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Getting Your Fix We know, we know. Don't remind you that the sitting-room sofa begs for a new slipcover, or that greatgranny's precious Aubusson rug is in do the walking or googling your way out of the conundrum is simply out of the question. That's why we've updated our Secret Sources list, a clip-and-save resource highlighting some of the most talented artisans, craftsmen and repair experts in town, all culled from the black books of a select cadre of designing deities and interior-minded friends. We're naming names and divulging the contact info you'll need to tackle your most important household BY LAURANN CLARIDGE Furniture Repair & Fabrication Cullen Caners, The Center, 3550 W. Dallas, 713.525.8400; cri-usa.org. Founded in 1979, Cullen Caners is known for its hand-cane, rush and wicker work, done with the precision and skill of an artisan. James Farmer, 713.398.7657. This furniture artisan employs Old World techniques such as using wooden pegs and fasteners in lieu of nails and solid wood instead of plywood. When possible, he also uses the same carving tools that were in use 200 years ago. With training in fine art, his painting technique on furniture is sought by designers such as Tom Harper. The Furniture Connoisseur, 1401101 Sterrett St., 713.222.2888; thefurnitureconnoisseur.com. Former furniture maker Robin Richardson understands the TLC that fine wood furnishings require. He sells every hard-tofind, professional-grade cleaning product you can imagine, from wax to polish, leather to silver care, as well as his own line. Maintenance services are also available. Restorations, 2402 Lawrence, 713.880.5751. Furniture craftsman Donald L. Nichols is the expert refinisher to whom designer Catherine Brooks Giuffre turns when a client's prized piece has seen better days. Gloriously fastidious about his métier, this artisan restores, rebuilds and can even reproduce the missing match to a 17th-century demi-lune, or put the luster back into great-grandmother's Chippendale dining table. Restoration Builders, 415 N. Wayside, 713.839.1269; restoration-builders.com. Owner Jeff Granberry has been honing his skills as a furniture craftsman since he was a teen. His 11,000-square-foot, climate-controlled workshop allows his team to take on complex and detailed work, from cabinet doors and furniture to custom hardware. Lighting Alcon Lightcraft Co., 1424 W. Alabama, 713.526.0680. Have a chandelier, lamp or sconce that doesn't light up your life anymore? Bring it to the lighting doctors at Alcon Lightcraft, and they'll rewire, restring or refurbish your prized illuminators. Alcon owner Eddie Morrow stocks a great selection of antique and reproduction lighting and parts as well. Bernard Woolf & Associates, 4211 Richmond, 713.626.4025; lulighting.com. Affiliated with Lighting Unlimited, Bernard Woolf specializes in custom lighting projects. His son, Justin Woolf, owns the contemporary shop Light just across the street and has hung his own consulting shingle, too (713.640.5568; woolflighting.com). D'Zigner Resource, 9434 Katy Freeway, 713.782.4176; thedzignerresource.com. For years, decorator Richard Holley sourced VHH Design for handmade and custom-fabricated lamps, shades and bases made from most any objet. When the company closed, Diana Meade and Rod Tanner took over and renamed it D'Zigner Resource. While they're usually to the trade, Holley has found they'll oblige laymen if you're really polite and respectful of D'Zigner's artistry. House of Glass, 3319 Louisiana St., 713.528.5289; houseofglasshouston.com. Besides selling hundreds of chandeliers and sconces, H of G restores wiring on crystal prisms or reworks finishes by cleaning, waxing and polishing. Owners Art and Lynn Graeter have been at it awhile — just like Art's parents, who founded the place in 1948. Illuminations Lighting Design, 607 Durham Dr., 713.863.1133; illuminationslighting. com. Illuminations designs art-display and landscape lighting to rave about, say our friends in the design world. Owner Tom Kretzschmar has been in the business for three decades. West End Restoration, 6401 Stillman, 713.802.1431. David Moody repairs and rewires chandeliers, sconces and lamps. Turn to him as well for silver polishing and repair, plus metal soldering. Hardware Settlers Hardware, 1901 W. Alabama, 713.524.2417. Architects and designers rely on owner Susan Neptune and her team to locate antique and reproduction hardware. Open to the public Thursday through Saturday; by appointment otherwise. Metalwork & Silversmiths Akers Metal Polishing Plating & Repair, 2223 Richmond, 713.527.8205; akersmetals.com. Since 1979, Sam Akers has handled all sorts of household metal repair and restoration. Akers is your source to re-plate, polish, tin-line copper cookware, hand-engrave silver or restore and fix broken silver, brass, copper and pewter. Bright Metals of the Heights, 626 E. 11th St., 713.861.0729; brightmetals-oftheheights.com. This humble little workshop in the Heights can re-plate almost anything made with chrome, nickel, brass, copper and gold (new or antique), or just polish to perfection. George Sacaris Studio, 2000 Nance St., 713.256.7733; sacaris. com. This artist, whose métier is metal work, actually trained to be an architect. With an eye for design details, he fabricates his own line of contemporary furniture and sculpture, and custom-creates architectural pieces including stair rails, doors, windows, lighting and custom walls that slide like barn doors. Peck and Company, 98 Dennis, 713.526.2590; peckand company.com. Founder/designer Bill Peck and his craftsmen customdesign everything metal, from elaborate tables and headboards to drapery rods, fire screens, light fixture and pot racks. A true artist down to his unique