Chris Dempsey, Showroom Manager of Jewett Farms + Co.

Meet Chris Dempsey, Showroom Manager of Jewett Farms + Co., the Maine-founded custom cabinetry company located at 5 West 20th Street in Flatiron.

1. Tell us more about your NYC showroom, its mission, and your workshop in Maine.
The JF NYC showroom is designed to be a place of inspiration. We are custom cabinet makers in the most true sense of the word; every project we do is designed and built specifically for our clients, and no two projects are the same. Our showroom is a fun and beautiful selection of some of the things that are possible in a JF space. Our designers were able to create their dream kitchens, mudroom, office, and bathroom, and include the details that set our cabinetry apart. We love the friendly feel of the showroom. When guests come in, they feel at home, they relax, pull up a chair, and, just like at any party, everyone gathers in the kitchen.

As cabinetmakers, our mission is to nurture the traditional joinery techniques that create well-made cabinets. We build cabinetry that is more like furniture and is designed to last for generations. Jewett Farms + Co. was started in 1999 by a sole craftsman who believed that there was a need for well-built cabinetry that was functional and beautiful, and would stand apart from the planned obsolescence of the modern cabinet industry. Now, over 25 years on, we’ve grown, but our philosophy remains the same. Our cabinet shop in Maine is a cool mix of traditional woodworking techniques and modern technology that allows our cabinetmakers to spend time on the human elements of their craft and outsource some of the labor to machines.

2. Describe your role as Showroom Manager. What aspect of the job excites you the most?
The best part of my job as showroom manager at JF NYC is being part of people’s projects. Watching their excitement grow as they explore our showroom and envision their new kitchen. Often, people have been waiting a long time for this remodel, or they’ve recently moved and are ready for big changes. It’s an honor to be a part of this time in people’s lives.

Probably my biggest role is as an educator. The way that we design and build our cabinetry is pretty unique in the industry, and there’s a learning curve. Once people know what we do and why it’s important, they start to look for that in other places. Even if they don’t end up moving forward with us, that knowledge will help them make future decisions. But more often than not, they’ll come back because, now they know what to look for, they haven’t been able to find the level of quality and passion that we bring to our work.

3. What designs are trending among customers and what are your personal favorites?
It’s a fun time in the design world right now. We are seeing a departure from the standard white kitchen, people are feeling more comfortable bringing bold colors into their kitchens. One specific color trend that we are seeing is cabinetry with a darker exterior color and a lighter version of the same color inside. It’s a fun surprise and gives a special feel to a kitchen.

In our extremely customized world, we are seeing particular attention to storage details, especially in city kitchens where space can be at a premium. For example, we build our solid wood drawer inserts specially for each drawer we make, and it’s becoming more common for clients to give us a specific rundown of their utensil, silverware, and knives so that each thing is accounted for. Even as far as one client who measured all her spoons so that each would have a perfect fit. These are the kind of details we love (we are big wood nerds).

4. What inspired you to pursue a career in the bespoke design and construction industry?
To be honest, I lucked out. As a young man, I learned the trade and worked in construction, working my way up from basic building to the finer aspects of finish carpentry. I developed a love of the creative elements of fine woodworking, and I enjoy the problem-solving aspects of making a design work within a space. Initially, I applied to be a cabinetmaker at Jewett Farms, but over the course of my interview with founder Matthew Lord, we decided that I should give sales a shot, and I’ve never looked back.

My role now is the perfect blend for me. I love working directly with clients, and my background in woodworking gives me the knowledge I need to guide them in their choices and ensure that their project runs smoothly. When the opportunity to run the JF NYC showroom came up, I jumped at the chance to bring our work to the best city in the world.

5. For those aspiring to work in the business, what professional advice can you share?
Bring passion, continue learning, and stay grounded. Any building project can be stressful for clients, their homes are in disarray, and there are inevitably bumps in the road. But if you can remind them that it will all be worth it in the end, and have the knowledge to troubleshoot potential problems, all while remaining calm, then the project will go smoothly and your clients will be happy. We also work hard to develop strong partnerships within the design industry. A solid team with good communication helps every project. We’ve been hosting monthly meetups in our showroom, which have been a wonderful way to get to know the incredible folks within the NYC design community.

6. When you’re taking a break from the showroom, how do you like to spend your time in Flatiron & NoMad? What do you like most about these vibrant communities?
I love this neighborhood! I am an avid photographer, and there are so many characters and so much energy in the neighborhood to shoot. One thing that has been a really nice surprise about Flatiron & NoMad is the incredible community within our design industry. We worked with Hudson Flooring for our showroom floors and Artistic Tile for the backsplash tile and stone countertops. We are constantly referring folks to our neighbors and being referred in turn. It’s a welcoming community with amazing high-end design options. We have only been here for 8-9 months, and I can’t walk down the street without people saying hi, and people know my name at the local coffee and lunch spots. Having moved from Maine and knowing people for many, many years, I wondered how it would feel to move into a city, but it’s been very welcoming.

7. Finally, choose three words to describe Flatiron & NoMad.
Energy. Inspiration. Connection.

Header & Thumbnail Photo Credit: Chris Dempsey, Jewett Farms + Co.