Chunky Alder Mantel

I just love it when someone comes in with a clear design idea and a head for details.  This customer did an amazing remodel on a home in Orinda and loved to work on the details.  She came to me with an idea and I started drawing.  After a few slight revisions, she was satisfied and we got to building.  Just finished up the install yesterday, and I must say.  This is a great piece.  Thanks Deb!
SOLID ALDER, Prefinished and Installed $2800.  We can make your ideas reality too!

Dream Build Mantel !

Well here it is.  In all it's filthy gourgous glory.  This is the mantel we did for Jason Willis, which he did for a designer that owns a shop called Filthy Georgous.  We only get the chance to build the real elaborate ones a couple times a year.  This one may be the most intricate mantel I've built since opening my own shop.  This was an incredibly fun build because I really got to flex the design muscles and take someone elses idea and develop it on paper for them, then build it.  I just love these kinds of builds, so if you have an idea but just can't find the right guy to help you figure out how to build it, bring it to us down here at Craftsman Collectives Architectural Wood Products.  The more complicated the better.

Pottery Barn Mantel !

Here's our latest Low Cost mantel for the clean look set.  We have a builder that could literally build a Pottery Barn.  They know thier stuff, build to a specific clientele and stage thier projects so well, thier projects sell almost befoire they are finished.  I love working with them.  They give me creative freedom and are always excited with our work.  Here they had a tight budget and wanted a clean look, Pottery Barn inspired.  Clean as a country whistle.

Bifolding Fiberglass Door, Distressed !

Our latest bifolding door creation.  This one is made from fiberglass panels and measures 12'0" across.  The distressing into this door is what really makes it fantastic.  It was done by Randy at New Look Painting.  It looks absolutely incredible in person.  He's the only guy I know who can distress a fiberglass door.  He also just so happens to be one of my prefinishing sub contractors.  So if you're looking for an amazing bifold door with a really killer finish, be sure to come by the shop.  We'll hook you up.

Sawaii Doors

Every once and a while you meet a client that you just love.  It's people like this that make me enjoy what I do.  This door customer was an example of that.  These people were more than patient with us.  We've had a difficult year transitioning into our new operation. These awesome people were understanding, beyond patient, and I wanted to give them nothing less than my best.  I think we did it.  These Cherry Panel doors turned out just georgous..

But getting them installed turned out to only be half of the job.  Once I got them in the Mr. of the house, quite a handy fellow in his own right, wasn't satisfied with the hinges.  He felt they should be heavy duty ball bearing.  I looked at them and thought to my self "Why doesn't EVERY door we build like this have heavy duty ball bearing hinges???"  I was out there a few days later and discovered an outstanding technique for mortising hinges using the Festool MFK700EQ mini router and a shop built jig.

Here, I'm using the new hinges to set the depth of the router bit.  You have to be sure you set the depth to the door edge, not all the way down into the old hinges mortise like this pic below is showing.  Almost blew it there... Notice how the jig we made is the same size as the hinge, (we sell these buy the way) add a bearing or router bushing to follow the template and there you have it.  Mortising jig for door hinges.  What makes the MFK outstanding for this application (besides that it is the only router prethreaded to accept router bushings) is the wide platform base with the knob on it.  This base give you unmatched control over the router which results in big time confidence biting into a multi thousand dollar furniture grade finished cherry hardwood door.  Yes, it's still nerve racking.

The door stand pictured below makes the job a little easier, but no less scary.

As luck would have it, as I'm doing this.  Literally the very moment I'm setting the depth, I get a call from my Festool rep who is travelling my area with his boss the West Coast Director of Sales.  They just so happened to be in the same town I was working in and dropped by to see me and the MFK in action.  They took a video, and if they ever get it to me, I'll post it up.

Recycled lumber Arbor

One thing I love more than anything is taking something used, old, or discarded and making something fresh and new out of it.  Here's a perfect example.  Tim Dennis built this awesome arbor as his display for this years Carpentry Artist Exhibition.  We wanted a display that could showcase the materials we have a great resource for (used lumber) and display it in a unique and creative way.  Tim and I came up with a real neat design that makes this antique material look modern again.  We precut everything right here in house, and could do the same for you.

Modern Craftsman Mantel Cap

Heres another mantel cap that has blown up in popularity.  While I had this one sitting around the shop waiting to be installed, I had two more customers ask for pricing on it, and I've built one of them.  I'm calling this one the Modern Craftsman.