finishes, Peck is a busy man — but don't despair. His contemporary and traditional work, often seen in Architectural Digest and Veranda, is worth the wait. Vogler Sheet Metal Co, Inc., 2625 Karbach, 713.861.1154; voglermetal.com. Developer/ builder Carol Isaak Barden clued us in on this find. Owner Kenny Jeanes' team can take stainless, cold- and hot-rolled and galvanized steel, copper or brass, and make fireplace fronts, kitchen vent hoods, countertops, downspouts, planters, mailboxes, gates, gutters, roofs and more. Leather Zoltan Olah Bookbindery, 4019 Valley Estate Dr., 281.589.0735. This artisan is carrying on a dying craft: working exclusively with leather. He's the one to call if you need a book rebound, or a leather top on a desk repaired or replaced. He even does his own tooling by hand — a rarity. Millwork Architectural Design Cabinet Works Inc., 5614 Royalton, 713.661.3641; architecturaldesigncab.net. Artisan Alex Cubelli creates custom cabinetry and architecturally compelling millwork (commercial and residential). His specialty is wood made with veneers and high-end exotic woods. From bookcases to customized moldings, his designs in wood, acrylic, glass, Corian, stone, metal or veneer inlays run the gamut from traditional to contemporary. Chavez Carpentry, 10207 Market St., 832.423.9402; chavezcarpentry@rocketmail.com. Felix Chavez is a third-generation carpenter who's built the kitchens where Bill Caudell and J. Randall Powers cook, eat and live; he's also done extensive millwork throughout their Tanglewood home. This spring, we commissioned Felix (who's passing the craft on to the fourth Chavez generation via Felix Jr.) to create all the cabinetry in our highrise abode. I can attest that his attention to detail and commitment to quality are truly top-drawer. Stonewood Studios, 713.870.7999; stonewoodstudios. net. Owner Sandy Kays has gained a following among contemporary home builders including Fulton Davenport and Carol Isaak Barden for European-style contemporary cabinets (with frameless construction) that he builds at a fraction of the price of the big names. He also installs concrete counters in a variety of finishes. Woodwork Concepts, 281.236.5672; brucevirene@ gmail.com. Bruce Virene, a very hands-on owner, has created sleek, contemporary-styled cabinets, millwork, custom fixtures and entertainment centers for more than 40 years. Erica Levit, who has frequently collaborated with Virene, calls him a masterful craftsman who can find a fix for anything. Wood Essence,4810 Laigle Road, Manvel, 281.489.6010; wehouston.com. Designer Paula Douglass calls Wood Essence co-owner Craig Manuel "one of the finest artisans with whom I have ever had the pleasure of working. Don't let the Bermuda shorts and straw hat throw you. Craig redefines millwork standards and is loved by his peers and clients alike." Concrete & Stone Chateau Domingue, 3615 W. Alabama, 713.961.3444; chateaudomingue.com. Owner Ruth Gay forages throughout Europe to find reclaimed and aged architectural elements, as well as antiques, ranging from grand, statement-making doors to windows, tiles, ironwork, sinks, gates and all manner of flooring. Stroll into this expansive space (inside and out), and you'll feel like you're walking through centuries of gorgeous architecture. Dungan Miller Design, 713.522.9073; dunganmiller.com. Owner David Miller works with a who's who of local designers, from Richard Holley to Joe Schaffer and Carlos Jiménez. Specializing in finishing and staining concrete, he's there the day the foundation slab is poured, supervising and finessing its appearance (a trick developed by predecessors Terrell James and Suzanne Dungan), then he returns upon the house's completion to stain/seal the flooring. He also specializes in the time-consuming task of micro-topping: creating a wafer-thin layer of concrete atop a counter that resembles porcelain. Elegant Additions, 2426 Bartlett St., 713.522.0088; elegantadditions.net. This to-thetrade resource is known for its swank kitchens and bathrooms. But did you know it's also a resource for custom stone and concrete installations? From onyx pedestal sinks to lightweight alternatives to concrete counters, owner Julie Koch and her staff can source it for your architect and designer. They also create custom hardware, such as drawer pulls and doorknobs. James Dawson Design, 1802 Utah St., 713.864.4045; jamesdawsondesign.com. For the last 18 years, James Dawson has created custom furniture and counter surfaces made of myriad metals, concrete, Richlite and zinc. Decorator Tom Harper is a fan. Materials Marketing, 1335 West Gray, 713.960.8601; mstoneandtile.com. Family owned out of San Antonio, Materials Marketing celebrates 50 years and is America's oldest and largest stone manufacturer. With a showroom in Houston, Materials Marketing custom-builds hand-carved, naturalstone fireplace surrounds, moldings, columns, pilasters, kitchen hoods, hearths and more. Or choose from hundreds of drawings of architectural elements and have them modified to your plans. Spirit Ridge Studios, 713.768.3026; spiritridge studios.com. Owner Steven Dvorak resurrected his granddad's concrete business, but we're betting gramps wouldn't recognize the place today. Aside from pouring and casting anything in concrete, he can mix and match color hues, textures and sheens. Home emporium owner Pam Kuhl-Linscomb commissioned him to craft the countertops in her stores. He also creates distressed furniture and metal countertops of copper, stainless steel and the like. Custom Glass & Acrylic Art Glass by Wells, 12307 Chimney Rock Road, 713.729.3699; artglassbywells.com. Since 1962, Art Glass by Wells has been cutting custom-designed stained, beveled and etched glass, as well as handling professional restoration. If Continued on page 40