John and Rae Packard head up our NY Team of professionals. John Packard’s love of cabinet making and restoration was born during a trip abroad as a young man. Inspired by the craftsmen whose shops he had seen in Florence, Italy, Packard took a job working in Greece on a wooden yacht as an opportunity to gain hands-on experience. He maintains a passion for wooden boat restoration to this day.

When Packard returned to the States, he sought an accomplished cabinetmaker to learn the fundamental skills of the craft. In Sea Cliff, New York, Packard found such a craftsman. As a young apprentice, he developed and mastered the skills and design ability which have sustained his passion and enthusiasm for 40 years. The variety of projects undertaken fueled Packard’s imagination, and his ability to create furnishings of all styles.

Packard seized the opportunity to expand his repertoire of products into the kitchen when the market grew to demand fitted furniture in place of mere boxes of wood for kitchen cabinetry to his metro New York clientele. Over the subsequent years, many strategic alliances with vendors in parallel industries became deeply rooted, enabling an opportunity to take Packard’s design talent to a broader base clientele. Packard wed his knowledge of fine design with quality craftsmanship modifications to provide a more affordable product. In 2010, Packard expanded and duplicated the New York model in North Carolina. The showroom is located in Hendersonville, NC, and services the western North Carolina area, with a focus on the Asheville, NC – Greenville, SC, corridor.

Rae Packard joined the staff in 1989 as a kitchen planner. She combined her education in architectural history with a talent for design at Packard Cabinetry as their lead Certified Kitchen Designer. Packard has a natural ability to draw from the clients their functional needs and aesthetic wants, and in a way that involves them in the process from the very start.

She uses her artistic skills and experience to incorporate the client’s vision and functionality requirements into a beautiful kitchen, bath, or living space design with great attention to detail. These skills, combined with an understanding of complete project development, allow Rae to work with teams of professionals at every stage of the project, from the architect to the contractor.

Rae’s professional certification from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) has provided the opportunity for continued learning, along with the academic training and ability to infuse the rest of the design team at Packard Cabinetry with the same knowledge.

Packard’s work is featured in national and regional publications, such as Traditional Home™, Long Island’s magazine of premier design, architecture and lifestyle House, Better Homes, and Houzz, the largest collection of interior design and decorating ideas on the internet for kitchens and baths. In addition, she received recognition in 100 Best Designers in the United States.

Photo credit: Amber Hatley Photography

Toni Cinquemani graduated from Pratt institute in 2006 and continued her education receiving her Masters from Stonybrook University studying art and design. Toni  has worked as a kitchen designer for the last 10+ years.  She has designed and managed hundreds of  residential kitchen design projects.

She has designed residential kitchens for homeowners with cabinetry from major manufactures such as Rutt Handcrafted cabinetry, Draper DBS and Mouser cabinetry. Her design skills range from clean contemporary to classic paneled traditional spaces.  Toni believes that a kitchen should be a seamless continuation of the design style of the home, while still catering to the clients’ functional needs and design aspirations.

Toni  has had the opportunity to work with many  architects and designers over the years and has a great ability to keep communication clear and open. Toni  is noted for refined esthetic, attention to detail, and commitment to ensuring the clients enchantment with the completed project.

Karen has been a designer for the last fourteen years.  Prior to working for Packard Cabinetry, she worked for a full-service interior design firm for seven years.  During that time, she found herself becoming more interested and excited about her kitchen projects.  That lead her to pursue a career solely designing kitchens and baths, which she has been doing for the last seven years. 

Kitchen and bath design presents a challenging balance of working to achieve a functional, unique and beautiful space, to fit the client’s lifestyle, personality, and budget.  It is extremely enjoyable and rewarding to be a part of what is such an important space in their home.   

Kevin White joined the Packard Cabinetry team in March 2019, was raised on the North Shore of Long Island and graduated from Glen Cove High School. After achieving his Associate’s degree from Nassau Community College, Kevin was given the opportunity to move to NYC into a martial arts school for Aikido, where he spent many years training and contemplating his future.

While working a part-time job at The New School University in NYC, he decided it was time to go back to school, and applied for acceptance into CW Post University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in 2003.

Now, with almost two decades of experience in accounting, he brings his discipline and experience to Packard Cabinetry, managing bookkeeping for North Carolina’s as well as New York’s showrooms.

Currently living in Bayville, enjoying his beach cottage, he is an avid runner, having completed numerous ultra-marathon races, loves to cook vegan dishes, and maintains a healthy lifestyle.

Katina Kremelberg earned her Bachelor’s of Architecture degree in 2009 from the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury. As a Long Island local, she continued her career as an architectural designer and project manager in New York City and Long Island. She has been working in corporate architecture full-service firms for the past ten years. Katina worked on high-end corporate interior workplace design, new NYC facades, roof decks, residential interiors, new construction, schools, and banks. She values thoughtful design and communication while working with the client to create their design dreams.

Katina is very grateful to have found a place with Packard Cabinetry as a drafting consultant. She is dedicated to hard work and creating space to enjoy hiking, volunteering, traveling, and the outdoors on her time off.

I’m Stephanie Schaefer, and my journey into design began in high school. I was drawn to art and interior design classes, and at 15, I started attending the Architectural Digest  Design Show in Manhattan. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue design as my career.

