Sarasota Architectural Salvage
With 17 years’ experience behind him, architectural salvage comes second nature to Jesse White. As he describes it, every item he saves or reclaims is “born from love of keeping historical materials from being demolished.” Wildly popular with millennials keen on doing their part to reuse items and not add to the planet’s garbage dumps, “upcycling” is the home decorating trend of this generation. Similarly, baby boomers enjoy reengaging with items from their past, so they are fully immersed in the salvage game. Television programs like “American Pickers” make it very hip to discover dusty old finds in the back of some old barn and have spun off a variety of other like-minded series. But for residents there is just one name synonymous with quality repurposing. Sarasota Architectural Salvage is the place to visit if you want to salvage, repurpose, upcycle, or just want to see some cool old items.
The mission of Jesse and his team at Sarasota Architectural Salvage is multi-faceted and serves the community, along with the planet, in several ways. With an eye for seeing something in a larger context, Jesse can look at an old building ready for demolition and determine dozens of uses for the materials that have gone into creating it. He cannot stand to see anything wasted and has built a solid reputation on locating buildings slated for demolition. In the process of salvaging everything from windows to doorframes and switch plates, he also gets to preserve a little bit of history.
Who purchases the items found at Sarasota Architectural Salvage? The answer is everyday consumers looking to furnish their homes with authentic period pieces and flippers and contractors wanting to lessen their carbon footprints on the planet. But it doesn’t stop there. Businesses looking to set an example on recycling will often come to Sarasota Architectural Salvage for a variety of items, from upcycles desks that used to be doors, to barn hooks that now serve as a custom coatrack. As Jesse explains, “We look for the good bones of an old house and often find cypress and other wood elements that can be transformed into an exquisite piece of furniture.”
When it comes to IBE, Jesse describes his time with the organization as a “really good experience.” He goes on to say, “It feels like you are a part of a family of businesses and I really enjoy that.” Since Jesse engages in a Buy Local Pledge, working within the IBE network goes right along with that. “IBE has been an absolutely perfect match and has also brought in add-on business.” Recently, Golden Vision, a fellow IBE member, challenged Sarasota Architectural Salvage to create a custom piece for the office. All through the money-saving magic of bartering, Golden Vision was able to procure beautiful old windows that have been transformed into one-of-a-kind very chic display cases for their high-end eyewear. And Jesse is always excited to meet new IBE Clients. “There is something about a barter customer walking in; it is as if they are already a friend.”
Sarasota Architectural Salvage has two locations, in both Lakewood Ranch and Downtown Sarasota. Please visit https://www.sarasotasalvage.com/ for more information.