A CHRISTMAS TREASURE

Every year, around the holiday season, we start looking at special side projects. Things we do for our family and friends. This year, dad needed to do a very special item. It's a tradition in our family, when a girl turns 13, she gets a cedar chest for Christmas. Many of my sisters and nieces have enjoyed waking up Christmas morning to find one of these incredible creations waiting for them. This year, it was my niece Angie.

The pictures show how the chests are first drawn out, designed and then how they can sometimes change during the building process to become something either similar or completely different. In this case, the chest in the drawing features some crown work we didn't include on the actual lid, but otherwise, it is almost exactly as we planned it.

This item demonstrates the skill of our craftsmanship. We can help you realize your goals even if all you have is a rough sketch of something you've imagined. Get that specialty piece of furniture built today by calling Goodwin Mill & Cabinet at 435-673-4766 or visit us on the web at http://www.goodwinmillandcabinet.com for more information!

THE STORY OF THE TEARDROP TRAILER - PT. 5

There's been some progress and things are starting to look up. The doors were refinished and mounted. They look much better but they are still not happy with them and they may rebuild them either with Lyptus or they may just make Maple doors so the counter top contrasts the cabinets. If they decide to do that, it will be after the rest of the trailer is finished. They are starting to build in the cabinet partitions as you can tell from the pictures. The open cabinet will be drawers. They
have the fronts done but not the drawer boxes.

The cabinet frame is mounted and the partitions are in place. These cabinets will have the same herring bone paneling that the walls have. It should be a nice accent. All of the casing around the door will also be black and there will be a shallow shelf on the wall that will be black also. Here is the pic of the paneling installed on the side wall. You might wonder what happened to the door that was cut into the side. Well they put the plywood back into the opening and screwed it in place so that they could install the wood tiles over the top of the door. That way when they cut the door out this week all the tiles will match up on the door. They think the paneling is turning out awesome!

You can read more at http://www.goodwinmillandcabinet.com

THE STORY OF THE TEARDROP TRAILER - PT. 4

The next step in building the trailer was installing cabinets and paneling. As mentioned before, the brothers were using scrap materials for this construction. You can see here they made the counter tops out of waste maple and lyptus wood creating the checker board pattern. This pattern was used on the doors as well. The doors are made of maple and cherrywood because they didn't have enough lyptus to do them. The contrast isn't as great, but the cherry will darken over the next few years and the contrast should become similar. The brothers were not entirely happy with at this stage and have some ideas about adjusting the finish to make it look better. The center upper door is actually the size of a chess board oddly enough. If you were inclined, the piece could be taken down and used for a game of chess or checkers.

The next pic is a view of the little under mount sink they put in. It will eventually have running water that is heated. This will make cooking and clean up a lot easier. The other object you can see cut into the backsplash in the first pic is the power converter that will change 110 volts to 12 volts DC for the operation of lights, etc. etc. The opening in the middle of the base cabinets is for a little stove that has gas burners on the top and a little oven in the front.

The next pic is taken from the inside of the sleeping compartment. You can see the back of the power converter sticking through the back of the backsplash. This space will become the electrical chase for panels and wiring. A face frame will attach to the front of the black shelf hiding all of the electrical and giving easy access. They think they have the electrical figured out but hope more electrically inclined relatives will check it over and make sure. you can also see in this pic that they changed the interior paneling to a wood tile pattern. This makes it easier to use scrap material. Kent distressed the tiles and finished it in a cinnamon sugar glaze.

The final pic shows the black face frame that will go on the bedroom side. The doors will be a black glaze with rubbed burnished edges. It is a nice accent with the cinnamon sugar finish. We have some dividers and electrical chases to install and then the frame will be fastened into place.

Go to http://www.goodwinmillandcabinet.com for more info on our products and services!

DECORATIVE CEILINGS PART 1

People have looked for ways to decorate ceilings since they were first invented. The stone coffered ceilings left behind by the Greeks and the
Romans are some of the earliest examples of this.

