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My good friend Stephen Ehle passed away Jan. 15. I affectionately and respectfully referred to him as Uncle Steve. We began our careers in publishing on the same day in 1986 as junior associates at Johnson Hill Press in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin—he as an editor and I as a salesperson for a magazine called Furniture Wood Digest (ultimately Wood Digest)

It’s no secret to any of us in the decorative surfaces industry that TFL, or thermally fused laminates, may just be the least understood surfacing option on the market. Lack of “brand” identity (and especially strong recognition of its closely allied product, HPL) or lingering perceptions tied to once-imperfect manufacturing standards—who’s to say what exactly is to blame.

Steve Schoenacker knew early in his career as a woodworker that he wanted to own and operate a cabinet-making company that relied heavily on technology and automation. And by early, we’re talking 20 years old.

Warm wood tones and cool blues are stand-out trends in kitchen cabinet décor for 2019, according to design experts contacted by Surface & Panel.