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Interview with Tom Steffan: South Texas Factory Rep For Wood-Mode & Brookhaven Cabinetry

Describe your background info and how you got into your current position?  I grew up in the kitchen business & went to work for my dad in 1975 (he was the Wood-Mode rep before me).  I was lucky to have my dad as my mentor since he was a pioneer in the sales & design of custom manufactured kitchens.  I started out servicing builder business and eventually got involved in the retail kitchen business before taking over the rep territory in 1992.

The Importance of Warranties

war * ran * ty – noun: a usually written guarantee of the integrity of a product and of the maker’s responsibility for the repair or replacement of defective parts.The warranty is an important part of product guarantees, but when we make big purchases we don’t always read the fine print as carefully as we should. Anytime you endeavor to make a major purchase—be it cabinetry, appliances, or other household goods—it is important to determine what warranties are offered and what they require for you to implement them should you experience loss or damage. Most job-site cabinetry offers a one-year warranty, while factory cabinetry offers a warranty between three and ten years. Our lines of Wood-Mode and Brookhaven Cabinetry offer a Limited Lifetime Warranty, which offers you extensive, comprehensive protection from damages or loss.

Contemporary Cabinet Offerings from Brookhaven

Successful companies earn outstanding reputations and achieve longevity by changing with the times while remaining rooted in their core values. Wood-Mode cabinets have been a trusted name in cabinetry for over sixty years, and have been well-known for their traditional-style cabinets but like any great business they have continued to respond to industry trends. The result is the emergence of Wood-Mode as a major player in the world of contemporary cabinetry. Wood-Mode has maintained their traditional styles while branching out into modern design to offer customers a wide array of styles to choose from, ranging from minimalistic contemporary to European contemporary, and even “retro” contemporary. With slab door, shaker door, and simple recessed door styles, Wood-Mode has remained relevant and timely, without ever sacrificing the high-quality design and production that has allowed them continued success for the last 60+ years.

Factors that Affect Pricing

There are many factors that can influence price when it comes to selecting cabinetry.  When choosing between cabinetry lines cabinet construction is a major factor.  Once a line is selected, door style, finish, and wood specie can all affect pricing.  Layout, sizing, and decorative materials all have a direct link to pricing, as well.

Designer Showcase: Grace Coffman

Grace Coffman has been in the design industry for over nineteen years and worked with Cabinets & Designs for the past four years. Her experience, talent and attention to detail make her an asset to the team.  Grace took some time to answer a few questions so that you could get to know her better.  Enjoy!  

Interview with David Steffan, Sr.

Cabinets & Designs is going to feature a member of our team once a month in a blog.  We chose to start with the legend himself, the founder and owner of Cabinets & Designs, David Steffan, Sr.

The Finish Story

All finishes are not created equal.  Multiple hand and machine sanding and oven-baked drying operations are used on every finish to insure long-lasting quality and durability.  Wood-Mode/Brookhaven use a process of wetting the wood to raise the grain, along with one-and two-step hand staining, producing deep colors with enhanced wood grain and beauty.  Uniform color in the wood is achieved with toning and spray staining applications.  Catalyzed sealer, hand-sealer sanding, spec distressing and catalyzed matte or standard sheen varnish spray operations are used to create lifetime durability and beauty on our stained custom cabinet wood products. Wood-Mode’s catalyzed oven-baked varnish top coat with ultraviolet screen inhibitors provides maximum resistance to scuffing, dents, moisture, UV fade and most household chemicals.  The opaque finishes receive high quality sealer, primer and catalyzed color coats to insure beauty and lifetime durability. An extensive hand-sanding operation is performed between each spray application.  A multi-step hand-buffing process creates the smoothest, richest patina imaginable.

Sugarland Home Show Highlights

We’d like to thank everyone that came out for the Sugarland Home & Garden Show this past weekend.  We were lucky enough to have a prime location near the entrance.  On Saturday over 2,000 guests attended the show and on Sunday, 1,500 guests.  Cabinets & Designs proudly showcased our new door samples including metallic finishes, knotty alder, and an artisan crackle finish.  Wood-Mode’s DVD played featuring the history of the company, how the cabinets were made, and different themes from traditional to contemporary.  We also had our design software, Chief Architect, running to show floor plans and perspectives of recent and upcoming projects. 

Traditional to Contemporary

Wood-Mode and Brookhaven offer a wide variety of door styles, finishes, and mouldings to create the perfect look for your space.  Design theme collage boards are used to help clients narrow in on their style.  The themes include traditional, transitional, and contemporary choices for any room in your home. The American Traditional theme features a raised panel door which is classic in traditional style.  Queen Anne legs, pediments, egg and dart and dental mouldings are used to accentuate the time-honored look.  Burnished brass pendants and sconces top off the design.  The cherry wood and pewter glaze give it a slightly worn look providing depth and sophistication to the cabinetry.  The American Traditional theme is the epitome of elegant, old-world style.

Stop! Do Those Cabinets Have a Lifetime Warranty?

