History
For nearly 20 years, the team assembled at High Country Timberframe and Gallery Woodworking has offered an array of services to its customers, with mindful attention to the details of every commission. The professional team of woodworkers that make up this group have a wide variety of expertise and compliment each other with their knowledge of woodworking. From the chemical engineer and the poet, to the boat builder and the salsa chef, to the yoga teacher and the farmer, one common vision lives within all of them- to instill in each project that bit of soul unavailable in mass produced work.
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Tom Owens
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Peter Jankowski
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Peter found himself leaving the paper mill life for the cold Arctic waters on a Coast Guard Cutter and then to the warmer climate of Florida. Finding it a little too warm, Peter moved to North Carolina and spent a couple of years as a diver for the NC Dept of Transportation before getting involved, again, with carpentry and his love for timber framing. Well at ease with the outdoors, Peter is usually found in the shop, hand cutting the timbers and then scaling the frame during the timber raising phase of the construction process. A strong work ethic passed down by his father and an eye for classic detail has guided Pete on his path of fine woodworking. A full time woodworker, Peter is also a full time farmer, with his wife Dorene, specializing in growing hot peppers and tomatoes for his homemade salsas and hot sauces, under the label, Fire from the Mountain . |
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Mark Brayshaw
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Wynand Potgeiter
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Austin Oates
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Robbie Oates
Robbie brings a diverse set of skills to HCTF from working as a foreman, trainer, and Director of International Operations for Alpine Towers International. When not working with HCTF his love of trees and ability to rig in high places finds Robbie working with Canopy Construction Associates building forest canopy access systems worldwide. He lives with his wife Laurie, they have raised two children, Jesse and Austin. |
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Tom Owens has been a woodworker since 1984, both as a furniture designer/maker and as a timber frame designer and carpenter. His furniture work was featured in the book, "The Custom Furniture Source Book, A Guide to 125 Craftsmen" published by Taunton Press and he has written for "Sukiya Living: The Journal of Japanese Gardening", on the topic of traditional Japanese carpentry.
With a background in forestry working with the paper companies in the wilds of Maine, Mark picked up residential construction in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina in the late 70's. As an on site general contractor and home designer Mark has helped many clients of custom homes realize their dreams for quality yet affordable housing. His passion for timber framing results from an appreciation of the aesthetic and timeless qualities of traditional architecture.
Austin graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in industrial design after trying out every other degree to see if they fit. In his search for knowledge he has worked in general design within fields as varied as furniture to challenge courses. Design or the solving of the next problem adapts him to each new job. Here at HCTF this makes him as able to design the next project as to spend his days sanding and staining timbers. You will find him plugged into his IPod seeking inspiration or just passing the time with a story, but always hard at work.