Katie “Bell” Williams, Lady Katherine of the Commonwealth and the tristate area, full of grace and pizza.
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Originally from central Kentucky, Katie moved to Charleston in 2013 to study traditional building methods and restoration architecture at the American College of Building Arts. She’s studied many different areas of wood trades from restoration to new construction and settled into design-build custom woodworking. She enjoys the challenges of custom, one of a kind work, and the quiet details in functional art like doors and windows.
Jack “You can’t pick your own nickname, but wishes he was the Hammer” Bassett.
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Originally from Florida (but we forgive him for that), he settled in Charleston in 2001. He grew up learning woodworking with his father, but detoured into music and philosophy before returning to his trade roots. From previously owning his own business to working for nearly every prominent woodworker and builder in town he’s had a lifetime of experience. After studying 18th Century tangential handrail carving, he ventured back into his original stair business.
“Seattle Shawn” Christman Master Stair Designer
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Shawn Christman, out of our Seattle office, was the founder of Seattle Stair and Design. A Northwest native, he grew up in the woods and mountains, islands and lakes that surround Seattle. The company he built has done projects from Disney World to Kobe, Japan, and many places in between. His fascination with stairs began while working in a millwork shop as a student attending Seattle University. He learned woodturning, has made thousands of hand turned balusters and newels, and eventually wanted to build the entire structure for which his creations were intended.
Shawn sold Seattle Stair in 2013 to a father and son team who moved from Chicago to take the helm at the company. Since that time, he has continued to execute projects throughout the country and Hawaii, primarily in support of legacy clients and members of the Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association who rely on him for breadth and expertise hard to find anywhere else. Shawn handles sales and design for Hammer and Bell and connects us with jobs throughout the country
Salvatore Elefante
(the glazing wizard aka “the glizard”)
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Sal is originally from Florida and has worked for some of the oldest and most notable homes in the south, including Ernest Hemmingway’s home. Sal has been with the Hammer and Bell team since early 2024.
Renato Saavedra
(the doctor, the maestro)
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Renato is originally from Chile, Renato has been working in charleston for over 30 years. He has built so many of the beautiful stairs in this city and once mentored Jack as he was learning the trade. It’s an honor to have Renato as part of the Hammer and Bell team to share his life long knowledge.
Iko “This is my ball” Williams.
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Iko is the senior shop dog at Hammer and Bell. He has been a shop regular since 2016 at various institutions. He is most talented at quality control as well as scooting up floor mess and making sure the team takes regular water and fetch breaks for morale.
Woody “Chaos” Guthrie
aka Guthrie Gus Gus
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Guthrie has been part of the Hammer and Bell team since mid 2022 and is shop dog junior. He manages the over pressurized spray nozzle on the air compressor and breaking down cardboard boxes for space mitigation.
