Sander took on a small job for us, replacing water-damaged doors on kitchen cabinets. He showed up the same day and completed it with quality within three days. Some of the reviews mention imprecision in setting times to arrive, as well as requests for unusually big deposits up front. Both true, but didn't create much of a problem in my case. read more

ORIGINAL REVIEW: I had a great experience working with Sander and Zen Carpentry. Sander was quick to respond to all communications and worked with me to design a loft that was exactly what I wanted. My NYC apartment is extremely small, and my loft helped greatly increase the functionality of my space and is absolutely stunning. The only reason I won't give four stars is because of the attitude I received from one of the carpenters while Sander was not on site due to Sander's being late and keeping the carpenter over time. I am a pretty patient person, therefore it didn't bother me all that much, but I did feel for the carpenter who wanted to be done for the day and was stuck waiting around for several hours. He did however help me assemble some other things for my apt while he waited... Overall, if you are able to make the investment, I would absolutely work with Zen. They are doing one of a kind work, and I am very pleased with my end product. UPDATED REVIEW: So let me amend this first by removing my four-star rating and taking it down to a 1. Less if I could. I found myself in a situation where I desperately needed to move and had the opportunity to do so rather quickly and last minute. I contacted Sander to see if they had any open times within the span of a few days that they could maybe disassemble, move, and reassemble the loft bed he built for me in October at my new apartment just a few blocks away. Knowing he is usually busy, I wasn't surprised to receive a response saying that they were slammed. Sander said he could meet with me on the 11th of May to discuss plans for modification of the loft in the new space. I received an email on Monday the 9th saying that he could do Thursday or Friday now. I asked if that would be the date we would meet to discuss how the loft would have to be edited for the new space or if that was the days he could move it, and he said that he thought we were meeting about an entirely new project, and that moving the loft and updating it wasn't "the kid of job we are looking to do these days" and then asked me "what [I] was looking to spend?". After then telling me that he couldn't recommend anyone else to do the job even though he wasn't apparently interested in taking it, he agreed to do it for $900, which was to include all moving and modifications. I made him agree to that firm price since he is known to change things without rhyme or reason or documentation. After dancing around a new date to get the move accomplished, we agreed on Thursday the 11th at 11am. We agreed that I would let him in to the old apartment at that time to disassemble the loft and then the team would be moving it to my new apartment that day. On the morning of the 11th, I received a text just before 10am saying "Definitely happening today. 11am is flexible? More like 1PM. Things are a big busy today --- call me?" I called him and he said that he was working on another project at that moment and needed to push back the time between 12 and 1PM. I reluctantly agreed and said that he needed to call me 20 minutes before so that I could walk over to the new apartment. He called me back again at 12:17 saying that they were about to head to PARK SLOPE to do another job, and that he would call me around 2:30 to give me their ETA. Additionally, he told me that they would just be taking it down that day and then pushing back moving it into my new place the next day, May 13th. After hanging up with him on that phone call, I was furious. I had told Sander that I had a relatively open weekend, but he was now abusing my time and assuming he could interrupt whenever to get the work done. I made a phone call to a friend who is also a carpenter, and he said he could do the project. I sent Sander a message at 1pm and said that his services were no longer required since I couldn't sacrifice any more time. ONE HOUR LATER, at 2PM, he began to text and call me incessantly saying that he and his team were now apparently en route to me (even though they said that they'd be in PARK SLOPE for a project for at least an hour and a half and would call me at 2:30ish?) He stated that he "cancelled other work to do this for [me]" and said that I was being grossly unfair and that he was banking on that $900. Last time I checked, I was not responsible for how you manage your business and time, and you also didn't cancel work, you TOOK ON MORE WORK and wasted MY time. He then sent me two texts that said this: "I'm sending you a bill. You cancelled an agreement at the last minute. [...] And it's actionable. I'm billing you for half. $450." and then "It's $450. Paid today via Chase QuickPay. Otherwise I'm going to report you to the credit agencies. Your credit will be wrecked. Your time is valuable? What's valuable to me is paying my guys on time. You put be in a difficult position and I do not appreciate it." There were no contracts or paperwork. I'll just leave this here. Don't work with this immature excuse for an artist. read more

