Gepetto manufactures complex wood products.
Historic Restoration and Building projects require specified wood products build using historic methods and our Richmond shop has years of experience producing hand made wood building products.
Historically restored Glen Roy Estate for Sale on the lovely Chesapeake Bay
Carter Real Estate Lists the property available August 2019
An architectural masterpiece built in 1853, meticulously restored by Gepetto craftsmanship honoring the original materials and techniques. A douse of imagination and thoroughly great taste add modern amenities like washers, driers and luxury bath amenities . Windows, woodwork, staircases, floors and plaster moldings all original design restored or renewed by Gepetto’s historic millwork services. You might see “Over-sized” windows bringing gorgeous views of the changing weather patterns over the bay into every room but then you’d remember this was built before light bulbs and realize how the architectural elements add natural light to almost all corners of the home. These details add up to living in the historically significant property. It’s not just luxurious living, it’s living closer to nature. The Impressive estate property can be upkept with a simple call to the craftsmen here who helped restore it, or you can add your own design or finishing touches with our master builders help.
In 1642, the land of Glen Roy was patented by a 600-acre land grant patented by English King Charles I. During the Civil War it was the site of the Battle of Glen Roy when the house was the headquarters for Union Soldiers. Today, Glen Roy encompasses almost sixty acres of farmland, woods, and sweeping lawns that extend to the shore of the Ware River in Gloucester, Virginia. Set high up and back from the water as historically safe from flooding.
The classic Greek Revival proportioned manor house presents the characteristic four-over-four Georgian floor plan with a three-section center hall. The central staircase will weave it’s tendrils around your heart as it winds three floors up to a sky-lit cupola with widow’s walk. The custom restored skylights are a unique bit of carpentry that manages airflow, moisture and light in a brilliant design that taught us some things about how well thought out builders of the era practiced their craft.
13 total rooms – with 15-foot ceilings downstairs and 14-foot on the second floor give spacious and airy feel to timeless proportions. Elegant and comfortable room size does not overwhelm but allows a moderate feel to a very spacious house. Along the west elevation on the river, the hall, living room and dining room open to a sixty-foot glass conservatory. The moderate room sizes are designed to be heated by the 12 working fireplaces as dictated by the time period. Living in the modern age, these small architectural differences show the natural elegance of architectural design that incorporates environmental factors.
The nineteenth-century carriage house was converted to a seven-room guest house with two bedrooms, dining room, living room, kitchen, and two marble bathrooms. The spirit of the original structure was preserved by transforming the front carriage entrance into an over-sized window, dramatizing the interior space and giving a full view of the water. The oldest building, with east gable entrance and west gable end chimney above a raised brick cellar, features oyster shell mortar, 5-course common bond, beaded weatherboard, and six-over-nine double-hung sash windows. Once a doctor’s office, it has been restored to a delightful library. Adjacent are the fascinating ruins of an early, circular brick dairy. The frame, two-bay garage has two rooms on the second floor – now smart offices — with bath and kitchen on that could accommodate household staff or security. The striking, antebellum grain barn displays a rich, picturesque patina. Also, included are an early 20th-century frame stable, sheep shed, and lawnmower shed.
Exquisite original architecture, estate presence, and coastal lifestyle, Glen Roy exemplifies the ultimate Chesapeake Bay country experience.
From the design stage to building, Gepetto Millworks covers all aspects of the historic restoration process in Virginia. The participation in the design to build process ensures the outcome fit’s historic photos, uses authenticated materials, built by hand by Virginia Craftsmen. Our Design/Build approach teams up with General contractors in consulting, installation, or just parts supply for the 3D design drawn to specification. Being on the same team from early in concept and architectural stage of the process supports shared values and guides the expectations of the historic restoration. Meeting a client’s expectations presents the largest challenge in the building trades and so we work tirelessly to ensures the design meets practical and possible building techniques.
Historic restoration building is more a labor-of-love than any other type of construction trade. The builder must develop and follow guidelines from historic preservation commissions to build authentically. Today’s common building techniques do not often use the same techniques for structural integrity and can present problems for modern zoning inspectors who may be unfamilliar with the techniques. Building materials that accurately represent the period of the structure and its neighborhood dont’ exist – that’s where Gepetto Millworks shines. Our skilled shop workers can produce one-of-a-kind or on-off historically accurate pieces. We partner with experienced restoration and preservation services in supplying all of Virginia’s historic renovation projects. Adaptive re-use of warehouses, industrial spaces and abandoned schools are also employing creative use of millwork to bring usability to the interior architectural spaces. Additions to historic structures can be done with authenticity and character bringing life to abandoned structures. One of the east coast’s prominent historic preservationists, Kerry Shackleford @ Museum Resources recognizes that restoration is costly, time-consuming, labor-intensive and requires a great deal of specialty materials that he specifies and sources from Gepetto Millworks. “We don’t want to scare people away from restoration projects, but advise them to be realistic in the evaluation of the cost of the project through research, evaluation, accurate architectural drawings and shop drawings.”
