Altered Altar

A repeat customer needed some custom work done. As the family makes strides towards creating a home as they settle in, my work here as been moving from my typical, home owner services like picture hanging and other interior installations, to more custom touches. There are plans for some custom shelving for the wet bar and a built-in for the dining room.

During the installation. Smoothing out the casing miters and prepping for paint. The goal was to match the finish of the built-in across the room.

First, we had to dress up the prayer altar built into a family room on the lower level. The small, closet-like space was a simple structure, with drywall and baseboards as any room would have. The customer wanted a new entry made, to coordinate with the other woodworks in the room, and to give the altar a more ornate look.

A sketch was made that included a transom window and a decorative vents, along with a door on hidden hinges. As discussions continued, the door was eliminated, simplifying the project and making it better, in my opinion.

In the shop waiting for finish and glazing. It looks beautiful in naked poplar, but I’m a sucker for unfinished wood.

I finished the install after about a week of shoptime, and I am really happy with the result. The finished matched dead-on with the built-ins already in the room and the altar now has a look to match its esteem.