Woodworker creates using materials sourced in Moniteau County

Kevin DeChant sits peacefully on his handmade deck that overlooks the Missouri River at his Sandy Hook home.
Kevin DeChant sits peacefully on his handmade deck that overlooks the Missouri River at his Sandy Hook home.

Most living rooms hold the usual TV set, coffee table and possibly a handful of books to give the homeowner a place to kick back after a long day at work. While this normalcy may ring true for Kevin DeChant, his front room has one more piece of decorum: a tree that lines his Sandy Hook home and branches out to the ceiling.

Three years ago, DeChant and his wife, Dana, settled into their home that sits atop a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. After the last box was unpacked, the Elmhurst, Illinois, native started woodworking projects to see how far he could go.

"I got this wood from an 80-year-old farm in California," DeChant said of his living room tree. "Then I lined the ceiling with cedar, and I've put it in a few more places."

One such place was the closet wall in a spare bedroom.

Varnished wood pieces line windows and doors throughout the home, giving the space a cabin feel.

"I did all of this myself," he said. "I never had formal training in woodwork; I just taught myself as I went along."

The installation of the pieces may have inspiration in a past life, however, as DeChant worked as an Imperial marble installer in Hyatt Hotels around the country.

He pointed to the curtain rod above his living room window and said, "This used to be a rocking chair. I took it apart and made this rod, a toilet roll holder and a few other things."

One of his artistic philosophies is anything and everything can be repurposed. The self-proclaimed "quick learner" took an old oak tree and cut it into rings to fashion steps to his back deck, which resembles the same style as the living room artistry.

While the woodworking techniques were self-taught, DeChant has dabbled in a few art classes.

"I took every art class Helias (High School) offered," he said. "When I ran out of classes, I worked as a TA. I really haven't found an art form I don't like yet."

This fact is certainly apparent when looking around DeChant's home. On nearly every wall on the main level lies a painted nautical scene.

"My wife loves the ocean," he said. "So I painted it all around the house so she could always be there."

In an effort to share his craft with others, DeChant has a few display pieces for public enjoyment at Longfellow's Garden Center.

The creative outlet does not stop at woodworking and painting. DeChant has carved multiple atlatls, arrows and bows using various stones and another interesting material that can be seen in much of his pieces: "I got some Native American pipestone from a reservation in Montana," he said.

Most of the materials used to craft his wood projects, however, have been found in Missouri - namely in Moniteau County.

While the inside of DeChant's home may be adorned with a variety of art projects, the outside has not been untouched. A handmade trail that curves down the bluff leads to a bridge and a deck, all made by DeChant. Of course, Dana DeChant was needed for a few technical support services in setting the bridge. For this, a special dedication was made along the trail.

"My wife and I are huge fans of Monty Python," DeChant said. "So I named a few spots along the trail after places in 'The Holy Grail.' For instance, the bridge is called 'The Bridge of Death.'"

DeChant said a shed on the property needed to be demolished, which warranted another project. Part of the wood was incorporated into the back deck of the home along with a tree that had fallen behind the home.

photo

Gov. Mike Beebe, Garland County art instructor Ovita Goolsby and first lady Ginger Beebe, stand next to the official governor portrait of Beebe, painted by Goolsby.