Author: Andrew Gonzalez

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Rustic Millwork Overview

The rustic wood millwork offered by Ekena Millwork is a prime example of our dedication to excellent workmanship and classic style. Each decorative element, from corbels and brackets to outlookers, rafter tails, gable vents, shutters and gable brackets, is proudly handcrafted in the USA from either rough or smooth western red cedar or douglas fir to achieve the ideal balance between aesthetics and practicality.

Each piece in the rustic collection is a one-of-a-kind display of the artistry of the maker. Get the perfect piece to meet your needs, whether you’re searching for something basic and subtle or more ornate. Curved, angled, and straight corbels and brackets, as well as outlookers and rafter tails, are just some of the options for sprucing up the facade of your home or business.

The rustic line of millwork also features gable vents, which come in a huge variety of shapes such as triangles, rectangles, circles, octagons, and more. In addition to their aesthetic value, these vents can have a functional purpose as they aid in ventilating the attic. If you don’t need ventilation and simply want the look of a gable vent, they can also be ordered in a surface mount style which is purely decorative and installs flat up against your siding.

All of the products in the rustic collection come in many different sizes to accommodate a wide variety of uses. You can locate the right piece to suit your needs, whether you’re wanting to decorate a cozy craftsman home or a large apartment community. If a customer’s preferred size or shape is not already available, they can always reach out by phone or email and our team of specialists can quote out the design and provide architectural drawings.

This series is made from air-dried, not kiln-dried, western red cedar or douglas fir depending on your preference. Because of their longevity and resilience, these woods are ideal for use outdoors. Due to their inherent durability and resistance to insects and decay, they require minimal upkeep.

Ekena’s line of rustic wood millwork is the perfect solution for those seeking to infuse their spaces with a touch of warmth, character, and timeless beauty. This series successfully captures the essence of rustic charm, elevating any space around the home to a whole new level of sophistication. So, whether you’re looking to enhance the appeal of your cozy cottage or modern loft, Ekena’s millwork offerings can effortlessly transform your space, creating a harmonious balance between rustic allure and contemporary elegance. Embrace the natural textures and organic aesthetics of Ekena’s rustic wood millwork, and watch as your interiors and exteriors alike come to life with an undeniable, enchanting ambiance.

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Team Culture: Leadership Training

At Ekena Millwork, we believe that training and educating our people is essential to our growth and prosperity. One way we do this is by providing all new employees with access to a 21-week-long Leadership Development Program. The goal of this program is to provide new hires with the opportunity to grow as leaders in both their professional and personal lives.

The lessons from John Maxwell’s “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” serve as the basis for the course. During each training session, participants view a five to ten-minute clip from John Maxwell’s video series accompanying the book before breaking into a big discussion group. For new hires, this is a fantastic chance to get to know their colleagues while also participating in meaningful conversations about leadership.

Every meeting has a time set aside for open dialogue in which the rule is, everybody speaks up at least once. New employees can benefit greatly from this opportunity to bond with their coworkers. In addition, the program promotes a mindset of lifelong learning, which is crucial when you are a company that is dedicated to revolutionizing the millwork industry.

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The program covers the following 21 leadership qualities:

  1. Character
  2. Charisma
  3. Commitment
  4. Communication
  5. Competence
  6. Courage
  7. Discernment
  8. Focus
  9. Generosity
  10. Initiative
  11. Listening
  12. Passion
  13. Positive Attitude
  14. Problem-Solving
  15. Relationships
  16. Responsibility
  17. Security
  18. Self-Discipline
  19. Servanthood
  20. Teachability
  21. Vision

The program our new teammates in becoming competent leaders by exploring what these traits mean and how they can be applied in daily life. These traits are not only valuable in the job, but in many other settings as well. For these reasons, participation in the program is a fantastic chance for both individual and professional development.

Leadership training’s interactive nature is one of its many strengths. Each week, these team members have the opportunity to meet with their colleagues, share their perspectives, and learn from the experiences of their peers. This fosters a setting that is both cooperative and encouraging, ideal for learning and development.

This training makes it easier for new hires to integrate into the team dynamic right away. The program gives them the opportunity to get to know their coworkers better and learn more about the company’s core values.

Ultimately, we hope the curriculum aids new hires in developing critical leadership qualities necessary for professional success. In today’s fast-paced and complex corporate climate, strong leadership is more important than ever. New recruits can better handle the obstacles and opportunities of their careers if they acquire these abilities early on and continue to develop them on a daily basis.

