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Media Centers
Media centers have changed over the last few years. Flat screen tvs take up a lot less room and that allows the designs to be cleaner and less heavy looking. People still like to have bookcases for storage and display and to also have cabinets below. I like to have the bookcase on the sides to be shallower than the center to give the piece more interest. That way the crown moulding can return back and that frames the center section as the focal point. Sometimes I do the same for the base cabinets.
Since every space is different and there are always things to contend with (i.e. vents, sprinkler heads, viewing angle), every design is different. Customers have a sense of what they want both in the look and the function. Part of my job is to take those ideas and make them work in the space provided.
Home theater with speakers in panels above.
Cherry freestanding media cabinet.
Clean lined cabinetry with recess for television.
Painted cabinet for storage and tv. Lots of drawers and folding doors on left because of brick. Also made the little table.
Georgetown library, desk and space for tv.
Pickled maple unit in bedroom.
Built-in in family room.
Matching cabinets and bookcases with mantel.
Tight space but got it all in.
Bookcases, cabinets and drawers for bedroom.
Unpainted unit. Odd space, cleaned it up.
Transitional Style
This cabinet is in a 80 year old house in Takoma Park, MD. The transom detail is the same as the window but the rest of the cabinet has cleaner lines. The customer designed this to fit both the home and their style.
Bar and Media Center
The symmetry was hard on this one with the big soffit on the top right. Made room for the bar and display on left, large arch over tv and cabinetry under soffit. Each section is its own. Notice the different counter heights which help the separations.
Basement Cabinetry
Large L shaped unit with thick pilasters, glass doors, and plenty of storage.
Recessed Wall Unit
This room had a odd recess in the middle of the room. Base cabinets have more depth than bookcases and where tv mounts is a false back. End result is a clean design that doesn’t take up any useful floor space.
Wardrobe Media Cabinets
This is in a bedroom. The drawers and cabinets can hold all of their clothing and a space for tv in the middle. Room was not that wide and now they don’t need any other furniture than bed and bedside tables.
Basement Transformation
Part of a major basement remodel this long unit changed the whole space. Most 1930’s basements don’t look this awesome.
Arched Recess
Recessed space with cherry countertop and interior of bookcases. Paneled curved ceiling too.
Home Offices
Home offices have become more popular in the past ten years or so. A lot of the time the room needs to be used as a guest room as well as an office, so the design is very important. It has to be first a good work area because that is what it will be the majority of the time. When there is a room that will just be an office, then there is a little more flexibility.
Childs desk with storage and cherry worktop.
His and hers work areas in maple.
More file storage and tall doors.
Cherry home office.
Cherry home office made to match homeowners antique.
Maple credenza to match with bookcases and cabinets.
Another cherry desk and drawers.
Cherry cabinets and lateral file drawers.
Home office with cherry worktop and pigeon hole storage.
Teenagers home office with a little clothes storage as well.
Home office in attic.
More home office in attic.
Mahogany home office in living room.
Mahogany home office with doors opened.
Mahogany Federal Style home office.
Mixed use room. Home office and library.
Other wall of mixed us room showing space for tv.
Work area in kitchen with bulletin board covered in fabric.
Sewing area in DC. Tight space but a lot of storage.
Home Office
File drawers and doors below, bookcases above and flip up doors on top. Makes a lot of storage for a small space. Cherry counter.
Painted Credenza with Bookcases
Desk Area in Hallway
Work area in hallway makes use of lost space.
Large Unit with Stained Desk
Apartment Desk Area
This wall unit is in the dining area next to the kitchen. Incorporated a desk, bookcases and storage cabinets. Cherry counter top warms it up and is a better work surface for the desk.
Cute Home Office
Really nice office cabinetry with cherry worktop.
Sewing Room
Not an office but made for a sewing room. Storage for sewing machine and all the materials.
