About John W. Paparella

John W. Paparella’s interest in carpentry and the building trades was forged in the crucible of childhood not by exposure to Lincoln Logs or Lego toys, but by the aroma of freshly cut pine and poured concrete. As John’s father, grandfather, Uncle “Junior” and “Scary Harry” Wichwire put the finishing touches to the house they were building in a housing development in Norton, Ohio, five-year-old John found inspiration, imagination and determination in this new dwelling to one day follow in the footsteps of his ancestors. By the time John had departed his teen years, he had gained invaluable experience doing concrete work with his grandfather, built several pieces of furniture and mastered the techniques and complex machineryof a cabinet-building shop.

Now entering into his third decade of professional carpentry and construction, John’s experience includes projects in both the residential and commercial sectors. From new home construction, to restaurant and bar build-outs, to countless kitchen and bath renovations, John’s extensive skill-set enables him to manage and/or provide the full gamut of trade services — such as electrical, plumbing, masonry, rough and finish carpentry, etc. — to meet his client’s needs. In John’s words, ” I handle everything from the foundation to the roof.”

For the past ten years, John has been using wood harvested from trees felled by his own axe (chainsaw) or by raiding municipal refuse yards to procure trees that would otherwise be left to decay in dumps or landfills. The majority of the project photos you see on this website featuring custom cabinetry, finish carpentry or fine furniture use wood salvaged from these discarded trees. John’s sawyer, Dan Ogonek, says, “John now has enough hardwood to last him a lifetime!”