As an added bonus, the training facilitates the development of a common leadership vocabulary and framework across the organization. Team members may better communicate and collaborate when they all strive to embody the same 21 leadership qualities. This helps our team become stronger and more capable of accomplishing their objectives. Don’t take my word for it. When asked what her favorite part of the series was, Heather responded by saying, “my most memorable was generosity. I spoke up the most in this quality. Always be generous to teach all that you know because one day that person could be a great leader all because you taught them all that YOU know. So don’t be greedy because you don’t want to be passed up, be generous and allow them to grow and be able to teach everyone and let them be an extension, a thumbprint of you.”

We believe that investing in our team equips them to lead in such a way that navigates our company forward to places where it is difficult for our competition to follow. This is why we place a high priority on employee development and training. Success over the long run requires maintaining satisfied and committed customers.

It’s a great chance to get to know their Ekena peers, learn something new about themselves, and help them grow as individuals while also contributing to the success of the organization as a whole. Our ability to retain high-performing teammates depends on our ability to invest in them through programs like Leadership Training. As we value our staff so highly, we strive to provide them with all they need to succeed in their professional and personal life. We consider this program to be an integral element of our company’s culture and success, and we are pleased to provide it to our new team members.

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Mango Wood Shutters

Living life in a good-looking home is one thing, but knowing you’re also doing your part for the planet is quite another. That’s a big reason why we are excited to be bringing a new product to our already comprehensive catalog – mango wood shutters.

As a more eco-friendly way of adding some character to the home, mango wood shutters are both fantastic for the forestry industry, as well as being a low-maintenance wood that is easy to love.

Naturally, as with any aspect of home care, this new product comes with a few tips and tricks to really bring out the best in your mango wood shutters – as we’ll explore today.

What is Mango Wood?

Mango wood is the term for the lumber that comes from trees that grow mango fruits – themselves delicious and healthy both to eat and in juices or smoothies.

As you can imagine, mango trees are vital to many farmers’ livelihoods all over the world. They are harvested for their delicious fruits annually but only have a useful lifespan of seven years.

After their fruit-bearing years are over, mango trees are essentially in farmers’ way – unless, of course, they are cut down and repurposed for, in this case, mango wood shutters.

If you’re worried this is wasteful, fret not – in fact, it’s quite the opposite, and very eco-friendly.

What Makes it an Eco-Friendly Option?

Our new product, mango wood shutters, proves eco-friendly thanks to the life cycle of mango fruit trees overall.

Because fruit only grows on mango trees for an average of seven years, the tree that’s left over needs to be taken away and repurposed for effective use.

It’s especially eco-friendly because mangos can be replanted and grown so rapidly. Once the tree is no longer useful for farmers, it can be harvested for their lumber which then allows farmers to replant mangoes and regrow their orchards in as little as four years.

Why Choose Mango Wood Over Pine or Cedar Shutters?

Mango wood is a sustainable and environmentally friendly material for window shutters. Mango trees grow quickly and abundantly, making them a sustainable resource for wood products. Furthermore, because mango wood is hardwood, it is more durable and long-lasting than pine or cedar.

Mango wood is also known for its resistance to warping and cracking, making it an excellent choice for outdoor window shutters. This means that your shutters will retain their shape and integrity even in high humidity or extreme temperatures.

Another advantage of mango wood window shutters is their ease of maintenance. They don’t need to be painted or stained on a regular basis and can be cleaned with a damp cloth. This makes them an excellent choice for busy homeowners who want to reap the benefits of window shutters without the hassle of upkeep.

Mango wood window shutters are also less expensive than pine or cedar. They are typically less expensive than other hardwoods, making them an excellent choice for budget-conscious homeowners.

The unique characteristics of the wood give each slat of your shutters its own unique identity. Mango wood shutters feature wood that is never the same twice, with natural colors that weave in and out of one another throughout the grain for a gorgeous natural effect.

Affordable, stylish, and easy to maintain, we’re excited to bring mango wood shutters in as our new product. Where will you fit yours?

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Faux Wood Looks Like Reclaimed Wood Beam

One of the best ways you can spruce up interior wood beams without much fuss is by using a faux wood beam cover. If this concept is new to you, then don’t worry. This article will highlight the benefits of choosing faux wood beams over reclaimed wood beams. 

