Decision Note3 min
Open Mudroom Cubbies or Closed Cabinets?
Closed doors hide the coats. They do not persuade anyone to hang them up.
Weigh the optionstrim & finish work
Finish carpentry & trim.
Built-ins, trim, mantels, and fitted storage. The details you notice every day, made to suit your space.
The best fitted storage earns its space. A mudroom bench should leave room for boots; a bookcase should fit the books; trim should sit neatly against the house you have. We build and install the details you see and use every day.
the work
Why finish work is the hard part.
Finish carpentry brings the room together after the larger work is done. Profiles, proportions, joints, and the paint or stain finish all affect how it feels.
Older walls and floors may need careful fitting. Scribing follows an uneven surface while preserving the intended visible lines. New or changing movement should be assessed before trim conceals it.
Agree on materials, profiles, removal, wall repairs, and finishing before installation. Those choices matter as much as the number of metres of baseboard.
Markham home office
The printer almost won.
- Contents firstMeasure equipment and large books before fixing shelf and cabinet sizes.
- FitAllow for scribed edges at uneven walls.
- ColourView the finish sample in the room, at more than one time of day.
Tessa’s office drawing had everything except somewhere for the printer. Bookshelves, a desk by the window, drawers, a carefully chosen green. On paper it was a very calm room. On the actual desk sat a large grey printer with an even larger paper tray.
A lower cabinet became its home, with access and clearance planned around the machine. The first shelf spacing changed too, after Tessa brought over the tall art books that never fitted her old bookcase. Measuring the contents was more useful than measuring another inspiration photo.
The wall bowed near the window, so the installation needed fitted edges rather than a straight box pushed hard against the plaster. A finish sample viewed in the room’s evening light also changed the green. The showroom version had looked much cooler at home.
The completed shelves left enough open space for books to arrive later. Tessa put one plant on the desk and stopped there. For once, the working surface stayed a working surface.
“It looks like the room I imagined, and it holds the things I actually own.”
scribing
Fit the trim to the house.
Scribing follows an uneven surface so the visible edge fits neatly. It can be useful beside old plaster, sloping floors, or masonry. Small paint joints may still need a suitable sealant. If movement is new or worsening, assess the cause before fitting trim over the evidence.
custom millwork
Keep the profile you fell for.
Matching one damaged length of trim starts with its shape, thickness, material, and finish. A stock profile may work, or custom milling may be needed. Compare a sample beside the original and agree where the repair will end before ordering the full run.
paint and stain
The last coat counts.
A fitted piece is only part of the finished result. Include surface preparation, filling, compatible sealant, primer, paint or stain, and adjacent touch-ups in the scope. Choose the sheen and inspect a sample where it will actually live, in the room’s light.
gallery
Find the details you like.
the shop
Matching the details worth keeping.
For an existing trim match, send a clear profile photo with a ruler and a wider view of the room. An offcut can help establish the shape, thickness, and material.
The options may include a stock profile, a custom-milled match, or replacement along a defined run. Compare how each meets the original trim and what finishing work is required.
For new built-ins, start with function and dimensions. Our material comparison explains where MDF, poplar, and pine make sense.
finish
Plan the finish from the start.
Painting and staining belong in the scope from the start. Confirm which pieces are finished before installation, which are fitted on site, and who handles filling, caulking, final coats, and adjacent wall touch-ups. For kitchen cabinetry, include the junctions with counters, backsplash, and appliances as well.
scope
What we handle on a trim job.
Baseboards, crown moulding, window and door casing, wainscoting, panel details, built-in shelving, mantels, window seats, mudroom benches, and closet storage. Bring a reference image if you have one, along with what the space needs to do.
questions & answers
Things homeowners ask.
Can you match existing crown moulding?
A close match may be possible using a stock or custom profile. Send a profile photo with a ruler, the required length, and an offcut if available. Material, tooling, and finish determine the options and lead time.
Will the room need repainting?
New trim usually needs finishing, and removal can disturb adjacent paint or plaster. Agree the touch-up area before work starts. Older or faded wall paint may not blend invisibly.
How long do built-ins take?
Allow for measurement, design decisions, materials, fabrication, fitting, and finish curing. The quote should separate the production lead time from the days of work inside your home.
Should I choose MDF or solid wood?
It depends on the profile, finish, moisture exposure, and likelihood of knocks. MDF offers a smooth painted surface; solid wood can be easier to shape and repair. Neither should be treated as a solution to an unresolved moisture problem.
from the workshop
All workshop notesRead more on this work.
Decision Note3 min
Should Alcove Built-Ins Match on Both Sides?
The fireplace is centred. The alcoves are not. Forcing a match can make the whole wall feel more awkward.
Weigh the optionsDecision Note3 min
Window-Seat Storage: Lift the Lid or Pull a Drawer?
A lift-up seat holds plenty. Getting the blanket means moving the person who wanted the blanket.
Weigh the optionsLet’s make it work for your house.
Tell us about your finish carpentry & trim project. A few photos, your location, and the result you want are enough to get started. We can work through the unanswered questions together.