Westbrook’s Woodshop
This front of my shop became a memorial to my past career as a tradesman and the craftspeople I’ve worked with along the way over the years. My dad, Ed, John, and many, many others, I give many thanks to them for sharing this journey with me teaching and sharing the ride.
Everything you see here on the front of my wood shop are materials recycled from other projects over the years. The corbels are from one of the first projects I did in the shop for for my dads company when I first went into business. They are the two extra I made that he rejected. The door is from a project well over 20 years ago where an excellent carpenter I worked with screwed up and painted the wrong side! It can happen to anyone. It was easier to buy a new slab, (I ended up with this one and saved it ). The shingles I’ve been saving up for years from many of my Seattle historic home projects. The beaded soffit are leftovers from an old remodel I did for my dad in Ballard back in the day, incidentally John (who painted the front of the shop recently) remembers applying the seafin finish back then. All the trim work is basically framing lumber leftovers from my remodel projects, and used as exterior trim here. The door hardware is Baldwin hardware from a Seattle remodel that was the old hardware no one wanted, but I knew it was quality stuff. The hinges went with it as well. So now it lives on. The red is the registered historic barn red color in historic preservation circles. The double hung I took all apart and stripped the paint, and built a jamb around the sash new ropes etc, wouldn’t even have known what to do with that if it wasn’t for knowing and working with Ed who is an old-time historic window maker and stain glass expert. Also the paint job was done by hand by John. Amazing that I have worked with him on and off for the better part of what 25 years now?
A bit of an intentional memorial to my career and honoring the crafts people who I’ve worked with along the way. Even the light was made from an old bucket I had saved from my farming days…..anyway thought many would be interested in knowing how I’m honoring the crafts people that came before me, and still working beside me today. Memories fade, but then are transformed into steps to new one’s. It was a lot of work, and took a really long time to do, but I’m very thankful and feel like it’s an accomplishment, to be able to build and put together in the small moments over time. I feel a sense of satisfaction. A tip of the hat to all the crafts, and trades people I’ve known along this journey.
Thank you my friends.
The interior still needs work, but it’s not bad since I started in one bay with nothing more than a table saw and assembly table.