Using interior faux wood beams is one of the most popular ways to add architectural appeal to your ceilings. You can use them for any type of property, whether it be for commercial or residential purposes. They add elegance and glamor to your home, drawing special attention to an area of your home that would otherwise go unnoticed. Beams can even add a sense of scale and make a room feel larger.

They have quickly become one of the best ways to improve the ambiance of a space.

Why You Should Consider Faux Wood

Real timber wood beams can be contentious due to the issue of these materials being scarce. They become even more scarce when you need a specific species, color, or size. Reclaimed wood is not a building material that can be mass-produced, so if you have particular needs, it can be time-consuming and challenging to find just the right piece.

Faux wood beams are one of the best means to cut down on cost and time, while still giving your home that elegance and style associated with styled wood. They are lightweight, inexpensive relative to reclaimed wood, and super easy to install.

Don’t get us wrong, if you are looking for wood truss support, a solid real wood beam is your best bet. This is because faux wood beams are purely decorative. 

Some of the top benefits of using our faux wood beams include:

Versatility

No matter the part of the house, you can install the faux wood beam and it will fit in nicely because you can order them in any size. They’re also available in a variety of unique wood textures and pre-finished in dozens of realistic finishes. 

This means there are thousands of unique combinations of texture, color, and size. This ensures that there is a specific design for any room.

Faux Wood Beams are Cost-Effective

Decorating your home can be expensive. This is another reason why faux wood beams are popular. You can cut the cost of buying expensive timber wood that may not even be the right size or fit the style of your space. 

Faux Wood beams are one of the best and most affordable renovations that will increase your property value. Hand-crafted and painted to meet your demands, you may not be able to differentiate between the real timber and our impressively designed wood beam. 

Faux Wood Beams are Lightweight

Faux Wood Beams are made of a high-density polyurethane. This is a resin-based material that is lightweight but very dense. In fact, the polyurethane used to make faux wood beams is about as dense as Pine. As well, faux wood beams are hollow on the inside, whereas most real wood beams are dense timbers.

As you can imagine real wood is significantly heavier than high-density polyurethane. This is especially true when you consider that beams are often upwards of 8 feet in length!

Faux Wood beams on the other hand are so lightweight that a single person could carry a beam that is twice as long over their head. This makes the installation of faux beams exponentially easier and quicker than real wood.

Pest-Free with No Maintenance

Except for occasional dusting once or twice a year, faux wood beams do not need any maintenance. And forget about pests like termites because they do not care for polyurethane. 

A real wood beam may begin to rot, chip, or split due to natural causes, faux wood beams serve you for a long time. Polyurethane beams on the other hand are impervious to all of these nuisances. 

Easy to Install

If you have the right tools, installing the faux wood beams on your own is very achievable. Many people use our beams as a DIY project and share photos with us, proud of the work they accomplished on their own. 

One of the best advantages of using the Ekena Millwork faux wood beam is the hollow interior. This allows you to sleeve the decorative beam over an existing real wood beam. You can also pass cables, pipes, and another house wiring. You can even install lighting fixtures on faux beams.

Classy Faux Wood Beams for Your Needs

Ekena Millwork is all about high-quality Endurathane Faux Wood Beams. You will be hard-pressed to distinguish our products from real timber. And with little to no maintenance, and affordable prices, Faux Wood Beams are a no-brainer. Discover Ekena Millwork Endurathane Faux Wood Beams today!

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Easy Ways To Spice Up Your Ceiling

Have you ever looked up at your ceiling and wondered what it could look like if it wasn’t so flat? And no, we’re not talking about the popcorn ceiling trends of the 90s.

Over the last several years, wall mouldings and millwork have become more and more popular for adding some dimension to ceilings! Not only does adding depth to your ceiling enhance the look of a room, but it can also bring extra value to your home.

Want some good news? Giving your ceiling an upgrade is easier (and more budget-friendly) than you might think!

Here are some easy ideas to spice up your ceiling:

Ceiling Medallions & Ceiling Rings

Perfect for dining rooms or an entryway – add a ceiling ring or medallion to highlight a lighting fixture on your ceiling. Medallions are one of the simplest ways to dress up your ceiling. Ceiling Rings are often used to compliment or enhance a medallion.

For an understated look, choose a simple style like the Nevio Ceiling Ring. If you’re looking to add some extra flair to your ceiling ring you could paint an accent within the trim or add some elements that match the finish of your lighting fixture.

When you want to add a historic feel to your home, consider a medallion that features intricate scroll, leaf, floral, or beaded details. Can’t decide on just one? Look no further than the Benson Classic Ceiling Medallion.

