History and Facilities

Specializing in timber framing and historic restoration, Trillium Dell Timberworks was formed by Rick and Laura Collins, under the corporation Old Blue Illinois, Inc. Headquartered in rural Knox County Illinois since 1999, Trillium Dell Timberworks remains one of the largest timber frame shops in the Midwest to continue the tradition of mortise and tenon joinery in crafting timber frame homes, timber trusses, and architectural timber elements. We’re proud to offer our clients in-house design services for their custom timber frame projects, utilizing specialized timber CAD software. In addition to crafting new timber frames, Trillium Dell performs historic restoration on notable buildings including churches, barns, cabins, and commercial structures. The restoration side of Trillium Dell Timberworks continues to flourish as both private and public clients seek to preserve or reuse timber frame structures. The historic carpentry in these structures informs our strategy of building and restoration, as does our goal of sourcing local building materials whenever possible. Read more about Trillium Dell’s commitment to the green building movement here.  Meet the Trillium Dell team here.

Our facilities include the Woodwright Shop; a 2400 square foot timber framed building that houses our offices, cabinetry, and furniture machinery. The 4000 square foot heated Beamery serves as the main production shop, the bulk of the layout and cutting of frames occurs here. Components such as knee braces are cut on our Rex Tenoner. Our Woodmizer bandsaw mill allows for onsite milling of material and custom sawing, more than 30’ in length. Newest to our facility, an outdoor fit up yard contains a jib crane with 32’ diameter fit up space, ideal for cabin restoration. Also located on the premises, a Weinig 5 head moulder / planer offers four sided planing services, capable of planing pieces up to 10” x 18” in height and width, as well as producing crown moulding and tongue and groove.

Standing tribute to our belief in restoration and adaptive reuse, is a rebuilt barn dating from 1858. Measuring 42’ x 48’, the barn was originally built in Astoria, Illinois. After a tornado destroyed the roof, the barn was disassembled, repaired and re-erected during a 2004 community raising event hosted by Trillium Dell Timberworks. The original rafters were lost in the tornado and were replaced with 26' Douglas Fir rafters. Mostly consisting of hewn white oak, this barn also contains a mixture of walnut and ash. Salvaging much of the original stone, the barn was raised on a new foundation where it serves as a horse and hobby barn.