Kevin Stevens

Kevin Stevens

Originally from Michigan, I moved to Colorado in 1991 to be closer to the mountains that I love. Colorado has always been a destination for my rock climbing, skiing, hiking and backpacking pursuits. As a father of two young daughters I don’t get out quite as much any more, but I’m still fairly active.

I hold a Master’s degree in Biology and spent a dozen years working as an Engineering Specialist in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. I have also been a custom furniture builder and woodworker for over 30 years. About 10 years ago, I left the corporate world and started my own carpentry business, this career change stemmed from a 960 sq. ft. addition to my home I which I performed all but the basic “dry in” tasks. Here I found a passion and skill set that had been hidden away. In addition to basic handyman tasks I specialize in custom furniture, tile and hardwood flooring, kitchens, baths and decks.

Over the last few years I have become involved in the tiny house movement and I’m making changes to live a simpler lifestyle. We recently purchased over 40 acres of land in northern New Mexico and are building a small (200 sq. ft.) off-grid cabin there. Our long-term plans are to relocate / retire there and build a slightly larger off-grid home.

When I'm not up to my elbows in sawdust, I enjoy cooking, and photography. Time lapse and true infrared are a couple of my favorites in the photography realm. Another recent pursuit of mine is target shooting. I picked up a black powder muzzle-loading pistol a few years ago, and since then my collection has expanded a bit. My father is a 20 + year veteran of the police force, and we now share some of our spare time together shooting. He taught me to shoot all of those years ago and it has been fun to reconnect on that level with him.

Thanks for reading. You can follow some of my adventures on my blog pages.

http://kmswoodworks.wordpress.com

The author's own Jatoba soapstone wood stove.

Eco-Friendly Wood Stove Choices

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Oct 07, 2011

Historically, heating technology was pretty simple: mankind huddled around a basic campfire to stay warm and cook dinner. In more recent centuries, fireplaces were constructed with...

Real wood furniture by Albert's Wood Studio via Hometalk.com

How Fiberboard Furniture Compares to Solid Wood

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Sep 21, 2011

Is it wood or does it want to be wood? A few years ago I picked up an antique drop front desk from one of my clients. It was bartered for some tile work I did on his place. Later I...

Choosing the Right Tile for the Room

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Sep 15, 2011

Tile work is one of my mainstays. I have installed thousands and thousands of square feet in just about every room of a home except the garage. So when a customer asks, “What...

Grout cleaned with hydrogen peroxide.  Photo: Chaya Goodman Kurtz.

Start Cleaning Tile Grout More Easily

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Sep 07, 2011

You can clean tile grout without scrubbing, but the products you'd need to use contain some pretty harsh chemicals. If a simple and non-toxic method were available, it would be the...

All Those Details/flickr

Guide to Installing Wall Sconces

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Sep 06, 2011

Hanging a wall sconce is not so different from installing a ceiling light fixture. Wall sconces and overhead light fixtures mostly differ in external design. Inside they all are about...

Photo: KMS Woodworks

Building a Custom Banquette

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Sep 02, 2011

If you're short on space but need to build seating for a dining area, a custom banquette could be the right solution. These upholstered benches can take the form of couch and be somewhat...

baronsboy/stock.xchng

Four Painting Shortcuts That Will Cost You Long Term

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Aug 02, 2011

Most people would agree that building a home on a cracked and crumbling foundation is not the wisest plan. Yet, these same people may paint right over chipped and peeling paint. “It's...

Photo: Renewal Design-Build via Hometalk.com

Sealing Your Tiles Right

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Jul 28, 2011

The old tile is gone, the shower was stripped to bare studs and new cement-based backer board installed. On top of that, your tile contractor set and grouted new tile. So you think...

LOLren/Flickr

Guide to Installing Pendant Lamps

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Jul 21, 2011

One of the more appealing trends in home decor is pendant lighting. In the last few years I have installed a large number of pendant lamps, most commonly over kitchen islands or work...

fivedollarones/flickr

How to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling: The (Mostly) Painless Guide

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Jul 13, 2011

Popcorn, or “acoustic” ceilings, were very popular in the 60’s and 70’s. This ceiling treatment was not due to hippies, rock and roll music or psychedelic drugs,...