If you want to make a statement but the classical look is not your style, then a contemporary medallion like the Shakuras should do the trick.

Rings and medallions are an easy way to give your room an upgrade without making significant changes to the entire ceiling.

Coffered Ceilings

Coffered ceilings are a classic architectural element that has been around for centuries. They feature recessed shapes that add sophistication and extravagance to any room. They are beautiful when built by an experienced craftsman, but they have traditionally been very expensive and time consuming. Nowadays, Coffered Ceiling Systems are available and make it easy for any homeowner to add a touch of luxury to their ceilings.

From classic squares to elegant diamonds and circles, the sky’s the limit when it comes to coffered ceilings. You can also easily mix and match styles to create a design that is unique to your home.

Fretwork

If you have a shorter ceiling or just want something different, another fantastic option to dress up your ceiling is fretwork. Fretwork adds texture to your ceiling through panels of geometric and intricate designs. The designs are laser-cut into individual fretwork panels, for easy installation with a adhesive. They are so versatile, you can even add fretwork to your walls.

The lovely thing about fretwork is that you can choose from a wide range of styles that suit the aesthetic of your home. For a more subtle look, choose a simple, modern design like the Cameron Ceiling Panels. Feeling dramatic? You’ll love the Lilley and Laird styles.

Fretwork panel ceilings also present an opportunity to play with your room’s color palette! You’ll be able to choose anything from classic white to rich, real wood. You can paint you’re your fretwork the same color as your ceiling or a different color to add some contrast.

The combinations for fretwork ceilings are endless – meaning there’s a design for everyone.

Give your ceiling an upgrade

While updating your ceilings can feel overwhelming, it’s one of the simplest ways to add value to your home. By using medallions, coffers, or fretwork, anyone can give their ceiling a unique makeover.

There are so many simple ways to spice up your ceiling. Whether you go for a contemporary design or something a bit more subtle, you’re guaranteed to find a ceiling upgrade that you’ll love.

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DIY Wainscot: A Quick and Easy Way to Add Value

Whether you want to sell your home or just give it a facelift, you don’t need expensive renovations. A few inexpensive changes can go a long way. For example, consider a DIY wainscoting kit, or look into accent wall kits.

Traditional wainscot is the trim that runs along the bottom third of walls. However, some homes may just have an accent wall made of wainscoting. This architecturally appealing design accomplishes a lot of goals at once. It covers visible gaps between the floorboards and the walls or it can conceal and distract from unsightly drywall repairs. And of course, wainscot wall panels add a decorative touch.

Even though wainscot wall panels accomplish so much, they don’t have to cost a lot of money. In fact, by using an Ekena Millwork wall panel kit, you can add a sense of character and style to any room, and you can do it at a fraction of the cost of hiring a designer.

What is a DIY Wainscoting Kit?

In the past, Traditional wainscoting required expensive materials, designers, and installation contractors. These days, you can get the same results with a DIY wainscot kit. Panel kits provide a simple and inexpensive way to add character to your home. Wainscot trim kits come with pre-measured wainscot panels, baseboard moulding, and chair rail. You can install the panels with construction glue and finishing nails.

Wainscot Wall Panels Can Upgrade Your Home’s Appearance

When you want to increase your home’s value, a simple change of appearance can make a big difference. Think about your home from a buyer’s perspective. Just like people, homes give first impressions, and those first impressions matter.

Wainscot wall paneling provides a strong first impression because it adds contrast. Being a different material from your walls, it adds interesting texture that draws the eye. You can add even more contrast by painting your wainscot and your walls two different colors.

Adding flat panel wainscoting all around the perimeter of a room can instantly make it feel more sophisticated. This simple addition will turn an ordinary living room into something elegant and luxurious with just a few hours of work.

Wainscot wall paneling provides an easy way to make contemporary homes feel more historic. You can also achieve a more rustic look by using natural colors, which can look beautiful against walls with white paint. Traditional style wainscot panels often times have contrasting colors. To modernize the wainscot style, you can paint the wall texture and the panels the same color.

Whatever look you want, wainscoting kits provide a simple way to achieve it. You can customize wainscot trim kits in whatever way works for you. Want a bold and eye-catching look? Then create a full accent wall and use intense colors. Want something more simple? A wainscot border with subtle colors will provide what you want.

