Company History

Pawling Closet Company is part of Taghkanic Woodworking, LLC which was started in June 1989 by Leland Thomasset when he opened Fine Line Design. In 2004 the company added Mark Benko as a partner and the name changed to Taghkanic Woodworking. At the same time the company was relocated from Verplanck, NY to Pawling,NY. Although the name and location has changed, the quality of the custom cabinetry and millwork has not.  Providing a vast variety of completed projects to areas from Massachusetts to the New York City border and beyond, our attention to detail and pride in our product has remained the same. Although the hand craftsmanship is evident in all of our products our fully automated CNC machinery is used to ensure that your cabinetry will fit perfectly and perform flawlessly throughout its lifecycle. It also adds to our ability to meet unique design requirements and one-off pieces

Meet The Owners

Leland Thomasset

Grew up on a Maine dairy farm, Leland moved to NY in 1979.  He interned for Bedford Woodworks for 5 years prior to attending college at Wendell Castle School in Scotsville, NY.  After graduation, Leland continued working for Bedford Woodworks until 1989 when he started Fine Line Design.

Along with various shows in smaller venues, Leland participated in several gallery shows including the Ten Arrow Street gallery in Cambridge MA and the Fendrick Gallery in Georgetown, DC.

 Is an active member in the Cabinet Makers Association and is part of the CMA Certification Program Committee and is a member of the CMA Speakers Bureau, for which he has lectured at industry seminars about manufacturing, marketing and design.

Mark Benko

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Mark moved to the east coast in 1981 after he graduated from the University of Illinois studying industrial design.  His career in the building trades started with an apprenticeship with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  In 1985, Mark started his own construction business which has completed a variety of projects ranging from small renovations to custom homes.