Wooden beams are a ceiling feature most people would associate with Colonial American buildings. You expect to see rafters in older homes. These load bearing beams support the roof or floor if there is a 2nd floor. The weight they could withstand was based on the material of the beam to resist bending. Today, those same beams serve a more esthetic function.

We've built beam ceilings in a number of homes. In our times, these beams can be extremely decorative and have a rustic or country feel. They help create a sense of space and sturdiness.

The pics in this blog are from a home we're working on right now. This home is part of the Southern Utah Parade of Homes. The first pic shows the ceiling after we've chalked it out and mapped out where the beams will actually go. This is the 1st Bedroom. Pic #2 shows us hanging the beams. Both the third and fourth pics show the beams after they've been hung. You see the finished product from both sides of the room.

The 2nd Bedroom doesn't have beams so the next room we see is the 3rd Bedroom. Once again you can see the lines chalked out, the guides being set in and finally, the ceiling with the beams in place. I will post more pics showing other rooms and other designs as this particular house used a lot of beams in the ceilings. Enjoy the photos!

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THE STORY OF THE TEARDROP TRAILER - PT. 3

Today you get to see the finished framing on the main compartment. They installed tongue and groove paneling in the interior so they added more backing in the framing. The paneling will be glued and nailed to the vertical members.

Here is a side view from the doorway looking up at the ceiling framing that was completed back to the rear hatch.

The first addition of the paneling can be seen in the next pic. This happens to be a structural member that divides the sleeping compartment from the galley. This paneling is screwed through the floor and sides to make the walls strong and plumb.

All of the face frames for the cabinets were built in the shop and they should be finished by the end of the day. They won't be installed the same day unless Chris or Kent make a trip back to the shop after they are dry. Other items started on today are the side doors and the countertop for the galley.

Check back soon for another entry on the Teardrop Trailer and visit us at http://www.goodwinmillandcabinet.com for more information about the company.

CABINET REFACE JOB

Hey there... Just in time for Christmas, I'm back with another amazing blog entry! This time showing the work we do refacing existing kitchens. This job was done for a home in beautiful downtown St. George, UT. In the first pic, you see the kitchen the way we found it. Flat panel doors with a simple etching for decoration and brass bronze colored floral knobs. These first three are the right hand side upper cabinets. The last two pics show the crown molding and the finished panel side. We also used matching wood handles. The next set of two pics shows a more up close view of the right hand corner cabinets. They bordered on a window over the sink. As you can see in the pics, they used a scalloped border as a low hanging crown over the sink above the window. We pulled our crown molding across after tearing the other down. It frees up the window area, lets in more light and generally just looks better.
The next set are the right hand side lowers. Both sides of the sink had a "Lazy Susan" cabinet. These cabinets are corner units in which the shelves are mounted on a vertical axle. The shelves move by pushing. The second pic shows the unit without a counter top and doors. It's also missing its shelving. The final pic shows how the "Lazy Susan" looks when the doors are closed. It gives you the impression of two normal cabinets at right angles to each other. You can also see new sink and the difference in the counter top colors.
The next set of pics are the top left hand corner uppers. As you can sorta see... Between this corner set, there is another small upper to the extreme left. Directly between them is where the oven was stationed. There was a range overhead piece we took out and in its place, we put a small unit. A new stove will fit in nicely and the fan/vent will fit up against the bottom of this cabinet. The second finished pic shows the whole right upper bank.
From there we move down and show the left hand lower corner. In the first pic you can see the original counter top, the chocolate colored sink and the dishwasher. The second pic is the partially finished section with the "Lazy Susan". You don't see the counter top, but you can see inside that corner unit to get an idea what happens there. (Note: These "Lazy Susan" cabinets were actually made round. That gives you an idea how old they are. These days, We leave the space open and let the shelving turn in a more open space.
The next couple of pics are the lower and upper to the extreme left. We did a couple things here. First of all, we added a drawer bank beside the lower. Second, we added a small cabinet between the left upper and the main left hand. You can see the second cabinet. Both have a top drawer and a door below. This is a very popular cabinet and allows us to fill the space around the newer stove designs.
The last three pics show a wider view of the left hand side. Both the lowers and the upper. The first pic shows where the stove light and vent were positioned while the second two show how we finished the cabinets on that side. The second pic shows the cabinets right after we'd pulled the original counter top, installed additional units and finally, refaced them. The final pic shows the left hand side with all of the changes we'd made including the new counter top. You can see the finished panel ends, the crown molding and the more efficient use of space. With a little time and energy, we were able to revitalize and bring new life to this kitchen. What started out as a dull kitchen is now "Dull-icious!"
At anywhere from a third to a half of the cost of redoing your cabinets, you can have a new looking kitchen just like this unit without the hassle and inconvenience of new cabinets. Little to no demolition work and almost everything is reused to conserve materials. You can also make some changes such as additions to help redefine the space available in your kitchen.

