About O. B. Williams Company · Seattle
O.B. Williams Company is a Seattle-based custom architectural millwork manufacturer founded in 1889, making it one of the oldest continuously operating woodworking firms in Washington State. The company specializes in custom mouldings, wood windows, doors, cabinets, casework, paneling, and store fixtures, with all production meeting or exceeding AWI (Architectural Woodwork Institute) quality standards. They serve high-end private residences and landmark commercial buildings across the Western U.S., and have completed notable projects such as Benaroya Hall and the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. The business operates from a showroom and mill at 1939 First Avenue South in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood and is open to the public.
O.B. Williams Company has manufactured custom architectural woodwork in Washington State since 1889, giving the firm more than 135 years of continuous experience. For the last several decades, the company's primary focus has been providing custom architectural woodwork for high-end private residences and landmark commercial buildings — including notable Pacific Northwest projects such as Benaroya Hall (home of the Seattle Symphony) and the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. The company is highly regarded for its long history of successfully completing large, difficult, and high-profile projects, and is a founding member of the National Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI). All work produced at O.B. Williams is built to meet or exceed AWI quality standards. The firm offers in-house estimating, engineering, and project management alongside its manufacturing capabilities, and sources outsourced items such as glass and custom metal work — most of which are produced locally. O.B. Williams maintains an inventory of over 10,000 existing moulding patterns and can produce new tooling to match any profile. Mouldings are run to order in any wood species (with poplar recommended for interior paint-grade work and Douglas fir or western red cedar for exterior paint grade), with a minimum order of 8 feet and no maximum. The company sells to anyone and ships anywhere in the country, and its showroom in Seattle's SoDo district is open to the public for browsing physical samples. David A. Wick serves as President of the corporation, which is licensed as a Construction Contractor (License #WILLIOB371NO) in Washington State with a specialty in cabinets, millwork, and finish carpentry.
- In business
- Since 1889 (135+ years)
- Owner
- O.B. Williams (founder, 1889); current President David A. Wick
- Serves
- Primarily Western United States and nationwide custom projects (ships anywhere in the U.S.); showroom open to public in Seattle, WA
- Rating
- A+ (BBB); specific Google/Yelp star rating not found in research
About O.B. Williams Company
Founded in 1889, O.B. Williams Company is one of the oldest continuously operating custom architectural millwork manufacturers in the Pacific Northwest. The firm is based in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood at 1939 First Avenue South and operates both a working mill and a public showroom. For more than 135 years, the company has provided custom woodwork for high-end private residences and landmark commercial buildings, including Benaroya Hall and the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. O.B. Williams is a founding member of the National Architectural Woodwork Institute and produces all work to meet or exceed AWI quality standards.
- Founded: 1889
- Headquarters: 1939 First Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
- President: David A. Wick
- Industry: Wholesale Building Materials / Custom Millwork
- Founding member, National Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI)
Custom Millwork & Manufacturing Capabilities
O.B. Williams runs a full in-house manufacturing operation for custom architectural woodwork of all descriptions. The company provides estimating, engineering, and project management alongside production, and coordinates outsourced items such as glass and custom metal work — most of which are produced locally. The firm utilizes modern technology alongside highly skilled employees and can mill a single stick to match an existing moulding or supply a prefinished millwork package for an entire home.
- In-house estimating, engineering, and project management
- Local sourcing of glass and custom metal work
- Single-piece or full-package millwork runs
- Prefinished millwork packages for whole-home projects
Custom Mouldings
Mouldings are O.B. Williams's signature product. The company maintains an inventory of over 10,000 existing patterns and can create new tooling to match any profile a customer brings in. All mouldings are run to order in any species of wood and are typically ready in about two weeks. The minimum order is 8 linear feet with no maximum, and the company sells to anyone and ships anywhere.
- Over 10,000 existing patterns
- Custom tooling to match any profile
- Any wood species
- Typical lead time: ~2 weeks
- Minimum order: 8 linear feet; no maximum
- Ships anywhere in the U.S.
Wood Species & Material Guidance
The company runs poplar for interior paint-grade work and recommends Douglas fir or western red cedar for exterior paint-grade applications. Customers can request quotes for other species as needed for their specific project.
- Poplar — interior paint grade (standard)
- Douglas fir — recommended exterior paint grade
- Western red cedar — recommended exterior paint grade
- Other species available by request
Custom Windows, Doors, Cabinets & Paneling
Beyond mouldings, O.B. Williams manufactures custom wood windows, doors, cabinets, casework, paneling, and store fixtures. These are produced to AWI standards and tailored to each project's specifications, making the firm a go-to resource for architects, contractors, and homeowners working on high-end or historically sensitive projects.
- Custom wood windows
- Custom wood doors
- Custom cabinets and casework
- Custom paneling
- Store fixtures
Notable Projects
O.B. Williams is widely recognized for completing large, difficult, and high-profile architectural woodwork projects in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Two of the most frequently cited examples on the company's own materials are Benaroya Hall (the Seattle Symphony's home) and the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle.
- Benaroya Hall (Seattle Symphony home)
- Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
- High-end private residences
- Landmark commercial buildings
Showroom, Samples & Public Access
The O.B. Williams showroom at 1939 First Avenue South is open to the public Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 4pm. Visitors can browse physical samples in person or check out samples to take home. Pricing requests are handled via the company's website and require basic project information including lineal footage, profile thickness and width, pattern number (if available), and wood species.
- Showroom open to the public
- Physical samples on display
- Samples available to check out and take home
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30am–4pm
Over-the-Counter Orders & Sanding Appointments
In addition to large custom runs, O.B. Williams accepts over-the-counter orders and offers sanding appointments for customers who need smaller pieces or finishing services. This makes the long-running mill accessible to homeowners, trim carpenters, and small contractors in addition to large institutional clients.
- Over-the-counter order service
- Sanding appointments available
- In-person showroom support
Licensing, Insurance & Business Standing
O.B. Williams Company holds an active Washington State Construction Contractor license (#WILLIOB371NO, specialty SB – Cabinets, Millwork and Finish Carpentry), registered as a Corporation under UBI 178048795. The company carries $1,000,000 in general liability insurance through Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual (brokered by Propel Insurance). The Better Business Bureau lists the business with an A+ rating and reports it has been in business for 137 years (incorporated 1942, started 1889).
- WA Contractor License: WILLIOB371NO (active)
- Specialty: Cabinets, Millwork and Finish Carpentry
- UBI: 178048795
- General liability: $1,000,000
- BBB A+ rating
- Incorporated 1942; operating since 1889
Contact & Pricing Inquiries
Customers can reach O.B. Williams by phone at (206) 623-2494 or by email at [email protected]. Pricing requests should include the lineal footage required, profile thickness and width, pattern number (if available), and the wood species desired. This information allows the estimating team to quote both small over-the-counter jobs and full millwork packages accurately.
- Phone: (206) 623-2494
- Email: [email protected]
- Pricing request details: lineal footage, profile thickness & width, pattern number, wood species