Gepetto Millworks LLC lead by Matthew Wiley and comprised of restoration craftsmen dedicated to the preservation of our historic architecture in the Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, Outer Banks, and North Carolina regions. We offer the knowledge and experience to reproduce and repair the elements that compose architectural legacies from the 1600’s, 1700’s, 1800’s and 1900’s. Our experiences is built from the tobacco warehouses of the lower Richmond industrial pan and the Church Hill historic neighborhood out to the plantation manor and Williamsburg VA we have developed an efficient and cost effective shop to produce unique and on off wood products. The expertise to preserve or reproduce a historic structure in its entirety has been demonstrated in Glen Roy, Thomas House, Mt. Vernon & many other projects. We take pride in merging traditional wood production with the speed and cost needs of modern building projects. Gepetto is a harmonious additions to any construction team building in period carpentry to match the original archtectural woodworking.
Historical structures reflect the human society and physical landscape that created them. This heritage of historical process presents the close attention of the new builders to creating life places that work for our climate and path. Their innovation rules are equally applicable today as they were centuries ago. The fact that they have lasted to the present proves the success of past technologies and appropriate usage of materials at contemporary construction methods.
Historic Restoration of:
Gepetto builds to order Wooden Home Products for delivery and installation in Cape Charles that meet the ordinance for historic renovation and construction. Your home remodel or restoration will meet local code and building guidelines with our handmade wood products from downtown Richmond Virginia.
The most used piece of architecture in any room, the focal point of the front of your house, we handmake your door to refurbish the historic look or to take the appearance in new directions with creative elements. All doors will be hand made from solid wood stock in whatever specie you specify. Oaks classic to Virginia, Walnut for a dark rich look or Mahogany to weather the humidity and moisture we can advice and collaborate on any technical or design issue you may have. We have years of experience working with and through historic societies, planning and zoning boards and local inspectors. Gepetto can join you at any stage of the building process and support the collective goals of the Cape Charles zoning and building ordinances.
The windows on many historic buildings are an important aspect of the architectural character of those buildings. The window design, craftsmanship, and aesthetic quality make them worthy of preservation. Cape Charles town wide effort to keep that ‘charm’ and historic authenticity may seem like an inconvenience, but it does elevate the real estate value and create a harmony among the buildings. If you are frustrated by the design, approval or historic wood building standards start a discussion with Matthew or one of our staff at Gepetto to get a tradesman on site to move your home’s needed repairs forward. Gepetto’s skilled historic restoration craftsmen don’t normally do house calls, but if a local tradesman does not know where to turn to source authentic materials – come to Gepetto on Williamsburg Road downtown Richmond.
If you are a contractor or handyman in Cape Charles Virginia or the historic districts of Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Norfolk give us a call to produce the exact replica, or freshly milled to order lumber for any project. Big box retailer pricing reflects their staggering inventory and a small mill like us can find and produce opportunities that beat or match lumberyard prices for finished lumber. We can turn spindles, cut custom profiles and turn your project into a unique finished result that a one size fits all lumber yard can not do. Keep (804) 938-2094 in your address book and Matthew will directly service your contractor needs like a fellow professional. Our facility on Williamsburg Rd is easily accessible for load-out of either of our two production bays and you can get right back on I64 or I95 for delivery to your jobsite. If you need delivery by Gepetto, we can optimize your timeline with on-site delivery.
Work Scope: Restoration projects primarily focus on the appearance of the house or technical business, while remodels change its whole functionality. With the renovation, you will install new appliances and fixtures and improve the business’s application. In contrast, the remodel allows you to totally change the place when cosmetic changes aren’t enough to change this matter. Customization choice: Renovations will make the business a more fashionable show and bring more useful components to the business, but they can’t change the system entirely. If you need to move up the way by pulling down the wall or totally change the place to make it your own, you’ll need to do a full remodel.
Before you start any remodeling house tasks check with the local authorities to determine the permits needed for this job. Most government and local town halls need licenses to confirm all the work is done according to Cape Charles codes and ordinances. All the required licenses must be recieved before starting construction. Gepetto can refer local contractors and architects who are familiar with the process and can negotiate it with you if it’s your first time.
