Kitchen Island Hood

Looks neat, tons of detail. Not really my style and IMO that style of woodwork looks over done, but from a woodworkers point of view I think it must of been interesting to build, unique at least. Did you build it in sections and install in field or bring it in one piece? How'd you fasten it to the ceiling, I have to imagine it's pretty heavy? Nice work.

Beautiful work!

Awfully garish for my taste and the overall finish could have been refined but for the most part its fine,
Keep up the good work.

This work is absolutely beautiful. Any negative comments equal jealousy. Greg your work is truly awesome. Your talent, vision, execution and design ability are second to none. Keep on posting these works of art you've been displaying lately. If half of us woodweb users possesed your talent, the world would be a more beautiful place and maybe IKEA would go under.

Eric, Have you ever heard of the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"? Or how about this one"whats good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander".

You see; everyone has a right to their opinion and simply because someone does not agree with your opinion does not mean that that person is jealous, it just means that its their opinion, not yours.

I saw a Cadillac the other day that had this huge set of horns on the hood. They are called Texas Long Horn Steers.
I didnt happen to like the look but that does not mean that I dont like Cadillacs.

Actually, I happen to agree with the criticism. I am from the school of "more is more", and I am always fighting the urge of over designing/detailing. Using my 20/20 hindsight, I would have simplified the lower weave molding somehow. I just got caught up in purchasing when Mouser quoted it at $30k not including installation, and I said to myself "for that amount I can go crazy and still save a ton". While $30k was a fair price, I was hoping for something more like 15-18k. (The materials costs were over $10k, Enkeboll is expensive).

The finish was very time consuming (40 hours). I had the privilege to spend a full day with the president of Mouser where I got an extensive tour of their operation. Very impressive. Their finishing line was was a thing of beauty for a $30m company. They sent me the same finishing products for the hood as the rest of the cabinets. One problem however. They have an assembly line process, and the glaze was lacquer. So when they sprayed it on to smooth cabinet faces, they have 3 people immediately there to wipe it off. I spent three days with laquer thinner getting the excess off with q-tips. I won't be doing that again.

As for installation, that too was a challenge. There were 2 of us, and we needed 4 people. So we made temporary rigging. My pregnant wife at the time lent a hand steadying the whole thing. Five years later and she still doesn't let me forget it. The hood was made in two parts, and screwed into joists and also with anchor bolts to pull it tight to the drywall.

I agree absolutely. Having seen a few of Greg's outstanding projects, I have to admit to finding them..to use a word from a previous post "garish". Not my taste at all.
I do however, marvel at and appreciate the skill and workmanship, while still retaining the right to differ on aesthetics.

Colin has it right. Greggs' work is not really my taste either but I appreciate it for what it is, art. I didn't mean to imply everyone has to agree with me.Sorry for offending anyone. I would like to have just a fraction of that kind of talent.

I hope you made money on it!

You have great talent and vision. I think you should patent/sell that design to Kraft or Thomasville to say the least. I would say that has increased the value of your house by at least $70M! Excellent! Consider freelancing custom designs