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Design, Build, Cherish
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: 2015/11 - November
When I did my phone interview with master craftsman and home remodeler Stephen Owens, I could hear hammers banging and saws buzzing in the background.
I asked if he’d always been surrounded by woodworking.
He laughingly replied, “All my family was born with sawdust in their blood.”
Well, blood wasn’t exactly the “B”-word he used, but that down-home sense of humor makes it clear why customers stop him on the street to chat about his amazing fine craft creations at
The Molly Grace.
His gift for artful custom cabinetry is evidenced right down to his hardwood cutting boards. Because Mother Nature never repeats herself, each individual board has its own unique grain and pattern. Owens, who knows wood inside out, has a magical communication with timber. The material and the master become one, optimizing the visual and functional properties of every creation.
One of his most challenging works, an ambrosia (maple) island designed by architect Marlee McCall can be viewed in The Molly Grace. Matching wood grain on a flat plane is one thing, but carrying that grain from a cabinet top down the sides is a bear of a challenge.
That process is called a waterfall, with the emphasis on fall. Here’s where things can come unglued, literally, especially when there is complex lamination involved. You get only one chance to match a grain, since that particular slice of tree is like a fingerprint that can’t be reproduced. But an experienced Owens anticipates complications and with style and grace, he makes even intricate wood waterfalls look easy.
He says, “The most satisfying part of my job is finishing/delivering handcrafted cabinetry and watching the customer’s face light up when they see the finished product.”
If you’ve dreamed of a custom display unit, china cabinet, or breakfront, bring in a photo or drawing of what you’d like and Owens can recreate it. The Molly Grace is at the corner of Oak and North Fourth Streets in Highlands. For more information, call (828) 526-8390.
