At Harmon Builders, every home we create is a reflection of our family’s passion for craftsmanship. From the design table to the final detail in the woodshop, each project is truly a family effort. This time, we’re bringing you a closer look at that process — through the eyes of our son, Emerson.
A Family Builds at Harmon
Emerson is a high school senior who’s grown up around sawdust, blueprints, and building sites. As he prepares for college, he’s taking on a new role: documenting one of our upcoming build projects. He’ll be sharing his perspective as the build takes shape — what goes into each stage, what he learns, and what makes a Harmon build unique.
Photo: The Harmon Family – Melani, Jesse, Paul and Emerson at City Lab in Berlin, Germany.
Workshop and Art Gallery Kickoff in Sharpsburg, MD.
By Emerson Harmon — October 13, 2025
Project Overview:
Permits in hand, ground-breaking next. Harmon Builders is excited to launch a new project: a bespoke workshop and art gallery in the Sharpsburg area—a space tailored for a pilot’s kit-aircraft builds alongside a refined gallery for the owners’ photography interests. With the well drilled last month, the septic system designed, and the building permit approved last week, we’re aligning schedules to break ground.
Site & Design Details:
The property to house the workshop is beautifully positioned on a hillside along the Potomac River, near Taylor’s Landing in Sharpsburg, MD. The building will feature not only a working shop for building small aircraft but also its own well and septic system, a fully equipped kitchen, ample storage, a full bathroom, and a gallery space to host the owner’s photographic work and artful gatherings comfortably. A dedicated workshop, finishing room, and ample storage ensure clean, efficient craftwork. Our kickoff meeting last week, which coordinated with trades, helped set the groundwork for breaking ground, foundation plans, and construction sequencing.
Looking Ahead
With the groundwork now clearly defined and communication lines open, the project is positioned for a strong start. The next couple of weeks will be dedicated to final preparations—securing materials and preparing the site—so that once work begins, everything proceeds smoothly.
Follow along as we shape this multi-use space from the ground up—where craftsmanship meets curation.
Next Up:
Excavation, foundation prep, and utilities.
Note from Melani: Many thanks to our long-time friend and fellow artisan Kirke Martin, owner of M4 Studios. Kirke played a pivotal role in bringing Harmon Builders into this project to assist with design, project management, and job supervision.
P.S. – Watch the process of another of our builds – an Industrial Cabin in the Mountains See the property on Airbnb
About Emerson’s Journal
A behind-the-scenes look at Harmon Builders projects through the next generation’s eyes. Emerson Harmon documents the craftsmanship, process, and creativity that go into every custom build.
Behind the Build | Building It Right from the Inside Out
Emerson here! The last few weeks since the holidays at Harmon Builders have been busy, and the workshop is really taking shape.
Behind the Build | Workshop & Art Gallery in Sharpsburg, MD
We continue to make steady progress on the Workshop & Art Gallery Project. Excavation for the footers was slightly problematic due to the amount of bedrock…
Edmiston Custom Kitchen Renovation with Beautiful Woodwork
Kitchen, bath and hall renovation with custom cabinetry solutions.
Crafting Beautiful Legacy Homes in Maryland – Meet the Makers
The Harmon family history is woven into the story of Harmon Builders, a custom home construction business founded by Paul Harmon in 1995, with his wife, Melani, joining in 2003. Harmon Builders has grown from these family roots into a company specializing in Legacy...
Watch Us Build an Industrial Cabin in the Mountains
Follow along with the building process as Paul Harmon, of Harmon Builders, and his team build a custom home, starting with a wooded lot.
Swim Spa Adds Function and Beauty to Home
Swim Spas are the fastest growing category in pools. Adding them to a home doesn’t have to mean sacrificing form and style.
Kitchen Renovation: Dysfunctional to Amazing
Undertaking a major renovation at the same time there isn’t anywhere to escape is not for the faint of heart. That said, our family certainly cannot be alone in realizing we needed to change some things when suddenly we weren’t able to just dash out to a restaurant when things were hectic.
Sharpsburg Home: historic renovation photo gallery
An inviting glow from the porch lights of the farmhouse as the sun sets. Harmon Builders is pleased to share this collection of images taken of the restoration work on this mid 18th century farmhouse taken during the course of the project. The photos provide some...
Historic construction in Sharpsburg
We are making diligent progress renovating the historic farmhouse in Sharpsburg. The original part of the home likely dates back to 1750s, with an addition likely in the early 1800s. Meticulous work guards the integrity of historic construction to avoid damaging...
Project update: A beautiful and functional family home–complete
This former rancher has been completely transformed by a garage addition, second story that represents a complete shift in the architectural style, and a kitchen open to the living space creating a contemporary interior feel. Paul and Jason worked closely with the...