THE STORY OF THE TEARDROP TRAILER - PT. 2

The day finally came the brothers had time to go back and work on the trailer. In this first picture you can see that they cut out the sides. It took a while to lay it out, but they finally picked a shape they wanted. After cutting out one side, they used it as a pattern and cut out the second side to match it exactly. After that, it was just a matter of screwing them together and sanding them to an exact match.

Next came the glue up of the floor. The trailer is 5 ft. wide so they cut two sheets of plywood, routed wood wafers every six inches on the joint and then glued and clamped them together until they were dry. There's a solid metal frame down the center of the trailer frame so the joint will be supported all the way down. In this photo you can see the floor in its unfinished state.

Once the floor was done, they fit it to the frame and sanded the joint and floor. This helped by smoothing out the floor and breaking the edges on the joints. It's also important because this is the surface you would stand on. After the sanding was completed, they took it into the spray room and sealed it. The bottom was sealed from moisture with asphalt emolsion and then bolted and glued to the frame.

They notched the back panels for the trunk and lid. Then they started standing the walls and adding the cross members. They have been building a set of cherry interior doors for a company in Las Vegas so all of the cross members have been cut from Cherry scrap. It's expensive to buy, but there's enough scrap to use here. At this point, it's starting to come together.

This is a close up of the ceiling framing. They have framed an opening for the motorized vent. These trailers are air tight when they are done so you have to be able to open a window and get a little air movement. Each framing member is screwed and glued together for strength. The whole construct is beginning to look like some of the pictures they found on the internet.

This is where they stopped for the day. As the trailer begins to take shape, they are getting more into it and should make some progress in the next couple of weeks. I'll post another update soon so you can read more about the building of the teardrop trailer. Be sure to check out other great products at www.goodwinmillandcabinet.com

YOU'RE A MEAN ONE, MR. GRINCH

Here's a clip we put together showcasing our scene featured in the Southern Utah Jubilee of Trees! All proceeds were donated to the local NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). In this video, you can see more detail in the tree and some of the items around it. You also get to see the rug and some of the cool toys under the tree.

The tree was designed and decorated by TeRia Glauser, Kathy Van Gilder, Kay Borrowman and the table/chair/fireplace were designed and built by Kent Goodwin and his son, Greg Goodwin. The music is "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Dr. Seuss and Albert Hague as performed by Electric Six. Here's your chance to enjoy a part of the Jubilee if you missed it in person! Happy Holidays!

Watch the video HERE

And visit our website HERE

HOLIDAY CREATIONS

In the grand tradition of invention and groundbreaking ideas, Kent has joined forces with his sisters to create an artistic Christmas scene for the Southern Utah Jubilee of Trees. The trees are auctioned off and proceeds go to the regional NICU. Kent's part consisted of a fireplace and a table with chairs. The theme of the set comes from the wonderful children's book by Dr. Seuss, entitled "How The Grinch Stole Christmas". Kent's sisters, Kay Borrowman, TeRia Glauser and Kathy Van Gilder, call the piece "A Whacky Whimsical Christmas", because the Grinch is one of their favorite childhood Christmas characters and the "Who's down in Whoville" offered them a unique opportunity to decorate with colors not traditionally associated with the holiday season.

