HEAVY METAL

ONE OF THE REGION’S BEST CUSTOM CABINETRY SHOPS NOW DOES METALWORK, TOO.

Willow Creek Woodworks, Inc. is the first phone call when a Jackson Hole architect or contractor requires beautiful custom cabinetry, doors, trim, and other precise pieces, whatever the style of the project. “It doesn’t matter if it is rustic or contemporary, or wood or metal,” says Willow Creek Woodworks founder Jaxon Ching, who got into building and finish carpentry while in the Navy. His final task before being honorably discharged was rebuilding metal cabinets and bunks in a barracks in California. “We enjoy every custom job and enjoy being able to work with our clients, whether it is the owner driving that vision or the architect,” he says.

We really do love challenges and the opportunity to create.
— Jaxon Ching, founder

Ching founded Willow Creek Woodworks in Idaho Falls in 1996. (Although the shop is based in Idaho, Ching spends at least two days a week in Jackson Hole checking in on projects and meeting with clients.) Until recently, the shop focused on custom wood cabinetry. “These days, the market demand also includes metal materials, especially as mid-century modern aesthetics are trending,” he says. A consummate problem solver, Ching added a metal shop to Willow Creek Woodworks. With this addition, “we now can fabricate all metal items in- house,” he says. “We also press everything ourselves and now control our own veneers.”

A current project that uses all of Willow Creek’s skills is a custom bronze front door that is six inches thick and eight feet tall. “We really do love challenges and the opportunity to create,” Ching says. “This door is something I have never done before, and it really makes a statement.”