Personal Projects

Art and engineering are more closely related than some realize. My engineering background has made me a fearless problem solver, always eager to tackle problems in my career and at home. I have combined my love for art and design with the skills I have gained through my engineering education to restore a home I purchased. Sustainability is a passion of mine. Furniture and other home textiles are one of the largest contributors to landfills. I believe in giving older pieces a second chance by refreshing them to increase their functionality and character.

Breakfast Nook

I started this project with the desire to maximize the usability of my small kitchen space that would also allow for storage. My favorite ritual in the morning is to have a cup of coffee and listen to a podcast. This space was created with the intention of being both functional, holding my cooking apron and storing kitchen items, and comfortable for a morning coffee.

Fireplace

The fireplace in my house needed some serious work. Not only was it unsafe (the rocks were falling off) but the mantel was not secure. I fixed the mortar, used a tinted concrete sealer to seal the mortar to prevent moistures damage to the home, and hand made a new mantel that would be safe and updated for the space.

Backyard

The backyard space needed a lot of work. Not only was the shed falling apart but the space was not functional for myself or my dog. I thought of the users (myself and my dog) when I designed this space. I created the fire pit area near the back gate so if I had friends with children, they could watch their children play in the park behind my house from the porch.

Bedroom I

I have always wanted a relaxing bedroom. I did not want to buy a bulky headboard so instead, I painted the arch on my wall to break up all of the white paint in the room. I used a slat from an old bedframe to create the shelf above the bed and used a coat hander to hang my plant for some color contrast.

Bedroom II

The way the sunlight entered this room made the space feel dark and unwelcoming. I created the geometric accent wall to add some texture to the room also make it feel moody for my guests. I added a textured carpet and chose comfortable linens to make the room feel inviting.

Coffee Table

Sustainability is one of my main passions in life. I studied engineering to try to make a difference in the world and I use those skills to reduce my impact on the environment when I can. My neighbor was throwing out this coffee table (see picture below) and I felt it deserved a second chance. I added new legs to the able and a herringbone pattern to change up the streamlined feel the piece had already.

Mailbox

When I moved into my home, there was a standard plastic mailbox on a plastic column in front of the house. I decided to use leftover wood from refinishing my shed to create a custom mailbox that was sturdy and attractive.

Outdoor Bench

I wanted to learn how to create an outdoor bench for my porch. My first iteration, following specs found online, can be seen on the left. My second iteration, once I understood the proper proportions and process, can be seen on the right. I was able to be more creative with my second iteration after learning the process for fabrication of a traditional bench.

Table Top

I used a live edge piece of wood and cut it to the desired shape for the table top. I then hand drew the design, used my dremel to carve it out, and then torched the wood for an aged look. After lots of sanding and retouching, the final table top can be seen on the right.