About Us
French’s Cabinet Gallery was founded in 2000 by designer Barbara French.
As a builder she was frustrated that she couldn’t find what she wanted for her clients – custom cabinetry that would last a lifetime while maintaining its beauty.
As a realtor she knew quality kitchen and bathroom cabinets in a home increased its resale value.
As a skilled designer she understood the benefits of having cabinets that are aesthetically pleasing and provide maximum storage.
She took all this knowledge and started her own cabinet company that provides premium design, service and installation, along with competitive pricing. Now French’s Cabinet Gallery is one of the most recognizable names in cabinetry in Middle Tennessee.
Barbara French – Owner
Entrepreneur Barbara Kinnamon French has worn many hats throughout her professional career. She started her business career in professional sales and attained the #3 position in the nation with 3M Corporation. She has been a partner in a successful high-end home building business in the Brentwood area where she designed, built, remodeled and flipped homes. As a Realtor in Nashville she successfully sold millions of dollars of real estate over a period of 15 years. She started and operated two Curves for Women franchises as well as beginning a corporate relocation business which offered fully furnished condos to executive level clients. Also to her credit as a songwriter, she penned a #1 single which was also the title cut to a Grammy Award winning album. What she loves most is designing kitchens and doing interior design. She believes making spaces beautiful and comfortable for her customers increases the enjoyment and satisfaction of their lives.
Kym Alayne-Heaton – Designer
As a member of NKBA and Designer for French’s Cabinet Gallery, Kym Heaton has been designing kitchens and bathrooms for over 18 years. Before becoming a cabinet designer, she expressed her creativity as a professional dancer with a prestigious Chicago dance company, sang professionally in a show at Universal Studios Hollywood, and was an NFL cheerleader for our very own Tennessee Titan’s here in Nashville. She brings this high level of drive and professionalism into every design project. She not only works well with builders and contractors to make sure everything is measured to perfection, she also ensures her clients’ cabinets are both stunning and functional.
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Alyssa Schaffer – Designer
Alyssa joined French’s Cabinet Gallery’s design team in June 2020. She graduated in 2014 from Olivet Nazarene University with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. During her senior year of college, she completed an internship at a cabinet company in Bourbonnais, IL and never looked back. She loves the detail-oriented nature of design and has a good eye for current trends. After living in Illinois her whole life, Alyssa moved down to Nashville in June of 2016. Although she has withdrawals from Chicago food and sports, the BBQ and live music scene is enough to ease the pain. When she isn’t working, she is a BIG fan of brunch, spending time with her friends, dog (Addison), and staying active.
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Deneshia Jackson – Designer
Deneshia, a native Tennessean, graduated from the University of Memphis in 2003 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design. She worked for French’s Cabinet Gallery for several years before taking a break to spend time with her children during their formative years. Deneshia is excited to be back at French’s to share her design expertise and work with new clients. Deneshia has a great eye for color and is very attentive to detail. She works closely and patiently with clients to provide a personal design experience to meet their needs. Deneshia also knows her way around the kitchen. She enjoys cooking for her family or baking delicious sweet treats. Organizing and decorating are also two of her passions. She is always looking for ways to make spaces more functional while improving their style. Deneshia makes her home with her husband of 17 years and her three children, twin girls and a son, along with five spoiled pets. Deneshia is an active board member of her PTO and a director of the local basketball league. She loves attending her kids’ baseball, basketball, and softball games. When she has the opportunity, she loves reading a book on the beach.
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Kelly Smith – Designer
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Rachel Thomas – Office Manager
Rachel and her family moved to the Nashville area from Kansas City, Missouri in September 2018 and she immediately fell in love with Tennessee’s beautiful landscape and endless opportunities for adventure! She comes to French’s Cabinet Gallery, with over 20 years’ experience in customer relations, administrative support, and office management in fields ranging from healthcare and residential construction to education. In her role as Office Manager Rachel works behind the scenes to ensure that the business runs smoothly and efficiently. In addition to her organization and business contributions, she also has an eye for decorating and loves to stage our completed projects for photoshoots.
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Jerry Howell – Project Manager
Jerry and his wife moved to the Nashville area in 2019 to be near their kids and grandkids. He thinks it’s the best move they ever made! Prior to moving to the Nashville area, Jerry worked as a structural building inspector for the City of Houston, TX for 11 years. He also has over 15 years experience in the cabinet industry, building and installing custom cabinets. As Project Manager at French’s Cabinet Gallery, Jerry helps our designers by doing field measures, managing and scheduling installations and deliveries, completing final punch list items on installations, assisting with warranty calls, and more. Jerry’s attention to detail and commitment to customer service makes him a perfect addition to the French’s Cabinet Gallery team.
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