By Jean Sealey
Northeast Florida Builders Association
In a restored historical building in LaVilla, Mitchell and Katherine McDaniel practice what they preach.
What they preach is the beauty and honesty of restoring old buildings, and what they practice is providing others with the expertise and materials to do just that.
Architectural Accents and Antiques occupies the building that for many years housed Jacksonville Wholesale Florist on Adams Street. The building, circa 1924, was 18 months in the re-doing. It is now on the National Historic Register.
“This building reflects what our company stands for,” Mitchell McDaniel said. “Restoration is our focus, and this building is a prime example of the results of all the time and effort it took to preserve it.”
While Mitchell, a builder and owner of McDaniel Contractors, is intent on the integrity of the restoration, Katherine McDaniel focuses primarily on the antiques side of Architectural Accents and Antiques.
“We offer a unique service in that we can carry the design elements of a restored structure into the interior furnishings,” she said. “We can assist with the interior design, and we have high-end 18th and 19th century American and Continental pieces.”
Whether for a new home being built in a period style or an old home being restored to its original style, the McDaniels work with architects, builders and contractors and the home’s owners to achieve a result that will not only satisfy the home owners’ requirements but that will produce what Mitchell calls the “wow” factor.
“When you bring all these elements together — the architectural details of the specific style both on the interior and exterior and the interior furnishings appropriate to the period, you create an environment that makes a statement,” he said. “You really can’t do that without a thorough knowledge of the period or style and the materials to replicate that style.”
Thoroughly committed to the integrity of the style, McDaniel does believe in using modern technology to achieve the final results.
“We carry more than 25 lines of products including columns, moldings, flooring that looks hundreds of years old, tin ceilings, and we are certified installers for all our products,” he said. “Some of our moldings are made of high-density urethane that has the texture and look of coral stone, but are much more economical and practical. We also have a mill shop here and we can reproduce period moldings, fireplace surrounds, doors, beams and complete stair systems.”
McDaniel recognized the need for the products and services he is now able to provide when he could not find what he needed as a contractor in the local market.
“We bridge the gap between the architect, designers, builders and homeowners,” he said. “We are set up like a design center so builders and designers can bring their clients here to see and touch the products. We have panels of wall treatments that represent different styles so customers can see the elements that will make up the look they want to achieve.”
The showroom also serves as a venue for hosting events for clients, and Katherine welcomes guests who want to learn more about antiques. Mitchell and Katherine McDaniel are passionate about educating the public and sharing their treasures.
Architectural Accents and Antiques, 1104 W. Adams St., is a member of the Northeast Florida Builders Association. The store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and other times by appointment. Call 355-0280.