Photographer Jeffrey Stowell peers through the camera, planning the next shot

About twice a month, we like to get out on the road to photograph installed Crown Point kitchens. Our photography team, Photographer/Crown Point Creative Director Jeffrey Stowell, Stylist Luciana Frigerio and PR Specialist/Photo Assistant Stacey Nachajski headed down to Boston yesterday to photograph an impressive kitchen that had been painstakingly finished on site by the homeowner.

After wrestling with city traffic our team began a busy day of taking shot after shot, adjusting the lighting, propping, and making sure everything was just so.  Believe it or not, it takes a full business day (about 7 or 8 hours) to get 8 or 9 great shots!

Our stylist, Luciana, arranges real blocks of cheese and cascading grapes as props in the foreground of the next shot

We always look forward to getting out there and seeing the finished product.  We especially enjoy meeting with the clients face to face, and seeing that they’re using and enjoying their Crown Point Cabinetry.

We’ll be posting the final shots of this unique kitchen in our custom cabinetry gallery next week, so be sure to check back!

Crown Point Cabinetry has long been known as the premier custom cabinetmaker for period style kitchens.  More recently, we’ve delved into the world of frameless cabinetry for our clients looking for a clean, contemporary look.  But what about those who want a touch of vintage style, and also long for a modern feel?

The answer is Crown Point’s Transitional line; a beautiful blending of both vintage and contemporary elements to create the perfect look for any style home.

Fred Puksta, the Product Designer here at Crown Point, spearheaded the development of this line, even using his own kitchen as the prototype (the resulting masterpiece is pictured above).

“We wanted to introduce a totally customizable line that allowed for the modular substitution of design components to create a kitchen unique to the individual,” said Fred of the new line.  “It would be contemporary frameless construction with the option of adding vintage details such as valances, doors and feet, influenced by Victorian, Cottage, Arts & Crafts, Shaker and Early American styles.”

After months of designing, installing, uninstalling, redesigning and final installation, the Transitional Line was born!  For more details, and to check out our offerings in this line, visit our New Transitional page!

Fred was recently interviewed on this subject for a story on HGTV.com.  His tips and tricks to achieving the look can be found in “Guide to Creating a Transitional Kitchen.”

Because we love before pictures, below is a shot of Fred’s kitchen before it was revamped!  Wow!

Say Hello to Jeff Stowell, Creative Director

In the Say Hello section of our journal, we profile a “Crown Pointer,” giving you a glimpse of their contribution to the cabinetmaking process.

Jeff takes a break from photographing a beautiful cherry Arts and Crafts Designer Series Crown Point kitchen in Massachusetts

Jeffrey Stowell, the eldest son of Crown Point founders Norm and Deanna, has been working for Crown Point Cabinetry since 1980.  At that point, the company consisted of Norm, Jeff and two of his younger brothers Brian and Scott.  Together, they handcrafted the finest period style custom cabinetry in a small workshop in Newport, New Hampshire.  Almost 30 years later, Jeff is an even greater asset to the company, working as the Creative Director. He designed and built the Crown Point website and continues to maintain it on a daily basis. In addition, he is a professional photographer and has photographed over 60 Crown Point kitchens now featured on our website.
In your 28 years of working at Crown Point, you’ve gone from Cabinetmaker to Marketing Manager.  How many other positions have you held over the years?

Somewhere between four and four hundred. In a family business, especially in the “early days” with all seven of us kids working here, when there was a need, it got filled!
What does a typical day entail for you?

I feel very fortunate in that my typical day is anything but typical! I may be on a photo shoot, doing my best to capture some of the loveliest kitchens I’ve ever seen, or I could be working on our latest series of ads, or updating and enhancing our web site. (And yes, I am a self-confessed and obsessed Mac computer geek) In all aspects of my job, I get to work closely with a diverse group of people with different needs, but with the same passion for what we create!

Jeff photographed this Early American Crown Point kitchen in 2004 and has used the images in several Crown Point print advertisements

Which aspect of your job do you enjoy most and why?

There’s something special about being able to talk to clients in their own homes, and listen as they praise their cabinetry. I think about how much work and effort goes into every job, and seeing and hearing how happy the client is…well, it makes me very proud!
Forgive the impertinence, but c’mon, you sound like a salesman!

I know, I know, but you have to understand: This is more than a business or job. My family and extended family at Crown Point  work very hard building amazing cabinetry, and an amazing company. Come to our facility, talk to anyone, and I mean anyone, and you will see for yourself the pride that comes from working here.

In his free time, Jeff races RC cars with his son, Andrew 
  

What do you do in your free time?
In the warmer months, I love to work on and informally race my nitro RC car. (OK, technically speaking, it’s a stadium truck). In the winter, it’s snowmobiling. I also started playing the guitar about five months ago. Make that learning to play. More like “strumming chords badly at a painfully uneven rhythm.”
With my wife, two children, one dog, and three cats,  there’s never a dull moment. Actually, a dull moment sounds kind of appealing!