Got Shoes?

A custom shoe-rack and seating bench. Designed to fit under a window in the apartment, with an industrial look in mind, it is made of some unique materials. Steel tube from the scrapyard was cut and welded to form the base, with large bolts as leveling feet. The base was lightly sanded, cleaned and clear-coated to allow the rust and mill marks to show through. The top was made from 100+ year old hemlock that had until recently been floorboards in an old cow barn that was torn down.

At the lumberyard... This place is a lot better than the Home Depot.
Carefully pulling the best boards of the bunch. The employees are just as helpful.

Tools of the trade.

Back at the shop, welding tubes.A close-up of the top.

Finished Product.

Mantle, hearth, and bookcases.

This project involved wrapping a brick fireplace in wood trim, recovering the hearth with slate, and adding a set of custom bookcases on each side.

Before...

Mid-Installation always looks like a huricane just came through...

Trim almost done

...and an after shot.

or two.

Kitchen Updates

New oak-edged counters and oak cabinet doors update the look in the kitchen without spending too much.

Small Fence

A new fence to replace and old one that was at the end of its life. Treated posts and supports, Cedar pickets with stainless fasteners and black hardware.

Before.

Pulling the old posts out.

New posts braced and set in concrete.

All ready for pickets.

Final product.

Pergola

A recently completed 16'x12' pergola. Framed with pressure treated pine, using 6x6 posts, all the cross-members were notched at the connections.

Laying out the post holes.

Notching the beams.

Cutting the ends of the cross members

Assembly.

Completed.

Have Tools, Will Travel

The past week and a half were spent in South Carolina constructing a bookcase/TV center.

A before picture.

The portable shop set-up.

The casework in the beginning stages. Cases made of MDF with beadboard backing.

Fitting the drawers and door. Poplar was used for the face-frames, shelf edging, and door and drawer frames.

Veneer plywood dovetailed drawers, full-extension ball-bearing slides.

Spraying a couple coats of enamel in 95 degree heat wasn't the most fun.

Installation.

Finished.

Shower Renovation

This project involved tearing out a dated shower stall with cracked tile and a sliding door with a larger, walk-in with glass block walls. The floor was done in a 2"x2" porcelain tile on a mesh grid over a vinyl membrane and mud pan. The tiled walls are 12"x12" porcelain laid on the diagonal, over a cement backerboard. Interior details include a tiled-niche and small sitting ledge.