Case Study: Designing a Scene That Sells for Woodpro Cabinetry
- Ryan Newfell
- Nov 4, 2025
- 5 min read
The Challenge
Woodpro Cabinetry, a respected manufacturer of bath furniture, approached Brass Bear Studio with a challenge: to recreate their antique white maple finish in a realistic, lifestyle setting that felt both contemporary and approachable.
Past attempts at recreating their specialty wood finishes through CGI had not produced satisfactory results.
“Ryan and his team were great to work with on this project. He was responsive, creative, and skillfully executed our vision. I especially appreciated his attention to grain and color accuracy. His professionalism and skill truly shines through and I would recommend him to anyone in need of realistic CGI photography.”
Jordan Gettys, Director of Operations, Woodpro Cabinetry
The Ask
Woodpro provided a reference photo for style direction and asked for a room design that would highlight the finish’s texture and warmth. Because the antique white maple tone can shift dramatically under different lighting conditions, achieving the right material and light balance was essential.
Design & Composition
We set out to design a contemporary scene inspired by Woodpro’s direction, while ensuring the vanity remained the focal point from every angle. The concept, “Organic Contemporary,” balances modern geometry with soft, natural warmth.
The goal was to showcase the antique white maple finish in a setting that felt elevated yet believable. We selected finishes and tones that complemented the wood’s natural grain rather than competing with it. The dark countertop (Cambria Fieldstone Polished Quartz) provides contrast and visual grounding, while the patterned wallpaper (Milton & King Love Note Wallpaper in Charcoal) adds rhythm and texture without overwhelming the product.
Setting The Right Mood
We began by exploring multiple lighting scenarios - daylight, sunset, and evening - to see how each environment affected the maple finish.
Ultimately, the evening lighting was chosen for its warmth and contrast. It allowed the wood grain to glow softly against cooler surroundings, giving the vanity depth and dimension without harsh reflections.
Visual Communication in Practice
We approach every project through the lens of visual communication and semiotics - combining design fundamentals, consumer psychology, and marketing strategy to guide how a viewer experiences an image.
With a background in communication and visual literacy, our process goes beyond surface-level design. We think about how the eye travels, where attention lands first, and what emotions are triggered by elements like color, light, and composition.
Color plays a powerful role in how people emotionally connect with a space. In this design, we leaned into a simple palette that feels grounded and authentic - warm light and natural tones that evoke comfort and trust. The greenery introduces freshness and life while the deep charcoal and soft grey provide balance and sophistication, anchoring the scene so it feels modern yet inviting. Understanding how these colors work together - psychologically as well as visually - helps ensure every design choice supports the mood we want the viewer to feel.
In visual communication, vectors refer to the invisible lines and directions that guide a viewer’s gaze through an image. These can be created through lens focus, lighting, perspective, or even subtle cues like how tiles are arranged or how a figure looks within a scene.
Each element of our design was chosen with these principles in mind:
Vertical lines from the wallpaper and mirrors guide the viewer’s eye downward toward the vanity.
Horizontal tiles and shelf lines subtly draw focus back across the scene.
Neutral supporting materials (white tile, soft taupe flooring, matte black hardware) frame the vanity as the visual anchor.
Even the plant leaves and towel edges echo the movement, framing the vanity in a way that feels effortless but is deliberate.
By using these principles, we can lead the viewer’s eye toward the product naturally, not by forcing attention, but by designing the flow of it.
Collaboration & Iteration
After presenting an initial mock-up, the client requested minor changes to the vanity’s finish and placement - a testament to the clarity of communication and the strength of the early direction.
We presented two additional lighting options - one with subtle under-cabinet lighting and one without - and offered our perspective on how each affected the scene’s overall mood.
Underlighting can enhance the warmth of the wood tone.
Removing underlighting can give the scene a cleaner, more natural presentation.
Testing lighting variations: under-cabinet lighting (left) vs. clean, natural lighting (right)
Together, we selected the evening lighting scenario and chose to remove the under-cabinet lights to maintain an authentic look consistent with how Woodpro products are featured in real spaces.
From start to finish, the process was simple:
Brass Bear Studio developed a mood board and early render based on Woodpro’s inspiration image.
The client reviewed and provided quick feedback.
Final assets - a lifestyle image and a close-up detail — were delivered, ready for use across marketing channels.
The Result
The final images balance realism and aspiration, helping Woodpro showcase their product in a setting that feels attainable, elegant, and sales-ready for showrooms.
Final lifestyle render (left) and detail close-up (right) - balanced realism and aspiration
“Ryan and his team were great to work with on this project. He was responsive, creative, and skillfully executed our vision. I especially appreciated his attention to grain and color accuracy. His professionalism and skill truly shines through and I would recommend him to anyone in need of realistic CGI photography.”
Jordan Gettys, Director of Operations, Woodpro Cabinetry
Final Thoughts
Projects like this show how strategic CGI can elevate even a single product into a story - one that feels real, relatable, and ready to sell.
For manufacturers and marketers, the takeaway is simple: visuals aren’t just decoration, they’re sales communication. The right image can convey quality, warmth, and intent faster than words ever could.
Whether it’s a single hero shot or a full campaign, Brass Bear Studio helps brands bring their products to life through thoughtful, marketing-driven design - creating visuals that not only look good, but work for your business.
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