Amazing Finds at The Corbel: South Louisiana’s best kept secret

There is an untold story that lives in each piece of wood in a home. The carpenter begins the tale, cutting the raw material and shaping it slowly, his hands sliding over each curve and smoothing each flat surface until the piece emerges. From that point, it may be painted many different colors, handed down generations, lovingly polished by wrinkled hands, cherished as an heirloom, or even cut up to make something else. Each groove, each layer of paint holds a memory, an era of life, a story all its own.

  The owners of The Corbel, husband and wife team Don and Susan Charlet, allow their rustic pieces to stand alone for exactly that purpose. “Our specialty is doing virtually anything with old wood,” Don says.

Each item in their 11,000-square-foot space on Highway 61 has a story waiting to be told. An eclectic mix of furniture, reclaimed building materials, and one-of-a-kind creations await discovery.

Their front showroom overflows with antiques, gift items, stained glass, and interior accessories. The lighting selection includes unique chandeliers, sconces, and table lamps featuring both rustic and modern styles. “If you are looking for that one perfect light fixture in your home, we can make it for you,” Don points out.

The remaining 4,000-square-foot warehouse contains custom furniture made from antique woods such as heart pine and cypress. Shoppers will find architectural treasures like reclaimed doors and shutters, old corbels, and reclaimed stained glass. “I do most of the design work,” says Don, who is assisted by carpenter Dusty Pourciau.

All of the wood at The Corbel has been salvaged from historic sites throughout the United States and Europe. The seven-year-old shop, located in Jackson, Louisiana, is named after the historical architectural bracket that has seen an increase in present-day popularity: the corbel.

“We collect salvaged pieces and transform them into new furniture, accent pieces, building materials, and gift items,” says Don. Antique beams, old doors, and a variety of architectural elements are in the process being transformed into custom furniture, flooring material, and various unique creations. The Charlets have learned to let the wood speak for itself; the creative process follows along behind it.

  “We recently received a container shipment from Europe,” says Don. “Some of the arch-top windows have been taken out of old houses in France and Belgium. We are keeping the unusual shapes and the colors of the old paint and making them into mirrors,” he explains.

  The unique pieces at The Corbel are an especially big hit during the holiday season, when everyone is looking for gifts that will stand out from the rest.

Even small pieces of antique wood are transformed into key holders to hang on the wall, a perfect stocking stuffer. “I think the hot items this year will be our handmade alligator gumbo spoons. They are fashioned from pewter and have handles in the shape of alligators.”

Some other popular holiday items are serving trays and lazy Susans made from antique wine barrel tops. A new creative line of jewelry has also been recently introduced. These unusual pieces, crafted from reclaimed antique rosaries, include exquisite bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.

“One of the hottest products right now is the antique ‘dirty top’ flooring,” Don says. “We salvage old boards, mostly antique heart pine, and retain the old patina. This look is only gained by 100 years or more of weathering.”

The Corbel also offers high-quality Early American stained glass. “Most of the stained glass pieces we carry have been salvaged from houses or churches. Each one was designed and handmade by a commissioned artist,” Don reveals.

Antique architectural elements are wonderful items to enhance the home. Finding them can often be challenging. At The Corbel, there are marvelous surprises everywhere. The shop offers a treasure trove of unique items that epitomize Don and Susan’s devotion to creating one-of-a-kind pieces. “I believe the one thing that gives people the desire to come back to our store is that feeling of new life,” Don says. “It is the same feeling you get from restoring things that are old and almost gone and giving them new life.”

The Corbel
9ll Highway 61
Jackson, Louisiana (across from Marathon Tank Farm)
225-654-0130 or 225-654-6016