Search Results

Who here has watched “Flea Market Flip” on HGTV? (Share this blog if you answered yes!)  It’s the show where teams scour flea markets for unique finds to upcycle into new designs. After binge-watching that show, this turn something old into something new coffee-table design came to mind. Our Challenge We needed a long-run coffee table for our upstairs living space — our bonus room above the garage. This room is our “Creative Cave,” where music, art, movies and writing take place. It’s the room where we hang out as a family and occasionally indulge in snack attacks. It’s cozy, artsy and unique. We upgraded our furniture with a five-piece modular couch primarily shaped into a long L. It’s perfect for hosting all of us at once—it’s beyond comfortable—but makes most coffee tables seem small or too wide. After shopping for a solution for months, we couldn’t agree on what to buy. We also couldn’t agree on what to build. Resin-pour tables seem too trendy and wouldn’t stand the test of time for our home’s design. Live edge tables are unique but would clash with our home’s style. White oak is beautiful, but the room’s lack of natural light wouldn’t do it justice. We were at a standstill. Our Solution A “Flea Market Flip” marathon led Traci to scroll through Facebook Marketplace, hoping to find a fresh idea. And there it was! A pair of two long vintage windows. She quickly messaged the seller, and they became hers for just $40. Like any wife with a vision, Traci strategically left the windows and a sketch of her reimagined table design for Matt to find when he came home. In a matter of days, Matt brought the vision to life. Matt doesn’t have honey-do lists. Only honey-done lists. Watch the videos for the reveal! Preparing the Windows Before + After The Perfect Coffee Table Does Exist : Sometimes you need to build it yourself. If you have created an upcycled design, tell us! Have an idea, but need help executing it? We can help you turn something old into something new, too!

He’s a carpenter. He’s a dad. He’s got carpentry dad jokes. Be ready to laugh, roll your eyes and share them with your family, friends and co-workers, because they have just the right amount of cheese. Carpentry Dad Jokes I was going to do a carpentry Dad Joke… But I didn’t know if it woodwork. You seem pretty confident about your carpentry. Yeah, I’m proud of my shelf. How does the carpenter build stairs effectively? He thinks one step ahead. The experienced carpenter nailed it. But the new guy screwed everything up. Why do Presidents need a carpenter? To fix their cabinet. My dog wants to work in construction. He’s really good at roofing. How did the carpenter lose his teeth? He kept biting his nails. How do you become a woodworker? Whittle by whittle. When do carpenters discuss their next project? At the board meeting. The carpenter’s wife said, “It’s me or your tools.” He chose the ladder. Money doesn’t grow on trees. You haven’t bought any lumber lately. What do you call a sports car made of wood? A lumber-ghini. Why did it take so long for the carpenter to propose? He was building up to it. What do you call cutting tools covered in Siracha? Hot saws. Have you heard the “under construction” joke yet? That’s because it’s not finished. And on that note — have a great day! Do you have any carpentry jokes or puns to share? Need actual carpentry services? Contact us .

If you’ve been following our blog, you know we love dogs. ICYMI: A Dog Lover’s Delight: Kennel Room . And now, you’ll learn we love cats, too. Or at least our cat, Amos. We typically tackle large-scale luxury builds, but these two— Mason and Amos —inspired these small builds for small pets. 1. The Poo Palace Cats are pretty self-sufficient. But if you have a house King as we do — they still need food, water and a place to do their business. And nobody likes a smelly cat. Just like every King needs a palace, every home deserves a way to hide the stank cats leave behind. There are plenty of self-cleaning and furniture disguising cat boxes online , but if the design isn’t up to your standard, consider creating a custom build. That’s what we did, and Amos couldn’t be happier to have a powder room to call his own. We call it his Poo Palace. Amos loves the privacy it offers, and as much as he thinks he can do everything himself, it still requires a human to clean it — usually every other day. Note: We have found that the confined space helps keep the house smelling fresh and helps contain litter. Not shown: there are two circle vents within the Poo Palace to help with circulation. 2. The Raised Food/Water Bowl Holder Have you ever seen a dog lay down to eat? It’s likely because they are exhausted. You would be too if your neck were constantly strained from bending down to eat or chasing your bowl around the floor. We noticed our dog's posture and digestion were poor, and looked for a solution for his health. We did our research and found that having his food and water at shoulder level could help. There are plenty of these you can buy online , but we chose to do a custom build. Part of the design includes contour cuts on the legs that match a ceiling detail in our dining room. I mean, that’s what you do when you own a custom woodworking company . Mason loves it. Note: There are debates about whether raised food and water bowls are good for your dog. So we aren’t saying go out and build or purchase yours today. But, should you have concerns about your dog, do your research and talk to your vet. 3. The Puppy-Kitty Corner One of our favorite spots in our home is our bonus room, we even nicknamed it the Creative Cave. It’s a place to write, record and play music. An area to dream, design and paint. A space to kick back and watch movies. It also came with a really funky corner, that screamed for functional design. After all, Mason and Amos love being our shadows and needed a cozy corner to call their own. We converted it to a simple bench by creating a custom cushion. They seem to love it! Access similar builds on Amazon * and see all of our furry friends' favorites. What room would you like to see a post about next? Let us know through our Contact Us page. *MT Trim Co earns commissions on qualifying purchases.

