Wendel Peterson, Project Manager

Wendel loves wood - and wood loves Wendel. "It is kind to me," he explains.

An aficionado of tools, fine cherry and walnut that “cuts like butter,” as he puts it, Wendel brings spirituality to his woodworking, a practice he developed after decades of daily meditation.

A master installer and member of the DeWitt Designer Kitchens team since the early 1990s, Wendel has worked with almost every wood known to mankind, putting his craftsman's stamp on hundreds of projects.

Wendel graduated from the North Park College in Chicago with a major in Economics and a minor in Psychology. He went on to obtain a Master of Divinity degree, and started his career as a minister and a teacher.

Eventually his love for craftsmanship pulled him toward a dedicated career in woodworking. He started with furniture-making and advanced to meticulous installation of fine custom cabinetry. After many years as a project manager in French Chateau in Hancock Park, where he had the chance to work hands-on with all aspects of construction, he obtained his contractor's license.

How does spirituality aid in creating fine cabinetry, you may wonder.

"To install this fine cabinetry you have to get into a space in your head that is serene and precise," he says. "Bypass the stress associated with construction and bring your craftsmanship into an environment that you could meditate in."