About Shad

Shad D. Johnsen, CKD has spent much of his early schooling as an artist and draftsman. Later, while attending college for a degree in architecture, he worked for a cabinet manufacturer assembling cabinets, then on to a finish carpenter.

He moved to Anchorage, Alaska in August 1995 and took a job as an appliance salesman. In June of 1996 he was moved into the kitchen department, because, he was told, that he was very “detail oriented”. He began designing kitchen and bathroom cabinet projects by hand with the drafting skills learned in school. After one year of selling cabinetry, countertops, hardware, tile, and plumbing, Shad began a correspondence course with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) on kitchen design. He successfully completed the course and in September 2000 he passed the exam to become a CKD, Certified Kitchen Designer.

In October 1998, Shad moved to a smaller, more specialized design firm, where he expanded his horizons into flooring, lighting, window coverings, wall coverings, and more. He began getting involved in complete kitchen and bathroom projects, especially remodels. He also gained experience presenting seminars on kitchens and kitchen design at the three different home shows held annually in Anchorage. He went back to work for his former employer to train designers and manage the kitchen and flooring department.

In 2001 Shad helped to organize a new subchapter in Alaska for the NKBA. He acted as the VP of Programs helping to facilitate association chapter meetings. He moved down to St. George, Utah in September 2002 and began organizing the Southwest Desert subchapter.  Currently, he is President of that chapter.

In February 2003 Shad started his own company, Distinctive Design Kitchen & Bath to provide professional kitchen and bathroom design services for the rapidly growing area, from Cedar City, Utah through Las Vegas, Nevada. Shad provided professional kitchen & bath design services, and materials such as: Cabinetry, lighting, countertops, hardware, and more.

Shad helped establish a new chapter for the NKBA in Southern Utah, Southern Nevada, and Northwestern Arizona, called the Southwest Desert Chapter.  He served as the President for three years, and continues to serve on the Executive Committee in other positions.

January of 2005, Shad began an S Corporation called SS Johnsen & Associates, Inc. He renamed his kitchen and bath business as a DBA of his corporation as Portrait Kitchens. Now offering a complete lineup of kitchen and bathroom products, Portrait Kitchens is quickly becoming the preferred kitchen firm in Southern Utah.

In January of 2007, Portrait Kitchens took over the entire building for their showroom.  Shad orchestrated an army of resources, and completed the 2,600 square foot showroom with 4 full kitchens and more.  They had a Grand re-opening in August of the same year.  Portrait Kitchens also has secured exclusive accounts with TurboChef, Gaggenau, Starmark, and other specialty lines of product.

Since that time, Shad has licensed Portrait Kitchens as a general contractor for the state of Utah, began a television cooking show from his showroom, started a weekly live radio show call the Radio Remodeling Show airing every Friday afternoon.  He has also created an online extensive shopping cart on his website at www.portraitkitchens.com, where the company can take credit card purchases through a secure website, and he can sell tickets to his long running kitchen design workshops called “Planning Your Kitchen Like a Pro”.

Shad has recently won awards for his kitchen design.  He won first and second place in the Southwest Desert Chapter of NKBA 2008 design competition, and 2^nd place in the 2007 St George Area Parade of Homes for the kitchen by the NKBA chapter also.

In October 2009, Shad and his family relocated back to Anchorage, Alaska and opened a branch of Portrait Kitchens there.  He also became involved again with the NKBA Alaska Chapter as the VP Programs again.  He also is involved in all aspects of design, from showrooms, to new construction, and complete home remodels.

He continued the broadcasting of the “Radio Remodeling Show”, that he began in February 2008 in Utah, on 700 AM KBYR.  The show continues to provide a creative forum and outlet for education and discussion in the field of kitchens baths, additions, and more.  He regularly invites guests from the local and national industry to discuss fun and sometimes sensitive topics relating to the building and remodeling industry.

More than anything Shad has a passion for the industry, and loves to be creative in design, business, communication with people, and never settling for status quo.  He is always thinking of ways to improve the system, and make a difference in the industry.