From our inception in 1946, design, and its inseparable relationship with craftsmanship, has been the heart and soul of our business.
The Second World War just ended, and many paused lives slowly restarted. In the small community of Grabill, Indiana, Vilas Schertz built things for his friends. He created useful things – things that made life better.
Schertz started with simple wooden cases to hold a young homemaker’s dishes. He took time in his work, giving attention to the unseen details that add strength and longevity to a cabinet. He topped his work with a beautiful finish to capture his customer’s heart and reflect her dream.
He built usefulness and worth into his products. He wanted his handiwork to last for his friends. He felt proud as he visited their homes and saw his cabinets quietly doing their jobs.
Vilas believed that the kitchen served as a home’s heart. It created a safe harbor to keep families together, and provided a foundation to turn mere houses into happy homes.
