ABOUT US
ABOUT US
RealCraft's origins as told by CEO Don Rees.
Have you ever felt alienated by a culture that values conformity above everything else? As a young carpenter, I knew the feeling well. Every new home I worked on looked identical. There was nothing unique or interesting about the designs…just bland sameness. But I wanted to build homes that reflected the personalities of the people who lived in them. Doing anything less intentional than that felt like a waste of time.
This desire I had to build differently spurred me to advancing my craft, going from carpenter to foreman to timber framing custom homes. Another thing I’ve always cared deeply about was the use of real, genuine materials. This became my calling card, because I learned that when you build with real materials, the results stand out in an increasingly artificial world. Being a custom home builder brought me so much creative fulfillment and joy. Then, in the year 2000, I was in for a surprise.
I’d been building carriage doors as part of my custom homes, since roll-up garage doors just don’t fit these kinds of houses. Pictures of these doors on my website got a lot of attention. People across the country started emailing me, asking if I could build them custom carriage doors. But I ignored them.
I didn’t want to build just the doors–it was building the whole house that motivated me. The longer I ignored them, the more these requests multiplied. Eventually I saw that people were searching for something that I was uniquely qualified to give them. Something different. So I started replying to these emails, and building custom carriage doors in my garage for clients all over the country. At first I did it on nights and weekends around my timber framing work. Then, after four years, I knew I was ready to build carriage doors full time. I called the new business Real Carriage Doors.
Along the way, I was drawn to innovate other products, starting with sliding barn doors and barn door hardware. Today, RealCraft builds all kinds of handcrafted doors, hardware, and home accents. And I couldn’t do all that alone. What started as a one-man-show in my garage has become a growing community of craftsmen and craftswomen, artists, and renegades. Together, we’re spearheading a return to craftsmanship. The door is open–I hope you’ll join us.
ABOUT US
Swipe right to learn about RealCraft's origins as told by CEO Don Rees.
Have you ever felt alienated by a culture that values conformity above everything else? As a young carpenter, I knew the feeling well. Every new home I worked on looked identical. There was nothing unique or interesting about the designs…just bland sameness. But I wanted to build homes that reflected the personalities of the people who lived in them. Doing anything less intentional than that felt like a waste of time.
This desire I had to build differently spurred me to advancing my craft, going from carpenter to foreman to timber framing custom homes. Another thing I’ve always cared deeply about was the use of real, genuine materials. This became my calling card, because I learned that when you build with real materials, the results stand out in an increasingly artificial world. Being a custom home builder brought me so much creative fulfillment and joy. Then, in the year 2000, I was in for a surprise.
I’d been building carriage doors as part of my custom homes, since roll-up garage doors just don’t fit these kinds of houses. Pictures of these doors on my website got a lot of attention. People across the country started emailing me, asking if I could build them custom carriage doors. But I ignored them.
I didn’t want to build just the doors–it was building the whole house that motivated me. The longer I ignored them, the more these requests multiplied. Eventually I saw that people were searching for something that I was uniquely qualified to give them. Something different. So I started replying to these emails, and building custom carriage doors in my garage for clients all over the country. At first I did it on nights and weekends around my timber framing work. Then, after four years, I knew I was ready to build carriage doors full time. I called the new business Real Carriage Doors.
Along the way, I was drawn to innovate other products, starting with sliding barn doors and barn door hardware. Today, RealCraft builds all kinds of handcrafted doors, hardware, and home accents. And I couldn’t do all that alone. What started as a one-man-show in my garage has become a growing community of craftsmen and craftswomen, artists, and renegades. Together, we’re spearheading a return to craftsmanship. The door is open–I hope you’ll join us.
ABOUT US
RealCraft's origins as told by
CEO Don Rees.
Have you ever felt alienated by a culture that values conformity above everything else? As a young carpenter, I knew the feeling well. Every new home I worked on looked identical. There was nothing unique or interesting about the designs…just bland sameness. But I wanted to build homes that reflected the personalities of the people who lived in them. Doing anything less intentional than that felt like a waste of time.