In the first photo, you can see some of the colors they used on the tops that were included as gifts under the tree. Light blues, pinks, whites and greens... There's some beautiful use of pastels in this scene. In the second pic, you see a shot of the full set. You can see the off center slants to the chairs and table. Exactly the kind of furniture you'd expect to find in a Who home. Kent also built the fireplace where we can see a familiar figure... coming out? or going up?

It's a very intricate piece and one we're extremely proud to say we had a part in. In the final pic, you can see some of the entertainment that was provided to the spectators as they walked through the forest of Christmas trees. This choir of young children is from a local elementary school called Sunset Elementary.

This is another example of how Goodwin Mill and Cabinet can provide your custom needs, no matter how complicated or interesting they are. Visit the website or call (435) 673-4766 today to set up your appointment.

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THE STORY OF THE TEARDROP TRAILER - PT. 1

On March 15th, 2008, Chris and Kent Goodwin started their adventure to build a teardrop trailer. They started by doing internet searches to collect information on these trailers they'd seen on the road growing up. Chris mentions thinking they were the most stupid trailer he'd ever seen. He couldn't figure out how they got things through the tiny doors. He had no idea it was a sleeping trailer with a lift up hatch in the back that revealed a small kitchenette for camping. A traveling bedroom for two that you can hook up to a car if you want and take off. They were all the rage after WWII and many were made out of materials salvaged from military vehicles. Now suddenly, it was a neat idea that had re-invented itself in our time to become a fad of sorts.
They decided to build a Benroy model similar to this picture. It seemed to fit their purposes the most. This picture was taken from the internet for a sample. They had better resources to build a more elaborate model. With an extensive background in commercial and residential construction as well as their years of experience owning and running their own cabinet shop, the brothers felt confident they could do it.

They initially toyed with building a wooden model similar to this one. Having a cabinet shop would almost make it a must. They normally spray a considerable amount of auto lacquer on exterior doors. They were thinking they could finish it up pretty nice with auto lacquer and actually give it a good wax job occasionally to repel water. In any event, it would be a safe bet to assume the trailer would end up out of wood.

Phase-1... The first thing they needed is build the trailer's frame. They have old lumber racks that haven't been used for a long time and a left over truck rack that can be cut up. The plan is to salvage this material to build the frame.
They have several spare tiers and wheels from cabinet trailers they planned on throwing away until they decided to build the trailer. They projected getting through the first phase without spending a lot of money. They cut up the scrap and laid out the frame on the shop floor. They used pipe clamps to hold it together to insure it all fit correctly. The design was created based on the available size of the material. This is what it looked like after welding it all together.
They ordered 2000 lbs rubber torsion 1/2 axels and hubs from Northern Tool. Chris recalls learning quite a lesson about start angles. "I didn't know the difference between a 7" start angle and a 3". I picked the 7" and found out the frame now sits 4" higher off the ground than I wanted." They were going to exchange them but decided the extra clearance might be food for some of the back country roads in the area. There is also a possibility of building a storage box in the floor.
Without much background in welding, the brothers relied on a couple of employees with welding experience. They were willing to share their experience and teach the brothers how to put the frame together. They decided to paint the frame. They sanded it down and primed it. There was a bit of rust on the metal when they salvaged it. Not much and it sanded off fairly easily. They used a rust preventive black paint for the frame. It is amazing how much better the frame looks with a couple coats of black paint on it. You can see the noticeable difference between the just welded pic and this pic after painting. It's really remarkable.
Kent had a can of aluminum chrome paint so they sanded and painted the wheels. Not custom chrome wheels but better looking than they were before. When they mounted the wheels on the frame it almost looked like it could end up being a pretty good trailer. A few more items to mount on the trailer and they will be ready for the floor. They need safety chains for towing and a trailer jack for leveling the trailer when it's un-hooked and parked.

There's more to come in the saga of the Goodwin Teardrop Trailer. Check back for more!