Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Taylor.
Hi Kyle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in a time when wood and metal shop were being pulled out of schools, and parents were guiding their kids away from the trades, toward college degrees and desk jobs. So picking up tools, for a long time, wasn’t a big part of my life.
At the same time, I can’t say the influence wasn’t still there. My father (a building inspector at the time) designed the family home I grew up in and did a considerable amount of the construction process himself. The first part of the home was completed while we lived in a trailer on the Bucks County property.
My grandfather- on my mother’s side- was also a woodworker by hobby. He primarily built doll houses; but I remember always being (and still am) amazed with his work on the scroll saw.
I attended boarding school for high school at Blair Academy in New Jersey, again, where the trades were no part of the curriculum. The big thing in my life at the time was wrestling, which helped me secure acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania.
At that time, I wanted to be a veterinarian; but that quickly learned I wasn’t built for the medical field. I spent the school year perusing different fields and working various jobs, not enjoying nearly any of it. I spent my summers working with a family-friend contractor, and it was there I began to find solace.
While I’m tremendously thankful for the educational opportunities I had, I felt betrayed in my understanding of the world around, which was likely as much my own fault as anyone else’s. Through the construction field I felt empowered learning to work with tools again and use my body.
It wasn’t long before I fully dropped out of school and took whatever low level job I could get just to keep learning.
I worked with a handyman in Philadelphia for a few years before deciding that wood was my true passion.
From there I found more carpentry-specific gigs and began building out my shop at home.
I felt feverish for woodworking and Carpentry rapidly. I was learning about home construction and renovation at work, but wanted to understand all those beautiful architectural details that really sucked me into the field to begin with.
I spent my weekends teaching myself about the different millwork tools, working weekend jobs to pay for them.
And soon I found a tremendously skilled cabinet maker, David & Sam Dougan, of Dougan Cabinet Makers in Media, PA.
I begged them to let me work for them even with my miniscule experience. I just wanted to learn.
I still work with Sam every so often, honing new skills, and just for the opportunities.
Really, I’m all over the place these days.
I work full time for a home renovator, doing field carpentry; and I spend most of my free time in the shop, sharpening my shop skills or even just trudging into new creative territory.
My builds currently are about 50/50 as far as for profit and for pleasure. It’s not always easy to find clients for the type of work I’m trying to drive Custom and Carpentry toward these days, but it is always a pleasure to take the time to work on a piece that will forever live in my own home and/or with family.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all! Like I said, I wanted to be a veterinarian and that didn’t pan out. There was a very rough time of uncertainty for me in my early 20s. I wasn’t sure if a college degree was a good investment, but it was what all my friends were doing and what I had been coached toward, so walking away from it was just as daunting. At the same time, I was a varsity wrestler, but due to concussions was unable to proceed in college. This was a huge change in lifestyle for me and perhaps, at least partially, why I began to seek out a physical job.
Getting started was hard. I didn’t know what to do with little experience and already in my mid-20s. The biggest thing for me was persistence. I just kept applying for jobs and chasing better opportunities. There were a lot of mistakes, bad choices, and tough times to overcome- there still are- but you learn that you can’t undo those things. You can only learn from them and move forward, making whatever fixes you need to along the way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a carpenter/Woodworker. Custom Taylor’d Carpentry is the portion of my business that focuses on millshop woodworks. This can range from plywood cabinetry to bespoke heirloom furniture.
I think my range is something a little unique to my business. While I’m always chasing the challenging woodworking jobs, I am as much always looking to help out my community with quality, affordable, bespoke builds that can adjust to fit any budget. Quality made furniture and cabinetry is dieing out rapidly here in the USA!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.CustomTaylordCarpentry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/customtaylordcarpentry?igsh=ZjNmYzc5MmNjMnpm