This desire I had to build differently spurred me to advancing my craft, going from carpenter to foreman to timber framing custom homes. Another thing I’ve always cared deeply about was the use of real, genuine materials. This became my calling card, because I learned that when you build with real materials, the results stand out in an increasingly artificial world. Being a custom home builder brought me so much creative fulfillment and joy. Then, in the year 2000, I was in for a surprise.
I’d been building carriage doors as part of my custom homes, since roll-up garage doors just don’t fit these kinds of houses. Pictures of these doors on my website got a lot of attention. People across the country started emailing me, asking if I could build them custom carriage doors. But I ignored them.
I didn’t want to build just the doors–it was building the whole house that motivated me. The longer I ignored them, the more these requests multiplied. Eventually I saw that people were searching for something that I was uniquely qualified to give them. Something different. So I started replying to these emails, and building custom carriage doors in my garage for clients all over the country. At first I did it on nights and weekends around my timber framing work. Then, after four years, I knew I was ready to build carriage doors full time. I called the new business Real Carriage Doors.
Along the way, I was drawn to innovate other products, starting with sliding barn doors and barn door hardware. Today, RealCraft builds all kinds of handcrafted doors, hardware, and home accents. And I couldn’t do all that alone. What started as a one-man-show in my garage has become a growing community of craftsmen and craftswomen, artists, and renegades. Together, we’re spearheading a return to craftsmanship. The door is open–I hope you’ll join us.
We're bringing beauty and authenticity back to the door industry.
Say goodbye to lifeless conformity and phony materials, and meet our handcrafted, one-of-a-kind doors and hardware made from real, genuine materials.
These are products you can be proud of.
OUR MISSION
To revive the time-honored tradition
of skilled craftsmanship
Imported from far away, made with inferior materials, in boring, standard designs. These products lack meaning, feel impersonal, and have a high failure rate.
RealCraft combines
personalized design experiences
with
made-to-order products.
Crafted with real materials by skilled artisans.
OUR MISSION
Reviving the
time-honored tradition
of skilled craftsmanship
Most of today's doors are mass-produced—
Imported from far away, made with inferior materials, in boring, standard designs.
These products lack meaning, feel impersonal, and have a high failure rate.
RealCraft combines
personalized design experiences
with
made-to-order products.
Crafted with real materials by skilled artisans.
OUR VALUES
We relentlessly pursue innovation, uniqueness, and design freedom.
We believe in upholding the highest quality standards, even if it means more effort.
Every visual element, down to the pieces of wood we choose for a specific design, is chosen to take your breath away.
We combine tried-and-tested construction methods with innovation—respecting tradition while continuing to push our industry forward.
OUR PRODUCTS
We’re the only online door builder that actually uses only 100% authentic solid wood. Our traditional mortise and tenon joinery lasts for generations. And our exclusive designs are always custom-built to order.
Made with only solid American brass and steel, our hardware is built to last for decades. It’s machined here in the Puget Sound for genuine American craftsmanship. Our exclusive modern designs elevate sliding hardware from utilitarian objects to standout home accessories.
Our butcher block countertops, floating shelves, and mantels are made with the same level of customization and true timber craftsmanship as our doors. These pieces put the finishing touch on any space.
OUR PRODUCTS
We’re the only online door builder that actually uses only 100% authentic solid wood. Our traditional mortise and tenon joinery lasts for generations. And our exclusive designs are always custom-built to order.
Made with only solid American brass and steel, our hardware is built to last for decades. It’s machined here in the Puget Sound for genuine American craftsmanship. Our exclusive modern designs elevate sliding hardware from utilitarian objects to standout home accessories.
Our butcher block countertops, floating shelves, and mantels are made with the same level of customization and true timber craftsmanship as our doors. These pieces put the finishing touch on any space.
MEET US
We welcome visitors to
our Gig Harbor showroom!
See our materials for yourself, experience the beauty of sample doors and hardware, and witness our doors being made in real time.
MEET US
We welcome visitors to our Gig Harbor showroom!
See our materials for yourself, experience the beauty of sample doors and hardware, and witness our doors being made in real time.