I continued my education at Long Island’s community design schools, where I learned design programs and CAD skills. I graduated with honors, consistently making the dean’s list and winning the Phi Alpha Sigma awards.

After graduation, I jumped into kitchen design, finding joy in creating beautiful, functional spaces and am excited to bring that passion  to our clients at Packard Cabinetry.

Outside of work, I love cooking, taking care of my dog Archie, practicing yoga, and going for long walks.

I’ve been designing for 6-7 years now, and I’m passionate about turning houses into personalized sanctuaries, especially in a time when people are spending more time at home.

Mario and Marshall are the lead installers for Packard Cabinetry New York. Their technical expertise and jobsite oversight ensure we maintain high standards and exceed our customers’ expectations.

Outside of work, Mario enjoys time with his four children and dogs and frequently travels to visit family in North Carolina.

Abner has 20+ year of experience in the woodworking and cabinet, furniture making business. He started as a teenager with his dad in Puerto Rico making Rattan furniture. Then after high school he went to the University and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration with a Marketing Mayor. Then he continued his career as a cabinet maker, finisher, and cabinet installer business in Orlando, Florida, and later in Charlotte, NC. He loves his job and to create smiles with his job. He is married to a beautiful woman from Cuba called Jusleidy and they both work together installing cabinets and making beautiful furniture. In addition they both love traveling.

Katina Kremelberg earned her Bachelor’s of Architecture degree in 2009 from the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury. As a Long Island local, she continued her career as an architectural designer and project manager in New York City and Long Island. She has been working in corporate architecture full-service firms for the past ten years. Katina worked on high-end corporate interior workplace design, new NYC facades, roof decks, residential interiors, new construction, schools, and banks. She values thoughtful design and communication while working with the client to create their design dreams.

Katina is very grateful to have found a place with Packard Cabinetry as a drafting consultant. She is dedicated to hard work and creating space to enjoy hiking, volunteering, traveling, and the outdoors on her time off.

Robert Rasmussen is a 35-year veteran of the kitchen and bath industry, specializing in the design of kitchens, baths, custom furniture, and architectural woodworking. He excels in presenting designs with full-color photo-quality renderings, easy-to-understand floor plans, and artistic renderings, providing customers with a complete vision and understanding of their project from the very beginning.

With a background in woodworking, cabinetmaking, and installations, Robert brings hands-on experience to assist clients in making informed design choices. From high-end designs to clever material usage for budget-conscious customers, he prides himself on delivering the most value for every dollar spent.

Robert is dedicated to his work and client satisfaction. He strives to make every project an enjoyable experience and takes great personal satisfaction in achieving this goal. From the initial greeting, he listens to his clients’ wishes and dreams and, while always respecting their budget, works to make those dreams a reality.

Beautiful kitchen design should reflect a client’s past and project their future. With over 20 years in design, I strive to make each client’s dreams a reality, translating unique lifestyles into every personalized space. My journey began in animation, where I worked as a supervisor in Austin, TX. From there, I moved into graphic apparel and textile design, and later a construction certification led me to discover my true passion for cabinetry and kitchen design.

I draw inspiration from fine art, architectural history, and contemporary design—and some of my best ideas come from time spent in the kitchen with family. For me, every project is a chance to create something that truly embodies the heart of each home.

I have worked in a variety of roles in the home furnishings and interior design industry for the last fifteen years. I love designing because it engages both hemispheres of the brain. Kitchens, more than any room, demand a union of utility and beauty, and call for a big-picture vision as much as an attention to detail. I take a holistic approach to finding smart, creative solutions to those challenges. When I’m not designing, I’m usually DIYing, to keep my hands as busy as my head.

Photo credit: Amber Hatley Photography

Katina Kremelberg earned her Bachelor’s of Architecture degree in 2009 from the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury. As a Long Island local, she continued her career as an architectural designer and project manager in New York City and Long Island. She has been working in corporate architecture full-service firms for the past ten years. Katina worked on high-end corporate interior workplace design, new NYC facades, roof decks, residential interiors, new construction, schools, and banks. She values thoughtful design and communication while working with the client to create their design dreams.

Katina is very grateful to have found a place with Packard Cabinetry as a drafting consultant. She is dedicated to hard work and creating space to enjoy hiking, volunteering, traveling, and the outdoors on her time off.

I am John Packard, the owner of Packard Cabinetry. Starting in the 1970s in New York, we have crafted kitchen cabinetry and served countless homeowners over our decades in business. Expanding into North Carolina a decade ago, we launched Packard Cabinetry Mebane in 2021. Our adept designers at packard Cabinetry in Mebane are prepared to bring your dream kitchen to life. From diverse styles, colors, we guarantee fitting cabinetry for your space. Be it modern, traditional, or transitional, our team excels. Collaborating with you, we’ll design a timeless kitchen you’ll cherish. Let’s discuss your project soon!

Beautiful kitchen design should reflect a client’s past and project their future. With over 20 years in design, I strive to make each client’s dreams a reality, translating unique lifestyles into every personalized space. My journey began in animation, where I worked as a supervisor in Austin, TX. From there, I moved into graphic apparel and textile design, and later a construction certification led me to discover my true passion for cabinetry and kitchen design.

I draw inspiration from fine art, architectural history, and contemporary design—and some of my best ideas come from time spent in the kitchen with family. For me, every project is a chance to create something that truly embodies the heart of each home.