Meet John Monroe: Master Carpenter and Problem-Solving Pro
Posted on October 20, 2021
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lotus Gardenscapes’ head carpenter, John Monroe, has been working with us for more than two years, helping to execute some of the most innovative and challenging projects in the region. With a background in historical restorations and a passion for large-scale problem solving, John is an expert at bringing the design team’s elaborate sketches to life and knows a thing or two about achieving the impossible.
Following a six-year stint in Savannah Georgia, the Michigan native returned to the area in pursuit of the perfect four-season climate. He was scouted by designer Nicole in 2019 and has been working closely with the design team ever since. John says he learned everything he knows out in the field from restoring 200-year-old homes to working on new-build townhouses.
Now, as the head of carpentry at Lotus, John spends his days helping customers realize their design dreams, crafting everything from pergolas and decks to custom kitchens and bars.
He said: “I’m handed the sketches and then it’s my job to create mock-ups to show the client exactly how it will look when it’s built. I work closely with them to ensure the design is exactly what they’re looking for and tweak it to their specifications. Then we get to build it. The coolest part is getting to work on these completely unique custom builds that you don’t see anywhere else. The work we do at Lotus is incredibly distinctive because it’s just so bold. I don’t know another crew in the country that does what we do.”
Reflecting on some of his most exciting projects, John recalled building a pergola fitted with floating beams. The client wanted the beams to appear to float mid-air and so requested that there be minimal support in place to achieve the illusion. The finished project was truly spectacular – so much so that you’ll see it plastered on Lotus trucks up and down the state!
When he’s not performing carpentry miracles with Lotus, John likes to spend time playing video games with his two sons, aged nine and twelve. His passion for motorsports has also inspired John to want to learn welding and metalwork, skills which he hopes will help him to expand his potential.
Looking forward, John plans to continue working with wood and to helping clients to incorporate it into their homes and landscapes.
He said: “The most important thing to remember when it comes to wood is that it grows on trees. It’s a natural product and so is naturally flawed. That’s what makes it so special. Sometimes it can be cranky and have knots or change shape and twist as it dries. But you’re always going to get something unique. I think that’s pretty cool.”
We think he’s pretty cool too![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]