2014 Top Shelf Finalist: Kurt Zolman, Zolman Fine Cabinetry
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Kurt Zolman, Zolman Fine Cabinetry, is a finalist in the 2014 Top Shelf Design Awards competition with his project "Celebrity Closet" entered in the Closet: Wood more than 18 linear feet category.
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Kurt Zolman, Zolman Fine Cabinetry, is a finalist in the 2014 Top Shelf Design Awards competition with his project "Celebrity Closet" entered in the Closet: Wood more than 18 linear feet category.
Click on the image to open
Kurt Zolman, Zolman Fine Cabinetry, is a finalist in the 2014 Top Shelf Design Awards competition with his project "Celebrity Closet" entered in the Closet: Wood more than 18 linear feet category.
Click on the image to open
Kurt Zolman, Zolman Fine Cabinetry, is a finalist in the 2014 Top Shelf Design Awards competition with his project "Celebrity Closet" entered in the Closet: Wood more than 18 linear feet category.
Click on the image to open
Kurt Zolman, Zolman Fine Cabinetry, is a finalist in the 2014 Top Shelf Design Awards competition with his project "Celebrity Closet" entered in the Closet: Wood more than 18 linear feet category.
Click on the image to open
Kurt Zolman, Zolman Fine Cabinetry, is a finalist in the 2014 Top Shelf Design Awards competition with his project "Celebrity Closet" entered in the Closet: Wood more than 18 linear feet category.
Click on the image to open
Kurt Zolman, Zolman Fine Cabinetry, is a finalist in the 2014 Top Shelf Design Awards competition with his project "Celebrity Closet" entered in the Closet: Wood more than 18 linear feet category.

Kurt Zolman, Zolman Fine Cabinetry, is a finalist in the 2014 Top Shelf Design Awards competition with his project "Celebrity Closet" entered in the Closet: Wood more than 18 linear feet category.

Project Description: All hand made in our shop using cherry and birds eye maple, this 500 sq ft closet left nothing out. Features two 4x9 islands with large dovetail drawers and soft close slides, a "shoe department" accommodating 400 pairs, purse boxes with beveled glass, flat screen TV that is mounted to a hydraulic lift for concealment, two laundry bins, pull-out valet and belt rods and a small sink for the client to wash make-up off her hands.

List materials used in the project, including wood, veneer, laminate, hinges, decorative accessories, etc.: Cherry hardwood and plywood. Birds eye maple for center panels with our own door profile. Used Blum Inserta Hinges and plates with soft-close. Slides are Blumotion 562H soft close. Knobs are Swarovski crystal door pulls on make-up units, Rustic Oil rubbed bronze from Restoration Hardware on closet elevations. Carvings and appliques from Outwater Plastics. Finishing system was Kremlin and ML Campbell stains and conversion varnish. The closet also included three Putnam Rolling Ladders that we ordered unfinished and did it ourselves to be consistent with the rest of the finish.

Describe any design challenges, i.e. obstructions, etc.: The client had a lot of needs for this project and even with 500 square feet, it was challenging to do. The biggest challenge was the arch and make-up area which was the focal point of the design. We had to make sure the arch was proportionally sized for the room and leave enough leg room and for the sink and TV. I made the decision to use framed cabinets because of the size of the units, and to add that extra detail. All the moulding was made in our shop with our Woodmaster 25" moulding machine and applied piece by piece using miter cuts on sight. My wife did all the painting and glazing by hand for the carvings, appliques and moulding.

Was the design created by hand or software program? If software program, which one did you use?: Started out on a piece of paper drawn by hand, and then the software used to produce the shop drawings and rendering was Ecabinet Systems.

Describe the installation process and any challenges.: Size of the assembled units and very small foyer from living area to Master Bedroom with a 90 degree turn from foyer into bedroom (4' x 6' foyer). Lots of steps and trips to the miter saw since all the cutting was done outside of the home.

Winners will be announced April 9 during a gala awards reception at the 2014 Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo at the Hotel Somerset-Bridgewater. Visit cabinetsandclosetsexpo to register for the event. Voting for the People's Choice award is still open. Visit the Top Shelf Design Awards gallery to pick your favorite project.

Winners will be announced April 9 during a gala awards reception at the Cabinets & Closets Expo. Voting for the People's Choice award is still open. Visit the Top Shelf Design Awards gallery to pick your favorite project. - See more at: http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood-market-trends/woodworking-indust…
Winners will be announced April 9 during a gala awards reception at the Cabinets & Closets Expo. Voting for the People's Choice award is still open. Visit the Top Shelf Design Awards gallery to pick your favorite project. - See more at: http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood-market-trends/woodworking-indust…

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