Office and Mudroom
Limited space made it necessary to have office with mudroom. Ok if everyone hangs up their coats and puts their shoes away. What are the odds?
Libraries
Over the years I have been commissioned to make many different types of libraries. Some are floor to ceiling open bookcases and some have cabinets on the bottom. There are general design boundaries I like to follow. Going to the ceiling always looks better. The cabinets blend into the room better and actually make the room feel bigger. Having the counter and ceiling height a certain ratio makes the cabinetry "look right". When the millwork is going to be painted I try to make the cabinetry blend in to the existing architecture. Lately, I have been doing a style called transitional. That is when some of the details of the cabinetry match the existing design and some of the details are cleaner and more modern. That allows the space to be more updated.
DC Design House in Georgetown.
DC Design House detail.
Chevy Chase Library.
Four walls of cabinets and bookcases.
Scoobie Doo Door.
Bethesda bookcases around sofa.
Bookcases with lighting.
DC cabinetry with angled roof line.
Small study with a ton of books.
Dupont Circle cabinets and display.
Bookcases in Potomac study. Same thing was is on the other side of window.
Mahogany Library
Reclaimed panels set into ceiling and new trim all around convert this sun room into a beautiful library.
Mahogany Library
Another angle of the same room showing the bookcases and another reclaimed panel set into the ceiling.
Bedroom Niche
This filled a odd recess in a bedroom. The drawers are useful and the open bookcases add warmth and the stained top interest.
Kitchens
Custom kitchens are usually very large projects. Figuring out all the details and where everything goes gets quite involved. The benefit of working directly with the actual person building and installing the kitchen is the best way to go. Most of the kitchens I have done have been either with a architect involved or just me. Customers know what they like and I can install all the latest pullouts and storage systems that are available. The kitchens are finished with a hardened lacquer and installed.
Cherry, walnut and white lacquer.
White Lacquer and Walnut
A blend of white lacquered cabinets and walnut end panels for an apartment in NW DC.
Banquette with cherry bench in Chevy Chase.
Arts & Crafts Kitchen in quartered white oak.
White oak kitchen island.
More of the quartered white oak kitchen.
Banquette with trestle table for kitchen area.
Cherry kitchen and farm table in Potomac.
Stone and reclaimed timbers finish the cherry kitchen.
DC kitchen storage and paneled opening to dining room.
DC kitchen. Counter top not in yet.
Cherry cabinets for dining area in kitchen.
Sleek design with reclaimed wood.
Sleek Kitchen
This went into a 1921 house in Kensington. Large addition with skylights. There is also a huge walnut table in the room that I built.
Dining Rooms
Dining room cabinetry is usually for overflow storage from the kitchen and things used for entertaining. Recently I was asked to take some old paneling, salvaged from an early 1900's home in Newton MA., and modify it to fit into a house in DC. The quarter white oak paneling was severely damaged and there was not quite enough. I paneled the walls and then made a wall of cabinets out of old and new material. The results are the first three photos.
Reclaimed quartered white oak. Buffett and tall cabinets.
More early 1900's reclaimed material.
Another view.
Buffett and bookcases in McLean, VA.
Foggy Bottom bookcases and buffet with frosted glass doors and stained black ash counter.
DC mahogany built-in buffet.
China cabinet and Buffet in Kensington. Also built the dining table.
Banquette with flip up lids.
Georgetown built-in china cabinet.
Gustavian Display Cabinet
Customer has collection she wanted to display. I researched the Gustavian style and came up with this design. Works very well in their Georgetown home.
Bedrooms
Bedroom cabinetry can be tricky. Some homes have large bedrooms and the cabinetry can be used to warm up the space with display and book space, a spot for a television and some storage. Apartments or row houses in the city need more storage space and square footage is tight. I am very good at designing cabinetry to maximize function. Extra hanging space and drawers are always appreciated.
Wardrobe and drawers for clothes and bookcases.
