Franklin Craftsmen Transform Wood and Lives – This Wednesday National Hit TV Show Features Their Product
There is a small group of little-known craftsmen in Franklin, Tenn.—but that’s about to change.
This Wednesday, Nov. 14, HGTV’s hit series, “Property Brothers: Buying + Selling,”will showcase the products of TN Box Beams. But, unlike the major brands typically featured on the show—the handcrafters behind these beams are local, 20-somethings—entrepreneurs and artisans–and this is their first foray into a national spotlight.
The young craftsmen behind TN Box Beams are, left to right, Sales Representative Kenny Bowling, Wood Shop Manager Colin Hemberg and Wood Shop Team Member Heath Hill.
But while they transform raw wood into high quality products that add warmth and beauty to homes, TN Box Beams craftsmen really are about transforming lives.
“Wood beams are a hot, yet classic look,” said Phil Stoner, president of TN Box Beams. “We were thrilled to join Jonathan and Drew on their set to feature our wood beams in an episode of ‘Property Brothers: Buying + Selling’ that will air Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT.”
TN Box Beams began when a local builder approached Stoner’s craftsmen with a dilemma. Site-built beams often develop unsightly gaps.
“We love a challenge, so we tackled it head on,” Stoner said. “We crafted a unique puzzle-fit joinery design, solved a common building and renovation problem and TN Box Beams was born.
“TN Box Beams transforms raw wood into beautiful wood beams in our Franklin shop–but most important, our work transforms lives,” said Stoner.
That story begins about 28 miles down the road at Narrow Gate Lodge, an 8-month, tuition-free, residential program on 122-acres in Williamsport, Tenn. It’s purpose? Helping young men discover a life that matters. About to enter its 15th year, almost 400 young men have come through the Narrow Gate Experience, finding new purpose in life. Lodge participants live and work together while pursuing new life skills, challenging adventures, biblical training and discipleship. They are exposed to wood-, leather- and metal-working and mentored by seasoned craftsmen. Some, like the builders of TN Box Beams, discover they are gifted at working with their hands and pursue vocations as craftsmen.
Narrow Gate Lodge’s parent nonprofit is Narrow Gate Foundation.
Narrow Gate Trading Co. (originally known as Narrow Gate Artisans) evolved as a social enterprise to provide a sustainable source of income for the nonprofit and its craftsmen are makers and purveyors of fine wood and leather goods. To date it has employed about 40 graduates of Narrow Gate Lodge. The box beam portion of the enterprise flourished, becoming an entity all it’s own—TN Box Beams.
For builders and renovators looking to add the warmth and beauty of wood to their homes, TN Box Beams offer many advantages of solid, site-built and faux alternatives
- The look of solid timber
- Real wood—never faux
- More affordable
- Fast and easy-to-install because of lightweight design
- No structural engineering required
- None of the gaps that develop with typical mitered construction
Customization options include design, dimension, stain, rough or smooth finish and hand-applied textures.
TN Box Beams also offers custom mantels, floating shelves and corbels to complete the look. For more information, visit https://tnboxbeams.com/ or call 615-236-9156.
