Episode Five – Crafting Home with Cabinetmaker Justin Steinberger: On Kitchens, Nature, and the Art of Getting Things Done
Welcome back to Things I Learned From My Mother, a podcast by Arcadian Revival about creating home, cultivating community, and finding deeper connection to nature, our heritage, and to one another.
In today’s episode, I’m joined by collaborator and friend Justin Steinberger, a cabinetmaker, father of six, devoted husband, and fellow dreamer rooted in the bucolic countryside of upstate New York. Justin not only helped design and build the kitchen in our home, but he’s someone who understands that true craftsmanship is about more than measurements and materials, it’s about listening closely to how people live.
Our conversation moves from kitchen design into deeper territory: the balance between creative work and raising a family, the realities and rewards of small business ownership, and the quiet discipline it takes to keep showing up for both the big dreams and the daily to-dos. Justin shares his philosophy on cabinetry as a deeply personal expression of home, one that’s shaped not just by style or trend, but by the rhythms of everyday life.
We talk about the power of place, especially the role that nature plays in shaping our work and our well-being. We reflect on what it means to step up to the plate, even when no one’s watching, and what it looks like to build a meaningful career doing something you believe in, one project at a time.
We also look ahead at what’s next...some exciting collaborations we’re dreaming into being...and wrap up with a few thoughtful reflections from Justin on what homeowners should really know before diving into a kitchen or home design project, and how working so closely with people in their most intimate spaces has expanded his view of the world.
This is an episode about craft, character, and connection. It’s about making space for beauty, for family, and for the kind of homes that feel as good as they look.
If you’re craving that mix of inspiration and groundedness, pour a cup of something warm and join us.
Follow along @arcadianrevival for more stories about slow living, seasonal design, and the art of building a life with care.