Custom Walnut Bed
Walnut bed with paneled headboard, toe board and rails. Georgetown
Detail shot.
Same room working around the roof line.
Capitol Hill Built-in with hanging space behind doors.
Small foot print with lots of drawers and shelving.
Wardrobe and media center in DC.
Bed platform with drawers at the end.
White lacquered wardrobe and display.
Girls Room
Built in closet and bed with trundle drawers. This small bedroom has the all the storage a girl could need.
Girls Room
View of foot of bed showing a built-in dresser.
Corner Cabinet
Doors to hide television, five shallow drawers for jewelry and open shelves above. Fluted columns and same base and crown molding.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms can be tight so making the cabinetry look like furniture can be nice. Having the vanity not go to the floor or to use legs give the appearance of more floor space.
An advantage of having custom cabinetry for the bathroom is that you can design for the space instead of working around stock pieces. Also, the cabinetry can be unique to you in how you like to live.
Walnut vanity and mirror and raised panels wainscoting.
Dark cherry vanity with mirrored doors above.
Cherry vanity and medicine chests and painted cabinets just in view.
Curved Walnut Cabinet
Owner asked for a curved cabinet to fit around the bathtub. Tricky to make but came out well.
Mantels
Many neighborhoods in the area were built by the same builder and thus the styles are similar inside. A lot of the time the mantels were just brick with not much detail. As a general rule the mantel should be the most ornate thing in the room. Having a new mantel adds character to the room.
Mantel with pilasters above in Bethesda.
Floating cherry mantel on upholstered wall.
Raised panel mantel with pilasters above and arch over fireplace.
Cabinets and bookcases flanking mantel in Bethesda.
Mantel with cabinets on either side. Glass doors with mullions match the windows.
Clean lined mantel with cabinets separating the room.
Walnut Mantel
Custom mantel for Takoma Park home.
Walnut Mantel
Hardwood mantel to finish up space recently renovated.
Cabinetry with reclaimed oak tops.
Built the cabinets with tons of storage and used reclaimed oak to make them blend in with the stone fireplace.
Reclaimed Oak Mantel
Built these two recessed cabinets with reclaimed oak counters and floating shelves. Made a mantel and mounted it to the stone. The design works well with the stone and warms up the entry way.
1920’s Colonial
These bookcases were made to tie in with the old millwork. Notice the battens on the backs. They file a nice level of detail. Small things make a big difference.
Bethesda Great Room
Tall ceilings make this unit. Open bookcases, doors below, applied molding and rebuilt mantel.
Furniture
Occasionally I am asked to make furniture. It does not happen as much as I would like but sometimes things need to be custom made. I actually started out 20 years ago making beds from reclaimed boards and pealed logs for lodges out west.
Some assembly required.
Trestle table on my work bench ready for the finisher.
Zebra wood and walnut blanket chest.
Walnut coffee table. Built to last.
Walnut dining table.
Ash desk with two toned staining.
Walnut herring bone wardrobe.
Zebra wood and walnut vanity.
Corner cabinet.
Customer gave me a photocopy of a magazine picture and I made this for a niche in her front foyer.
1880’s Anglo Indian Wall Hanging
Customer asked me to repair this and it was so much fun. Had to carve and turn all sorts of pieces and then use rawhide glue. Finished with black dye and wax.
Farm Table
Custom gave me a photo of a table they like but wanted it much bigger. This is ten feet long and is at a beach house in Delaware.
Jefferson Hotel
25’ Conference table that can break down in five sections so room can be used for parties.
Buffet
This was made to go with existing Thomas Moser furniture for a dining room.
Credenza
I made 5 of these for The Jefferson Hotel. Mini bar behind right door. I turned the columns and then silver glazed the capitals and plinths.
Live Edge Cherry Table
Oversized walnut base. Top is 3.5’ x 9.5’
Mud Rooms
Most homes need a place where things can be dropped or flung and still manage to look nice. Sometimes this is a place that is visible to the general public. Mixing cubbies, doors and drawers can make the space appear organized.
