We were lucky to catch up with PItter Patter Carpentry recently and have shared our conversation below.

PItter, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

For Clint, craftsmanship has been a lifelong pursuit. He grew up learning from his dad, who taught him the ins and outs of building. That foundation gave him the rare ability to build a house from the ground up, and along the way, he developed an instinct for solving design and structural challenges on the fly.

Sam took a less traditional path. After leaving a career in fashion in New York, she pivoted into hands-on work, joining a team of garden designers where she helped build planters, decks, and fences. That experience sparked her love for carpentry and design, and from there she steadily built the skills that now fuel her creative vision in cabinetry and custom work.

Problem solving, creativity, and patience are key. Carpentry is rarely just following a cut list—it’s adapting when the floor’s not level, when the plans don’t match the space, or when something unexpected comes up on site. Communication and collaboration are just as vital, especially when working with clients, designers, or other trades. And of course, having a sharp eye for detail makes all the difference when it comes to high-end, custom work.

For Sam, entering the trades as a woman came with its own set of challenges. It often meant having to prove herself twice—first for her skills, and then for simply taking up space in a male-dominated environment. That dynamic can make it harder to access mentorship, gain respect, or feel immediately welcomed on job sites. But it also fueled a deeper determination to succeed, build credibility, and carve out a space not just for herself, but for other women in the field.

For Clint, the biggest challenge has been learning patience. In woodworking, especially at a high level, things rarely go as planned. Patience is what gets you through the moments when a cut is off by 1/16″, when the material doesn’t cooperate, or when the project just takes longer than expected. It’s one of the hardest skills to master—but it’s also one of the most important.

Honestly, we don’t think there was anything we could’ve done to speed it up. Neither of us approaches things at half-speed—we throw ourselves fully into every project, every role, and every opportunity to learn. That intensity means we’ve always been moving quickly, even when we were starting from scratch. The process hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve never taken the slow road.

PItter, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We’re Pitter Patter Carpentry, a small but mighty cabinet shop based in Kansas City, founded in 2020 by Clint Zugelder and Sam Dawdy. We specialize in high-end custom cabinetry and creative carpentry projects—everything from full kitchen builds to intricate built-ins and specialty pieces. Our clients are a mix of builders, designers, and homeowners who care about quality, functionality, and original design.

Clint has been building his entire life. He grew up learning from his dad and gained the kind of experience you can only get by doing. He knows how to build a house from the ground up, and he brings that deep knowledge and problem-solving ability into every design and build. Sam came to carpentry from an unexpected path—after leaving a career in fashion in New York, she started working with garden designers and quickly fell in love with building things by hand. Her background in fine arts and design brings a unique perspective to how we think about space, detail, and creativity in our work.

We started Pitter Patter Carpentry because we wanted to create a business rooted in craftsmanship, trust, and creativity. We’re not a volume shop—we care deeply about each project we take on. Our clients come to us when they want something that isn’t cookie-cutter: maybe it’s a custom kitchen that blends old-home charm with modern function, a wall of built-ins that look like they’ve always been there, or a funky piece that makes a space feel truly personal. We solve problems that require both technical precision and creative vision.

What sets us apart is how collaborative and thoughtful we are—from design all the way through install. We’ve built a strong foundation on partnership, both in our business and in how we work with others. We listen closely, ask the right questions, and care as much about how our work feels as how it looks. And because we’re women co-owned, we bring a different energy to the trades—one that values communication, creativity, and inclusion alongside skill.

We’re most proud of the reputation we’ve built. We don’t cut corners. We show up, we deliver, and we love what we do. The main thing we want people to know is that when you work with us, you’re not just getting beautiful cabinets—you’re getting thoughtful design, deep experience, and a team that’s all in.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Clint and Sam met the way a lot of good stories start—through mutual friends and shared work ethic. At the time, Sam was doing small carpentry projects for and was looking for someone with deeper experience to learn from. Clint, with his background in structural engineering and a lifetime of building, was the kind of person who could teach anyone how to build just about anything—and he had a unique way of seeing solutions where others might see limitations.

They started working together during the early days of the pandemic, helping friends and neighbors with home projects when the world slowed down. What began as a handful of jobs quickly turned into a full-time partnership. Their skills balanced each other perfectly: Clint brought decades of hands-on construction knowledge and inventive problem-solving, while Sam brought a strong will to succeed and the kind of organization that holds a business together.

The name Pitter Patter Carpentry came not only from their shared love of the show, Letterkenny, but also establishes their shared mindset of “gettin’ at’er”. The foundation of their business has always been mutual respect, shared values, and a drive to do good, honest work. From decks and fences in the early days to high-end custom cabinetry now, that trust in each other has made all the difference.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At the heart of what we do is the mission to build things that are both beautiful and built to last. We’re driven by the idea that good design doesn’t have to be flashy—it just has to be thoughtful, functional, and personal. Every project we take on is highly customized to the client’s needs, which means we’re not just building cabinets—we’re creating solutions that make each space as functional and efficient as it can possibly be.

We also believe deeply in making the trades more inclusive and collaborative. As a women co-owned business, we want to show that there’s room in this industry for different perspectives, leadership styles, and ways of doing things. Part of our creative journey is not just about the work we produce—it’s also about the culture we’re helping shape.

Ultimately, our goal is to leave every space better than we found it, and to create work we’re proud to stand behind. Whether we’re solving a tricky design challenge or building someone’s dream kitchen, we approach it with care, craft, and the mindset that no detail is too small.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pitterpattercarpentry.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/pitterpattercarpentry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094618897262&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits

1st image: Photo: Laurey Glenn, HGTV Urban Oasis 2024