Can you believe we are already a quarter into this century? So, let’s not talk about that. Instead, let’s talk about the past year, we mean month! January 2025 has kept us busy. We had 10 builds to kick off the new year! Library Nook Office Closet Cabinets Two Custom Closets Vanity Shoe Cubbies Custom Sofa Table Water Closet Cabinet Linen Cabinet Garage Hutch Yes, our Owner and Lead Carpenter Matthew Whiteis built 100% of that list. No wonder they say January feels like a year. This is a friendly reminder to our friends, family and followers: We are a small but mighty team with only one carpenter. What’s on the docket in February? Our love for transforming spaces will continue with everything from beautifully crafted custom closets to stylish shelving and even a space-saving Murphy bed! Don’t miss out—follow our journey and witness our creative projects come to life on Instagram   and TikTok ! And for fun—and because January truly did feel like a year—here are our top 10 Instagram Videos of 2024. Video Views A Hidden Door using Two Barn Door Slides Painted : 2.3M+; Pre-Paint : 231K+ I Ain’t As Good As I Once Was 683K+ A Trick to Mark Out Undermount Drawer Slides 408K+ L-Brackets for the Win 283K+ Efficient Ways to Prep Drawer Slides 189K+ A Dramatic Little Pantry 130K+ Bonus video — see it painted! Cabinet Knockouts on the Side 59.5K+ That’s a Wrap! 53.3K+ You Can Never Have Too Much Storage 52.7K+ Here’s to making more fun videos this year. Check out our first shoppable video of the year on Amazon: Building a Custom Sofa Table .

If you’re reading this blog, we know you only came here to watch funny MT Trim Co videos: Part 1. So, we’ll cut right to the chase, right after this viewer’s warning. Warning: We think we are funny. So kick back, turn your volume up and be prepared to laugh. If these videos aren’t funny to you for some reason, sorry. But not really. Don’t worry, we plan to stick to building things and not become stand-up comedians any time soon. No employees, projects or feelings were hurt during filming. Pulse Check Matt survived. Not Worried - They Pay Us The Big Bucks Did you catch the jingle at the end? Compressor Face We wonder if this is what dogs feel like when they stick their heads out the window. That’s a wrap. For now. But, we have a hunch that there will be more of these gems in the future. In the meantime, feel free to check out our project portfolio and shop our favorites .

These 3 amazing transformations will give you the itch to update your home. Let’s face it — we all love a good before-and-after series. 1. A WFH Dream If you work from home (WFH), this one’s for you. Having a dedicated office space in your home will add value. And, who wouldn't want a dreamy workspace to help with their everyday productivity? 2. Pantry Goals The fun part about custom woodworking is that no two projects are ever the same. That especially holds for this next transformation. The saying, “There is a spot for everything,” is what inspired this pantry. The room was a unique small upside-down L shape, and rather than doing standard basic shelving or mirrored floating shelves on each side, these smaller corner-wrapped floating shelves were designed for the homeowner’s space planning. Watch this reel to see the full transformation. 3. The Bunk Beds Trend The idea of bunk beds is not new, but in recent years they have been on the rise in luxury design. And why not? They are great solutions for maximizing space and creating a design that’s alluring to the eye. So, if you are thinking about growing your family, frequently hosting others (or have children who want to), or simply want to rent your property for income — bunk beds should be part of your plan! We give credit where credit is due. They say it takes a village — that is also true in custom woodworking. At MT Trim Co, we work with interior designers to make your vision come to life. We then build everything, deliver and install it—the designer partners with finishing crews to paint/stain and electricians to add accent lighting when needed. We return to do the final touches like hardware, glass or special metal inserts. Check out this reel  that tells how amazing transformations happen. Want to work with us? Do you have an upcoming home project? Need a quote? Contact us today. Or if you're a true DIYer or fellow tradesperson, be sure to shop our favorites !

