Portfolio

Stained carpet, canary closets, 96″ metal doors, popcorn ceilings… what’s not to love in this 1969 all-original master bedroom?

This required a complete overhaul: I removed everything, including the popcorn ceiling. The idea was for a “his and hers” reach-in closet, so I framed and drywalled the rough openings. After that, the ceiling and walls were skim-coated and sanded to a perfectly smooth finish, primed, and painted. Next came the acacia hardwood flooring and a new ceiling fan. After installing a custom closet and specially-ordered double doors, baseboards, door casings, and crown molding were added to complete the look.

Here’s another full-room renovation which had a “charming” 1960s flavor and an interesting surprise under the carpet: Vinyl composite tile which had to be steamed and pried off a few square inches at a time. A tedious task, but the reward was worth it.

After ripping out the flooring, trim, closets, and popcorn ceiling, a similar his-and-hers closet was framed and finished. The ceiling and walls were skim-coated and painted. Warm cherry floors contrast the Caribbean-blue walls, but match the custom closet which was installed behind double closet doors. Smart switches were added along with baseboards, door casings, and crown molding. Furniture was later added to make this a home office which converts to an extra bedroom.

This raised area behind the pool had a fountain and lush vegetation, making it a tropical paradise. The previous owners had removed the fountain, potted plants, and killed most of the vegetation leaving a muddy and disgusting pit. Check out the remarkable transformation to a paver sun deck, complete with a soldier course, angled herringbone pattern, and sloped to a built-in drain leading outside the pool enclosure.

Here’s just one example of repairing drywall to like-new status. Uncle Fix-It has an incredible eye for detail, and never passes up an opportunity to go above the call of duty. Not only is the orange peel perfectly matched, he installed a doorstop to prevent future accidents.

Sometimes the best way to fix something broken is just to replace it.

After being run over, knocked down, backed into, and battered in multiple storms, this mailbox was due for retirement.

The new one is set in concrete, perfectly plumb, and set 12-15′ away from the driveway and farther back from the curb (but within U.S. Postal Service regulations) to prevent any more accidents.

Yes, I do pressure washing :)

Here’s just one example of repairing drywall to like-new status. Uncle Fix-It has an incredible eye for detail, and never passes up an opportunity to go above the call of duty. Not only is the orange peel perfectly matched, he installed a doorstop to prevent future accidents.

A community orchestra needed a new podium for their conductor. What would an orchestra be without that padded, red-carpet podium?

This was built out of study, high-quality whiteboard with a carpeted and padded platform. Wheels were added on one side (facing away from the audience) for easy transportation.

Custom-built 5-piece sectional for an outdoor covered patio. Made of high-grade lumber, stained to customer’s choice of finish, and secured with pocket screws for a sturdy but clean look. The store-bought cushions didn’t fit quite right. “I can fix that!” With some quick-drying batting cut to size, I sewed a zippered cushion enclosure with marine-grade canvas.

Improperly attached fascia board and a short drip edge led to water rotting the soffit. After identifying the source of the water and sealing it, a portion of the fascia was removed, replaced, secured in place, sealed, and primed and painted to match.

A single pane of glass in this solid 1960s exterior door was broken. The resident called a few glass companies and got quotes ranging from $360 to over $1,000, with some insisting the entire door be replaced. Instead, I carefully removed the trim and broken glass, sourced some single-pane glass, cut it to fit, and installed it (glazing, trim, and all). The total cost for materials (including a new glass-cutting kit) was under $40!

This entryway was, well, boring. And with two functional doors on either side, there weren’t a lot of options to spruce it up. Being from Winter Park, this client opted to use Rifle Paper Company’s peacock wallpaper to make this and the adjacent wall pop. The table was lightly sanded and repainted to match the

This space was always crowded with weeds, leaves, and catching road litter. The new trash carts kept falling over from uneven ground. And a fiber optic access box rendered the space unmanageable.

“No problem,” I said, “I can fix that.”

This was a really fun one!

This storage solution was custom-built to accommodate the bikes, beer fridge, tools, and holiday decorations. What made it really exciting is the addition of rolling carts which fit perfectly under the first shelf, creating a mobile workshop with two feeder carts, a table saw, and a miter saw, all exactly the same same height. There’s even a self-retracting power solution in the ceiling.

Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace can be gold minds for quality antique furniture. This beautiful 1960s Victorian dining room set came in great shape… except for the smell.

The solution? Reupholster the chairs. This makeover used a soft blue performance velvet which resists stains, pet hair, and odor. The cushion was made of 2″ high-density foam for a firm, but comfortable feel.

P.S. This dining set sits opposite the wall in the Foyer Refresh above, and the blue is a wonderful complement to the table!

Living in Florida means enjoying outdoor space year-round. Unfortunately it also means the humidity causes and mildew to spread like crazy. These disgusting soffits were scrubbed clean and sprayed with an anti-fungal, anti-microbial coating to prevent unsightly spots from returning.

This interior door has seen better days. Over the years, the door was smashed in, the trim was marred, nicked, stuffed, and dented, and worst of all, the door was frequently opening and closing by itself. “I can fix that!”

And I did.

The old door came out a new door was installed, properly so it would swing easily on its hinges and not move on its own, painted, and is good as new!

30+ years of grease, stains, scuffs, nail holes, dust, and all kinds of gross… one visit from Uncle Fix-It and this kitchen looks brand new.

The previous bathroom vanity was affixed to the tub surround. When it was removed, left quite a mess behind.

Rather than spend several days and thousands of dollars to retile an otherwise beautiful bathroom, we found a box of the same tile in the garage. I patched the substrate and meticulously installed tile to continue the pattern back toward the wall.

It was definitely a challenge, but the outcome (and savings for this customer!) were very rewarding.

Even though the house was very well cared-for, this bathroom ledge was showing its age (and a few layers of previous paint). A quick sanding, cleaning, and fresh coat of paint has it looking new again.

Personally, I’ve nothing against pink. People should customize their home however they want. But not everyone wants to buy a house with a Barbie closet, so while I was working in that bathroom, these louver doors got a refresh.

Nothing classes up a room quite like good finish carpentry, and crown molding makes all the difference. Many people will say, “do your best and caulk the rest.” Not here. I take precise measurements, order materials from the same mill batch for consistency, practice exacting joinery, dry fit until it’s just right, spray paint the finish to avoid brush strokes and blemishes, and then carefully hide all the nail holes.

Instead of water soaring into the air, this client now has a brand new pressure vacuum breaker, stronger PVC, and the risers positioned where they’re less prone to being hit by rogue bicycles.

This vinyl latticework is textured with faux wood grain, making it very susceptible to algae, fungi, mold, and all kinds of other organisms. Using an anti-fungal, anti-microbial formula, this lattice was made nearly spotless without pressure washing, damage to surrounding plants or structures, and without residual solvents or toxic chemicals.

When the local animal shelters fill up, they depend on community volunteers to foster animals until they can be adopted or space frees up.

Unfortunately this often means completely closing off a spare room to keep foster animals separated from your pets until they get acclimated and socialized.

I fixed that for this client by fabricating a durable, custom-fit door with a heavy-duty pet-proof screen and a few latches for extra measure. Now they can keep eyes and ears on their foster pets while without completely closing off the room.

Hello Kitty indeed!

Hover over the photo to see the transformation!