I recently had a loft built by Sander from Zen carpentry for my 20 year old son. After viewing photos and a visit from Sander we agreed on a design. We were eagerly awaiting the final product. One week later we had a beautiful custom queen size loft. I told Sander that he outdid himself. The loft is amazing. It has doubled our space which is much appreciated, as city apartments can feel cramped. The room now has an open airy feel with a rustic touch, not to mention a woodsy scent that I wish would would stay for good. I would highly recommend Sander and Zen Carpentry for a custom loft. You will be thrilled with your new space, appreciate the attention to detail and enjoy a cozy new experience! Maura, NYC read more

We would be negligent if we did not write this review about our horrendous experience with Zen Carpentry, aka Loft Beds NYC and Sander Hicks. It has been about a year since Zen did their substandard work, and we are now faced with the prospect and the expense of finding, bringing in a reputable contractor, and spending more money to make this project "right". What was promised and what was delivered were very different. We never received a formal contract or drawings and that should have been a very loud warning bell. There were other warnings- the high pressure tactics he used to collect more money up front than is customary in the business, the fact that there was high pressure to upcharge us for his own errors in the project, the call from Home Depot to front him more money because he could not afford to buy the materials, the unwillingness to take responsibility for his sloppiness in the project from materials to clean-up to delivering what was actually promised. He left specks of paint on the floor and left our vacuum (a small household vacuum) filled with his debris from the job. He was contracted to design a loft bed with some simple bookcases and a ladder for access in a very small studio apartment in Manhattan (under 200 sq. ft.). A photo was provided to Sander of a loft which he said he could do something similar. Supposedly the loft would rest on a custom built-in armoire for support. There was to be room for the armoire and the sleep sofa in a very tiny space. He changed the design without communicating to us and made the armoire free standing. The armoire had to be moved, because the sleep sofa would not fit and be usable under the loft otherwise. The armoire was constructed of cheap materials and looked like it was falling apart upon delivery. We had him move it out of the unit somewhere else, and it ultimately fell apart and had to be thrown away. The loft itself does not appear to have been primed so there is peeling paint, and the paint job and woodwork finish job was sub par. He used distressed wood to support the loft and this was not something that we agreed to. The ladder steps are splitting. The ladder was not placed in a different location than told and will need to be moved so that service people can access the heating system in the studio. The loft was not properly leveled at installation and had we not noticed, there would not have been an attempt to make it level. It is still not level, but is better than it originally was. He clearly did not take proper measurements, because the loft itself had a large gap (that someone could easily fall into and become injured in) between the loft and the wall. He tried to blame us and tell us that this was how we wanted to have it. He used thin plywood for shelves (had him change but he up-charged us for that) which hung over and still do. Of course, we told him we were relying on his expertise for the design of a professionally built loft. Sander proclaimed that everybody loved his work and never had complaints when we inquired about his warranty and willingness to address issues. He attempted to do a high pressure "video interview" of our experience which made us extremely uncomfortable and was embarrassing. He was also hired to set up some shelves for the small and only closet in the loft which was to allow room for clothing and a small vacuum and ironing board. The vacuum cleaner and ironing board did not fit and now sit in the small bathroom. He was paid to move a large IKEA cubby out of the unit from the premises, but he moved it to the basement of the building so was paid for something that he did not do as well. There were a couple of other small items he was to take care of which also did not turn out the way he promised. Not only were we overcharged for this project, but we ended up with something way different than what was promised. We would not be comfortable with him returning to make this project "right". We are aware that at least one of his carpenters on the job quit after working on our project. He did not meet time deadlines which were extremely important and had lots of excuses for everything. We cannot recommend his company and are very disappointed that we spent so much money on the project. Our next step will be to file the complaint with Consumer Affairs. read more

Sander and Brian are awesome! I've worked with them two going on three times, and Sander has been more than accommodating and gone beyond the call of duty. They lifted a bed in Manhattan, un-lofted and moved and created a new frame for me in Brooklyn. read more

