121 Home Projects

03/24/2026

Hello, folks! I will get back to project posts next week; for now, here is an update on my son's journey fighting cancer. THANK YOU for the amazing support!

https://www.facebook.com/share/14Z14Xh8isC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

02/19/2026

Good evening, 121HP family, friends, and fans!

While this space usually features the latest project or task highlight, tonight I humbly ask for your help and support for one of my sons. Micah, a self-employed pro videographer & producer in Richmond, VA was diagnosed with cancer right before Christmas. And only a month later, they celebrated the birth of their second daughter! Life is good, but oh so unpredictable.

In light of the many obstacles and uncertainties ahead, we remain prayerful and determined to help in every way we can. Please consider joining us in bringing hope to Micah and his amazing wife and children.

Thank you!

Dean & Elizabeth Byler

Supporting Micah and His Family During Cancer Surgery Recover… Elizabeth Byler needs your support for Support Micah and His Family During Cancer Surgery Recovery

01/22/2026

In today's episode of "Forensic Carpentry," we explore the mysterious layers beneath this cased opening. I count at least 4.

This opening used different trim on either side, with a foot block base on one side, but miniature castles on the other. (Clearly, I have no idea what the castles are actually called.)

Our role here is to simplify and clean this up a bit. We're also painting the whole room and ceiling.

Sherwin-Williams Silver Strand 7057 will be layer #5.

01/18/2026

Way back in 2025 😉, we renovated a bedroom in a 100+ year-old home that had seen significant water damage in the plaster ceiling. As a spare guest room, the space didn't see much use, but the need for the fix was always in the back of the homeowner's mind.

The 121HP makeover included ceiling repair & paint, prep & wall painting over VERY old wallpaper, and refreshing all the doors, windows, & casing along with the tall, elegant baseboard. Priming and paining the old, lead-based paint required some special attention, and as usual Sherwin-Williams solutions proved solid. Extreme Bond oil-based primer followed by Emerald Urethane trim paint delivered stellar results.

01/02/2026

Happy New Year, 121HP fans and family!

2025 brought incredible blessings, important lessons, and remarkable opportunities. Looking forward to another year serving households and building relationships!

To kick off a fresh season of project work, here is a recent cabinet makeover I'm excited to share. We built a 12" upper extension to boost storage and updated the style with new, taller 42" Shaker doors. New Shaker-profile crown, shoe mould, and cabinet hardware completed the transformation. This combination of cabinet/carpentry + paint/finish skills allows us to offer great value to our clients, and remains some of my favorite work.

Props to H-Painting for the fabulous door finish with Sherwin-Williams Gallery Series, which we paired with SW Emerald Urethane Enamel on the cabinets for a factory-smooth finish. Working with quality partners continues to allow 121HP to deliver excellent solutions.

And to top it off, we return to this home later this month to help with some interior painting, trim, and handyman tasking! Our objective to "earn the second job" remains a high priority and consistently bears good fruit.

08/22/2025

Last week I posted a sweet basement finish from last fall, with a teaser. Behold the anchor feature of that project: wall-to-wall, full height built-in shelving & TV cabinet!

To soften the asymmetry of the ceiling line, I borrowed an arched design from a prior build a few years ago. Dimmable LED completed the vibe, powered by dual 12V transformers to account for the long switchback wire runs.

Final touch: "Can you hang a disco ball in the center of the room for our (schoolgirl!) dance parties?"

Yep. Spin the vinyl.

08/17/2025

After updating both the laundry room and front sitting room with built-in shelving & cabinetry, the homeowner asked us to "re-finish" the basement.

The prior owners had completed ~80% of the space (but no flooring), however they added a wall which cut the large open space in half, isolating the full bath from what used to be a movie-projection-theater-turned-workout-room.

And so we revamped it, anchored by custom wall-to-wall cabinet build (coming in a future post!), along with beautiful luxury vinyl plank flooring well-suited to basement conditions. The matching step tread caps and fresh stair paint completed this superb renovation.

08/02/2025

When the house is >100 years old, the remodeled kitchen is already >50 years old, and the aesthetic tastes of the homeowner are younger than both, you update the kitchen.

This makeover centered around new raised-panel oak cabinet doors to match the original solid wood doors in the home. The homeowner is an admittedly rare fan of wallpaper, and thus chose a rich, eye-catching green to complement the 70's-era ivy theme.

Copper accents on the backsplash and hardware remain unchanged. What did not stay was the amazing but inoperative vintage microwave. (I'm pretty sure they have one in "Oppenheimer" during a break-room lunch scene. 🤔)

07/26/2025

One of the simplest and cleanest backsplash projects we've done! Homeowner invited us back after building their stone accent wall (scroll down for project highlight!)

What do I mean by "cleanest" ? Well, basically the tile fit the space superbly well, the grout installed smoothly, and the overall finish around the outlets was precise and efficient.

Very clean.

07/19/2025

"Have tools, will travel." To Florida, in fact!

For 2 weeks earlier this summer, my wife and I visited family who were in the midst of a big home makeover. I was blessed to create the crown jewel of the project: shiplap accent wall with electric fireplace, mantel, mounted TV, and flanking LED-lit bookshelf/cabinet.

This unit replaced a long-loved but dated red oak entertainment system that didn't really match the cooler gray vibe (nor would it accommodate a larger TV!)

Signature features: builtin shelf for Sony sound bar; 50" electric fireplace; stained versus painted shelves to tie in to the mantel; LED 12V undershelf lighting; continuous base and new crown trim.

I also added board & batten trim to the wall to the left, and updated their much-needed "dogs, you stay down here" gate.

So grateful for work in general; even moreso getting to spend two weeks with family to help update their home!

03/15/2025

Recipe for "New Room"

1 formal dining room
4 sheets cabinet-grade 3/4" birch plywood
6 sheets 1/4" birch backer panels
13 prime select shelf boards
8 flat panel cabinet doors to match kitchen
64 feet of 12v LED under-cabinet lighting
56 feet of 5" crown trim
4 new flush LED ceiling lights
Misc. ingredients as needed

- Remove fancy oversized ceiling light and re-wire for new lighting
- Measure & cut wood for approximately 4 days; remove splinters as required
- Set aside shelf scribe trim for later use
- Generously apply multiple coats of Sherwin Williams Emerald Enamel (color to homeowner taste)
- Prep & affix beautiful Amish-made cabinet doors
- Slide LED cabinet lighting dimmer up and down
- Smile with the homeowner
- Sprinkle with satisfaction and repeat the previous two steps

03/10/2025

Note to self… Be sure to rinse all of the dishwashing liquid off the top of your coffee mug lid before taking a solid swig to get the day going. Hints of lavender and surfactants.

Had to make a phone call and felt like I was blowing bubbles the whole time.