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!

As you begin to research cabinetry needed for the rooms throughout your home, it’s helpful to understand and know the “language of cabinetry”!  Within these pages, we’ll give you regular Vocab-inetry Lessons that will have you conversing like a pro in no time!

Today’s Vocab-inetry Lesson
Defining the three types of cabinetry: Custom, Semi-Custom and Stock! 

Custom Cabinetry:  Custom cabinetry is the pinnacle of cabinetmaking. It offers the greatest degree of design flexibility, construction methods, options, and finishes. Designing with custom cabinets means the available space will be utilized to its fullest. There’s no need for wall and base fillers, as is common with semi-custom and stock cabinetry. (Furthermore, contrary to what some believe, “fancy” does not equal custom.) Crown Point Cabinetry is a full custom cabinetmaker; we build cabinetry to your exact specifications-within a 16th of an inch!  And, nothing is built until an order is placed.  The sky is the limit, as they say, with cabinetry available in a wide array of  wood species, finishes, door styles, hardware and organizational options.

As a custom cabinetmaker we build to fit your home, your style and your budget.

Semi-Custom Cabinetry:  A middle-of-the-road option where there’s a limited number of choices on things like wood species, finish and hardware. Cabinetry may be available in a number of sizes and shapes, but they are restricted to predetermined increments. Filler pieces will more than likely be necessary to complete the run of cabinetry that intersects a house wall or other cabinets.

Stock Cabinetry: Stock cabinetry is the least expensive of all these categories, with the absolute fewest options available. The cabinets are all pre-built and your choices are completely limited by what the manufacturer wishes to offer.

Was today’s lesson helpful?  Is there a cabinetry term that you’d like explained? Leave a comment below and we may feature your Vocab-inetry term in an upcoming entry!

When building or remodeling a kitchen, the cabinetry door style largely determines the look of the space.  And, if you’ve had a chance to scroll through our options, you’ll see we offer 58 standard styles.  So, how do you decide? Crown Point Designer Deb Foster breaks it down in today’s Designer Tip:

“A good place to start is to gather magazine clippings with photos of cabinetry that appeal to you.  Usually the photos are similar to one another and can give you some insight into what your eye finds appealing.  From there, I usually ask a handful of questions to narrow the choices down to a select few.

Our Cambridge door style was the perfect fit for this Victorian Shingle Style home in Northern NH

1.  What is the style of the house?

Pay attention to what works with the period the home was built in.  If you live in a Bungalow, for example, you might like our Craftsman door.  If you live in a cottage style home, Hampton, or (you guessed it) Cottage are great choices.

2. Do you prefer a simple, clean look or are you more drawn to an ornate style?

3. Is there woodwork in other areas of the house?

If you have oak woodwork in the living room, it might be nice to tie the rooms together with oak cabinetry.  Choose a door style with similar details to really bring it together.

Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for, print out your top choices.  Lay them on a large surface and picture them in your home.  Then ask yourself one simple question: Which one makes you happy?  A lot of these decisions are based on a feeling, and if you just do what feels right, you can’t go wrong!”

Drawing upon years of experience and a background in print ad design, Deb Foster has designed hundreds of kitchens.  She has also had several kitchens and other rooms published in national magazines.  When asked what she enjoys most about her job, Deb says it’s collaborating with clients and professionals to create dream kitchens on paper and see them come to life in the client’s home.

Fantastic install of the new Prairie Line from Crown Point Cabinetry.

In homage to master architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie movement, Crown Point Cabinetry is proud to introduce our new Prairie Line!   Our approach to Prairie styling is historically correct yet decidedly unique with innovative design elements that bring custom cabinetry to a whole new level.

This kitchen is the perfect complement to a newly constructed Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home in Central New York.

Strong lines, cantilevered projections and terraced surfaces. All details inspired by the exterior of this Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home.

Our design staff worked directly with the homeowner and architect to utilize many of the signature design elements found in the home.  Horizontal and vertical lines, dramatic brackets and posts are repeated throughout the kitchen.

An example of borrowing design details from the architecture of the home can be found in the island brackets.  They were designed to perfectly mimic the cantilevered second floor terrace.

Crown Point's design patented square channel face frames.

Our patented channel face frame is a foundational element that adds a level of lineal detail and visual interest to the entire kitchen.  To achieve this look, we apply inlays made of the same wood species (in this case, Sapele) which intersect to create a distinct square detail.

This stunning project features the Highland Park and Ellsworth Door styles.

