About Al Keaton
Al has been in the woodworking business since 1979, working mainly in the finish carpentry, millwork and cabinetry aspects of the trade. He was a partner and co-owner of Douglas Carpentry, Inc in Los Angeles with Jim Douglas from 1980 to 2003 when they closed the business to allow Jim to relocate to Florida. Their creative and high profile custom wood interiors became THE
sought after trend setting design for fine cuisine establishments and chic restaurant venues in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. During that time Al worked as a finish carpenter, cabinet maker and installer, architectural millwork fabricator and installer, hardware installer, custom door and window fabricator and installer and much more. Though Douglas Carpentry Inc was not union affiliated, Al became proficient to journeyman level in each of these aspects of woodworking. As the business grew Al took over the duties of overseeing the employees and projects both in the shop and in the field environments, typically 6-8 employees in the shop and 4-6 in the field, though numbers varied as need and project load dictated. For example: While building The Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach California there were 8-10 shop employees and approximately 25 Field employees at any time during the project. Whether the task is material take-offs from plans, material ordering and procurement; generating, deciphering or implementing shop drawings (mechanical and high-end CAD programs) for submittals and shop use; sample generation; Architect/Designer liaison; field layout and dimension verification; employee training, machinery and tool procurement, set-up, adjustment and maintenance, or coordination with other trades (i.e., plumbing, electrical, etc.) Al is one of those guys who has demonstrated a propensity for getting involved with design and fabrication feasibility on jobs that may not have had an architect or designer on board to handle it, and is proficient in solving the inevitable problems of construction projects. Since closing the business Al has been busy with on-site finish carpentry, custom door hardware and installation, design and fabrication consultant, project supervision on commercial and residential constructions, administrative and technical consultation, plus other non-construction related ventures. Here is a partial list of projects (commercial and restaurant) Al has worked on, routinely in his typical hands-on, all-in supervisory capacity. His work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Designer’s West, and Custom Woodworking Business. Wolfgang Puck & Wolfgang Puck Food Co:
Spago-West Hollywood
Chinois On Main
Ganita
Spago Beverly Hills
Spago Las Vegas
Obachine Beverly Hills
Obachine Scottsdale
Chinois Las Vegas
Offices-Santa Monica
Wofgang Puck Café’s”
Woodland Hills
Hollywood
Newport Beach
El Segundo
Irvine Spectrum
Ontario Mills
San Diego
Santa Monica (2 locations)
The Block @ Orange
Downtown Disney-Orlando
LAX (2 locations)
O’Hare, Chicago
Denver, CO
Universal City Walk
Wolfgang Puck Residence – Beverly Hills
Imaginings Interior Design (Barbara Lazaroff)
The Cheesecake Factory:
Redondo Beach
Woodland Hills
Newport Beach
Beverly Hills
Twin Palms:
Pasadena
Newport Beach
Islands Restaraunts:
Marina Del Rey
West LA
Pasadena
Daily Grill Restaurants:
Studio City
West LA
Brentwood
Kelly’s Coffee, Brentwood
Bice, Beverly Hills
Pomodoro- LaCienega
Ruth’s Steak House, Beverly Hills
California Pizza Kitchen (premiere restaurant)
Beverly Blvd. – Beverly Hills
Mimi’s Café, Northridge
The Elephant Bar, Clairemont
Schatzi’s, Santa Monica (Arnold S)
Howard Weitman Law Office
‘The Delorian Building’, Santa Monica
Cotton Wares Stores:
Montana, Santa Monica
Century City Shopping Center
Corporate Office – Santa Monica
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shops
Thousand Oaks
Glendale
Koala Blue, Westside Pavilion
Anya Hindmarch, Robertson Blvd. West LA
The Sugar Mill Restaurant – St. Virgin Islands
Plus virtually hundreds of private residential projects, scope of jobs varying in monetary value from hundreds of dollars to over $250,000. Currently Al is specializing in custom, on-site finish carpentry, door and window installation, and consultation on projects requiring specialized or unusual installation procedures, materials or operation. Al has access to custom door and window suppliers, machine shop services, specialty finishing contractors for wood and metal items, and has long-standing relationships with general contractors, specialty contractors and other tradesmen. For example Al recently worked with the general contractor on the high-profile remodel at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where he assisted and supervised the millwork subcontractor in the fabrication and installation of an extensive woodwork package. Al provided detailed shop drawings, consulted with designers and architects on various details and techniques, assisted in the sample submittal process and oversaw millwork fabrication, finishing and installation. During this project Al also helped the GC source additional subcontractors for highly specialized items including custom door hardware fabrication, acrylic resin panel processing, custom electrical fixtures and miscellaneous custom metal items. He provided drawings, design input, fabrication methods and logistics for these items, in addition to getting them through the design/architectural approval procedures. Al is known for his excellent and harmonious working relationships with designers, architects, and general and specialty contractors and high quality workmanship. He is a licensed C-6 contractor, and carries a million-dollar insurance policy. Just want you to have an idea who you are dealing with! ML, Al Keaton Custom Woodworking Marketing Consultant
(Al would never toot his own horn like this!)