A pop of color can change the vibe of any room. An intentionally vibrant wall, painted builtins or contrast-inducing millwork are all attainable ways to let your personality shine through design. More often than not, we don’t finish (paint/stain) our builds. That’s primarily because we work on luxury new-build homes, where builders or interior designers hire specialty crews. So, seeing how a pop of color can change our builds—and tie a room together—is always fun! Here are a few transformations that wowed us! Blue Blue is a common color scheme in homes, from front doors, to shutter accents and wall colors. Blue is associated with calmness, relaxation and serenity. That’s why you see it, and other cooler shades, selected as the color of the year frequently. Blue can also be versatile, too. Beyond its calming demeanor, it also can feel inviting and portray elegance. It is a timeless color often used to create contrast — like with this custom library. The result: There’s no feeling blue with these dramatic built-in bookshelves. They certainly tell a story, just like the books they will hold. Dreamy Greens We see plenty of greens that pop a room, but nothing makes a wow statement like a bold emerald or forest green. It’s amazing when you can take a traditional color to make a room feel anything but! Dreamy greens are also the perfect way to bring outdoor vibes inside. If you love to gift, then you likely have bounds of wrapping paper, bows and ribbons organized (or stored in complete chaos) somewhere in your home. No matter how you stash it, this gift-wrapping station is one to drool over and the emerald green brings nothing but cheer. In the South, outdoor living spaces are common. Tennessee’s favorable climate and scenic beauty are reasons homebuyers seek outdoor space. Plus, when designed correctly, they serve as an extension of your home and can add value. We’ve seen covered patios, wrap-around porches, decks, screened-in rooms, outdoor kitchens and pergolas. One of our recent builds took place in this beautiful covered patio — an entertainment space meant to pull the indoor design and outdoor vibe together. We used weather-protected material to create an entertainment bar, and the designer chose a vibrant green to make the cabinet feature stand out. Charcoal Who says an office needs to be bright? Be bold. Be a boss. Paint your builtins black, charcoal or any dark color! Using a dark gray or black may sound scary, but remember it’s a neutral tone that works with many color palettes and can stand the test of time. If you’re scared to commit to something this bold, remember dark colors pair nicely with bright and light accents. Sage Sage and other light greens are the perfect chameleon color. They are soothing, sophisticated and just subtle enough to work with myriad design schemes. Sage can feel fresh and welcoming, so why not have an entry mud bench feature the color? Adding color is a great way to accentuate the space in a calming way — the perfect vibe for family and friends as they enter your home. In recent years, we’ve seen many greens, grays, blues and blacks in design. No matter the hue, shade, tint, stain or paint — your choice can make your style stand out. So if painting a wall or a room feels daunting, remember, you don’t need to skip color altogether. Try a furniture piece or a custom built-in with a pop of color. The result might surprise you! Have a vision but don’t know where to start? Contact us , and be sure to check out our Portfolio for more finished designs.

The shiplap craze is real. And before you roll your eyes and state that you’re sick of seeing farmhouse design, there’s more to do with shiplap than plain horizontal white walls. So. Much. More. Here at MT Trim Co, we’ve seen and applied shiplap in myriad ways, including the: tried and true horizontal white stripe, black or dark navy niche accents, eye-catching mud bench backdrops and over-zealous crazy patterns. We’ve been known to take on a few challenging builds—after all, we love them—and shiplap is not excused from that category. Sure, it’s one of the easiest applications to install, but it can also be complicated. Let us introduce you to a couple of projects that challenged our brains. The Herringbone Shiplap Wall Watch these reels to reveal the full wall! The Tetris Shiplap Mud Bench Scroll to see the wall's progress! The Friend Zone: Featuring Vertical Shiplap This one turned out beautiful! The vertical application made this guest-entrance mud bench feel grand. The Single Chevron Point Bench Accent Chevron is easier than herringbone to install (in our opinion), but the end result is just as satisfying. Watch the reel! So, next time you hear the word shiplap, don’t hate. Be inspired, get creative and snap out of the basic daze, because you now know there are carpenters who thrive on challenging the status quo. And for fun, here are some basic shiplap applications, too. Note: The three photos shown are from a Keller Homes project (now Toll Brothers) that was featured in the Colorado Springs Parade of Homes. Have you seen shiplap applied in a creative way? Let us know! And of course, if you have an idea for a future post or a question, please contact us.

Custom wine bars are fun to build! Why? Because no two are alike and, let’s face it, everybody loves them! Here are three wine bar projects that will fill your glass! 1. The Primary Bedroom Statement Wine Bar Yes, you read that correctly. This beauty is located in the primary bedroom of an amazing Stonegate Home. It serves as a divider space between sleeping and relaxing and hosts everything from wine to coffee. 2. The Mini Wine Room Wine rooms do not need to be excessive. A small closet or under-the-stairs space can easily be converted into a room displaying your collection. Plus, these spaces make it easy to access when you’re hosting guests. 3. The Full-Wall Feature Wine bars are a great statement piece! They are often a wow factor and a conversation starter. This two-tone (white oak and grey-painted) piece does both. If you’re located in Middle Tennessee and need a wine feature in your home, contact us! In the meantime, be sure to check out our Instagram account to see projects in action and our Amazon Storefront to access our favorite finds.