I found Zen Carpentry through an ad in Angie's List and was encourage by some of the positive reviews in Yelp. I should have known better. I contacted Zen Carpentry for a few custom pieces such as a mail organizer, a projector stand, a simple coat hanger, and the like. Sander Hicks scheduled a site visit. And then rescheduled about three times because his availability kept changing. This should have been a red flag already. He eventually came and took measurements. He told me that he would send me drawings in a week. These drawings never came. When I contacted him repeatedly, there was always some excuse. Months later, someone I'd never spoken to before called me and told me that all my pieces were ready and he could deliver. I asked him who he was and what had happened to the drawings I was supposed to review before execution. He said he has no idea and that he was simply told to make those pieces. When the pieces arrived Rick Sanders was nowhere to be found. I was told he was at a "retreat." The measurements he'd taken were not accurate so a number of adjustments had to me made on site. The person who made the pieces was a nice and capable guy but his helper was a terrible craftsman. Some of his missteps during installation required additional work to fix. After the work was done, I mailed the remaining balance to Sander Hicks through a bank check. During the few days it took for the check to arrive, Mr. Hicks got very impatient--as if he hadn't made me wait for months--and kept leaving messages in my voicemail telling me to cancel that check and wire him money immediately because his rent was overdue. He charges the equivalent of a company like Design Within Reach but the quality of his work is at best rustic. read more

Zen Space Makers Inc were so great - we needed custom cabinets, benches and a custom-built reception desk for our business. We needed the work done quickly, with good quality, and on a tight deadline, to open our new dance-class business on time. Thanks to the boys of Zen, especially Kevin, they got "At Your Beat" open on time, looking good, here at the City Point mall in Brooklyn. Thanks, Zen! read more

Sander & team worked with me on two very custom projects. A custom credenza made of several unique wood types, and a custom fireplace mantle. They went above and beyond with communication and time spent to ensure that I was happy with the direction and end result. Their work is stellar. The team is clearly extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their work. Highly recommend! read more

We have a terrific new loft bed and desk for our granddaughter, and had a terrific experience with Sander and with Zen Carpentry in general. We agreed a design and price, and two weeks later the job was complete. We started with photos from the web site, Sander modified the design to fit our quite eccentric space, added a desk and suggested other things we would need - e.g. electricity at the loft level. Sander quickly got the necessary insurance for our co-op and was completely professional dealing with us, and with the building employees. They prepared the room (part of a closet needed to be demolished), built the bed in their workshop, and then installed the loft and desk while we were on vacation. All went very smoothly. There were some field decision add-ons, but Sander stuck to the original price: for example, not charging us for a light fixture he decided we needed and he bought and installed below the loft. They even came back after we had paid in full to do some paint touch-up and cleanup that Sander realized needed to be done. We have a gorgeous custom solution to our need to provide a 'grown up bed' for granddaughter and to create space in the room for her little brother for only a few hundred more than we would have spent at Pottery Barn Kids (their lofts were too tall for our apartment anyway). We are delighted with the room and our experience working with Zen Carpentry and highly recommend them. read more

First, an apology to anyone who hired Sander Hicks as contractor this spring. I was going to wait till we settled with Hicks to write a review. We haven't settled anything, but I would be remiss if I postponed writing a review any longer. Here's a shortened list of what he did wrong: Overcharged the first 50% and didn't return the overcharge which I paid in November. Didn't follow his own protocol in charging us for change orders. Didn't hire competent workers. Didn't qualify for his contractor license renewal in February. Continued without it. Misrepresented himself as a designer and contractor and took on jobs that he knew nothing about how to complete. Paint Job "Painters" painted down to the top of the bed. And stopped. Painted one side of a door, not the other. Painted over dirt on the doors. Splashed paint on heirloom chairs and desk and on floor. Didn't apply second coat. Floor Let's just say that the part of the floor that he did no work on is better than any part he said he cleaned or tried to refinish. Cabinets and drawers None of them are aligned correctly. Wide gaps between doors. Only one shelf per cabinet. Two hinges are broken. Space left between counter top and top of cabinets filled in with pieces of other wood. No back on two cabinets. Top cabinets are shallow when they could have been at least six inches deeper. Sinks Appear to be used. Have chips around the sides. Shelves Microwave put in shelf "cubby" that has no space to vent or even plug it in. Electrical One outlet in top cubby is 6 ft. 8 in. above the floor. I'm 5 ft. 2 in. with shoes. Hole in the wall not repaired after wiring. Another outlet is directly behind stove top so is also not useable. Did not add new outlets where requested. Put new plates on old outlets and switches that didn't need them. No dedicated outlet to plug in refrigerator and no room in the space designated to put the mini refrigerator. That space is under th stovetop, so also not suitable for a refrigerator. Plumbing Did no research on building requirements before bidding the job. Required we wire more than twice as much more money or the plumber would not finish the job. Bathroom sink drain not correctly installed. Work stoppage Asked us to pay before we saw finished work. Refused to correct these and more wrongs; to clean anything; or even take his tools and supplies when we said we would not give him a final payment until after we saw what was done and not done. I'm not in San Francisco, but in UWS Manhattan. read more

