The Book House Story

I've been blessed to work for so many amazing people during my career as a contractor.

They have given me the opportunity to work in their homes and build spaces that enrich their families lives.

What started many years ago as an interest, has over time, evolved into a passion.

I find joy in what I do. I love to imagine what a project can be, what it can become.

Along the way, lessons in design, sourcing materials, contracting and craftsmanship have paved the way to explore new opportunities. It's given me the opportunity to learn to build better and build more beautiful projects.

This continual growth is facilitated by my dedicated and talented employees and trade partners.

I love reading about building science and construction technology. I follow innovations in tooling and how to build more efficiently.

More over, I strive to build with respect for the past. I love old buildings. I love working on old buildings. The quality of the materials, the thoughtfulness of the design, and of course, the craftsmanship of those who constructed them.

The passion and the dream evolved. I desired to construct a building that not only displayed high workmanship and design acumen, but was built from the ground up to look like an old world structure.

The materials, wall construction, and installations would tell the story of a building that could've been built a century ago.

The exposed brick, barn beams, weathered paint, and antiqued finishes became the narrative of when and who built the building.

I knew it would be expensive. A lot of the building would have to be re-engineered. The project would not be viable without an abundance of sweat equity and materials sourced at the right prices. Additionally, the building would not be possible without additional income.

I knew what and how I wanted to build, and eventually concluded that utilizing the space as a short term rental would justify the additional cost to build this unique structure.

I scoured unique Airbnb listings locally and nationwide. "Instagramable" experiences came up a lot and in my research.

I needed a theme, an experience that would entice people. It would have to be a big building that would serve as a place to congregate and accommodate large groups.

The Book House! Yes! A turn of the century building with bookshelves and library ladders in every room. A building that would house thousands of hardcover books for guest to enjoy. To get away from technology and spend time with friends and family.

So I started drawing up floorplans. I sketched elevations and thought about form and function and spatial design. I looked at ceiling heights, window sizes, amenities, and room sizes with the comfort of guest in mind.

I was blessed to work with a very talented architect. And after several iterations of the building, we were able to get the project approval from several community boards and finally the final building permit.

At this point, several years had passed since the time I had conceived the project and set out to make it happen. I had continued collecting antiques and unique building materials. I purchased library ladders, antique chandeliers, custom ironwork, vintage furniture, barn beams and thousands of hardcover books.

The vision was taking shape and in just over two years, the building was complete. What was once a vacant lot was now a newly constructed building and much to my satisfaction, it genuinely looked old.

To some this dream and journey may sound a bit strange. I get it. A new building constructed to look 100 years old is not the norm, but to me the new norm seen in the building industry is just not exciting.

The design and craftsmanship of the hard-working men and women so often seen displayed in buildings from the past is thought-provoking, uplifting and inspiring.

And ultimately, it comes down to having a passion for what I do. I feel blessed. I love my work and I hope it shows. Just as importantly, I hope it serves its purpose and is enjoyed by the families that will reside here for many years to come.