MyBiz: Former musician finds his rhythm in carpentry

CEDAR RAPIDS — Ben Driscoll once thought he wanted to be a musician when he grew up.

But in the past 15 years, Driscoll's career path turned to carpentry. Although Driscoll had moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., as an aspiring musician, he found the work he was doing in a cabinet shop to be more fulfilling, as well as an opportunity for a more private life.

'At the end of the day I felt like I had accomplished something when I was building cabinets. And the music became less important,' he said.

Driscoll stayed in New York for a while, working with a contractor who remodeled historic properties around New York City.

After moving back to Cedar Rapids several years ago, Driscoll worked for a few local contractors and builders before deciding to strike out on his own.

A small backyard studio at his home served as the launching point for Driscoll Cabinet & Furniture Company. A few months ago, he moved to his new studio on Second Avenue in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Driscoll and his wife — who teaches yoga in the front of the facility — bought the building in December and are enthusiastic about their role in developing an up-and-coming neighborhood.

'We are excited about this spot,' he said. 'With all the construction going on around us and Quarter Barrel opening soon, we are going to feel more a part of downtown.'

Driscoll — who originally is from Shell Rock — moved back to Iowa with the goal of being his own boss.

'I sometimes work until 1 or 2 in the morning. I make a point not to get stuck in a routine because I like to have every day be different,' he said.

Being self-employed also allows Driscoll flexibility. 'I can take a break in the middle of the day to watch my son,' he said.

'And you can own a building here,' he added. 'I moved back with the intention of being more successful. When you are in the big city and working for someone else it can be hard to jump over that line.'

While Driscoll has a knack for making 'anything from wood,' he said he most enjoys building furniture pieces. 'Those kinds of projects, like a dining room table and chair set, allow the budget and time for me to put out something I am especially proud of. They often have a lot of details and that can be really fun.'

'But I also always have a large kitchen project going on,' he added. The recent growth in his business — which he hopes to maintain — prompted Driscoll to hire a full-time employee about three months ago.

'It has just been me for a long time,' he said. 'It is so good to have someone helping me eight hours a day. I feel like I can get things done efficiently.'

Even with the extra help though, Driscoll does warn his clients that he can be hard to reach by phone. 'I can miss a lot of calls because it is hard to hear when I'm working in the shop,' he said.

The noise from the shop, Driscoll said, has encouraged more than a few people to pop in and see what's going on. 'We keep the shop door open and people walking to work downtown will stop in to see what's going on in here.' Driscoll said word-of-mouth has been an essential part of growing his business.

Having help in the shop also allows Driscoll to focus on what he enjoys most about building cabinetry, the design work. 'Ten to 15 years of building doors and drawers gets repetitive,' he said. 'I love taking what my customer has in mind and sitting down with pencil and paper. I enjoy working directly with homeowners.'

Being detail-oriented helps Driscoll enjoy other elements of the process as well. 'There are thousands of measurements for every kitchen,' said Driscoll. 'For me, it's fun to make lists of the parts I'll need and organizing the whole project.'

But deadlines, he admits, are still a challenge. 'I am still learning to estimate the time each project will take. It all boils down to quality,' he said. 'Having a customer wait means a better product in the end.'

While Driscoll is excited about what the future holds for him and his company, he plans to grow slowly. 'We are a small custom shop and we know what we can handle and do well,' he said.

At a Glance

Name: Ben Driscoll

Title: Owner

Company: Driscoll Cabinet & Furniture Company

Address: 608 2nd Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids

Phone: (319) 364-0604

Website: driscollcabco.com