Gepetto has been in business since 1998 and was founded by former residents of Cape Charles. The company has a strong reputation as one of the best builders in Cape Charles, and they have supplied over 100 homes in the Capes with custom millwork. Gepetto also offers a variety of services including: · custom building services for residential buildings · custom building solutions for commercial buildings · customized design solutions that include interior design, exterior design and interior decoration.
Arriving at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay in late April, they named the Virginia capes after the sons of their king, the southern Cape Henry, for Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, and the northern Cape Charles, for his younger brother, Charles, Duke of York. On April 26, 1607, upon landing at Cape Henry, Chaplain Robert Hunt offered a prayer, and they set up a cross near the site of the current Cape Henry Memorial.
The site came to be known as the “first landing.” A party of the men explored the area and had a minor conflict with some Virginia Indians. This is where we come in. Our team of experts can help you get started on the right path instead of starting historic battles with the native population. Hopefully that’s now how you feel about the zoning and historic boards, so we can build out the exterior or interior of your home beautifully.
The sound of a solid wood door closing firmly in place contributes to your sense of home. Home designs with solid wood pieces keep us rooted to our natural surroundings. Solid wood joinery features the organic beauty and full grain structure of the wood used to fabricate the piece. We at Gepetto hope to create a world where quality wood pieces grace our homes. We envision a future where our forests are allowed to mature and produce quality hardwoods at reasonable prices. Gepetto lobbies on behalf of changing construction practices for greener results.
Based in the Rockett’s landing area of the lower river historically industrial corridor of Richmond we serve Church hill directly, as well as the fan and all points in Henrico County. If you are having trouble finding a beautifully crafted solid wood door maker for your Norfolk, Petersburg, or Charlottesville VA home contact us with measurements and we can begin immediately. If you need us to exactly replicate your existing door, we can send a tradesman out to collect the historic piece and assess whether restoration is possible or new construction would be your best step forward. We can assign a single craftsman to work on your door from start to finish ensuring the fastest turnaround time possible.
Wood has been an integral part of architectural construction throughout history, particularly in the construction of historic homes in Virginia. From the elegant symmetry of Georgian architecture to the refined simplicity of Federal design and the artisanal charm of Craftsman homes, the use of wooden building materials has played a significant role. In this exploration, we delve into the wooden building materials that define these architectural styles, highlighting their significance and the relevant architectural millwork terms associated with them.
Georgian architecture, prominent in Virginia from the mid-18th century, is characterized by its symmetry, proportion, and classical details. The wooden building materials used in Georgian homes reflect the grandeur and sophistication of the style.
Clapboard Siding: One of the most common exterior siding materials in Georgian homes, clapboard siding consists of long, narrow wooden boards overlapping horizontally. This siding provides durability and weather resistance while contributing to the architectural symmetry.
Sash Windows: Featuring multiple panes of glass divided by wooden muntins, sash windows are typical in Georgian architecture. These windows often incorporate architectural millwork terms such as sills, sashes, and glazing bars, enhancing both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Crown Molding: Crown molding, also known as cornice molding, adorns the junction between walls and ceilings, adding elegance and visual interest to Georgian interiors. Its intricate profiles, including dentil molding and egg-and-dart motifs, demonstrate the craftsmanship of the period.
Federal architecture emerged during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, characterized by its refined simplicity and emphasis on symmetry and proportion. Wooden building materials in Federal homes exhibit a blend of neoclassical elements and delicate detailing.
Pilasters: Wooden pilasters, often flanking doorways and windows, are key features of Federal architecture. These vertical columns, with their flat, rectangular profiles and subtle ornamentation, impart a sense of classical elegance to facades.
Fanlights: Above entry doors, fanlights featuring intricate wooden tracery became popular in Federal homes. These semi-circular or elliptical windows, adorned with delicate wooden mullions and glazing bars, illuminate interiors while adding decorative flair.
Wainscoting: Interior wainscoting, comprising wooden panels applied to the lower portion of walls, is a characteristic feature of Federal design. Raised or recessed paneling, often accompanied by chair rails and baseboards, contributes to the architectural refinement of rooms.
Craftsman architecture, a reaction against the ornate styles of the late 19th century, emerged in the early 20th century with an emphasis on craftsmanship, natural materials, and simplicity. Wooden building materials in Craftsman homes reflect a commitment to artisanal quality and organic beauty.
Shingle Siding: Craftsman homes frequently feature exterior walls clad in shingle siding, showcasing the natural texture and warmth of wood. These handcrafted wooden shingles, often left unpainted to weather gracefully, contribute to the rustic charm of Craftsman architecture.
