Lasting First Impressions At Vision Stairways and Millwork

Oct Issue

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Vision Stairways and Millwork produced this double open stairway with 4-inch White Oak treads, open riser, White Oak closed stringer, with freestanding stair and landing. Included are a glass panel and square White Oak top rail.
Vision Stairways and Millwork produced this double open stairway with 4-inch White Oak treads, open riser, White Oak closed stringer, with freestanding stair and landing. Included are a glass panel and square White Oak top rail.

“Stairs are the largest piece of furniture in your home. We wanted to create custom stairs and doors from start to finish. We stain and finish a lot of the products that we provide. Most stair companies don’t do that, but here in the Southeast we wanted to offer that service for one-stop shopping.”

Jim Lewis, owner and president  Vision Stairways and Millwork

Woodstock, GA – Vision Stairways and Millwork, based here, offers quality crafted stairs, stair parts, entry doors and other millwork. The firm purchases approximately 100,000 board feet of Red and White Oak; Maple; Poplar; Walnut and Mahogany annually (5/4 through 8/4).

Old World stair-building traditions are still alive and are complemented with computer-aided design (CAD) and a relentless commitment to delivering world-class customer service at Vision Stairways and Millwork. 

Company Owner and President Jim Lewis said, “We’re the one-stop shop for all things staircase related. We serve builders, architects, designers, homeowners – anyone who desires a set of stairs that exudes originality and attention to detail. We also sell both stock and custom-made stair parts such as handrails, balusters, newels, treads, and risers.”

A forest products industry veteran, Lewis said Vision Stairways and Millwork produces staircases of unrivaled quality. “Each set of stairs is a 100 percent original that is fabricated locally by skilled artisans. For modern staircase design ideas, we are the place to look. We build straight staircases, curved staircases, spiral staircases, scissor staircases, floating staircases, radius staircases, and many other styles.”

With a satellite location in Raleigh, NC, the company encompasses about 30,000 square feet in all. When asked about equipment used in the manufacturing process, Lewis commented on a few of the key pieces. “We have a 5-axis Routech CNC, which is an 18-20 foot bed overhead 5 axis CNC that we run anything through that has to do with our stair components and our door stiles and rails. We also have a couple of overhead 3-axis CNC Stringer CNT Motions and a 24-foot glue rail Quick Machine Comp.”

This is a freestanding stairway with open riser, cut stringer and an all-White Oak stairway. It includes glass panels and modern round White Oak rail.
This is a freestanding stairway with open riser, cut stringer and an all-White Oak stairway. It includes glass panels and modern round White Oak rail.
This freestanding curve stair with Red Oak treads, Poplar closed stringers with custom wrought iron rails was crafted by Vision Stairways and Millwork.
This freestanding curve stair with Red Oak treads, Poplar closed stringers with custom wrought iron rails was crafted by Vision Stairways and Millwork.

Established in the middle of the 2009 downturn, which speaks volumes for the company’s stability, Lewis said the company goal is to create lasting first impressions. “Stairs are the largest piece of furniture in your home,” he explained. “We wanted to create custom stairs and doors from start to finish. We stain and finish a lot of the products that we provide. Most stair companies don’t do that, but here in the Southeast we wanted to offer that service for one-stop shopping.”

Vision Stairways and Millwork was the recipient of the 2015 Best Straight Stairway Award from the Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association (SMA) and was identified as the Best Stair Company by Atlanta Home Improvement magazine. “Choosing us to design, build, and install a set of stairs for you means putting the project into the hands of true professionals who exercise incredible attention to detail at every turn,” said Lewis.

The company’s products can be found in some interesting places and Lewis said they are prepared for special requests. “We fulfilled a replication request for a wedding venue for Prime Family Companies in Fayetteville, GA, where we replicated the stairways of the National Museum in Paris.”

Lewis said he attributes the company’s continued success to experienced leadership; all-inclusive pricing; and excellent customer service. “From brainstorming to final walkthrough, Vision Stairways and Millwork takes responsibility for every step of the process. Anyone who buys a set of stairs from us benefits from not having to rely on multiple parties to accomplish what we can do on our own. I feel we do an excellent job of taking what the customer is thinking, through a photograph they’ve seen or another source, and tweeking that to fit their home. We provide a turn-key service.”

With over 30 years of experience in the industry himself, Lewis said, “Out of 48 employees, half of them have eight-plus years of experience in the stair and door industry. We value our people and we are committed to providing an excellent working environment for them. We are a family-run business that cultivates productive, personal relationships with our customers and business partners. Our showroom near Atlanta, GA, is a great place to visit and witness what we do firsthand.”

Front doors from Vision Stairways and Millwork grace an ever-increasing number of homes in Atlanta and across America. “The growing popularity of our front entry doors can be explained by the fact that they bear the telltale hallmarks of attention to detail and artisanal-level craftsmanship,” said Lewis. “Each door is painstakingly handmade utilizing high-quality components that can easily withstand decades of use and weather exposure. Unlike any of the front doors that you will find at a big-box home improvement store, our doors are elegant, high-end products that make a resounding statement.”

This work of Mahogany includes double door with iron grills, clear glass and Ebony stain.
This work of Mahogany includes double door with iron grills, clear glass and Ebony stain.

The custom front doors that the company markets are wood doors. Vision Stairways and Millwork is one of the preeminent manufacturers of Mahogany and Walnut entry doors in the Southeast. “Starting with a Mahogany or Walnut slab, we are capable of creating a front door that is as gorgeous as it is original,” he said. “All of our wood doors feature 1-3/4”- or 2.25”-thick construction, 5/8”-thick insulated glass, heavy-duty hardware, and matching frames,” Lewis explained. 

“Every front door from Vision Stairways and Millwork comes backed by a two-year warranty, and we do offer the Tango door stock line. We also offer extensively customizable entry doors.” When asked what the future holds for Vision Stairways and Millwork Lewis said, “We’re looking at expanding products to other suppliers outside of our current markets. Our plans are to become a supplier to other distributors, manufacturers and/or wholesalers that don’t have the ability to manufacture.” The company has 48 employees including Lewis; Managing Partner Andy Lund; General Manager Mike Sellers, and Vice President of Operations Tim Wille.

Vision Stairways and Millwork are members of the Atlanta Home Builders Association and the Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association. 

For more information visit www.visionstairwaysandmillwork.com.

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