Craftsmanship in the modern world

The modern world is a busy place. Groceries can go from a list on your laptop to a bag at your front door in a matter of hours and if we have to wait more than two days for delivery it feels like an eternity. Speed is currency and immediacy is valued above all else. This begs the question, is there space for traditional craftsmanship in a world that is preoccupied with haste?

We think so, and we have a few reasons why.

longevity

The first cabinets were designed to hold the most important documents and valuable things. Their level of importance was reflected in the care taken in the cabinet making. With beautiful inlay, precious woods and carving. The cabinetmaker was regarded as the most important woodworker. After the industrial revolution mass production techniques were gradually applied to nearly all aspects of cabinetmaking. The traditional cabinet shop ceased to be the main source of furniture. Over time, the desire for higher productivity and lower cost moved cabinetmaking from an art to a method of production, and many traditional cabinetmakers were replaced by factory workers.

Unfortunately with each iteration of cost reduction and faster production came a loss of traditional joinery methods and a downgrade in materials. By taking a step back from the faster is better mentality we can choose the building methods and materials that are best suited to a project. This results in a far superior end product that will last much longer. By taking a little more time in production we can provide a product that will not need to be replaced for a very long time.

Intrinsic value

Waiting for things is hard. And the faster the world around us moves the harder it becomes to be patient, simply put, we are no longer accustomed to waiting. But there are benefits to moving slowly through some things. Waiting can allow the time for us to make thoughtful decisions. This is more important in design than almost anything, where we interact with the results of those choices on a daily basis. If your cabinetry is going to last a lifetime then it’s important that your design will also stand the test of time.

Personalization

In the kitchen cabinetry world if you want something immediately then your choices will be limited to what has already been produced. If you want something that is custom-built, it won’t be waiting for you in a distribution warehouse. If your kitchen is going to be with you for a lifetime, personalized details are something you will truly appreciate over the years.

Quality

OK, this one’s kind of a no brainier – you can’t make really great things super fast. There are a million platitudes for this one, but it’s true. Good things take time.

careers in craft

Having a cabinet maker with the skills of traditional joinery and the developed knowledge to build things from the ground up is a key part of creating an extremely high-quality end product.

Also, and this is less about business and more about people. We value our cabinetmakers and want them to stay with us. We feel that the long-term effect of building the same door over and over again is less positive for an individual than the ability to develop a rounded skill set, hone skills and become a master of their craft. The opportunity to build a career, not just work the same job. Beautiful cabinets made by skilled human beings take time and careers in craft develop over years

we’re not totally stuck in the olden times

We are all about innovation and utilizing technology, we own and use many machines and computer programmed tools, including a CNC machine which cuts all our plywood to the specific sizes needed. There are some jobs that are a bit boring, not based in skill, and everyone in our shop is happy to offload them to a machine. In 2022, the modern craftsman needs to be skilled in traditional methods and modern equipment.

The key is having the knowledge to identify what parts of production need a skilled human touch and where to find efficiency without sacrificing quality. And you can’t do that without an exhaustive knowledge of cabinetry and joinery.

we believe in craftsmanship

We value the craft of cabinetmaking. We love the rich tradition of what we do and we also love finding innovation within design. We love that we make a product that becomes part of people’s live for generations and we are so proud of all the skilled folks that make our products.

The balance of craftsmanship and timeliness is one we have been working with for years. No matter how hard we try, sometimes our timelines get stretched out, but one thing never changes and that is the quality of our work. If you’d like to see our work in person, or get a taste of how we make things please give us a call and come visit.