For example, a nice couple in south Asheville called me recently and wanted some drawers installed in these cupboards: Since my schedule was full, I referred them to Allan. After talking with the customers, Allan did some research to find high-quality drawers, but in his words, "After looking at what was out there, I knew I could do a better job for the same price." So he built the drawers himself, and they're amazing! You can't get quality like this from a big-box store. Take a look: You could load these things up with stuff and they would still work like a charm. And they're really beautiful, too. Another customer requested a new stair railing to replace a rusting metal one that made their brick stairs into a hazard. I sent them to Allan because I knew he was the right man for the job. Look at this new railing! It's a showpiece. He's also got a sharp eye for detail... ...and a knack for making old trim look new again. When you call us, you're not just calling me... you're getting access to a whole group of talented local handymen with positive attitudes and incredible skills. Whether you need a solid new railing, a hand-crafted storage solution, or the right trim for your room, we're here to help.
Call today to get connected to the right guy for the job. 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!
Check out this Instagram-worthy office which one of my customers recently set up in his backyard shed. More specifically, look at the rustic ceiling I installed for him! My client is a pretty handy guy himself, so he was able to install the shiplap walls and the rustic floor boards. However, he knew that putting up ceiling paneling can be a tough job, especially if you want long, wide boards like these. That's when he called me... and since I knew I would need an extra pair of hands to wrangle those boards, I also called in Ricardo Blanco, one of the carpenters in our network of craftsmen. It's always fun to work with such a talented person. The work goes so much faster. We also installed a modern ceiling fan which plays nicely against the textured wood. The result is a stylish office that might make a person look forward to Monday mornings. If you've got a project that's a little out of reach, why not call your local Asheville handymen? We'll get it done for you.
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.
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April 2022
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