After graduating from Centerville High School in 1970, the Centerville native studied journalism at Ohio University in Athens for two years before leaving to work full time as a framer, building the frames for houses under construction.
During his first eight years in the construction field, Staton went from framing houses to renovating and remodeling the interiors of homes and businesses
“I’d worked as a framer during the summers, so I took some time off from school to decide what I wanted to do,” said Staton, a talented framer, who was soon being asked by owners to complete other projects in their new homes.
“It was just a progressive thing ... nothing I had planned, but I liked it. First, I was asked to do the exterior trim in addition to framing and then I was asked to do the interior trim including the moldings and baseboards,” said Staton.
Soon, Staton was being asked to complete kitchen cabinets, entertainment centers, wood paneling and wine cellars. He frequented public libraries in the area in his quest for knowledge about woodworking in his new career as a joiner, or one who joins finished wood together to make products.
“I had a lot of pointers from people in the trade, but I also visited the libraries and read trade magazines,” said Staton, who continues to do research in the field, to keep abreast of changes and can be reached at www.timothystaton.com.
Everything changed in 1981, after Staton married Deborah, an office manager, who helped Staton establish his business, The Joinery. The couple have two children; John is married and has two children. A graduate of The Ohio State University, he currently lives and works in Columbus. Jesse Staton is a 2001 Bellbrook High School, who studied computers at Wright State University.
In addition to The Joinery office in Bellbrook, the couple also owns a cabinet shop in Kettering. Staton’s craftsmanship can be found as far west as Hawaii and Colorado, where he designed woodworking based on the location of the home near the Rockies. Some high profile Joinery projects have been featured in numerous architectural magazines. Known for his crisp traditional style,
Staton also excels with his contemporary designs that frequently feature peg square nails inspired by the Greene brothers of Cincinnati and California. Lately, he has been crafting furniture out of reclaimed wood, like the hickory table he made from a customer’s tree that was knocked over during the 2008 hurricane.
Contact this columnist at (937) 432-9054 or jjbaer@aol.com.
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