Craig Russell has a larger-than-life personality. A quick jokester and a thoughtful leader, as The English Contractor, his projects are so much more than entertaining television. They are the result of a tightly honed team and strong partnerships with area architects and suppliers, all with Craig at the helm. He’s a stickler for detail with a laser focus on doing things the right way the first time. He doesn’t just bark out orders either. Having built his business from the bottom up, he’s no stranger to a construction site. Craig knows how to swing a hammer, too, leading by example and teaching the entire way. His team might call him “The Bulldog,” but you’ll soon see that he’s a modern Renaissance man. To know Craig Russell is to love him, but the work of The English Contractor team speaks for itself.
Meet the english contractor
What do you get when you take a hard-working English ex-pat with a quick wit and an eye for detail and put him on a building site? You get a crew that has a bit of fun while keeping the project going to The English Contractor’s exacting standards, winning homeowners’ hearts along the way.
the english contractor takes on hgtv
While known in Cincinnati neighborhoods for award-winning portfolio, he launched into accidental stardom as the contractor for the HGTV Urban Oasis 2018. The producer quickly noticed his camera presence and put Craig in front of the camera. The rest, as they say, is history.
the project that kept on going
Some projects start small and quickly keep growing. Craig met these homeowners to update a bathroom. So impressed with the team’s responsiveness and skill, the homeowners asked the team to stay on to rebuild a staircase and give the outside a makeover as well.
home addition sweet home addition
This Hyde Park, Cincinnati home is a great source of pride for Craig and The English Contractor team. Working with an area architect, they grew the square footage of this home with a 3-story addition, custom kitchen, master suite and laundry room. This showcase project was completed with new windows, siding and a roof.
the english contractor’s top DIY tips
Craig Russell not only runs The English Contractor, but he’s often active on job sites. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty, and is always willing to help homeowners with a DIY tip or two to help them learn skills needed to make home repairs. Watch to see Craig’s tips for protecting the home during cold winter temperatures.