Now more than ever before, homeowners take pride in owning their spaces by making them fit their private aesthetics. The creative expression in both architectural and design terms has made home building a very personal experience and now, the homebuilder can choose a house that fits him and his family best. The truth is we all take pride in making our home look the way we want it to. They are, no matter what they look like, our castles.
Tom Capron, owner and artisan at Architectural Elements, understands this. Capron prefers to discuss the fireplaces, the cast stone features and all the other design elements that Architectural Elements offers his customers, than to talk about himself. As an artisan, however, his accomplishments speak for themselves. Capron has taken his 25 years of experience in custom home building and focused his design talent on the design and manufacture of accent details, large and small, that go into a good house
From clean burning fireplaces to the stone work that surrounds them, Capron’s ingenuity from the design stages onward go a long way in adding that little something extra to a home. Focusing on three primary architectural features—fireplaces, custom trims and moldings, and cast stone, each product is designed to add to the overall aesthetic of the space it inhabits. The fireplaces they install come from three leading manufacturers and range in price from $295 up to $5000. Most come with a variety of options, including ceramic fire logs or brick surrounds so they can be fashioned to fit each indoor or outdoor setting.
In addition, at Architectural Elements, Capron has built a small manufacturing facility that produces his own line of cast stone products. The craftsmen are key in this custom fabrication process. By developing his own stone-casting process, Capron created a system that allows him to produce a wide array of features for the home. This process produces various items from large stone columns to simple nichos. To keep it simple, first, Capron designs the elements, and then he carves a mold from fiberglass. After pouring the stone mixture, the cast is allowed to cure, resulting in a stone accoutrement ready for home installation.
At the same time, Architectural Elements produces custom trims and moldings made of EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam. With specialized equipment, they cut Styrofoam shapes for ceiling crowns and parapet trims. When installed, they can be stuccoed or painted accordingly to fit the rest of the house.
This, in addition to the foam, rigid-foam, and fireplace surrounds, make it possible to, as Capron says, “Make a house, a home.” These architectural elements can be as elegant or as discreet as needed. Their products, be them columns, corbels or simple nichos can add that special touch to a home to give it the perfect fit. |
