I usually use this blog to show off glamorous photos of my latest job, but today I thought I'd give you a peek behind the scenes. I've been getting a lot of built-in shelving jobs this year, and although I usually do a lot of prep work in my home workshop, there are often a few last-minute details to take care of onsite. It just makes for a better shelf if I can fit the piece to the space. With that in mind, I'm always tinkering with the setup in my van, and I recently hit upon an awesome set-up! When I first got the van, I built a set of custom shelves in an H layout that puts all of my tools right at my fingertips. There's always been space underneath for carrying plywood or painting supplies. My latest brain wave was to install a drawer under the shelves. First I laid down some simple runners made from leftover pieces of half-round trim. Then I greased them and laid plywood over them. I added some runners above to hold the plywood in place. My table saw fits there perfectly, and it even doubles as a counter. When the drawer is pulled out, voila! A rolling workshop. All of that organization is for you, so your special project is done right. If you need someone with a rolling closet full of tools to pull up to your door and get your projects done, give us a call. We love this stuff!
One of my customers, a retired kitchen designer, recently bought a house with a kitchen that didn't have enough storage. The main part of the kitchen is on a peninsula overlooking the living room, so there are no upper cabinets over the sink, just a couple of really cool light fixtures. She came up with a creative idea to install a set of IKEA cabinets from their "LIXHULT" line. These are colorful, modular, metal cabinets which come in various sizes. On my first visit, I worked with her to install 11 cabinets to her specifications. It looked like an extension of the art collage on the other wall. She was very happy... ...but in a lucky twist of fate, she had ordered a few too many cabinets. She initially planned to use them in her grandchildren's guest bedroom. However, she started experimenting after I left and soon called me back out to add them to our assemblage in the kitchen. Despite the small size of the individual boxes, the new pantry holds a surprising amount of stuff. I really like the little rails on the insides of the doors to hold recipe cards and notebooks. The extra cabinets were a lucky addition, since they make the whole unit look more substantial. Even though IKEA cabinets are usually very "do it yourself," this was definitely a good time to hire a handyman to install them. The cabinets needed to be mounted into studs, and with such small units, there's not always a stud where you need one! With all of the heavy stuff that could be stored in these cabinets, this becomes a safety issue and needs to be done right.
So if you'd like to try this look in your home, tap the big orange button to call in a pro for the job: I recently finished a project in a modern-style Asheville house: a built-in daybed and entertainment center which matches the industrial look of the home. As always, I'll start with the glamour shot. The customer requested black pipe and painted wood. This isn't our first project made with black pipe, and I really enjoy working with it. Now let's press "rewind" and see how it came together. It all started with a little niche next to the fireplace: The customer needed a place to put her electronics, including a good old-fashioned turntable. She also wanted a daybed so people could sit next to the window and watch the world go by. I started by building a simple frame from 2x4 lumber. This was the easy part! Meanwhile, back at my workshop, I cut and painted plywood for the shelving. I often use plywood, with facing around the edges, instead of solid wood. The plywood is more stable and less likely to shrink or warp. While I was at my workshop, I also cut black pipe to length and added flanges. Putting it all together was trickier than it looks, because I wanted the pipe flange supports to show when you looked at the shelves. If I just used one thickness of plywood, the facing of the shelf would hide the ends of the pipes. I decided to use a double thickness of plywood, which took a lot more work but preserved the interesting detail of the flange. I also installed a barn wood fireplace mantel while I was there. The whole thing looked great even when it was empty... ...and it's a really striking feature of the room now that they've got all their stuff on it. A great place to soak up some sunshine and listen to some tunes on a chilly Spring afternoon. If your fireplace needs a little pizzazz, give me a call. I love to do built-in shelving and entertainment centers, and I'll be glad to help you find a beautiful solution that fits the style of your home.
Every house has one: the ugly circuit breaker panel. You don't want to leave it in plain sight, but you have to allow easy access to it, just in case. What to do? One of my customers recently had their basement remodeled, and the circuit breaker was right where the kids might play. They wanted a way to cover the panel safely. After some discussion, we came up with the idea of a built-in pair of doors with shelves underneath to corral the kids' toys. I started by building the shelves off site, using pre-primed boards which I painted white. Since the opening was so large (more than five feet tall) I installed 2" x 8" boards attached to the studs in the wall. This gave me a sturdy place to anchor the doors. The doors themselves were a pair of off-the-shelf hollow core models which I shortened by several inches. The finished piece is sleek and unobtrusive... much better than the circuit breaker. Plus, the kids can play there safely and have a place to put their toys when they're done. If you need a way to cover your circuit breaker panel, or if you're just in need of a new set of shelves, give me a call. I love this stuff!
The New Year is nearly here, and I like to take this time to look back on the old year and remember all of the cool projects that came our way. Here are some of my favorites, in no particular order. Click any picture to read the original post about the project. Two Custom Laundry ClosetsTailored laundry closets can make a big difference in the value of your home with a relatively small investment... and meanwhile you get to enjoy a well-organized space to do your household chores. These two laundry areas were designed to fit very different spaces; one is tucked into a hallway, and the other is a complete room with extra cupboards and a coat rack. A Built-In Platform Storage BedThis little bed has a big surprise... ..drawers that pull open to allow storage of clothes or toys. When the little girl grows up, it can serve as a window seat instead. English-Style Mudroom CubbiesSpeaking of storing your kids' stuff, check out these mudroom cubbies which I built for a family of seven. Now that winter has rolled around, they're really getting some use out of them. Custom Kitchen IslandThis island has a classic and versatile style, and it could be sized to fit any kitchen. It has storage for dishes on one side, and seating on the other, so it doubles as a breakfast bar. Portuguese TilesI know I showed these tiles off fairly recently, but since I installed them, the homeowner has mentioned a few interesting facts which I left out in my original post. These are reclaimed vintage tiles from Portugal, and their original use was industrial, which is hard to believe given how beautiful they are. (My customer says, "They decorate everything over there.") The tiles make wonderful "washable art." Building a Deck with Livestock Panel RailingsSince we're headed into the depths of winter, I couldn't resist showing off my favorite outdoor project from last summer, just to remind us all that the warm weather will return soon. If you're ready to get a head start on the New Year and get some of your projects done, give us a call. We'll be glad to make your vision into reality.
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