Custom Replica Bird House
Eight years ago, Bill Askenburg established New England Birdhouse of Chelmsford, Mass., a niche business offering custom miniature replicas of clients’ homes that serve as weather-resistant bird shelters. As he works meticulously on each piece, he says he always considers how special each one is going to be to the recipient.
“One of the best things is hearing stories about why the pieces are being commissioned,” says Askenburg. “I’d say 99 percent of the birdhouses I build are commissioned as gifts. Usually it’s an anniversary gift for someone that loves their house and loves birds. I’ve got one job for this man’s mother who’s moving into a retirement home, and it’s going to be a reminder of her old home.”
Woodworking has always been a hobby for Askenburg, who grew up watching his father carve replicas of birds and ducks. After replacing some stairs in his house when he first moved in, he used some of the leftover wood to make his wife a model of their new home as an anniversary gift. She was so impressed she encouraged him to offer the service to others.
Some Replicas Include Decks and Pools
Askenburg, formerly a media director at an advertising agency, had been dabbling in building Web sites and created one to launch the new business. The home-based company has grown since then, with jobs coming from clients across the country.
The birdhouses are based on photos provided by customers. Depending on the complexity of the design, each house takes approximately a month to complete. Askenburg says he’s added much more detail to his birdhouses over the years.
The houses can be built to any size, but a typical three-chamber house is approximately 20″ long x 16″ wide x 12″ tall. While each poses a unique challenge, the toughest part is getting the scale and details right, says Askenburg. He used to do all the drafting by hand, but has switched to homebuilding software, which allows him to create more accurate designs and send sample images to clients.
New Construction Style Bird House
“Because you’re working from photographs that are taken from all different angles and there are tons of obstructions, sometimes it’s really tough to make sure you get everything into perspective,” Askenburg says.
The birdhouses typically sell for $1,200 to $1,600. Contact: New England Birdhouse, 185 Westford St., Chelmsford, MA 01824. Tel: 800.815.0062. www.newenglandbirdhouse.com
Article Reprinted from Woodshop News – 4/28/09
Recent Comments