An adjoining bar area features upper cabinetry with our Highland Park door and clear leaded glass.  Lower cabinetry features the Ellsworth door (design patent pending) with its solid wood panel and wood muntins.  Doors within this line are customizable as homeowners can choose from multiple specialty glass options.

The Linea shelving system offers a customizable way to keep your necessities at easy reach.

Another show stopping detail is our Linea Shelving System.  A customizable panel can be installed as a partial or full backsplash, or as is shown here at the end of the island.  Homeowners can choose from a number of useful elements such as clear acrylic, aluminum or wooden shelves, as well as various hooks.  Wall shelf boxes, as shown above in matching Sapele, allow you to conveniently transport your essentials from shelf to counter and back again.

More photos of this stunning Prairie Style kitchen may be found in our Gallery, album number 70!

Want to impress your friends with your tech savvy ways?  Include a Remote Control TV Lift in your custom designed entertainment center cabinet from Crown Point Cabinetry!

(A little imagination is required for this video-picture a flat screen TV on the lift, and also get rid of the pesky electrical cord which, upon installation, will be routed out the back.)

With just the touch of a button, your flat screen TV will rise up to the appropriate position, ready to bring you the evening news, American Idol or the Super Bowl!

Here's the cabinet with doors closed and the lift in the full down position, flush with the cabinet top. No one will know a TV resides behind the doors of this beautiful piece of furniture!

Along with your TV, unsightly cords and gaming systems can be hidden behind the doors of beautifully finished cabinetry in a number of configurations. We can also incorporate space for DVDs, games and more!

Call and speak with one of our designers today or visit our Organize! page to learn more about this and other storage solutions!

Before the renovation, this Maryland kitchen was dark and lacked contrast.

The homeowners of this basic white kitchen knew their space was in need of a makeover.  Their dream was to create an inviting, period style kitchen where they could gather together as a family-they came to the right place!  Crown Point designer Peter Ippedico guided them in the cabinetry design and layout of the transformed kitchen pictured in the “after” shot below.

Frameless Quartersawn Red Oak cabinetry gives the space warmth and timeless character, and the contrasting island provides a pop of color.

Frameless cabinetry in Quartersawn Red Oak warms up the kitchen, creating an inviting space for guests and chefs alike.   The light blue island incorporates a burst of understated color, while also providing ample workspace in the center of the room.  Design details such as true lite muntin doors, beadboard  and decorative moulding provide the period style charm they were looking for.

In their own words, the homeowners let us know just how much they love their new kitchen:

“Thanks for rescuing us from a very close call with mediocre cabinetry.  We knew our kitchen would be beautiful once we saw the sample door, but the finished product exceeded our expectations.  The Crown Point cabinets really look like they belong in our old farmhouse.  We could not have gotten this period look with the other brands we were considering.  It’s nice too that I can store my heavy pots and 50-lb flour bins in the cabinets instead of on the floor or in a closet.”

“You can also add me to the 99% of people who love their trash pull-out.  Thanks for talking me into it.  The dishwasher panel and hutch-like cabinetry between the refrigerator and wall oven also turned out well.  The whole layout is just great.  It definitely makes the best use of our space.  Thanks again!”

-Homeowners, Laurel, MD

New Handcrafted Sign Marks the Home of Crown Point!

Crown Pointers handcrafted this Bungalow style sign that now welcomes guests to our facility

Upon moving into our new facility on River Road, Crown Point President Brian Stowell knew we’d need a sign that would convey the beauty and craftsmanship of our cabinetry. He also wanted something welcoming, with classic elements and an architectural feel.

Brian and Fred Puksta, our Product Designer, got to work experimenting with various styles and materials. After several revisions, the design that reflected these goals was a Bungalow style sign with a stone base, two large columns and a shingled roof above.

Using genuine materials, such as stone, Western Red Cedar and copper flashing, Crown Pointers began handcrafting the sign in the cabinet shop early this spring.

Crown Pointer's Lee Lamott and Bud Morse prepare the rooftop for cedar shakes

Lee Lamott installs the columns

Lee Lamott secures the sign to the hinges as other Crown Pointers Matt McElreavy, Randy Fullam and Joseph LaFountain hold the sign in place.

Ornamental details such as copper flashing, Craftsman brackets, fish scale shingles and cedar shakes created a stunning period style look.

The center of the sign, made of solid Western Red Cedar, weighs 200 lbs and is held in place by custom designed stainless steel hinges.

The new sign is a wonderful representation of the craftsmanship and attention to detail that are the hallmarks of our Crown Point Crew. The next time you’re in our neighborhood, come on by and let our beautiful new sign welcome you to our cabinetmaking facility!