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Craft of a Top Kitchen Designer
A kitchen designer in top form is a wonder to observe, and there is always a story behind it. For it requires the discipline of a martial arts master, the timing of a dancer, the feel for materials of a master woodworker, an understanding of the desires and dreams in the human nature of a grand politician or a Ghandi and more than a touch of the ego of a diva. The result is a mesh of the How did it happen for Rafael?
Rafael was not always a specialist in kitchens and cabinets. For a time almost 25 years ago, he was digging holes for a contractor. But the whole job came to a halt one day because the cabinets did not arrive. What could be done? Could a counter be installed first, and put in the cabinets later? It happened that Rafael told stories about his boyhood, and how the Spaniards Brothers, back home in the Dominican Republic, had trained the tiny boy in advanced furniture making. He had been very careful and had not lost even one finger, and he learned his craft well.
But Rafael was so eager to embrace his new country that he abandoned this foundational skill for new skill and interests in the United States. So, on the day in question Rafael finally understood the value of his first education. He told the contractor, “No. It’s impossible to install cabinets after the counter.” Then, he offered to build the cabinets himself and asked the contractor if he could use the construction site over the weekend for that project. On Monday morning, July 23, 1984, Rafael hadn’t slept, his eyes were red… but amazingly, all the cabinet boxes were complete and the contractor could go on with the work.
No one stood idle, no fines were paid. Rafael’s new business was born. Design in the West has flourished from that moment. He could brag about his woodworking skill and design expertise, but they are not his greatest pride: He is most proud of his ability to get the cabinets to the site at just the right moment so that all elements of the construction can proceed without costly delays. That first contractor, Jack Knighton, remains a giant of a man to Rafael, and a mentor. He taught Rafael the art of being a good contractor, and Rafael remains the only cabinetmaker called on by Knighton and associates.
Nearly 25 years pass, and Design in the West continues building cabinets and designing kitchens with an eagle eye for innovation and a high standard of quality. There is no such thing as mass production at Design in the West, for Rafael creates one well-made kitchen at a time. “It is much better to be a small company, but to produce the best – and keep a close eye on the details,” Rafael says.
Design in the West is recognized as a top source for kitchens. “Being on top requires an understanding that is beyond just marketing and sales,” says Rafael. “We made a decision to be a leader in the industry, to learn all we could to bring harmony and architectural beauty to what we produce for our customers and our craft.