It's been awhile since we've gotten to update you guys with some of the many projects that have been keeping us busy lil' bees! We've had some fun with Lucky Lab Coffee Co.'s new location at The Ruckus 2.0 just off campus. 

We used our beloved CNC to cut out the iconic lab & weld together fun signage complete with embedded LED to light it up! Once in a while everyone needs a night cap! 

And then of course I want you to see the gorgeous decor inside as well! I am loving those fixtures and do not be surprised one tiny bit if I snag a little inspo from this gorgeous black wall & CNC a couple of panels for our own entryway at home. 

We took care of building the coffee bars, floating shelves, metal CNC art (such as LIFE IS BETTER WITH COFFEE & DOGS" & the logo branding. We welded up a pastry case and full set of merch shelves, brackets for menu & some consulting for troubleshooting along the way. 

You can pop by for a yummy Lucky Lab Coffee Co. lunch & coffee at Tower Point 13805 N Highway 183 in Austin, Texas! 

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7 Smart Tips for a Hassle-Free Move
Moving houses comes with a dizzying amount of things to do. From signing off on paperwork to packing up a lifetime of belongings, it’s a wonder we make it through alive — and that’s only half of it. Once you get to your new house, you still have to unpack, organize, and decorate before it really feels like home. When you’re moving during your senior years, it can be even more overwhelming; you don’t have the energy you once did, but there’s just as much to be done.
 
While there’s no magic trick to make moving effortless, there are some things you can do to make the process easier on yourself.
1. DeclutterThe less stuff you own, the less you have to move. Before packing begins, go through your house to get rid of things you don’t need. Start by eliminating duplicates. Most families have more dishes and linens than they’ll use at once, so that’s an easy place to start. Consider gifting, selling, or donating collectibles and antiques now, rather than hanging onto them and including them in your will. Digitize old photo albums and get rid of bulky furniture that’s just taking up space. For more strategies for decluttering your home, look to The Spruce’s room-by-room decluttering guide.
2. Create a Floor PlanMany seniors choose to move to a smaller house in retirement. But less square footage means that your old furniture might not fit comfortably in the new home. To decide what to take and what to get rid of, draw up a floor plan and furniture layout using HGTV’s instructions. A furniture layout makes moving in easy, because you can tell your moving crew exactly where to set heavy items.
3. Prepare the New HouseEven if your new home is sitting vacant, it’s still collecting dust. Get the place move-in ready by cleaning up before unloading. If you’re moving locally, you may be able to tackle this task yourself. However, you’ll need to hire a maid service for out-of-town moves. At an average cost of just $125 to $210 for three hours of cleaning, it’s a small price to pay for the convenience of a clean home.
4. Outsource the Heavy LiftingNothing puts a damper on your move like an aching back or pulled muscle. Spare yourself the pain and inconvenience of a moving day injury by hiring movers to load and unload your moving truck after you’ve packed up. For an even easier relocation, spring for a full-service move where all you have to do is unpack and organize.
5. Create an Organizational SystemBefore you start unpacking boxes, decide how you want your new house organized. By setting up closet systems and deciding which cabinets should hold what, you can avoid the frustration of forgetting where you put important items.
6. Keep Pets Out of the WayThe last thing you need is a mover tripping over your pet while carrying something heavy. Make sure dogs and cats don’t get in the way by scheduling a stay at the kennel while packing, loading, and unloading is underway. Not only will it prevent an accident or an untimely escape, but it will also make the move less stressful for your four-legged companions.
7. Take Care of YourselfFinally, don’t let anxiety get the best of you during the move. While making a plan and hiring movers takes a lot of the stress out of moving, you could still end up feeling overwhelmed. As long as you hired a reliable moving company, trust that your belongings are in good hands, and allow yourself a break. Talk a walk, pause for dinner, and remind yourself that this chaos is temporary.
Moving is an exciting time — a new home, a new city, a new chapter of life — but that doesn’t mean it’s without its challenges. Whether you’re moving to your vacation home or your forever home, it’s important to start with a plan. When you use these tips, you’ll stay organized, efficient, and calm from start to finish.
 
Image via Unsplash
 
 

***Please see note at bottom of page! ***
We've all admired the typical sliding barn door - you know the one... solid wood, maybe an "X" design, a "Z" design or even the standard ranch style. But sometimes it limits important things - like the flow of light, or potentially the size can encumber a room & make it feel like the sole focal point of the space. If these doors aren't built properly, often many of them warp and curve after seasonal temperature/humidity shifts. 

