In February of 2004 my wife and I bought our first home, a 2200sq.ft., 1926 Dutch colonial that needed some definite TLC. Though it was structurally sound, it was entirely outdated and much of its charm and character was hidden behind multiple layers of paint and many questionable design decisions from previous owners. Though neither my wife nor I had any real prior experience with home renovations when we bought the house, we had no hesitation jumping right in and getting our hands dirty. Our mantra was “we learn as we go” and though at the outset some projects were a bit overwhelming, we never stopped moving forward and the experience and knowledge we’ve gained over the past few years has been quite amazing. Each new project we complete is like earning a home owner’s merit badge, though without the complementary kerchief or sash to go with. And each completed (or even uncompleted) project has helped solidify my passion for creating something with my own two hands, knowing that the callouses, cuts, and nicks, represent far more than mere handiwork (and in some cases careless handiwork). They symbolize a state of mind. They symbolize a craftsman. Someone striving for skilled perfection, though admittedly not always achieving it. It can be a long, hard road at times, but it’s one that most craftsmen, including myself, are willing to take.

Which brings me back to our house and how over the past four years we’ve truly brought it out of its so-called shell, though there is still much left to renovate. And as our family has expanded to now include two little munchkins we’ve gradually witnessed our family take precedent over time spent working on our home. This has led us to consider selling our house within the next couple years and having a new, old home built from scratch. In an upcoming post I’ll go into more detail about this project and the process we plan to take to make it happen.

So really this blog is designed to be a place for me to put my passion for high quality craftsmanship into words, images, and other online media. From homebuilding and renovations to well-crafted products that fit within those homes. And as most owners of old homes know, the work before us never seems to end. It truly is quite constant. So it only seems fitting that at the heart of every craftsman there is an equal constant desire to perfect their craft. And as such, the cycle never ends.