A customer came to us requesting that we make a replica of a commemorative communion altar as a gift for one of her children. We replicated it to the best of our abilities with solid walnut and personalized it by engraving the name and date of the recipient’s first communion. We were also able to find a crucifix that would fit the cross at The Mustard Seed in Iowa City. The end result was almost identical to the original and the customer was thrilled with it.
A customer came to us whose friend was an avid outdoorsman and his favorite oak tree was blown down during the Derecho. While she helped him clean up she snuck a log to have something special made from it. She asked if we would help and we were only too happy to oblige. We had the lumber kiln dried by our wood supplier Paul Koffron. We then cut the log laterally into coasters, finished them and engraved native Iowa wildlife onto each coaster with the date of the Derecho on the back.
We hope that we have helped bring some joy from the devastation of the Derecho, and we hope this avid outdoorsman enjoys some very rustic coasters. If you have any ideas for custom wood projects, DM us on Instagram, Facebook, email us at krafkakraft@gmail.com, or give us a call at (319)330-3373
We had a customer contact us about refinishing a table whose finish had begun to rapidly deteriorate. After being thoroughly stripped, sanded, re-stained and refinished with five coats of polyurethane, it looks as good as new. We love a good restoration project every now and again, and we’re thankful at how well this one turned out.
A customer contacted us wanting to know if we would be willing to replace wood panels in their door with custom window panes. We were only too happy to oblige. We got their aquatex tempered windowpane matched by Knebel Windows, Inc. and retrofitted the panes into their old door. We put the finishing touches on by giving the door an extra coat of paint on one side and a coat of poly on the other. Thankfully we got the door re-installed before the first snowfall of the season. It does exactly what the customer intended by allowing more light in while keeping the cold out. We love doing projects like this that reduce waste while incorporating the reuse of old materials to make something that our customers will cherish and will be sure to last for many years to come.
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.
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.
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
(Before) White painted oak and oak plywood shelving unit $1,195 – $1,495
White painted oak and oak plywood shelving unit $1,195 – $1,495
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.
Black Stained Oak Entertainment Center/Dog Kennel $1,295 – $1,625
Black Stained Oak Entertainment Center/Dog Kennel $1,295 – $1,625
Black Stained Oak Entertainment Center/Dog Kennel $1,295 – $1,625
Black Stained Oak Entertainment Center/Dog Kennel $1,295 – $1,625
Black Stained Oak Entertainment Center/Dog Kennel $1,295 – $1,625
Black Stained Oak Entertainment Center/Dog Kennel $1,295 – $1,625
This dog kennel was custom designed to house an adorable french bulldog named Olive.This kennel is made of stained black oak hardwood and plywood. It features adjustable shelving, a sliding door that can slide to the left or the right depending on what is most convenient or aesthetically pleasing at the time and the door features a hidden latch to ensure the door is locked securely into place. The kennel is raised three inches off the ground to increase airflow as it sits over an air vent. To boot, this kennel has a very appealing, sleek allure that also allows for plenty of space for storage and display.
These book shelves were custom made of oak and stained to match a pre-existing book shelf. The design and dimensions fit seamlessly and added plenty of space to extend the book collection. If it wasn’t pointed out, it would be difficult to tell they weren’t part of the original set. That’s exactly what we were working for.
