Cabinet Concepts | Highland Springs Residences | Missouri

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. When Mike Swann, a surgeon in the exclusive Highland Springs neighborhood of Springfield, Missouri, showed off his newly remodeled kitchen to his neighbor and friend Jameson Clark, Clark immediately knew he wanted to incorporate the same sleek, modern design into his basement bar. 

“That was the look I was going for,” Clark says. “I went to Shelley [Cabinet Concepts by Design owner Shelley Wehner] with the message that I liked Mike’s cabinets and wanted to see what she could do with my bar.”

What caught the eye of both Swann and Clark was the masculine, modern cabinet design that Wehner created using REHAU's RAUVISIO and matte surface in varying colors for cabinet doors, paneling and backwalls. Only recently had Wehner discovered the REHAU products at a tradeshow and was thrilled to be using them for the first time.

“One of the main things that both Mike and Jameson liked about the REHAU product is the durability and the look. It has a high-end look that suits these separate spaces. Plus, it’s a super-durable product. That’s why we recommended it,” she says.

Durability was essential since both projects eschewed hardware, opting for touch-to-open technology. In fact, Swann’s entire kitchen, including the appliances, is touch-to-open. That’s a lot of hands on cabinet doors every day. Both RAUVISIO terra soft, textured HPL and matte material are scratch- and fingerprint-resistant.

“The touchless aspect was one of our main concerns,” says Haden Long, owner and lead designer at Ellecor Design in Springfield, Missouri. Long was the lead designer on Swann’s kitchen remodeling project. “We were worried it would show every time someone touched the cabinet doors. Mike has kids, so we knew if there was going to be an issue with fingerprints, it would drive him crazy. Cabinets with a matte finish often show everything, but these look clean and sleek all of the time.”

Long has since incorporated the REHAU products into other home remodeling projects. A regular collaborator with Wehner, Long is grateful that the cabinetmaker introduced her to the REHAU product lines for Swann’s kitchen remodel. “The cabinets are what the whole kitchen is about. Without Shelley and the REHAU product, we would still be standing there trying to determine what to do. It fit perfect for the look we were after.”

“I like a minimalist, sleek look, and I find hardware can be obtrusive, particularly when a lot of storage is needed,” Swann explains. “I also wanted a matte finish to avoid an IKEA-look, but needed to stay very clean. I wanted a door that was solid and would hold up to scratches without touching them up. These have been great.”

Clark says the REHAU surfaces were ideal for his basement bar as well. The high-gloss REHAU brilliant Bianco he used for his cabinet doors replaced wood-finish doors that were in constant need of refinishing to cover scratches and nicks.

RAUVISIO terra East Elm, which is used for panel sides and as the backsplash that spans the full length of the back wall, introduces a nice contrast to the white cabinets. LED lights were built into the cabinets for glamorous illumination of Clark’s collectible bourbons.

“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve transitioned to drinking bourbon and whiskey. This is the best addition you can bring to cabinets like these. It’s amazing.”