and contact information, explore its webpage at: http://www.rtno.org/get-involved/salvage-store/