While attending the Fifty for Five event in New Orleans, we explored the Reuse District in the Bywater neighborhood. Scattered among old shipyards and warehouses, this area is home to several salvage stores focused on preserving and selling architectural elements and reclaimed building materials.
We visited three notable operations: the Preservation Salvage Store run by Rebuilding Together New Orleans, The Green Project and the Habitat for Humanity Restore. Each offers a wide variety of secondhand materials that can be repurposed as distinctive design features or used as period-appropriate replacements for historic homes.
The Preservation Salvage Store carries an extensive selection of larger home elements: doors, windows and casement sashes, cast-iron bathtubs, columns and other architectural millwork. Their inventory is especially strong for anyone restoring a historic residence or searching for substantial statement pieces. They have fewer options in hardware and lighting, but their heavy and structural items are hard to beat.
The Green Project tends to focus on smaller components and finishing materials. You’ll find an abundance of hardware such as hinges and drawer pulls, along with a robust selection of reclaimed paint and tile. Their inventory is ideal for detail-oriented projects that need authentic finishes and trim pieces.
The Habitat for Humanity Restore is housed in a very large, well-organized warehouse. Their lighting and home furnishings offerings are deep and varied, making it a strong destination for homeowners and designers seeking fixtures and decorative items. While hardware choices were more limited than at some other shops, the breadth and cleanliness of the Restore’s inventory make shopping there efficient and pleasant.
Visiting these stores is worthwhile whether you’re restoring a historic New Orleans home or simply hunting for unique pieces with genuine character. Much of the material available was salvaged from homes affected by Hurricane Katrina; purchasing from these nonprofits helps fund their missions to assist homeowners in need and to promote sustainable reuse of building materials. The Reuse District offers both practical solutions for restoration projects and an opportunity to support community-focused preservation efforts.