hen brothers Doug and John Durbin were first exposed to woodworking in high school shop class, little did they know at the time that it would ignite a passion that would set the course of their lives.
After graduation, Doug joined his older brother as a cabinet maker’s apprentice and the brothers embarked on a creative journey that would teach them not just about business, but about life. Doug recalls “The man that John and I went to work for was a Master Craftsman in the truest sense of the title. Always working on the most difficult woodworking projects, he taught us that there are many people who can put out average work – even nice work – but only a few have the talent, vision, and heart to be exceptional at their craft. He must have seen something in both of us because ultimately we became his protégés and he was our mentor, really almost a father.”
In 1983, the Durbin’s founded Exclusive Woodworking, a company specializing in fine custom cabinetry, and architectural millwork. Six years later, the Durbins launched nuHaus Corporation, an industry-leading, full-service design and installation company that draws on its award-winning staff and products. The company is acclaimed for its highly customized work and attention to detail. Doug states, “My brother and I have exceptionally high standards, and our standards are instilled in the entire company. Many people and companies talk about having high standards, but we truly execute. Whether it is the use of the finest materials or constantly striving for process excellence, we deliver.”
The Durbins enjoy the challenge of turning their clients’ dreams into reality. Doug is responsible for all design work and product development while John oversees the production side of the business. On one notable project they transformed a client’s basement into a sports lounge, complete with a home theatre, wine storage, and an area to display the client’s car collection. Doug designed a crescent-shaped seating booth surrounding a glass tabletop that featured an etched inscription of an antique Ferrari’s speedometer. “The client was a car collector, and he actually had a car hoist that lifted his vehicles in and out of the basement,” Durbin said. “I designed the whole area with motor sports in mind. The paneling on the bar was stainless steel diamond plate, like you see on semi-trailers at a Formula 1 race. The floor is leather, like a car interior. The wine coolers are encased in concrete and the bar counters are shattered glass like a broken windshield.” That project won the coveted 1st place prize in the Sub-Zero National Design Contest – the “brass ring” in the Durbin’s industry. In fact, nuHaus designs have won numerous contests and have regularly appeared in an array of local, regional, and national publications.
In another design challenge, Durbin was asked to create a beautiful setting for a modernist art collection that featured four original works of Andy Warhol. The client wanted a low-maintenance space, bordering the images, which would never need painting. Letting his imagination expand, Durbin clad the wall with vast sheets of glass that were back-painted with silicone paint. He installed them as floor-to-ceiling walls throughout the client’s sunny living room. The effect was a shimmering curtain of milky glass that serves as a striking backdrop for the framed paintings.
The Durbins thrive on projects such as these. They allow creativity to blossom in their firm, which brings out the best in the 75 staff members at Exclusive Woodworking and nuHaus. Doug and John are determined never to turn out mediocre projects. “We have such an amazing group of people here who are capable of conceptualizing and executing extremely difficult designs,” Doug said. “When you’re working with people whom you’re inspiring – and in turn, you’re being inspired by them – how can you work in an environment that’s any better?”
nuHaus
1665 Old Skokie Road
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 831-1330
(847) 831-1337 (fax)
www.nuHaus.com