Cherry and painted mudroom
Mudroom area and hanging storage with drawers below in Chevy Chase.
Dark cherry bench to match floors.
Cubbies for each family member.
Bench to put on shoes with storage above.
Wall opposite for hidden storage.
Entryway Mudroom
This is in the entryway of a grand DC house. It has not been painted yet but notice the details. Fits the space well.
Display
Most of the cabinetry I build is used for some sort of display but these pieces were build specifically for the purpose. The cabinet with glass on the sides was built for a collection of jade that had been in the family and was a gift for a wife.
Cherry cabinetry with diamond pattern to match leaded window.
Crotch walnut and mappa burl display cabinet.
Commercial Projects
Most of the commercial jobs I have done have been doctors offices, optometrist and embassies. Here is a eye glass store in Bethesda and a doctors reception desk.
Mahogany eyeglass store cabinetry.
Work areas and more display.
Register area.
Pediatric office reception desk.
St Peters Capitol Hill
Rectory cabinetry and desk for St Peters on Capitol Hill
St Peters Capitol Hill
Rectory cabinetry and desk in walnut for St Peters on Capitol Hill
St Peters Capitol Hill
Rectory cabinetry for St Peters on Capitol Hill
Bars
Sometimes, usually after children have moved away, I am commissioned to build a bar in someones home. The photos here are from one. A man asked me to build something that had a southwest flair. I designed this bar using hickory and walnut. The cabinets were all hickory with knots and twists in the grain and then finished with a honey brown stain and lacquer. The bar top is one 8' slab of walnut. I carved suns in the crown moulding to finish up the top.
Hickory bar with Southwestern feel.
Carved crown and stepped detail on doors and side panel.
Walnut bar top with flying dutchmen inlayed.
Spring Valley
Basement bar replaced a dated 1980’s picked pine monstrosity.
Spring Valley
Back bar.
Walk-In Closet
Maple Closet
View showing open shelving for purses, then tall cabinets with mirror on door and then base cabinet with mini-fridge and more cabinetry. Island in middle of room with 20 drawers.
Maple Closet
View of other side of room. Curved wall with 7 large cabinets for hanging cloths, pull outs for shoes and closed storage.
White Oak Stained Black
Bedroom cabinetry with 8 foot tall doors.
Doors Open
Clear maple interior with drawers, shelves and clothing rod.
Walk In Closet
Closet with angled ceiling off master bedroom. Lots of drawers and hanging space. Ceiling not in the way when standing in front using the drawers.
Ecclesiastical
JP II Seminary Altar of Repose
Reredos showing new millwork with Altar of Repose
JP II Seminary Chairs
I made 14 chairs for the Chapel for the Washington, DC Seminary including the presiders chair with arms.
JP II Seminary
Photo showing the Ambo, millwork, and some of the 14 chairs.
Last Piece.
Installing the last piece of trim, a pilaster. There were hundreds of pieces. The space is large, I am 6’5” and look small.
Ambo at JP II
St Andres, Silver Spring, MD
Sanctuary of St Andres in Silver Spring, MD. Built the reredos with large columns and panels. Altar is gold leafed with marble top.
St Andres Silver Spring, MD
Ambo and Altar. First phase before Altar of repose and reredos.
Adoration Chapel for Seminary Residents
Our Lady of Mercy, Potomac, MD
Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac, MD.
Holy Redeemer, Kensington, MD
Custom mahogany panels and moulding over existing doors in foyer. Also matching notice boards.
St Francis, Grapevine, TX
Part of the Sanctuary just finished at St Francis, Grapevine, TX. Made the altar, altar of repose, reredos, large frames and ambo. Did not do the carving or mosaic.
St Andrews Preparation Sacristy and Confessional
Walnut preparation sacristy and confessional room. Notice framed mosaic of pelican made by a friend.