I recently built a custom kitchen island with a butcher-block top for one of my Asheville customers, and I really like how it turned out. It's one of those pieces that would look great in any kitchen, and it can be built to any size. Take a look: I outsourced the top to Forever Joint Tops, LLC and they did a good job. It's a mixture of several kinds of wood, and there's a lot of figure and contrast in the grain. Pictures don't really do it justice, but here's my best try at showing it off: The island is divided along the middle to separate the open shelving from the other side, which serves as a seating area so that the island can double as a breakfast bar. When I originally built the island, I brought the paneling all the way to the floor, which gave it an old-fashioned look like an upright piano. Notice that beautiful wooden paneling. That's not bead-board. It's called "V-groove" paneling, and it has broader spaces between the lines for a chunkier look. It's more like ship-lap panels, only with vertical lines. It was so pretty that I was sorry to paint over it. Maybe my next project will have a natural finish. I liked the old-fashioned look of the long panels, but I think my customer was right to ask me to bring up the bottom edge to meet the lower shelf. The extra space underneath means more legroom when you sit down to eat breakfast. That's why I love custom work: my clients often have great ideas, and collaborating to make something beautiful is part of the fun. If you need a custom island to fit your Asheville kitchen, give me a call. As an experienced furniture maker, I can build it to your specifications, and even paint it to match your cabinets. You can see more examples of my work on our kitchen islands page, or if you're ready to get in touch and share your own ideas, click this big orange button to...
If you're running out of storage space in your bedroom, this is a great project to consider: a platform storage bed. This one is small, because it's for a little girl, but I can build these to your specifications. Keep reading to see how it came together. One of my clients has a young daughter who sleeps in a small bedroom. Since there wasn't much floor space, they didn't want to use up all the room which a standard "twin" bed would take up. I started by building a simple wooden frame. (Click any of these pictures to enlarge.) I had already built the drawers offsite in my workshop. After I put in the drawers, I added drawer faces and a sturdy wooden top. The neat thing about this arrangement is that when she grows out of it, she can put the bed elsewhere and use this as a window seat. I painted it white to match the trim and make it cleanable. If you need a custom built-in bed or window seat with storage underneath, give me a call. I really enjoy projects like this, so I'll be glad to help.
One of the quickest ways to add value to your home is to upgrade your laundry room. Why the laundry room? Because a well-planned upgrade makes life easier. The right layout gives you space to fold clothes, store supplies and generally keep everything within reach, and home buyers can picture an easier life. For example, picture yourself dealing with this laundry closet in the "Before" stages. There's no place to put the soap, and supplies get piled in the least convenient places. When my client called me in to make this upgrade, the first thing he wanted was a set of shelves where he could keep his detergents and towels. My van serves as a portable rolling workshop, so I was able set up in the parking area and built a set of clean white custom shelves. I installed them in the laundry closet, and we had a good start on a useful work area. But keep reading because there's more to come... The shelves were just the beginning. The closet was repainted, and after a new set of front-loading machines was delivered, I added a counter on top so my client had a place to fold clothes. We also swapped out the light fixtures with new spot lights with dimmer switches. Now it's easy to see what you're doing, but you can also dial the lights down if you prefer. The end result is very satisfying: easy to use, with a place for everything and everything in its place.
If your laundry area forces you to juggle things around, why not upgrade with new shelves or counters? We'll be glad to help... just give us a call.
So if you need a place to stash your stuff, give me a call. I also do shelving and built-in storage, so I'm sure we can find a solution that fits your needs.
As the year winds down to a close, I've been flipping through all the projects I've done and realizing that it's been a great year for repairs that are both beautiful and functional. Here's my pick of the three best before-and-after projects of 2016. Rebuilding a Really Rotten Railing This railing rotted away from the inside because the original builder didn't use pressure-treated lumber. It looked solid until I touched it with my chisel... then it fell apart! I rebuilt it with water-resistant materials for a truly solid and lasting stair railing. Tori's Built-In Bookshelves Noted author Tori Hartman moved to Montford and needed shelving around her fireplace. I installed custom shelving which complemented the room beautifully. Here it is after she styled it: A Light, Bright Office Update The Griffin Agency moved into a new office in an historic building in downtown Asheville, and they needed a fresh coat of paint to brighten up the place: The transformation was somewhat heightened by my new camera. In addition to interior painting, I also installed a new kitchenette which fit right into the decorative scheme of their office: Does your New Year's list include a resolution to get those small home repair projects done? If so, give me a call. I'll be glad to help you go from boring "before" to amazing "after."
|
About
Connect!
Archives
April 2022
This blog is for entertainment purposes only. See our Terms of Use for details.
|
What Our Clients Are Saying
"Arthur is that rare professional handyman who is totally reliable; fairly priced; pro-active in communications; honest; punctual; skilled -- and a really nice guy." "Arthur is a great resource to have here in our area. He's prompt, professional, does great work and is cost effective. I'll definitely use him again!" |
Follow Us:Email US AT:Service Area:
In-town Asheville
Mars Hill and Weaverville Arden and Fletcher Fairview Popular Services |