Benchmark Woodworks

01/08/2024

What is going on with Facebook? What happened to my regular feed?

12/06/2021

Recently completed kitchen for a remodel in San Luis Obispo. Alder doors with a White Oak stain combined with painted cabinet doors make a warm and inviting kitchen. The owner did his own design and staining in order to match cabinets that he’d done previously.

11/12/2021

While we wait for a couple of larger projects to get wrapped up so that we can get some photos, I made a fun little countertop for my cousin!

10/27/2021

We recently filled a couple of alcoves in a house in SLO. The larger one got some storage cabinets for linen and blankets while the small one got some Alder shelves for a child’s library. Both presented challenges, both finished well, don’t you think?

10/04/2021

03/13/2021

Sneak Peek of a project in progress. With a remodel, there is often a delay or two in order to allow the different aspects to be completed and the sequence of the elements to fall into place at the right time. After we installed the "laundry closet” cabinets, we wait for the painting to get done and the tile to be set before this vanity can go in. It’s going to be sweet, though!

02/17/2021

Just for fun:

02/16/2021

Sometimes we’ll do a small project that doesn’t get completed for a number of months afterward. There are many reasons for this and, if you do a remodel, don’t expect it to be completed in record time... that sort of stuff only happens on TV remodeling shows. after we installed this project, the quartz tops had to be templated and then built. The cabinets had to be painted. The plumbing and electrical had to be completed. The appliances had to be installed and dialed in. The floors had to be installed and detailed. Meanwhile, the exterior work needed to be completed while subcontractors are milling around, competing for the same space, all trying to get their portion completed. Sometimes the smallest projects can present the biggest challenges. I like the look for a small cottage in San Luis Obispo, what do you think?

02/07/2021

Recently completed this rolling barn door utilizing a 2” frame of Poplar, stained to look like Walnut. It was built to hold the customer’s carved door from India. Final door size is 68” wide by 96” tall and weighs in at about 350 pounds. Hardware is from RealCraft Doors and it is very smooth.

01/13/2021

15 years ago, I built a mantle for a client to go with a large media center that we did in the same room. This year, they wanted to upgrade and streamline the mantle. They removed the old, large tiles and applied new, smaller tiles in a basket weave pattern. Our part was a streamlined wood mantle with a couple of simple corbels, stained to go with the accent tiles in the new pattern. The end result is definitely clean and modern. What do you think?

12/06/2020

We completed this project in the Spring of 2019 and it gets constant Southern sun through the large windows which dry out the Walnut top. Despite the owners efforts to keep the top from drying out, nature always wins. A couple of splits developed which she wanted me to try to close up and give the entire top another coat of Rubio Monocoat See for yourself how it brings back the variety of colors in the Walnut.

11/15/2020

I am often asked if we do small projects. Sometimes, the smaller projects can be more challenging and consume more time than expected, therefore, shops try to avoid them. While we have done large projects throughout our existence, we have been able to fit some fun small projects into the schedule, as well. We just completed one of those small projects that came out very well and the customer is exceedingly happy. It is a 48” wide pantry that fills an available space in a small apartment in SLO. The bottom section is 18” deep while the upper section is 14” deep with tall doors. The paint was handled by San Luis Obispo Painting and Joe and the crew did a great job. They will do a site visit to caulk, touch up and detail it make it look like it has been in that spot since the building was new.