AVANTI
WOODWORKS LLC
202.544.3235
AVANTI
WOODWORKS LLC
202.544.3235
ABOUT
About Avanti Woodworks:
Thinking back, I might have been born to woodworking. As a boy, I was the one who assembled everything my mom and dad brought home from stores. Oh, if only Ikea had been around then. I always enjoyed myself and felt great satisfaction with the finished product.
One of my favorite classes in high school was shop. I think my parents still have the backgammon board I made then. Having graduated from high school early, I found a job at Konz Woodworking in Concord, Mass. With the money I saved, I bought a 5 in 1 woodworking machine, the Shopsmith Mark 5. I went to work making a piece of furniture in my parents’ garage. Every time I visit their house, there is the china hutch I built so many years ago.
Moving to Washington DC after college, I eventually brought the Mark 5 down and built my chest of drawers that I still use today. It was inspired from a Chinese furniture exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. For years, I had been a catering manager, and I would often sit back and think, "I could be woodworking right now."
So I took the plunge and started my career as a cabinetmaker, honing my skills year after year. I then took the bigger leap – opening my own woodworking business, Avanti Woodworks. On March 6th, 2001, I opened the door... to someone else’s shop! To start, I had to rent space and also rent the expensive woodworking machines needed to make the cabinetry. One year later, after a lot of long hours and hard work, I found my spot on Capital Hill, where I am today.
My residential customers came through an ad I put in the local circular. I've met some wonderful people along the way. Striking a great working relationship with my clients, has always motivated me to do my best. I’ve built many cabinets and pieces of furniture. Some of the same clients have come back over the years for more custom pieces, and I remember their babies, who are high-schoolers now! I’ve also work with local design firms such as De Ford Sharp, and I have had a constant long-term friendship with David Mitchell Interior Design. Much of what you see here was made for his clients.
I know I am very fortunate doing what "I was born to do."
I have worked with John at Avanti Woodworks for over ten years. It has been a wonderful partnership. John always works with me to clearly understand my clients needs. I love his attention to detail. You can tell he puts himself into every piece he makes. He is very accommodating and he¹ll come to my clients homes whenever needed, joining in design discussions so as to nail down all the details for the work to come. I've never known him to be late in his life. On larger jobs my clients have often told me how hard he works and they can see how much he cares about the beautiful pieces he builds. John is not afraid to work.
David Mitchell, of David Mitchell Interior Design
Washington, DC
John is an artist, a perfectionist and a good listener. It was a pleasure to work with him.
My husband and I wanted a combination book/display case and entertainment center for our small D.C. rowhouse. There were some challenges here! I have a moderate but beloved vinyl record collection. It and a turntable needed to be housed, along with CD’s and a CD player. John came up with a design that put all the clutter out of sight (behind 8 lovely doors) but also made it easy to use all of the moving parts. John also compensated brilliantly for the very uneven floors of our 120 year old home. And he had excellent suggestions, like a three tiered crown molding that reaches to the very high ceiling of the living room.
This may sound like exaggeration, but every person who has come into our home since the installation has said the same thing: “Wow!”
We did have to wait a bit. John told us from the outset that he was quite swamped with work and we would have to wait. We are so glad we did! Thank you, John!
Mary O'Connell
Washington, DC
Veneerman:
I love doing what I do because, quite simply, I love wood! It's a wonderful building material, but it's the look that can excite me. Yes I've built many a white cabinet, and shaping those cabinets is always enjoyable. But working with cherry, maple, mahogany and exotic woods – now that gets me going.
Solid wood is fine as far as it goes, but veneers can go further. Veneer widens the choices of woods and the design possibilities. Veneers can be thrilling, in my opinion. Colors range from white, to tan, to deep brown to the lesser-known colors of purple heart and blood wood.
Many veneers can have an exciting “figure” running through and across the grain of the wood. Many know tiger maple or crotch mahogany; there is also bees wing eucalyptus, fiery mottled makore, and yes – the simple gentility of flat cut maple can be perfect for a piece as well.
Veneer can be combined with other woods for exciting patterns, as in pie-shaped round table tops. Such design is not possible with solid wood because of woods movement properties. As you go through my portfolio, you will notice how striking some of these veneers can be. Lets talk veneers!
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