Exposed Beams: Interior spaces in Craftsman homes often boast exposed wooden beams, highlighting the structural integrity and craftsmanship of the building. These beams, typically crafted from sturdy hardwoods such as oak or maple, add character and visual interest to ceilings.
Built-in Cabinetry: Craftsman interiors often incorporate built-in wooden cabinetry, reflecting the movement’s emphasis on functionality and simplicity. These custom cabinets, featuring clean lines, solid construction, and handcrafted details, provide both storage solutions and architectural focal points.
In the evolution of architectural styles in Virginia from the Georgian period through the Federal era to the Craftsman movement, wooden building materials have remained central to the construction and character of historic homes. From clapboard siding and sash windows in Georgian architecture to pilasters and fanlights in Federal design, and from shingle siding and exposed beams in Craftsman homes, these materials embody the craftsmanship, elegance, and enduring beauty of Virginia’s architectural heritage. Understanding the architectural millwork terms associated with these wooden elements enhances appreciation for the rich history and craftsmanship preserved within these historic homes.
If you’re looking for a custom live edge piece for your home, office or restaurant we can supply you with any species locally harvested and specially cured for insect removal and long term humidity stability. Gepetto are the most experienced live edge craftsmen contractors in Virginia and Washington DC. Durable, beautiful, organic wood fabricated with the traditional carpentry techniques of mortise and tenon solid wood matched joints used for centuries.
Live edge wood materials are a unique naturally occuring building material. An experienced contractor probably does NOT have handling and building experience with this raw natural material. The live edge plank which is not properly prepared can warp in 5 distinct ways:
Gepetto craftsmen sort millions of board feet of lumber a year by hand, and by eye. They can spot and feel potential for kinking and will perform the necessary cutting to release the tension in the wood grain itself – and then use that slab for a different project. Most of the expense in a book matched piece is the time and effort to source the right material. Virginia forests have produced a rich variety of species with delightful growth patterns (producing grain structure) and Gepetto Craftsmen have specialized tools for harvesting down trees.
Our specialized saw is portable for on-site work. We can harvest ancient wood from urban lots so call us before the city turns it into waste product. We can ‘reclaim’ that wood for use in countertops, windows, doors, benches, tables, and resell it to furniture makers across the mid-atlantic states. Experienced furniture craftsmen come to us to mill the finest lumber or freshest fallen trees.
Live Edge Slab Contractor Virginia https://gepettomillworks.com/t/live-edge
Live Edge Slab Contractor Virginia https://gepettomillworks.com/t/live-edge
Live Edge Slab Contractor Virginia https://gepettomillworks.com/t/live-edge
Live Edge Slab Contractor Virginia https://gepettomillworks.com/t/live-edge
Live Edge Slab Contractor Virginia https://gepettomillworks.com/t/live-edge
Live Edge Slab Contractor Virginia https://gepettomillworks.com/t/live-edge
Live Edge Slab Contractor Virginia https://gepettomillworks.com/t/live-edge
The book “Plywood A Material Story” came across our desk recently with this awesome video from a wood mill in 1954.
Plywood is an astonishingly versatile material, made by gluing together layers of cross-grained veneers, creating a pliable board that can be stronger than solid wood. Stylish and practical, plywood offers huge possibilities for experimental design, and it has been used to make a wide range of products, from aeroplanes, boats and automobiles to architecture and furniture. This book traces the history of plywood from its use in 18th-century furniture through its emergence as an industrial product in the 19th century, to a material celebrated by 20th-century modernists such as Alvar Aalto and Charles and Ray Eames. An ideal material for the digital age, plywood has become popular again in recent years and is widely used in contemporary design and manufacture. (quoted from the book)
At Gepetto we haven’t done a lot of ultra-modern plywood shaping, but if you want to order a few hundred chairs, we’ll tool up our assembly line to produce them for you!
Pinterest Plywood idea
Of course Pinterest always has a lot of crazy cool pictures – and if you live in Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Philadelphia, or even on down to Charleston, Savannah or anywhere on the east coast and you’ve fallen in love with a “p interest” picture – contact us to fabricate a similar design!
We can match plywood specifications with any style of face-grade from light maple like shown on the right – to a dark mahogany or walnut.
If you’re a stylish Virginia Commonwealth University student looking for a loft bed, funky book case or other custom dorm room furniture – give us a note!
If you’re a mom, wondering how you can keep your entryway or hallway from continually being cluttered – have us design a coat, shoe, bookbag built-in storage unit made of plywood!
