Custom Woodworking

Shana Cooper, East Chattanooga Lumber & Supply Co.

We want our home to feel uniquely our own. A beautiful way to accomplish this is by adding custom milled woodwork. A reclaimed fir timber beam from an old family barn can tell its history as a gorgeous new mantel in your family room. If you love to read, poplar hardwood boards can easily be built into budget-friendly, custom built-in bookcases that will last for years. Rustic pine tongue and groove boards, when used to finish a ceiling, will give you instant charm. And, it will make that room the one you want to relax in at the end of a long day.

Rig Burger, Rig Burger Designs

I enjoy working with walnut because of its warmth and how easy it is to incorporate into my custom designs. It can easily be transformed into a great mid-century modern piece or a rustic farmhouse table. Walnut is a very stable wood to work with, and it doesn’t require wood stain to bring out its natural beauty. However, it does accept different types of finishes with ease. I enjoy incorporating walnut into my steel structures, as it complements a variety of design aesthetics. Walnut will bring a softness and warmth to any room, whatever your style.

Bill Carney, Chattanooga Woodworking Academy

When you are deciding the finishes in your home, wood should be prominent in your consideration.  The type of wood you choose should depend on the period and style of your home. For casual, simple, or country-flavored designs, woods such as oak, heart pine, poplar, or red cedar are good choices. For more formal homes, the trim, doors, kitchen, etc. should utilize the fine hardwoods – walnut, mahogany, antique recovered wormy chestnut, cherry, or maple. Custom cabinets and doors from these materials will add value to your home. And finally, the furniture should reflect your style and taste. Custom-made can reflect your style better than store bought.

Rudd Montgomery, Push Hard Lumber Company

Never underestimate the power of a sawmill. With this tool, professionals are able to mill their own lumber to create unique pieces that last for generations. Having a sawmill also means that clients can bring in logs if they have a tree that came down in their yard. The professional can mill the tree and then build a custom piece, such as a bench or bookshelf, which is special for them since it came from their own tree. Walnut is a personal favorite to work with for its beautiful colors and stability. We also frequently see poplar, maple, osage orange, white oak, cherry, heart pine, and more – each wood boasts distinctive qualities that will provide you with a one-of-a-kind product for your home.

Stan Billings, Wooden Elegance

Throughout my 20 years of experience in custom woodworking, I have found there are many ways to incorporate different varieties of wood for a unique look. I enjoy working with poplar and maple because they’re smooth woods, and different types of finishes can be applied to both. Fireplace mantels, crown molding, and kitchen cabinets look great with gold leafing or a specialized glaze or color finish. Bars, wine cellars, and theater rooms work well with cherry wood because of the distinct grain and color. Walnut is another viable option because of the different variations of color it has that bring style and originality to your home.