Tilted Porch
Rebuilding American History One House at a Time
At Tilted Porch, they make it their mission to restore the beauty and elegance of old homes and add southern charm with a Victorian, farmhouse feel. As they like to say, they are “rebuilding American history one house at a time!” They are currently working out of Georgia, but are quickly expanding. Their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction makes them the leading choice in renovating historic homes.
All across Georgia sit cottages, cabins and colonial houses that make the perfect home for each individual, couple or family. Many of these homes have lived passed their glory days, and after years of abandonment remain beaten and a little bit sad. To the everyday eye, these houses might appear unfixable or at least not worth the work. However, they have the potential to be restored and become a home again. Restoring these houses requires the skill of construction, an eye for design, an open mind and a well-equipped team. Brad Jones and his wife saw the opportunity to bring these houses back to their former elegant, charming southern state and they are certainly the team for the job. The two have a passion for building and design and have chased after this opportunity by starting their busines Tilted Porch, where they turn the old into the new.
Jones has had quite the career over the years, from fire fighter to fishing guide, but one this has always remained and that is his interest in building, fixing and repairing. This interest was sparked when he was a child, wanting to follow in the footsteps of his father who was in the construction industry himself. Jones was born and raised in Fort Myers, FL with two supportive parents and a brother who inspired him to pursue several different passions in his professional career. His mother watched him fall in love with building and designing at a young age. One year he built her a clay house and gave it to her for Christmas. It stays on the mantle every year during the holidays. As a teenager, Jones started working with his father in construction. Once he picked up those tools, he couldn’t put them down. He quickly learned how dangerous tools can be in an accident with a jointer saw that took his finger. As he continued to learn, he became more fascinated with construction and fixing anything. He eventually landed a job as a test driver for Polaris Jet Skis which struck an interest in engine mechanics that brought him to Palm Springs, CA, where he test drove and developed motorcycles. He continued to do small renovations in California on the side but decided that it wasn’t enough. Jones’ brother was in the Fire Academy, and he decided to follow in his footsteps and entered into the academy as well. After several years there, Jones lost his grandfather. The two were very close, and the loss had him beginning to question why he was living so far away from all of his family who he loved so much. So, he decided to pack up his things and drive back to Fort Myers to be with his family again. Once he arrived, he learned that his California Fire Certifications were no good in Florida. So, he went back into construction full time and became the Superintendent for a large commercial roofing company before deciding to accept a job as a full-time fishing guide. Still, it wasn’t enough. Jones went back to the Fire Academy as a 37-year-old, becoming the oldest in his class and the leader of the pack. He spent his off days continuing as a fishing guide or doing construction projects. One day, as he was dropping off a client at a marina, Jones ran into the woman who would soon be his wife and the other half of Tilted Porch. The two had met before when they were teenagers and hadn’t seen each other when years. They happened to cross paths and Jones asked her to go fishing with him. Two months later, they were married and today they have three children.
For years, Jones continued as a Firefighter, Fishing Guide and builder. He and Nikki would take on projects together, building and restoring old furniture. Nikki always had an eye for design and Jones had the passion and experience to build, so the pair made a really great team. Jones refers to his wife as, “the glue that keeps us all together.” After years of craving new experiences, Jones finally felt content, never imagining that life could get better. That’s when Tilted Porch was created. Jones was approached by a man named Stuart Bell. Bell had taken an interest in Jones’ passion for building and design. Bell travelled to see Jones’ Georgia home and was able to see his vision of Victorian and farmhouse styles. After long conversation, the two became great friends and decided to go into business together, founding Tilted Porch in 2020. They began buying these old houses, building them and restoring them to their former state.
“Preservation is simply having the good sense to hold on to things that are well designed, that link us with our past in a meaningful way, and that have plenty of good use left in them.”
Richard Moe
The name Tilted Porch is fitting because as Jones explains, “every house we renovate has a little tilt to the porch.” It is a good reflection of the imperfections in these houses that just need a little fixing. Finding these homes requires a lot of time spent searching. “I spend countless hours looking online and have a dedicated agency Algin Realty that helps us. But it’s so much more than finding the home. Once we find something I know right away if it’s the right home or not. Then knowing if we can preserve the history of the home. I’m blessed to walk into a home and see the design in minutes. It’s also a feeling I get when I walk through the home. Almost like a Harmony. It just clicks!”
Currently, Tilted Porch is serving the north east region of Georgia. However, Jones is open to different areas if the right house is calling. “it’s more important to us to find the right home that is in need for the Tilted port touch.”
Fixing these homes is not a one-man task; It demands a team. Tilted Porch has a dynamic team, filled with workers of all trades. “I’ve learned years ago to surround yourself with people smarter than you. I’ve also done lots of my own work. Finding trades that have Mastered their craft is key in our business.” Brad explained that finding talented people who can adopt his vision is an integral part of the business. At Tilted Porch, everyone works together like a family to produce the best outcomes.
Jones’ newest project is the Tilted Porch Saloon at Cottages on Mergendollar, located next to a wedding venue where guests will be able to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in between the ceremony and reception. It will be a versatile space that can be used for other events as well. The future of tilted porch is expansion. Jones anticipates that they will grow across the country, and if there is one thing about Brad Jones that is clear, it’s that he is a dreamer and an achiever. He will continue to take the broken and bring it back to life, one house at a time.
