Month: September 2020

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We built this custom walnut frame for a pre-existing piece of stained glass. It is made to be hung up in front of a window.  The frame is simple enough that it doesn’t detract from the glass yet it contrasts enough with it to really make it pop, just as a good frame should.

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I (Ryan Krafka) never met my Great Grandfather, Clarence Henry Snyder, but I have heard many stories about him. It was apparent growing up that he made a great impression on the whole family, especially my father. He was incredibly skilled with his hands and was an especially talented metalworker/mechanic. My father recounted once how Grandpa Snyder made his own riding lawn mower from scratch. Evidently by some means, Grandpa must have passed down his skills and ambition to my father just as my father did to me.   

One thing that Grandpa Snyder left all his children and grandchildren were footstools. He wasn’t the most talented woodworker, that was more his little brother Frank’s department, but these stools and his design have lived on. So in honor of him we made these stools for my Aunt, her kids and grandkids.  

These stools were made of white oak and walnut, hand finished with satin polyurethane and personalized with the intended recipient’s name engraved on top. These stools have a family history that will be treasured for generations to come.

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We were tasked with refurbishing St. Mary’s Church in Riverside’s old communion railing and redesigning it as a choir loft railing. We started the project back in February but the chaos of recent times had us delaying this project for longer than we anticipated. We finally got the old railings sanded down, re-assembled, painted, detailed and installed in early August. We added clear glass railings on either side of the refurbished railing as a means of creating a safety barrier while simultaneously not detracting from the beauty of the surrounding art and permitting people to have a clear view of the altar, even when seated in the balcony. Not only are the refurbished railings a crucial safety feature for the choir loft, they really tie the church together by matching the design and color scheme from the altar and applying it to the back of the church. They look like they were made to be there and that is exactly what we intended. For more details on the project you can read a full article by Lindsay Steele featured in the Catholic Messenger here https://www.catholicmessenger.net/2020/09/new-life-for-old-communion-rail/?fbclid=IwAR2XylA7TNtFMU9zUw3NmzDgSEfeGb9N2ELL669zWEe1ITIDKW97HvW8bsY

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This shelving unit was designed to match trim and a built-in bookshelf in the same room. It was made of white oak, oak plywood and painted to match the color scheme of the room. This shelving unit was securely affixed to a pre-existing credenza and mounted securely to the wall to prevent the unit from tipping. It features adjustable shelves to accommodate different sized books, pictures, and decor. This bespoke shelving unit was the perfect addition to this area. It tied the room together and added plenty of space for books and ornamentation.