Ken Sevensky, the owner of Gum Ridge Mill and Flying Pig Furniture, has always been fascinated with old Pennsylvania barns and woodworking.
After moving to North Carolina, he stumbled into getting rid of a neighbor’s old outbuilding that was starting to fall into the road. He kept that wood on his property and after tearing down four to five buildings and also storing the wood, the company really began as a way to just move the wood off of his property.
Now, he uses reclaimed wood from old doors, floors, timbers and logs and re-mills them in Fleetwood, N.C. to create wide plank floors, handcrafted interiors, furniture and cottage accessories.
The company offers custom-built floors with all the characteristics of old antique barn oak and antique farm tables built from reclaimed wood. The antique barn oak is one of Sevensky’s favorites with its mix of colors and nail holes.
Because the buildings used for wood are from all across the Blue Ridge region, the availability of the wood changes, says Sevensky.
“The challenge is finding the old buildings now,” he says. “A lot of times, people give the buildings to us because they are becoming a fire hazard of are just so old they aren’t being used.”
One such building had been moved several times and was very old, says Sevensky. The first time the building was moved, it was pulled by horses and rolled on logs. Sevensky uses the salvaged wood, weather worn and buckshot laden to craft Gum Ridge’s products to honor the original mountain craftsmen.
Just like the custom texture of the antique, salvaged wood he works with, Sevensky has made his house into the company’s gallery of sorts.
“I’ve touched every piece of wood in the house,” Sevensky says. “It just fits with where we are.”
Sevensky and his wife Kristin are in the process of putting the finishing touches on a new shop and gallery, which will showcase Gum Ridge’s products as well as that of local artisans.
Gum Ridge Mill and Flying Pig Furniture, 336/877-8888, www.gumridgemill.com.
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