5 Meanings Behind the MT in MT Trim Co We’ve been asked a time or two, so what does MT stand for in MT Trim Co? Well, the truth is that it has multiple meanings. 1. Matthew Taylor Our Owner and Lead Carpenter Matthew Taylor Whiteis is also a musician. On stage, he drops his surname and uses Matthew Taylor. So MT naturally comes into play here, too! 2. Matt and Traci Traci is Matt’s wife and the “T” in MT Trim Co. She has her master’s degree in marketing and public relations and has worked as a marketing director for the past decade. She is primarily behind the scenes, but you’ll occasionally see her in content. 3. Middle Tennessee MT Trim Co is proud to serve the Middle Tennessee housing market solely. We fell in love with this area in 2013, and moved here from Colorado shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. 4. Mountains We miss our Colorado Mountains, but we take solace in the fact Mt. is also an abbreviation for the word mountain. Plus our new home is in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, elevation 683'. Of course, there isn’t actually a mountain in the town. 5. Music and Tools Music and tools. These two passions are at the core of what we do and what we love. And, if you want to support our passions, please follow MT’s music Instagram and check out our favorite tools via our Amazon Storefront. Want to work with us? Have an upcoming project or idea? Contact us today.

Today, March 29 is World Piano Day. So why does that matter for a custom woodworking company? For those who don’t know, our Founder and Lead Carpenter Matthew Whiteis is fond of pianos. That’s because, you see, he doesn’t solely identify as a tradesman — he is also a musician. Music is at the heart of what he does — and we mean everything. You may see projects that wow and builds that transform a space, but what you don’t see is how music motivates, inspires and is his true passion. And the piano isn’t just some hobby. But restoring the baby grand in his home — that was a hobby. We rescued this beauty—a 1908 Bradbury—from a friend whose late father had a wood shop in Denver, Colorado. It was his goal to restore her, and we felt compelled to finish the project, as it tied his two passions together. Before After As a woodworker, Matthew knew he couldn’t hide the beauty he found upon removing old stain, moldings and veneer. He collaborated with his soon-to-be bride (okay that’s me), on a design that would show the creativity in them both. Wanting a one-of-a-kind result, we decided to burn the sides with a hand torch to expose the eye-catching contrast of the wood grain. By hand-painting the legs and top black, it was the perfect finish. One that earned her the name Belle. For Fun + More About the Music Here are some old progress photos of this passion project and here’s baby Matt. And it’s not shocking that he’s sitting in front of a piano. Want to know more about Matthew’s love for music? Here are a few fast facts, and we encourage you to visit MatthewTaylorMusic.com and listen on Spotify. The first record he owned was Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” His piano teachers growing up were well-known authors, Dave and Beverly Lewis. He is a multi-instrumentalist. He’s performed from California to Florida and even Japan. He’s released music as a solo act, session musician and bandmate (Matthew Taylor, Abandonato, The Taylor Project, Justus League and the Robby Wicks Band — to name a few). He won an American Idol Competition (original series) in Colorado which gave him a golden ticket to further audition in San Francisco. He released his first solo album “Audio Journal” through JMD Records and Ingrooves, a partner of Universal Music Group. He’s shared the stage with and performed at private events for several celebrities. He’s in the process of seeking management to release his next round of new music. Last, and not least, his son Sebastian is also a talented singer, pianist and guitarist. As always, thanks for reading! Have an idea for a future post? Contact us!

In case you didn’t know, floating shelves are popular on Instagram. We certainly didn’t know that when first posting the following three videos. Yes, our top three most-watched videos on Instagram all feature floating shelves, and have all received millions of views. Videos 1 and 2: Walnut Floating Shelves These walnut floating shelves are the perfect final touch to this entertainment area. This was actually our top video of 2022, and when we reposted it for a second time, it got just as much attention. This gorgeous room was part of a home addition project, where we also built a matching walnut waterfall bar and bottle riser. It’s always fun to see results, so check out the finished product! Video 3: L Brackets We commonly use L brackets for floating shelves for extra support. You can easily find them at the hardware retailer or online site of your choice. Visit Amazon.com/Shop/MTTrimCo to access our favorite hardware, including these L brackets*. Other Top Contenders Check out these additional floating shelf videos to see even more ways this simple storage solution can help pull together wall space. U-Shaped Floating Shelves in a Pantry Floating Shelves Over Tile in the Kitchen Floating Shelves Above Living Room Builtins Floating shelves are here to stay. They are not for everyone and aren't solely made to display items in super-organized kitchens. If it's a design concept that the homeowner desires, then it's on-trend in our book! Do you have or would you have floating shelves in your home? Let us know your here-to-stay design trends, post ideas or ask a question by contacting us. *As a participant in the Amazon Influencer Program, MT Trim Co earns commissions on qualifying purchases.