Fortunately, we have a beautiful solution from Rustica Hardware! The Mountain French sliding door is a real winner - we recently installed it (see our photos below) in an Austin-area home by Paradisa Homes. 

And if you've got a double door opening to fill, we've got that covered too...

NOTICE: We are no longer dealing Rustica Hardware products. As their menu has grown, their service has not been able to keep up. Instead of managing errors, we encourage our clients to shop with local woodworkers & door builders. If you're going to go through the expense and time of curating a custom door, it is best to keep it local so that any necessary adjustments can be made on the quick. It is also a beautiful thing to know that your dollar stays in your community & aids a family in their endeavors. Even if we're too backed up to take on your door project, we're happy to recommend some wonderful woodworkers who have built their business around building barn doors. Keep in mind, if you're interested in a steel door/glass door, we do have a CNC & can create pretty much any modern door locally in our shop! 

And that project is still going strong since we last mentioned it. 
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Kevin completed the welding on the roof structure and placed the zip panels. It was bittersweet to add the spray foam insulation and hide the structure - I loved the lines and admire all that Kevin put into welding this for our family. 

We added a galvalume R-panel roof on the exterior. You can see the ICF foam is still exposed - it's quite forgiving and a little rinse with the powerwasher takes care of any 'patina' from the elements. 
Between all the exciting projects our clients bring us & our own full-time build, we could use a few more hours added to the day! Lately, we've framed interior walls/ceilings, installed an HVAC system (Kevin's A/C certified, as is his Uncle Kevin (who came down from Oklahoma to assist - we're grateful for his help!) Electrical & data wiring are well on their way & we've been hanging Sheetrock as the rooms become ready. Right now, the kid's rooms have been prioritized. 
We keep on keeping on because at this point, there's nothing to it but to do it. 

Photo by Kari Shea at Unsplash

Have a new homeowner on your holiday gift list? Luckily for you, there are gifts for your friend or family member in all price ranges. Whether you want to spend a chunk of money on a lawn tractor or just a nice small gift that will show you care, we’ve got you covered.

• Help with yard work -- Your new homeowner is so busy trying to get everything done, from moving to painting to unpacking boxes, he or she won’t have any time to deal with the yard. If you are low on money but would still like to help, offer to do yard work. You could promise to mow the lawn a couple of times or pick up the leaves in the fall. You might help till a new garden or plant spring flowers. If you really don’t like getting outside, pay for someone else to do the yard work. The national average cost to mow and maintain a yard is $148.
  
  
  
• Lawn care tools -- This is likely the first yard he or she has had, and now yardwork is necessary. Consider giving a lawn mower, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, leaf blower or chainsaw.
  
  
  
  
• Home repair books -- There’s always something to fix around the house, so there’s always a need for how-to books. There are DIY calendars, magazines and more, so the new homeowner can become her own handyperson.
  
  
  
• Tools -- A new homeowner likely hasn’t done much home repair, especially if he or she has lived in an apartment their whole adult life. So, tools will be necessary. A basic set of wrenches is a good start. Or you can give some basic power tools, such as a cordless drill, an electric screwdriver, sander, circular saw or air compressor.
  
  
  
• Personalized door mat -- There are so many options that you’re sure to find one that fits the personality of your friends. You can even find holiday-themed ones, such as Christmas or hanukkah. Some sites even have snarky or off-color doormats, but we’ll let you search for those on your own.
  
  
  
• Give the gift of light -- Every home has dark corners, especially when you’re just trying to get something done. Give your new homeowner some lighting options. There are lanterns, flashlights and more, designed to help out when the basic room lighting just isn’t enough. It’s also important to have a good battery-powered light source around in an emergency, when the lights go out.
  
  
  
• Ladder or step-ladder -- Everyone needs to change a light bulb once in awhile. Having a way to get up there is important. A ladder is something that you don’t know you need until you actually need it, and then you don’t want to have to borrow it from the neighbors. Look for step ladders, which come in many different sizes for many uses. A more serious do-it-yourselfer will need an extension ladder to get to the roof. Be sure to check weight limits if your recipient is a larger person.
  
  
  
• A houseplant -- A good basic gift for anyone with a new home is a houseplant. Plants clean the air and help liven up the home. A bonus is that they make you feel better, and help you concentrate. If your friend has pets, be cautious of what kind you give. Some plants are toxic to pets.
  
