A section of the booth we exhibited at Build Boston. Classic white painted cabinetry, assorted door styles and a stunning quartersawn oak piece were all on display.

As 2011 comes to a close, we’re looking back at a very successful fall trade show season.  Most recently, we made an appearance at the 2011 Traditional Building Conference Series in Washington, DC.  A two day event, the conference allowed area architects to get 10 AIA credits while also having the chance to network and meet vendors like Crown Point!

Victorian Designer Series island with soapstone top.

We also exhibited for the third time at Build Boston, allowing us to meet many great new architects, designers and builders.  For the first time, we offered a drawing with a custom island as the prize.  We had a lot of interest, and one lucky show attendee can now call the custom island, from our Victorian Designer Series, her very own!

After the new year, our attention will turn to preparing for three upcoming shows; NAHB’s  International Builders’ Show, The Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Conference and The Architectural Digest Home Design Show.  We hope to see you at one (or more) of these venues!  Until then, enjoy the holidays!

Here’s a behind the scenes look at what happens on a Crown Point photo shoot.  Enjoy!

A Crown Point sponsored youth baseball team huddles up after a game. Coaches John Proper (Crown Point's Application Engineer) and Erin Lovely lead the cheer.

Giving back to the community is a large part of the culture among the employees here at Crown Point.   A number of Crown Pointers, including the company President, choose to do their part by volunteering time as coaches for area youth sports teams.  Crown Point encourages this community involvement and allows employees to take time off whenever they need it.

Ken Aldrich, Crown Point’s Safety Director, has been coaching for over 18 years. Most recently, Ken got started coaching the local Special Olympics basketball team when his youngest daughter began playing as a unified partner.  Ken soon recruited our Production Manager, Don Paquette to help with coaching.  Now, Don’s son has joined the team, competing as a unified partner as well.

Ken Aldrich and Don Paquette coach from the sidelines during a Claremont Cool Cats Special Olympics basketball tournament in March. Seated on the floor, Don's son, Mitchell (left) and teammate, Noah take a break.

“Coaching is so rewarding,” remarked Ken when asked what he enjoyed most about coaching these kids. “Teaching what it means to be part of a team and having pride in that is one of the greatest lessons they can learn.  Plus it means I get to spend more time with my kids doing what they enjoy.”

Ken has also coached track and field alongside Rick Deschaine, our Plant Engineer.  In fact, they were both recently recognized as the “most influential coaches” to the recipient of Stevens High School’s “Female Athlete of the Year” President’s Award.

Rick Deschaine gives a pep talk before a 7th grade track and field meet

“I’ve coached some great kids with some great people including my friend and fellow Crown Pointer Ken Aldrich and my wife Patty,” Rick said.  “I feel very fortunate to be with a company that has allowed me the flexibility to be a part of our local coaching community.”

Mark Belaire cheers on his players, including his daughter Haley, during a game in Claremont

From soccer to basketball to field hockey and more, Crown Pointers have been coaching in this area for decades.  Some of the others who have coached in the past, or who you can look for on the sidelines this season include Matt McElreavy, Randy Bly, Jackie DeMag, Mark Belaire, Bob Davis, Todd Scranton, Brian Stowell, John Proper, Joe Paquette, Eric Smith, Lee Lamott, Tedd LeBlanc, Steve Raymond, Peter Ippedico and Mark Wirta.

Stan Marro keeps a keen eye on the game

Though he has not been involved in the coaching side of things, Stan Marro, a Drafter here at Crown Point, will be beginning his 25th season as a high school Varsity football official this fall.  Putting his years of experience to good use for the community, Stan has also volunteered as a referee for many youth sports teams.

In addition to individual volunteer efforts, the Crown Point Charity Committee regularly sponsors area youth sports teams.  The committee is a rotating group of employees that distributes employee contributions through our charity fund on a monthly basis.  Team sponsorship helps the teams purchase new uniforms, equipment and more.

All our coaches and other volunteers agree, it is a wonderful thing to watch these kids learn and grow.  Without a doubt, Crown Pointers will continue to help out with these teams, making a difference one game, practice or play at a time.

Sporting a Crown Point Cabinetry team jersey, this little guy waits for his turn at bat

The Abode model home features Crown Point cabinetry finished in Barn Red Milk Paint, and a beautiful island handcrafted from Antique Heart Pine

Abode, a local full-service green home building company, is holding a Green By Design Open House this Saturday featuring a talk by Crown Point Designer, Nina Jordan!   Joining Nina will be several of New England’s top green experts in architectural, interior and landscape design, giving attendants a useful overview of green building and energy efficient living.

With Milk Painted Crown Point cabinetry as her backdrop in the model home, Nina will give a quick presentation about our family history, our philosophy, and our newest offerings in green cabinetry for your home.  Highlights of her speech will include the benefits of our eco-friendly Farrow & Ball finishes and details about our responsibly reclaimed Antique Woods.  She’ll also take the time to answer any questions you might have about our cabinetry, so feel free to ask!

The Plymouth New Hampshire Abode Model Home at dusk

The Abode Model home, located at 568 Tenney Mountain Highway, Plymouth, New Hampshire, will be open to the public on Saturday, October 10th from 1:00pm-4:00 pm.   Presentations will go on throughout the afternoon while a BBQ and entertainment round out the day!  We hope you can make it!

]]> http://www.crown-point.com/blog/2009/10/green-by-design-open-house-come-on-by/feed/ 0 http://www.crown-point.com/blog/2009/09/on-location-photo-shoot-in-boston/ http://www.crown-point.com/blog/2009/09/on-location-photo-shoot-in-boston/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:21:34 +0000 Cabinetmaker http://www.crown-point.com/blog/?p=756  

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!

It’s nice to have some good news these days, and today we’ve got it! Our crew celebrated with cake, ice cream and confetti earlier in the week in recognition of a 30 percent increase in sales for the month of February in addition to an all time record for projects quoted in a single month!

Our President, Brian Stowell, organized the event to let the crew know how grateful he is for both accomplishments.  “Everyone has worked above and beyond to make this happen,” he said. “To sell 30 percent more than last February, in these economic conditions is no small feat. I could not  be prouder of this group!”

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!