Custom cabinetry trends

On Tuesday, Aug. 21, in Atlanta, the International Surface Fabricators Association and the International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair will hold a full-day countertop symposium: “Exploring Countertop Options: Turning Opportunity into Profit.”
The program is designed to provide information to established countertop fabricators as well as cabinetmakers and casework providers who are exploring best practices for resourcing within the countertop market. The session will cover residential and commercial operations, with discussions on materials, machinery, outsourcing versus in-house fabrication and countertop trends. Speakers include: Russ Berry, president, Allegheny Solid Surface Technologies and ISFA; Mike Nolan, director of education, ISFA; Dave Paxton, vice president, Paxton Countertops; and Kevin Cole, communications director, ISFA.
For more information on the symposium or to register call 866.229.2386 or go to www.IWFatlanta.com and click on the “Education” tab.

Students were challenged to build a two-foot tall cabinet in less than seven hours in the SkillsUSA California competition.

Blum Inc. (www.blum.com), Kreg Tool Co. (www.kregtool.com), and Wurth Louis and Co. (www.louisandcompany.com) donated more than $6,000 in tools, supplies, gifts and prizes to the 2012 SkillsUSA California State Cabinetmaking Championships, held April 14 in San Diego.
A total of 27 cabinetmaking students from 10 schools across the state competed to build a two-foot tall cabinet. Utilizing Blum hinges for the face-frame door and Accuride drawer slides for the drawer, as well as various other Blum tools and Kreg pocket-hole jigs, students had seven hours to finish the project. 
A panel of industry professionals judged the competition on criteria such as accuracy of measurements and use of tools and machinery. The finished cabinets were then donated to San Diego Habitat for Humanity.
In the Introductory Woodworking event, students from high school programs built a tote tray using a jig saw and basic joinery skills. This is a state-only competition permits students to compete for only one year and lets them to take home their finished product.
Gold medal winners in the competitions include: Cole Maschmeyer of Salinas, Calif., in High School Cabinetmaking; Samuel Foster of Salinas, Calif., in Post-Secondary Cabinetmaking; and Tom Phong, of Alhambra, Calif., in Introductory Woodworking.
The top medalists in each contest received a Bosch router, while all competitors received a “goodie bag” with Festool safety glasses, a Blum screwdriver, notepads and pens from Leggett & Platt, a tape measure and current copy of Woodworker West magazine. The students who earn the highest honors, a Gold Medal, in the state competition are eligible for a trip to the National Leadership & Skills Conference and competition in June to compete against other states. Top-scoring national competitors will compete at the WorldSkills Cabinetmaking Qualifying Trial at the AWFS Fair, July 24-27, 2013 in Las Vegas. For more information, go to www.awfs.org.

The Cabinet Makers Association announced the dates and locations for its next two regional events, which will be held on Friday, May 4, in Florida and Friday, May 11, in New York.
CMA member Tzvi (Harold) Morantz will host the first of the two events at his Morantz Cabinets (www.morantzcabinets.com) shop in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on May 4. He will share his expertise in building kosher kitchens, and representatives from the CMA Professional Certification Program will also be on hand to present during the day-long event.
On May 11, CMA member and Professional Certification committee chair, Leland Thomasset, will host the next event at Taghkanic Woodworking (www.taghkanicwoodworking.com) in Pawling, N.Y. Thomasset will share his expertise on using technology in a woodworking shop, and attendees will design, estimate, price, cut and build a project during the day.
Both of these regional events are part of the CMA’s Professional Certification program, and will have certain sessions that qualify for CEU credit to those who are enrolled in that program. For more information, contact the CMA at 414.377.1340 or email Dave Grulke, executive director, at director@cabinetmakers.org.

Osborne Wood will host a design seminar at its Ontario, Canada, Designers Walk showroom.

On Oct. 26, Osborne Wood Products will give host a seminar at its showroom inside Designers Walk in Ontario, Canada, to learn, share and network among local clients.
Architects, designers and cabinetmakers will attend the event to hear about emerging design trends, and architecture for the home and bath. Specific topics will focus on generational design trends that influence the market for custom design, the evolution of the kitchen island, furniture styling focusing on the vanity, and future trends for the design and architecture industry. The seminar will also allow audience members to participate in the discussions and ask questions.
“A key aspect of this event will be audience participation. Osborne will be giving people a chance to influence our products with their opinions,” says Christian Smedberg, director of marketing.
For more information on the event, please visit Osborne’s Facebook page, or contact Brandon Wyatt by email at brandon.wyatt@osbornewood.com or 706.282.5750 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              706.282.5750      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Keystone Wood offers a one-day cabinet refacing training program to its customers.

Keystone Wood Specialties is offering its customers a free hands-on training class for cabinet refacing at its facility in Lancaster, Pa.
Attendees will learn about refacing tools, practice proper measuring techniques, surface preparation, veneer and moulding application and component installation. Also included is a training workbook, product information and a “Cabinet Refacing: An Affordable Alternative” DVD.
More information about the training class is available on Keystone’s website.

Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry launched a new video on the company’s history and cabinetmaking capabilities.
The “Why Custom” video provides an overview of the company’s construction processes, color selections and custom cabinet options. The video can be viewed on the company’s website.