Acanthus Custom Cabinets Company Profile

alking with Daniel Steckline, one can sense the dedication he feels for his craft. Daniel is the owner of Acanthus Custom Cabinets, a full-service kitchen and bath showroom as well as a custom cabinet and furniture maker in San Rafael, California. His product and craftsmanship are reflected in his selection of the Acanthus as the name and symbol for his business. Acanthus display large, deeply-lobed, glossy leaves whose likeness is a classic motif in architecture, used for centuries to ornament fine design.

True Artist With Technical Chops
Daniel Steckline's soaring visions came from somewhat humble beginnings. Originally from Wichita, Kansas, he got a job at an aircraft company that built private jets. A master craftsman in charge of the custom-built cabinetry for the planes took Daniel under his wing and taught Daniel the trade. Daniel Steckline had found his calling, and though he didn't appreciate it at the time, he was apprenticed under a master artist. The artistic leanings in artist and apprentice were sharpened and honed by the insistence on precision and professionalism.

With a rich and technically rigorous training under his belt, Daniel left Kansas for California with dreams of fair weather, art and tennis. At UC Santa Barbara he acquired a degree in art history, satisfied his tennis thirst, and got married. When his new wife decided to pursue a graduate degree in the Bay Area, Daniel found that the Northern California market was ripe for his skills. The couple relocated to Marin County, and Daniel Steckline opened the doors to Acanthus, his first custom cabinetry business in 1989.

Passion for Craft Garners Attention
Acanthus Custom Cabinets are now installed in the finest homes and businesses, and Acanthus is widely referred by architects, designers and satisfied customers throughout the Bay Area. Acanthus employs one other builder, an apprentice cabinet maker. The small size allows Daniel to maintain the precision and involvement that an artist demands. His passion for the work has paid off; Acanthus Custom Cabinetry has been featured in Metropolitan Home, Kitchen and Bath Edition and myriad other publications in national distribution.

It is Daniel Steckline's philosophy to provide the best quality work and cabinets, no matter the size of the job or the budget of the client "I put a lot of passion into every job, and every project matters to me personally, no matter how small." True to his claim, Daniel-the-artisan consults personally with each client, listening to their dreams and desires. Once a vision for the client has been established, Daniel-the-precision-builder can build whatever his clients desire. And nothing pleases this Kansas transplant more than creating a technically-precise, beautifully-made finished product and seeing the smile on his client's face.


---Jim Brumm
Staff Writer
The Prime Buyer's Report