Colleen handed me a photograph of a Mission styled bathroom she liked. She wanted to do her entire hall bathroom with lots of storage, wood panelling, a tiled floor, and a beautiful claw foot tub…      

  This was a project with a very high level of craftsmanship. Mission woodwork (also called Craftsman, and Arts and Crafts) started in Europe and quickly became an American standard. The wood is quarter-sawn american white oak. The handles and pulls are authentically styled.  Click here for the story.

Elizabeth likes to design her own furniture. This project, although it looks simple, was intricately constructed. We collaborated on design adjustments to make it even better…
  The material is white maple, with a bit of curly maple thrown in for highlighting. Elizabeth wanted to have metal inside  to hang magnets for her long jewelry, and metal shelves as supports for holders for her rings and such. I found a product called brushed magnetic stainless steel which worked out perfectly. The doors needed to open toward the center. I used a unique hinge designed by the Soss company to keep the hinges hidden. The mirrors were 3/16” thick. The final finish was Watco Teak Oil, and was hand rubbed.

Wally had carpeted stairs (as seen at the left) and wanted to convert them to red oak with white risers…
   There are two ways to do this kind of work. The first is to completely replace the treads, however this method may leave tripping hazards. I chose to put tread covers over the existing treads, and was able to even out the rise on each step. I cut in oak stringers on the sides.The final stain and varnish matched the stair color closely to the existing woodwork. Stairs and railings require attention to detail.

Lise likes the Cottage style, which had its origins after the Victorian era. It  retains much of Victorian form but  is simpler and more homey…
   Lise wanted storage, window seats, new windows, a skylight, wainscoting, and painted woodwork. The project was a joy to build. It proceeded over a period of time. The skylights came first.  Although they are not shown here, they give the room an interior glow.  The windows came next and give this attic room the same sense of proportion you see on rooms from this period. Although there was a lot of cabinetry, there was no need for expensive materials. Birch plywood and poplar were sufficient. Finally, we added wainscot walls with lift-out panels to access the attic furnace.

Craftsmanship is a way of life. I chose it because I like to make nice things for people. I know my materials and how to craft a good looking and durable project.

Simple built-in woodwork can progress at a good pace, however custom designed furniture and period styled woodwork (such as Arts and Crafts, or Cottage) takes longer. With creative projects I have to “live with it” a bit to get a feel for what looks best.

Your reward for your patience is beautiful woodwork that reflects both your vision and the best of the craftsman’s abilities. Please call me at 720-351-2249 for an appointment.

Rick and Susan wanted to get away from factory produced cabinetry. They wanted something unique but which fit with the style of their home…
   These book shelves, which flank the entry to their small reading room,  match the simple classical woodworking style which is so common back east. The shelves are adjustable, but because they are wide and hold heavy books, I made them out of thicker wood. A professional paint job added the right level of luster. I do many of these built-ins every year. They are a great way to fill in  alcoves and recesses.