Cabinets

One of the many things I get involved with is the building of cabinets. The pictured two matching cabinets were built for a client out of savaged pine. The design was based on an old cupboard that the client already had in the house. The details of the cabinet along with the shelf support system was based on the details found on the antique cabinets. The cabinets currently sit on either side of a window but were made so that they could be pulled together.

The finish on the cabinets is milk paint. Green milk paint on the background and white on the rest of the cabinet. Then both were clear coated after they were distressed. I did all of the finishing in my shop.

Seems Like Old Times

This beautiful Italianate Victorian house is located in Grand Rapid's Heritage Hill Historic district. Two years ago I was responsible as the general contractor for the complete restoration of this outstanding 1870's building. I had done work for the previous family that had owned the building for most of the life of the house. When the new owners came along my name was passed along as not only a person who was a contractor that had worked on this house but also as someone that had a real love of old houses. The new owners wanted to preserve the character of the house but also wanted all the mechanicals updated. So I worked with them and their designer CJ VanDaff to design a project that was respectful of all the historic details of the house.

This was truely one of the more enjoyable total house projects I have worked on. In the end all parties were very pleased with the results. Last year Better Homes and Gardens featured the kitchens in their Kitchen and Bath Ideas magazine(January/February 2007). This past Fall I was interviewed for a Public TV program that is being produced on the restoration of this house that should come out next Summer.

This and That

I haven't done an entry in my blog since I returned from Arizona. I had hoped to post more pictures of my project there but just got too busy.

Last week I spent the week putting up crown for a client. Crown is always an interesting thoughtful job. All the inside corners have to be coped. So it gives one time for handtool work which is always nice. The quiet of a tool working the wood gives one much time for reflection compared with power tool work which always is a little unnerving with the high pitched sound that most power tools eminate.

More tomorrow on a special project I worked one in the last couple of years. That is one of my favorite jobs.