A L L H O M E R E N O V A T I O N S A N D M A I N T E N A N C E
~specialising in bespoke carpentry ~
Michael Van Heel ABN: 30159774409
Hello and welcome to my new website page!
In the age of social media, it was time. Why is it on the Fairy Wren Cottage website you ask? My wife Jude (with a lot of tech support from our daughter Liliana) created fairywrencottage.com to share our country life, guided by the seasons. Keeping our social media on one website creates a cohesive story, everything housed under the one roof, so to speak.
There is a contact form at the bottom of this page or you can text or call me during business hours, Monday to Friday. No question is a wrong question, ask away, it is important to me that working together is as stress free as possible and that you become a returning customer like so many of my clients.
Michael
At the bottom of this page you can also find a link to my blog posts.
Custom-made kitchens. Free-standing kitchen dressers, buffets and hutches. Free-standing and fitted pantry cupboards. Bathroom vanities. Laundry and Mudroom shelving, bench tops, cupboards and cabinetry. Bedroom fitted and free-standing cabinetry and wardrobes. Home office and studio free-standing or fitted cupboards, bench tops, desks and storage. Bookshelves. Home libraries. Furniture including daybeds, window seats, TV cabinetry. Tables and tabletop replacement. Timber floorboard installation. Architraves, skirting and picture rails. Dado panelling, wall panelling and shiplap installation. Timber windows. Timber doors, french doors, hardwood and glazed. Timber screen doors. Timber fencing. Picket fencing. Outdoor furniture. Tables, garden seating. Timber gates and garden features. Henhouses, wood storage and potting sheds.
My work ranges from the smallest bespoke carpentry project right through to full home renovations. I'm really happy to work to your designs, together with my 30 years of carpentry knowledge and experience.
T E S T I M O N I A L S
Thanks Michael. I appreciate your work and that I can trust you to deliver things as and when needed. ~ Pat. Huon Valley ~
Hi Michael, I really appreciate your work and helpfulness. Look forward to the next chapter. ~ Louise. Kingsborough area ~
Hi Michael, Although I did not get to see you when you finished, I just wanted to say thank you very much for all the work that you did - what started with replacing a few windows certainly did not finish there and the home is now lovely as a result of the work you did. So thank you very much it was greatly appreciated. ~ Kaylene. Huon Valley ~
Born in The Netherlands, I completed my apprenticeship there plus ten years of working on heritage buildings from the 1600s onwards. I love to travel and on a holiday to Australia in 1999 I met Jude in Darwin. It was love at first sight, and in less than 40 hours we had decided to spend the rest of our lives together. I went back to The Netherlands, handed in my notice, and returned to Australia four months later. I enjoyed working for small building companies in The Netherlands, Tasmania, NSW and Victoria; the camaraderie and team work. But I had also wanted to try working for myself. For the last twenty years, I have owned my own carpentry business and don't regret it for a minute. Being a company of one means I can control the quality and standard of the work that represents my name.
Fairy Wren Cottage is home, situated in the Huon Valley. As soon as we bought Fairy Wren Cottage, I gutted it (think shagpile carpet in the kitchen) and renovated it. This is our second renovation, our first was gutting and renovating a Miner's Cottage. To have personally done this twice, I have a very good understanding of renovating, working to a time frame and keeping to a budget. I live here permanently and don't leave the island when it is colder. Actually, I enjoy the colder weather!
Together with Jude, we homeschooled our daughter Liliana from Prep to Year 12. Every family is different and for us homeschooling was the right fit. Liliana completed Years 11 & 12 at the same time as completing the Diploma of Family History at the University of Tasmania (Utas) and is now a qualified Family Historian. In July 2023 Liliana returned to Utas and is furthering her professional development through studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History.
As well as renovating our cottage, we have planted a 3/4 acre bee friendly organic garden. It is important for us to live as sustainably as possible. Resilience and regeneration are words we think about a lot, along with how we can do things with the lowest environmental impact. One way we do this is by using reclaimed timbers if they don't compromise a project, valuing materials and giving them a second life - for example, making a new table top and replacing the old one instead of throwing the whole table out and buying new.
A B O U T M E
Acknowledgement of Country.
I acknowledge and pay my respects to all traditional owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. I pay my respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to all elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.
e x a m p l e s o f m y w o r k
c o n t a c t
Tas Oak cupboards & Shelving. Myrtle bench top.
I prefer to use Tasmanian and Australian sustainably sourced timbers and have very good long standing relationships with my building suppliers. I shop around and compare prices to keep your project as cost effective as possible. Standard & custom sizing.
Bathroom vanity Tas Oak. Benchtop Red Ironbark. Dado paneling. Mirror Celery Top Pine.
Tasmanian Oak gate. my design.
windows. wall panelling. Tasmanian Oak Screen door & glazed door.
Rough sawn Tasmanian Oak cladding & picket fence. Tasmanian Oak gates.
tasmanian oak book shelf & table top.
Full kitchen renovation including kitchen island with tasmanian oak cupboards & red ironbark bench top.
tasmanian oak library shelving. tasmanian oak table top.
HENHOUSE MADE COMPLETELY FROM RECLAIMED BUILDING MATERIALS. MY DESIGN.
tasmanian oak door, door frame & glazing above door. .
tasmanian oak free standing cabinet & bench top. dado panelling.
tasmanian oak exterior door.
free standing kitchen dresser. tasmanian oak.
Tasmanian oak pantry. cypress table top. TASMANIAN OAK FLOORBOARDS.
message:
Email
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Thank you for your message. My hope is to get back to you as soon as possible. I can also be contacted at allhomerenosandmaintenance@gmail.com Phone or text during business hours: 0412 823 925 Michael Van Heel
"From the smallest bespoke carpentry project through to full home renovations. I'm really happy to work to your designs, together with my 30 years of carpentry knowledge and experience."