An Expensive Look from a Budget-Friendly Wall Panel Kit

Because wainscot walls look so elegant, people assume that wainscoting must be expensive. In all fairness, it can be, especially if you hire a contractor. With this route, you pay for time, labor, and materials. Those prices can add up quickly.

If you use a wall panel kit, though, you can save a lot of money. Pre-cut panel kits come at a much lower cost than other wall paneling options. For example, most of the wainscot kits on this page cost less than $200. On the other hand, if you hire a contractor and use wooden wainscoting panels, you could spend over $2,500.

That said, even though your wainscot wall paneling kit will cost much less than the traditional route, the final result will still look expensive. Panel kits provide just as much elegance as other wainscot walls.

Flat Panel Wainscoting Kits Make Home Improvement Simple

Now, say that you’ve decided to install your wainscot wall panels yourself. You’ll definitely save a lot of money on contractor fees. Still, you should make sure that you choose the right materials. Some wainscot panels cost more time and money than others.

The fastest, simplest way to get started is with a DIY wainscoting kit. Since these kits come with pre-formed pieces, you can skip the cutting and mitering. You can also skip the priming, since the right kits have factory-primed panels. This way, you can paint your panels right away.

These days, you can find wainscot kits made from high-density urethane. This material works for wainscot trim and accent walls alike. It looks like traditional wooden wainscoting, but it’s more lightweight. Don’t worry about durability, though. Urethane offers plenty of that, too. In fact, urethane is about as dense as real pine wood. Because urethane is so lightweight, though, there’s no heavy lifting needed. Wainscot kits come with easy-to-follow instructions, too. Just follow each step in order, and you’ll transform your room fast.

Protect Your Walls with Wainscoting Panels

And of course, wainscot trim can help protect your walls. Wear and tear adds up over time, but wainscot can provide some protection for your drywall. It helps protect walls from dents and gouges, especially if you have children or pets because it provides a barrier between the drywall and any objects or people.

A Variety of Options for Wainscot Walls

A wainscot wall paneling kit can give you a lot of variety.  Whether you want to create a dramatic feature wall, hide an ugly beam, or just add some character to your walls, DIY wainscot provides a great solution. Again, you can customize your wainscot with whatever look you want. Wainscoting adds character to a room. It’s up to you to decide what that character will say.

On a practical level, you’ll find many shapes and sizes when you look for a DIY wainscoting kit. Need enough panels for a whole wall? Then look for accent wall kits. Want to add a simple trim to a hallway? A wainscot trim kit will work. Either way, you can find a pre-cut panel moulding kit that suits your needs.

Wainscot wall paneling is a very popular home improvement trend, and for good reason. With straightforward DIY kits, you can finish your wainscoting panels project in a weekend, and that project can add serious value to your home.Take a look at these wainscot panel kits to get started.

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Ekena Millwork Wins 1st Place

During this year’s LMC Annual event, innovators got a chance to showcase their new products. It took place in Tampa, Florida, from March 23 to 25th. Ekena Millwork scooped 1st place ahead of other participants because of their Faux Wood Shutters.

These Faux Wood Shutters are very durable and offer great value for money. They are lightweight, which makes them easy and quick to install.

These faux shutters come in 8 distinct real wood textures. And they are made out of polyurethane which protects them from natural elements such as water, insects, heat, and cold. They are available in various sizes to suit a customer’s preference.

They are designed in traditional shutter styles, including paneled, louvered, and board-and-batten. Being urethane shutters, they are highly customizable and can be made in virtually any size. They can also be used as decorative shutters or exterior shutters.

Daniel Milkie, Ekena Millworks Director of Marketing and Business Development, noted that their passion has always been for new and custom products. This is despite the fact that they have stocked over 10,000 unique SKUs, in quantities of 200 – 5,000 units, that are ready to be shipped within 24 hours.

He also noted that their innovative new products ensure that their dealer’s clients sustain a competitive edge.

Daniel added that the LMC New Products Area is a good opportunity for Ekena Millwork to give dealers the tools to quote on any millwork project that comes their way. It also presents a chance for Ekena Millwork to show LMC dealers new products that their customers can add to projects.

He mentioned that faux wood shutters are an effective solution for customers who are looking for shutters that look like authentic wood and are durable. He concluded by appreciating LMC for allowing Millwork to showcase their Faux Wood Shutters that won 1st place.

The LMC annual event was a proud moment for Ekena Millwork. They felt that their innovative Faux Wood Shutters had earned the respect and admiration they deserved.