1998 Design Portfolio Awards

CWB's Design Portfolio Awards Competition gives the magazine the opportunity to give kudos to outstanding custom woodworkers. Since the awards competition began five years ago, the number of entrants has more than doubled, and we have added two new categories: kitchen cabinets and, this year, laminate casework.

This year, we honored our highest number of award recipients yet -- top winners in five categories, plus 11 honorable mentions. The five top award recipients are:

Residential Furniture and Overall Winner: Saturn Design Inc., Redmond, WA, for a five-drawer dresser.

Commercial/Institutional: Johannes Architectural Woodworking Inc., Coralville, IA, for work on the Sports Column sports bar.

Kitchen Cabinets: Larry Rohan Furniture, Clinton, WA, for a spalted alder and western maple kitchen.

Architectural Millwork: Renaissance Woodworks Inc., Wolcott, VT, for a maple and cherry circular residentail staircase.

Specialty Products: J.F.V. Designs Inc., Orlando, FL, for a pearwood lady's dressing table.

After examining myriad entries for awards and viewing a formidable collection of slides, photographs and transparencies, the eight-person panel of judges bestowed five top awards and 11 Honorable Mentions in this year's Design Portfolio Awards competition.

The panel was the largest ever and included experts representing the diverse spectrum of the custom woodworking industry. The group included:

Scott DeGenova, vice-president of Custom Veneered Interiors Inc. in East Dundee, IL. CVI does architectural millwork, specializing in custom cabinetry and serving primarily the commercial market. DeGenova also serves on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Chapter of the Architectural Woodwork Institute.

Gerald Finch, instructor of wood technics at Fox Valley Technical College in Oshkosh, WI. The school offers a one-year vocational diploma in Wood Technics designed to prepare graduates to be shop-level woodworkers. Finch developed the department's curriculum and has been its head for 16 years. He was selected as 1996 "Educator of the Year" by the Woodworking Machinery Industry Assn. (WMIA).

Gurami Manasherov, owner of Gurami Design Group in Wheeling, IL. He is a custom woodworker and designer specializing in custom art furniture, store fixtures and case goods.

Tom Gleason, co-founder of Bailey & Gleason Cabinetmakers in Chicago. The company specializes in architectural millwork, entertainment centers, library and wall units, and freestanding cabinets, tables and bedroom furniture. Gleason is also a project manager for Highland Park Millwork in Highland Park, IL, and is a contributing editor to CWB.

Barbara Garet is Design Editor for CWB and Wood & Wood Products magazines. She is a member of the International Furnishings and Design Assn. and has served as a judge in the student Design Emphasis competitions at the past two IWF shows in Atlanta. She was also a judge in last year's Pinnacle Awards competition sponsored by the American Society of Furniture Designers.

Robert Kleeman has been a professional woodworker for the last 22 years, having begun his career as an apprentice in a violin shop. For the last 12 years he has focused on the design and construction of historic reproductions, adaptations and conservation of antique furniture. His work has been recognized by several national organizations. He is director of conservation for Bernacki and Associates in Chicago, a custom furniture and conservation firm.

Jane Irvine is an interior designer who has had her own business, Jane Irvine Interior Design in Kildeer, IL, since 1987. Irvine is a professional member of ASID and a registered designer in the state of Illinois. She serves both the residential and commercial markets.

O.B. Solie has been in the woodworking industry since 1951. His business, O.B. Ltd., is a manufacturer of contemporary furniture for both the residential and vocational markets. He is a member of the American Society of Furniture Designers.

A heartfelt thanks from CWB to this dedicated group for their time devoted to choosing this year's winners. It was a demanding job, well done.