  
  
• Gift cards -- Homeowners will spend lots of money in home improvement stores, so consider giving gift cards to Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace or a local hardware store. Home decor companies or organizations stores are also good places to shop for gift cards.
  
  
  

Whatever you give, your caring and thoughtfulness will show in your gift. And, hopefully, your friend will invite you over for dinner soon.

There's no denying... our FAVORITE thing to build is a live edge table. Hands down. 

For me, I love a good road trip & windshield time with my husband. When an order for a live edge slab comes up, I know there's a pretty good chance we'll head to a nearby small town, have lunch in the town square & head to the mill to scout out a slab or two. 

This particular table required two slabs to be joined together in the middle in order to be wide enough for their dining room space. While we were at the mill, we stumbled upon two slabs that were sliced from the same tree - held the same whirls and grain pattern just opposite of one another, creating a book-matched slab once joined together with tenons. I applied a beautiful food-safe walnut stain & once Kevin saw that, I grew a little worried he wasn't going to want to let go of this table! 

Can you see where they were joined together? (We sure hope not! Hee hee!)

Our client wanted their new dining table to be at a convenient bar height with hearty steel legs that would make it difficult to tip over. Kevin got to work welding these classic legs, painted them a matte black & added felt pads to the bottom to prevent scratches on our client's hardwood floors. 

Our client had their swivel barstools ready to slide up to their new table. I just LOVE the rich leather! 

Thank you to Tara Camp of Scout Lighting & Design Goods for introducing us to your wonderful clients and allowing us to take care of this project for them. We highly recommend Tara for her crazy beautiful lighting design skills - we even hired her to come help us out with our own lighting selections for our own home that we've been building (see older blog posts for more info on that if you're interested.) 

Should That Project Be DIY Or Done By Professionals?
 
As a homeowner, you know you have to protect your investment. Sometimes, that means doing regular maintenance like cleaning the furnace or caulking drafty windows. But other times, it means doing a significant remodeling project.
 
Doing the right renovation can add a lot of value to your home. It can also help your family feel more comfortable and better enjoy living in the house. But should that project be done by yourself or should you hire professionals? Before you can answer that, you need to figure out what remodel you should do.


Image Source: Pixabay
Pick Your Project FirstBack before the housing bubble burst, home improvements were all the rage. There were even plenty of TV shows about them. These days, much fewer people are making renovations in their home — and that’s a shame. There’s so much to be gained by a home renovation project. But which one should you choose?
 
The Huffington Post explains how to pick the right project for you:

• Pick projects that give you a better return on your investment. Instead of adding a huge deck, consider a new air conditioning unit that runs more efficiently to save on utility costs.
• Go for smaller projects rather than big ones. It’s easier to install a new door than a gourmet kitchen.
• Consider your neighborhood. Renovating a huge kitchen will all the latest appliances might not work if that’s very out of place for your area.

 
What’s the difference between a DIY project and one that needs a contractor? As a general rule, go with professionals for large projects or any that involve gas or electricity. Smaller, safer projects can be done by yourself if you have the skills and time.
If You’re Hiring ProsA professional contractor is a great choice for most large home improvement projects. However, you shouldn’t just pick the first one that pops up in a Google search. To ensure your project goes well, Popular Mechanics has some recommendations on picking a contractor:

• Make sure the contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured for your hometown. This means they are professionals, and if something goes wrong, the risk is much lower.
• Ask your contractor if they specialize in the type of remodeling you want to be done. Don’t pick a guy experienced in kitchen renovations if you want to add a stairway.
• Before any work begins, get everything in writing in a contract that includes cost estimates, brands to be used, and approximated start and end dates.

 
But one of the best ways to find the right contractor is to look for recommendations. Talk to your neighbors that recently remodeled and ask their experiences. Go to review sites like Angie’s List, or at least ask on social media if anyone can recommend a contractor.
If You’re Doing It YourselfAfter considering your project, you decide to save some money and do it yourself. That can be a good idea, but it can also be tricky. Unless you are a contractor yourself, you need to read Redfin’s article about DIY safety. Some of the tips include:

• Never leave active power tools unattended. Just knocking them over can turn them on and hurt someone.
• When using a ladder, make sure the bottom is one foot away from a wall or object for every four feet in ladder height.
• Keep a first aid kit nearby so any medical problems can be addressed quickly.

