Project Overview
I recently went back to Wisconsin to visit family and celebrate my dad's birthday. While I was hanging out at my sister's her place, I realized just how many pieces I’ve built for her over the years. It wasn’t a planned project—but looking around, it hit me how much of my work is tucked into her home.
From a massive pipe bookshelf in the living room to a fully tricked-out bathroom setup (yes, even the TP storage got the custom treatment), McKenzie's house is filled with handcrafted steel and wood that’s been added little by little over the years.
The Challenge
MeKenzie's place has always had personality—colorful, lived-in, and art work they collected over the years. Every piece I built needed to be tough, useful, and blend in without looking like it came off a shelf. There was no formal plan here, just a handful of needs and ideas that popped up over time. You can even hide all your magazines out of the way and have it blend in a bit.
My Approach
Everything was built to fit the space. I stuck mostly with raw steel pipe and powder-coated finishes for durability, mixing in distressed wood where it made sense. Each fixture was mounted with intention—whether to a wall, floor, or ceiling—and meant to handle real, everyday use without needing babysitting.
Design Details
Living Room Pipe Bookshelf
This one’s the anchor. A six-foot floor-and-wall mounted bookshelf made with distressed wood and black steel pipe. It holds a serious amount of books and a rotating lineup of random souvenirs collected over the years. Still standing strong years later.
Distressed wood and black steel pipe create a clean, open look with major storage power.
Full Bathroom Setup
The upstairs bathroom ended up being a whole vibe of its own. Here's what I built out:
- A ceiling and wall-mounted shower curtain bar that wraps around two sides of a small stall
- A matching hand towel bar and TP holder
- And my favorite: a custom vertical toilet paper bar that stacks six backup rolls. Because who wants to run out when guests are over?
Ceiling-mounted shower bar and matching towel + TP holders—all in powder-coated black steel.
Plus vertical toilet paper bar: stores 6 rolls and saves the day every time.
Downstairs TP Holder (in Pink!)
This one’s small but might be the most fun. A single toilet paper holder in bright pink pipe, mounted against white beadboard. Total color pop. My sister's twin chose the color.
Functional, vibrant, and impossible to ignore—in the best way.
Backyard Handrail
On the way out to the yard, I added a custom steel pipe handrail for the steps leading up to the back door. It’s supported by two vertical bars and one diagonal stair-rise bar that connects into the wall at the landing. Simple, safe, and sturdy enough to lean on.
Clean, durable, and perfectly suited for a Wisconsin winter (or a muddy spring).
Working with My Sister
It just kind of happened over time—“Hey, can you build me something for this wall?” turned into “What if we added something here, too?” There’s something cool about seeing your work show up like that—not all at once, but layered in slowly, the way a home grows.
What Makes It Special
This isn’t a showroom. It’s my sister’s home. Every piece I’ve built there has a purpose, and every one of them has lasted because it was made to. It’s the kind of stuff that gets used, leaned on, grabbed, and appreciated—even if most people never ask where it came from.
That’s the best kind of build.
As I was heading out the door to catch my flight back to Vermont, I saw the red pipe coat hooks by the stairs—with my old Monroe Trades tote bag still hanging there.
Just a small moment, but one that hit me. These builds don’t need a spotlight. They’re just part of the everyday, holding things up, holding memories. Quietly doing the job they were made to do.
Functional + Friendly
Like what you see?
Explore our collection of handcrafted garment racks, shelving, and industrial hardware—built to last and made to fit your space.