Small — well designed pieces made from affordable plywood are better than going searching at Ikea or Walmart for pre-built and breakable pieces in chipboard.
Just because we specialize in historic woodworking, doesn’t mean we can’t manufacture your small project to any specification or modern design:
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Are you designing your dream home?
We will design and build the ultimate entertainment center and short service bar for your dream home.
Whether you’d like to go with a modern clean look but utilize a bold live edge and solid slab bar top. Or if you’re designing a rustic or log cabin style with the warmth allowing the organic nature of wood to shine through. We can do everything from reclaim old barn wood – to harvest specific species for grain style and structure just for your project. Custom order an all wood bar with our Virginia craftsmanship.
Are you building out your newest restaurant concept and looking for a builder that can give the space a unique look and feel?
We can build to your architectural plans for a 20ft, 30ft, 40ft, or even 50 or more linear feet of commercial bar service. Designing in modern amenities to speed drink preparation and delivery by your staff.
historic warehouse renovation
creative use of historic warehouse space
Renovating an Historic Warehouse for Mixed use Space
Historic Warehouse Wooden Window Restoration
Replica Wooden Windows being built on our shop assembly line.
We have finished one of our single largest historic renovation contracts creating 860 historic replica windows. Built by hand from African mahogany they passed all physical wear and environmental challenge tests before we began building. The Montgomery Building in Spartansburg SC renovated by Harper Construction. Our team has put in overtime, thought through materials problems and worked diligently through some long hours to make sure we met the project deadlines. Thank you all for your skills and dedication!
Gepetto craftsmen specialize in matching and remaking historic pieces for accurate and lasting renovations qualifying for historic tax credits. While the woodworking may not have changed, people’s expectations as to how long something should take sure have!
The solid mahogany window frames are to the millimeter replicas of the originals, however our bid and the general contractor’s timeline called for a 100 day turnaround on 860 windows. We had to devise a workflow that built 5 windows a day to meet that timeline!
When the tallest guy on your team can walk through a window frame without ducking, it’s a big job. The window frames are of pine, and so sourcing stable quality pine planks 8×2″ over 6ft long is also a trick of the trade that you’ll have to hire us to take advantage of fully. Part of our ability to meet detailed project requirements are our network that sources the raw wood materials right for your construction. The window frame boxes must be accurately joined to square and plumb and so in the video you see us filling the window frame boxes with the window sashes. We have a few more trade secret tips for weather sealing and glazing that helped us pass the stress and efficiency tests that were required by the contractor before they signed off on the whole project. Historically accurate, but meeting modern energy efficiency and weather resistance standards are a modern manufacturing success.
Matthew (with the logo t-shirt in the foreground) intently solving the positioning and fit puzzle that manufacturing wood projects presents on a daily basis. He teaches the craftsmen who are observing the process as well as the sensibility for checking the work. Unlike metals, cement or fiberglass – wood can only be shaped once. Forming a miter joint must be done with exacting precision or it’s too loose and fails. The solid wood construction of these windows include over 20 joints that must be tended to individually. The decision making process of the craftsman guides the fitting and because we have such a large manufacturing scale – the craftsman makes better choices. If piece A is too tight, he can choose from the source stack of forty or fifty pieces to find a better fit without creating wasted pieces or time.
Contact us to bid your historic renovation and you might be surprised at the price. We have managed many large construction orders for clients across the Eastern United States. The windows in the video are shipped to South Carolina where the coastal towns of Charleston and Savannah Georgia have beautiful sections of historic homes. We supply warehouse and industrial space reconstruction projects in Maryland, Delaware and as far north a Connecticut as the move to re-purpose industrial spaces trends throughout the building and architectural trades.
20 years of experience in the field of mill-work has brought Matthew to the level of managing million dollar contracts for large scale production. Nothing in the wood construction field is quite as organized as you might assume, in the above picture Matthew is measuring and calculating the quantity of raw beams needed to be transported from the warehouse to the shop. Materials management, time management and building a skilled workforce that can solve problems as they develop in manufacture all contribute to meeting your project demands.
Raw lumber comes from raw nature – she’s not perfectly uniform. These planks are from 8ft to 12ft long and any width from 4 inches to 34 inches! We have to mill the mahogany from it’s beam size to a 3.8 ” wide window sill. The plank mahogany will be sorted and ripped before the decorative edge is milled into the side to replicate the historic windows from the 1920’s era building.
Gepetto Millworks makes to order any type of historic replica of existing windows. For historically accurate renovation or commercial re-purposing projects that wish to keep the historic charm and effectiveness of mahogony built windows.