Brown Dog Story

Seth Adams – Owner

This journey began with the intention of building custom homes focusing more on quality and craftsmanship rather than quantity or productivity. The plan was to build pergolas until custom home building gained enough traction to be sustainable on its own, and the opposite ended up happening. The very first pergola I built with my younger brother in 2007 still stands today, and I have learned quite a bit along the way. A pergola structure is simple in concept, but I can tell you that 15 years later I have not experienced many (if any) simple pergola construction projects.


Taking care of someone’s property like it was your own was something my father taught me to do, by his example: “ Always leave something better off than how you found it.”  To the man who taught me how to work when I was a boy, even when I didn't want to. I love my dad.


Two brothers, through the instruction of their father, taught me the basics of framing while building barns during my college years. I learned how to build a structure plumb, level, and maintain a sense of humor in the process. After graduating with a business degree, this experience opened the door to becoming a construction manager for residential and commercial construction for over 10 years. When I began Brown Dog Company, a 40-year “journeyman carpenter” mentored me and taught me a level of craftsmanship methods that our company still practices today.

Chocolate Lab Jonah

This company is affectionately named after my Chocolate Labrador Jonah (“God’s gift”) who is the best dog I’ve ever had. He came at a time when the Lord got ahold of me and redirected my life. I grew up going to a Bible church and put my trust in Jesus at a young age, and I am forever grateful for my mother who was and still is the greatest Godly example and prayer angel in my life. However, until I met a real trial had not ever really read my Bible or pursued God on my own. God allowed me to get to know Him more on a personal level in this time through reading His Word. I would sit on my back porch, drink coffee and read my Bible most mornings. This would come to an end when the sun hit me in the face. You can’t sweat, drink coffee, and read your Bible.

That was how my first pergola came to being.  Jonah was just a puppy then but was a real marker in my journey with Christ. Jonah also served as a solid wingman in landing my beautiful wife Katy, with who I now have 4 wonderful children.  For over the past 14 years we both have worked for and attended Grace Bible Church in the Houston Heights area. I served as the Men's Pastor and Facilities Director from 2014 to 2022, operating Brown Dog throughout this on a part-time basis. It has been difficult, but I believe a God-lead decision to return to full-time pergolas, and I couldn’t be more excited to have this opportunity. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for providing all the relationships and friends who have helped and worked along with me throughout this endeavor. A special thank you to all those who have mentored, prayed, and walked through this journey with me. Especially my wife Katy – I love you.

Seth Adams & Family