Nathan Kriel started building accent walls in his Woodbury home, seen here. Photos: Chris Emeott
Local carpenter builds focal points-of-view for a sophisticated, timeless look.
Some of the best business ideas start out as passion projects. That was the case for Woodbury’s Nathan Kriel, whose carpentry business, Patriot Home Accents, offers custom-designed wall installations. “When COVID-19 happened, my wife and kids went to Arizona for six weeks,” Kriel says. “I saw a picture on a real estate ad of an accent wall, and I decided to build one in our house while they were gone because I had nothing to do.”
Kriel’s wall incorporated wooden framing pieces, similar to wainscotting, which were installed in an appealing grid, and the entire wall was painted in a monochromatic scheme. “It turned out awesome,” Kriel says. Pretty soon, family and friends were asking him to design accent walls for their homes, and his successful side hustle (He has a full-time job at 3M.) was born. His wife, Elizabeth, suggested the name for the business: “Patriot” refers to Kriel, a veteran of the Iraq War.
Nathan Kriel
We asked Kriel what’s behind the popularity of wood-framed accent walls, and he notes the relative ease of installation and affordability. “It makes a big impact for somebody on a relatively small budget,” Kriel says. “You can transform an entire space.” Some of the walls he designs for clients are for small spaces, like bathrooms or offices, where it helps the space feel cozier or warmer. Others—like in living rooms—are intended to draw the eye and make the space feel elevated. Kriel’s skill as an amateur carpenter, who’s been doing DIY and handyman projects for decades, lends itself to wood framing that’s precise and neatly finished. “I remember accent walls being big 20 years ago, but it was always faux finishes and crackled paint,” Kriel says. “The trend now [with wood framing] is about texture. You can be more creative with the patterns.”
A recent project was one of his favorites. “They wanted to transform their whole living room,” Kriel says. “The main wall had two sections, and then the side walls had wainscotting and two different colors. The end result really popped.” An existing mantel was integrated seamlessly into the design.
Client Ammie Reule asked Kriel to install accent panels on either side of her fireplace and add wainscotting on the other walls of her living room. “He was a big help in the design process,” Reule says. Kriel visited the space several times and diagrammed his design on paper, so the Reule family could visualize the final product. The updated room feels both modern and timeless, with clean lines, dimension created by wood accents and a soft gray color scheme. “My favorite part is incorporating a client’s vision with design and color selection,” Kriel says.
For Kriel, an unexpected joy of Patriot Home Accents is the way it’s become something of a family business. While Elizabeth helped come up with the name and provides support in other ways; son, Reese, 14, and daughter, Lilly, 12, have helped with the building projects, giving them valuable experience with handiwork and quality time with Dad.
Patriot Home Accents
651.900.3661
Facebook: Patriot Home Accents
Instagram: @patriothomeaccents