 
But probably the best tip for DIY projects is to have a detailed plan. Write down all the tools and supplies you will need. Then break the projects into smaller pieces and create a timeline for them all. Be sure to factor in some extra time for mistakes or unforeseen complications.
Get That Project StartedDon’t let the size of a project stop you from adding value and comfort to your home. Think carefully about it first, then either hire a reputable contractor or DIY and stay safe about it. This way, you can enjoy both the work and the end result.
 

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We're excited to announce that we were interviewed by the beautiful, bubbly, fun & fabulous Debbie Lewis of the Debbie Lewis Show!
Debbie shares sound advice on money, mortgages, insurance & investments in a fun, lively way that absolutely captures your attention.

​We had a wonderful time visiting with Debbie during the interview & at Scout Lighting and Design Goods Open House event on Wednesday! During the interview, we'll be discussing Roots Design Co.'s product lineup & how we got rolling in the fun world of custom design+build business! Be sure to listen in on 10-8-2017 (Sunday) on AM station 1370! http://www.debbielewisshow.com/

"Did I ever tell you about how Kevin began woodworking? Probably not. But it's a pretty cool story and it's amazing to see how his talent evolved through the years. 
I remember when we got married and started melding our posessions together, I noticed a gorgeous wooden bowl. It was still unfinished, yet it had a deep, dark hue inherent in the wood. This was when Kevin introduced me to walnut for the very first time. He'd made this bowl over a weekend spent with his grandfather; he'd been introduced to the lathe for the first time and the bowl was a product of what he'd turned. I've since snatched that bowl and it has a rightful place in our china hutch. It's suffered a little - at some point the bowl was dropped and a piece of that gorgeous walnut chipped away from the rim. We've filled that bowl with seashells (we have collected over the years) and turned the chip away from view so it's still serving a purpose. 
After we married, over time Kevin began purchasing woodshop tools when he's been able - and we've been married sixteen years, so that collection has certainly grown. I've also been the lucky recipient of many of his creations! 
We no longer live in this sweet little starter home, but it housed a ton of inspiration as he grew in his craft. 

I know... I'm pretty spoiled, aren't I!?!? Well, that's not even the tip of the iceberg! 

I'm a sucker for all things vintage. Always have been. After scavenging through the Habitat Re-store and finding a fabulous old screen door and a bi-folding closet door system, Kevin created these two hutches in the corners of our breakfast room. The paint color: Martha Stewart Living, Winter Surf. It's somewhere in between a green, beige and gray and it's a gorgeous color. Wish her paint was still around. Sigh...

And that's not all...
If we take a little step back, I can show you the butcher block island he built that boasts three HUGE drawers! Oh, and that light fixture! As the builder grade fixture began flickering, Kevin freshened it up a bit with a little beadboard, trim and paint. 

When I say that it was a house full of inspiration, I'm not even kidding. Just down the street, that old design show Trading Spaces was filming in a starter home similar to ours! It was quite fun meeting the cast. My sister-in-law (pictured left) who happens to be a designer, swung by to catch up with one of her old friends who was a designer on the show. We took advantage of a photo opp next to the trailer, I'm the lady holding the baby on the right. 

Or when we learned we had a baby girl on the way & he built this crib for her. Now HER little sister is using it! Talk about an heirloom! 

And there were times he built things for extended family too. Like the time he built my father this folding craps table to practice on. 

And the time he transformed my Mom's entryway with this built-in unit. Some of the decorative accents were from her own scavenges. 

And sometimes special people (like Fr. John) invited him to build things, like this altar & ambo. They live at St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School. 

It took a number of years to hone his craft through these projects & these are only a handful of projects we have photographs of. As Kevin's wife (and spoiled recipient of many creations), I've been blessed to watch him grow in craft and tooling! Thanks for joining me in this walk down memory lane." - Jessica 

We love repeat clients. As we get to know our clients, we really get a "feel" for who they are, their brand (if they're a commercial client) and that helps us provide them with products that fit their style, the ebb and flow of their business and remain true to their brand identity.
We have enjoyed working with Lucky Lab Coffee Co. very much
and are always pleased to have their business. 

We really enjoyed building their coffee bar for their newest location at 7th & Brazos - Lucky Lab proprietor, Courtney knew just what she wanted and
​ came armed with Pinterest examples & inspirations.
This collaborative effort created the form & function of their newest coffee bar. 

I love seeing the coffee bar in this space! I think  it kind of softens the industrial feel of this high rise with the warm woods & distressed finish of the matte black paint.