Today I received excellent service and quality with Zen Carpentry . Sander Hicks built me my own custom bedding set and a custom design closet. Now my bedroom looks amazing with style and very much function-able for space and organization. I can't ask for more. This is truly ever women's dream to have more space for supplies and clothing. Thank you so much read more

ATTENTION Everyone : Stay away from this guy. All of the positive reviews are FAKE. He did terrible work for us, he's a con artist- he doesn't know how to really build. He skimped on materials, and almost the whole thing had to be re-done. I should've known when he wanted to charge $1500 to install lights under the loft, or when he demanded a HUGE deposit. Now we've learned he lost his license. We are working hard to get back the almost $3000 we paid him because from loose railings, to unsanded surfaces, to an improper ladder, exposed bolts, and carpentry than another called "wacky" everything had to be re-done. Sander is VERY AGRESSIVE and tried to intimidate me, a5'2" woman, into paying him for incomplete work -- standing over me, raising his voice, (in front of my son) even though I could tell that the work was not done. Stay away!!! Will be posting our Dept. Of Consumer Affairs complaint #-- two other YELPers have filed or are filing!! Worst experience of all time!!!! read more

We had a great experience with Sander. He is very talented, and he gave us exactly what we requested and more. I am inspired by his craftsmanship, and I'd love to have him come back for more projects in the future. I'm already inviting friends over to check out his handiwork. It was really incredible what he was able to do all by himself over the course of the day today. I'd highly recommend him, and have nothing but positive things to say! read more

I researched for months and finally came across Zen carpentry. The tiny previously useless room my two kids share is now transformed into a magical forest like oasis. They each have their own loft beds with unique tree trunks as supports. The tree trunks even have footholds for them to climb! They have custom desks, shelves of natural wood, and curtain rods so they can enjoy some privacy. I can't begin to explain how unique, beautiful and artistic the beds and desks are. Sanders came over the day after I called and we talked over the design. He incorporated all my ideas into a workable plan. A week later the crew was at my house! Kyle, who helped with the build, was kind and extremely creative himself. He made some hangers out of extra branches for my daughters necklaces, and put the footholds on the tree trunks for my son to climb. Though you will spend more than you would for a bed in a box, for what Zen Carpentry did the price was extremely reasonable, and it's local, so much more ecological, and will transform your home! read more

If I could give 6 stars I would. The team was extremely professional, clean and thorough. Sander was detailed and exact in his deliverables. I am pleased with how our lofts turned out. He threw in some exotic Chinese elm wood to top off a really interesting red maple railing. My two daughters LOVE IT!!!! I would recommend his team to anyone. read more

We recently had a loft area built in our 16 year old son's room. When we first contacted Sander at Zen carpentry I sent him a photo of a loft bed my son liked but was clearly too big for. I explained to Sander that there were some aspects of that bed's design that we liked, but I did not want a loft bed. I told Sander that I would like a loft area where I could put a bed on top, and then have all the necessary storage built in. We met with Sander at his workshop in Queens. We brought him more pictures of our ideas, we talked about them and drew up some preliminary plans. Sander provided us with plans a few days later. Since it was difficult for me to visualize what he was proposing, I asked him to come to our house and see the space so we could all be clear on what we would be getting. Sander came, we tweaked the design plan according to the room and our needs, and we now have a beautiful loft area in our son's room. Our son loves his new space, and I love the functionality of if. Sander was a pleasure to work with and I would recommend him to anyone. We are in the process of negotiating another project with him. My son's room is organized and now there is Zen in my life. read more

We had a disappointing experience with Zen Carpentry in renovating our apartment bathroom. Things started out promising, with good interaction, but as the work progressed, a partial wall that had to be constructed, was out of plumb, and had to be redone. This required additional wall tile, and partially blocked the electrical outlet. This also created a problem with the edges of the partial wall, and we had to suggest a compromise solution because the way it was going to be left was completely unacceptable, and the contractor did not know how to fix it. The walls were tiled from floor to ceiling, but where the wall reached the ceiling, there were gaps left that we had to fix ourselves. Also, the paint on the door was promised to be removed down to the original wood and finished, which they were not capable of doing and the door was painted. Then, between the door frame and the wall, a gap of about 1 inch was left exposing the wooden wall studs. All in all, I would not recommend Zen Carpentry for a turn-key solution. read more