When you’re comparison shopping for new cabinets, one consideration should be the warranty. Obviously, various manufacturers will offer different warranties. However, manufacturers may also offer different warranties for their various product lines. Typically, the higher the quality of the cabinetry line, the better the warranty. Since your cabinets are meant to last, make sure your warranty will, too.  The first thing to consider when comparing warranties is the coverage period. Most warranties fall into one of three categories: one year, five year, or lifetime. High quality cabinets should always come with a lifetime warranty. If a manufacturer is not willing to stand behind its product, you should be leery. However, not all lifetime warranties are created equal. Some manufacturers consider 10 years a lifetime. Unless you are planning on moving or remodeling in 10 years, it is probably not what you would consider a lifetime. Instead, look for a warranty that covers the cabinets for the full period of time you will live with them. Both the Wood-Mode and Brookhaven Cabinetry lines offer limited lifetime warranties that cover your cabinets for as long as you own your home.If the period of coverage is only limited by how long you own the cabinets, the next consideration is what exactly is covered by the warranty. It is standard to cover defects in workmanship or materials for the original owner at the original installation site. Some manufacturers will cover drawer slides and hinges, as well. Generally, any defects arising from misuse, neglect or modification of the product will not be covered by a standard warranty. Since even lifetime warranties differ on what will or will not be covered, you should carefully review the options with your sales person before deciding on your cabinets. As some warranties vary by state, your sales professional should also be able to tell you which exclusions apply where you live. Ideally, you won’t have any claims. However, you need to make sure you know what compensation you will receive if you do make a claim. Most companies provide repair or replacement of the defective part. While the cost of replacement may be covered, additional costs may ensue if the workmen need to remove countertops or appliances during the repair. Always check with your dealer so you know their policies ahead of time.Your manufacturer’s warranty is only as good as the company ensuring it. Should you need to make a claim, you’ll have to go through the company who initially installed the cabinets. Therefore, you should start by choosing a reputable, established dealer in your area. Make sure to ask as many questions of your salesperson to feel comfortable with the terms of your warranty and the people backing it. If your warranty is for a lifetime, you should want a relationship with the company to last as long.

Father's Day Has Us Thinking About Dad and the Kitchen

As Father’s Day approaches, pictures of Dad grilling steaks while drinking a beer with his buddies spring to mind. However, newer generations may be replacing this quintessential image with a more sophisticated version of Dad: placing the finishing touches on a Boeuf Bourguignon while sipping a wine from the accompanying region. We’ve noticed that men have become more involved in their kitchen makeovers, and think it’s because they are spending more time in the kitchen. We have a few theories as to why:The kitchen has become the heart of the home. Contrary to popular belief this has not always been the case. In the early and mid-twentieth century, kitchens had a utilitarian function and design, serving as a “work-place” for stay at home moms. When the work was done, the family gathered in a separate, aptly named, “family room.” However, as women entered the workforce and household chores became divided more equally between the couple, kitchens grew to accommodate families working together. The kitchens became large enough for two or more cooks, enabling men to help their wives prepare the family meal. In addition, the once separate family room became integrated into the kitchen design, allowing children more time with their busy parents. In modern constructions, a large percentage of space is dedicated to these multi-functioning kitchen/dining/family rooms; and an equally large percentage of time is spent there. It’s no wonder Dad feels more comfortable in the kitchen.Men love gadgets. As a result of the expanded size and function of the kitchen, they became more technologically advanced. Large screen TVs, easily viewed while cooking, mean Dad never has to miss the big game while helping out. Computers integrated into the front of the fridge or in the cabinetry allow him to follow along with a cooking demonstration in real time, anytime. While performing these tasks on large, professional-grade ranges from names like Wolf, make him feel like a professional chef.Men follow trends. Let’s face it, men want to be cool. The rise of cooking shows and macho celebrity chefs probably has much to do with men hitting the gourmet aisles in the supermarket. The panache of the Galloping Gourmet has been replaced by the bravado of Gordon Ramsey coupled with the excitement of game shows. Shows like Iron Chef have turned cooking into a sport, a competition, and men do love sports. Many of these shows, such as Top Chef, emphasize the pairing of food and wine, and restaurants often have pairings on their menus. Cigar bars have given way to wine bars, and men have followed suit. Instead of humidors filled with Monte Cristos, men have begun collecting rare wines, housed in refrigerated storage units from Sub-Zero. Keeping up with the Joneses means keeping up with their wine collection.Of course, the reason may be as simple as women love men who can cook. So, this Father’s Day encourage Dad’s love of fine food and wine; but, remember, even the best chefs like a night out.

Choosing the Perfect Type of Wood for your Custom Cabinetry

Are you considering custom cabinetry for your kitchen? Incorporating custom cabinets can enhance the beauty of your kitchen while adding resale value to your home, since they can be customized to coordinate with your home décor. However, in order to maintain the perfect balance between beauty and durability of cabinets, you need to make sure they are built of the right species of wood for you. Here are some of the most popular woods used in custom cabinetry. Take your pick:

Why You Should Use Frameless Cabinets in Your Kitchen

Kitchen cabinets add definition to your kitchen and also help in maximizing utilization of available space. This comes in handy particularly if you have a habit of keeping your kitchen chock full of supplies at all times. Cabinets will play an even bigger role in keeping your kitchen organized if you have a smaller kitchen with limited available space. There are two main kinds of cabinets that you can have in your kitchen, with face frames or frameless. Both will serve you well, but frameless cabinets have some significant advantages over cabinets with face frames. These include: