O.P. Andersen of New Edge Designs began his working life as a carpenter, a trade that eventually led him to metal fabrication. As his skills evolved, he found particular satisfaction in one facet of metal fabrication: forming metal. That interest led him into the automotive world, where he designed and built a race car that ultimately went into mass production. But like many creative industries, motorsports came with its share of highs and lows, prompting Andersen to look for more consistent work to support his family.
The Andersen family began when O.P. met KarLee years ago at a sweet corn stand in American Fork. “There was the cutest girl working at this corn stand,” O.P. recalled. After sitting in the parking lot for half an hour to work up the courage, he asked her on a date. Seventeen years of marriage, four children, and a puppy later, the two now run a custom metal wrap company together.
But it took them some time to find their niche. KarLee launched KK’s Homestead Bread, a successful sourdough bread business, and O.P. took on contract computer-aided design work. Somewhere between those pursuits, an unexpected opportunity emerged. “We noticed a need that wasn’t really jumping out at us at first,” O.P. said. That need was custom metal door trims and wraps. Wood trim, is common, but tends to warp, rot, or fail long before the door itself, and the Andersens wanted to create something that would last.
For these lifelong Utah County residents, the overlooked details of post and door trims became the foundation of New Edge Designs, a business built on craftsmanship, customization, and a deep understanding of how homes age in Utah’s demanding climate.
In the early days, KarLee says, “We made a ton of different flyers, and I bribed my kids with ice cream. We went around in our 12-passenger van, sliding the flyers into everybody’s doors—and that’s how we got our first customer, actually, in Lehi.”
New Edge Designs specializes in repairing and upgrading exterior door trim by wrapping it in custom-formed metal. While the concept itself isn’t new, the execution is what sets the Andersens apart. “We can’t say we’ve invented this process,” O.P. explained. “But we found a way to do it in a way where it lasts a lot longer…so it can last up to 50 years. So there’s no maintenance whatsoever on your exterior door trim, and you can choose your color.”
Every project, which can include garage doors, posts, and exterior doors, presents a different challenge. “There’s no such thing as a 90-degree angle—straight up and straight lines are a rare thing,” O.P. said. Rather than relying on prefabricated pieces, everything New Edge Designs installs is custom-formed on site. The metal is measured, cut, bent, and layered specifically for the project, accounting for imperfections in framing, variations in trim, and exposure to the elements.
One of the most important steps happens before the metal is installed. If the wood beneath the trim is damaged, it’s repaired or replaced first. “We would replace whatever has rotted,” O.P. said. “We wouldn’t want to wrap that.”
KarLee plays a key role in the process, working closely with homeowners from the first point of contact. “We love helping people,” she said. “It’s so fun to watch people recognize that this is even a thing—most people have no idea that this type of service even exists.” She also helps guide clients through one of New Edge Designs’ most distinctive offerings: color matching.
“Through our suppliers, we have the ability to find a color that either perfectly matches or complements some of the other accents on the home,” O.P. said. For homes with unique palettes, the metal trim can be matched to doors, windows, or architectural accents, creating a finished look that feels intentional rather than added-on.
New Edge offers two design styles: a modern option with clean, streamlined lines, and a classic style that follows the existing contours of the wood trim. “Some people want to keep the same look or the same profile of their door frame—we go through an extra couple of steps to make sure that the metal follows those contours,” KarLee explained.
New Edge Designs officially launched a year ago this February, and the first year was intentionally very hands-on. The Andersens chose to start small, working directly with customers and learning the nuances of the business before expanding. Today, they cover much of the Wasatch Front, from Santaquin to Ogden, with inquiries coming from as far away as St. George.
Looking ahead, the Andersens plan to grow their business while maintaining the level of craftsmanship that defines their work. For them, the most rewarding part isn’t the metal fabrication itself, but the reaction it brings. “We have not had one unhappy customer,” KarLee said. “It’s a joy to see everybody so happy.”
O.P. reflected on the unexpected path that led him from race cars to residential door frames. “It’s been a wild journey that’s kind of led us to where we are. What we’re doing is not the most glamorous work,” he said, “but sometimes you’ve just got to follow your instincts and see where your skills or your passions take you.”
For New Edge Designs, that instinct has turned an overlooked yet common household problem into a durable solution that does wonders for the curb appeal of Utah homes.