Today we’d like to introduce you to Paddy Collins.
Hi Paddy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a Kansas City native who relocated to Atlanta right after the 1996 Olympics.
After a seven-year professional golfing career, I became a carpenter and general contractor in ’98.
By 2010, I had added TV carpenter and fabricator to my resume, dropping the GC and spending the next 14 years building/fabricating on various renovation shows, as well as for GC’s, designers, and private clients.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being focused on a golf career with no back up plan was my first mistake. When you’re forced to come up with a new career, its always dicey. I have always tinkered with carpentry since I was young, and I did have a set of skills to rely on,
so I did everything I could to learn as fast as i could, on how to make a business out of building.
I learned many facets of the construction world through practical application and drawing on my modest recollection from junior high shop classes. Drywall? sure. Electrical? of course. Landscaping? only because I needed to earn money.
Beauty of being self taught after 27 years, is you definitely find out what you’re good at and what you really shouldn’t be doing.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So after 12 years of simple Kitchen/bath remodels, I found an avenue that opened my creativity and challenged my skillset to new heights.
Actually, it found me, the world of Renovation Reality Television.
So going from ordinary renovations to extraordinary projects that are filmed for the likes of HGTV, Discovery, Netflix, etc., I have created a niche for myself in the custom carpentry void. If it’s weird, custom specific, or just someone else said “not possible”, I’m now that guy.
What brings me great pride in my work is the fact I don’t ever build the same thing twice. Every project i complete is unique to that client (tv included).
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people wouldn’t know that I have two Daytime Emmys.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://paddycollins.com
- Instagram: @paddyrat69
