Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT DOES WORKING WITH YOU LOOK LIKE?
You have a remodel you can’t wait to get started on. Gather together some rough ideas and tell me what you need your space to do for you.  Show me your Pinterest inspiration, your magazine clippings and your photos of the look and feel that you are going for.  At this point, I’ll tell you if semi-custom is a good fit for your project. Next, I’ll come to your space, take some photos and measurements and  start the design process.  Then comes a rough estimate for the scope of work.  Once that is approved, I’ll work with you through two rounds of drawings in order to resolve the details and make the design fit your vision.  After you approve the drawings, I’ll order the cabinets. Once they arrive it generally takes about a week to install. Before you know it you’ll be enjoying your gorgeous new cabinets!

HOW WILL SEMI-CUSTOM CABINETS SAVE ME MONEY?
Semi-custom cabinets are high quality cabinets that are pre-made to specific sizes. Because they are produced in high volumes, there is far less waste and time involved in the production. From a homeowner’s perspective, there is a LOT less time involved waiting for the cabinets to arrive. They are already built! That also saves money because projects tend to wrap up more quickly.

IS THE CONSULTATION REALLY FREE?
The initial visit is partly to gather information, dimensions, etc. and partly to see if the project is a good fit for semi-custom cabinets. There is no charge for the consultation whether you decide to move ahead or not.

*Update based on a few recent consultations: Plan on spending between $15,000 and $35,000 on Semi-custom cabinets vs. $25,000-$65,000 for custom. I am amazed at recent claims of getting full sized kitchens for $5k to $10k. Be very skeptical of those products!!! Be especially careful to avoid molded, thermafoil cabinet doors and drawer fronts. They fall apart very quickly and you are left with something that is the color and texture of cardboard. Sincerely, you’d be better off saving until you can get the REAL thing. Wood is king.

That said, if you are hoping to get that unbelievable deal, I wish I could help you! Please skip the consultation if you have $5k budget for $75k worth of work!!! Ha ha (believe me, this happens a lot ;)

WHAT ARE THE OTHER COSTS INVOLVED IN FINISHING MY KITCHEN/BATH/OFFICE?
The short answer: anything not cabinet related. Big items are flooring, appliances, painting, baseboard/casing and countertops. On most jobs, I help contract the countertops and see you through the templating and installation process, but countertops are not fabricated, installed or billed through me. I am also happy to consult on other elements of the design: flooring, tile, paint colors, fixtures and appliances.

I WANT TO SAVE EVEN MORE MONEY!!! WHAT PRODUCTS ARE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE?
I truly believe that this semi-custom solution is the best value for your money. The price tag is already low without compromising quality. Within the selected cabinets on this site, some are definitely less expensive than others. Let’s talk about the options.
Caution! There are cabinets available on the market to anyone with the internet - that are obscenely cheap. To gently reiterate, This site is not the source for cheap, poor quality goods! In fact, I beg you to buy the highest quality you can afford. Even if you buy from someone else. It will pay for itself in the long run. Your ultra-cheap cabinets will begin to fall apart within six months, especially where there is a little moisture. Then, you’ll be shopping for more cheap cabinets to replace them and the landfills will overflow and you will go broke because you have to keep replacing junk products. Save yourself some grief!
I have carefully curated high quality cabinets that feature solid wood door construction where possible, plywood instead of particleboard box construction, rugged drawer slides and hardware, in other words, durable goods!

HOW SOON CAN YOU START?
I can start the design process once the sheetrock is in. If it is a remodel and there is construction happening, ie: walls moving, new flooring, etc. I can get involved early if you need help, but I typically wait to start layout drawings for cabinets until the space is closer to finished (walls, electrical, plumbing are in.)

The cabinet installation can begin as soon as the space is ready, after flooring and paint, before baseboards (preferable) or after. FYI, it isn’t fun to get paint flecks all over your new cabinets!

HOW LONG WILL THE PROCESS TAKE?
Typically cabinets arrive before your space is ready. They will stay safe in my shop until that time! Certain popular styles ship in 2-3 weeks, the rest ship in 3-6 weeks (or 6-8 weeks for custom colors.) From the time I receive a down payment and the drawings are approved by you, we could begin installing in as little as 4 weeks. With semi-custom cabinets, it is usually not the cabinets that we are waiting on to complete the project! It is more often construction related: paint, flooring, plumbing, etc.

If your timeline is pressing, we can work with you! Semi-custom cabinets are typically ready to install 2-3 times faster than any local shop and sometimes we can place rush orders.

If custom elements are part of the project (ie: range hoods, custom fillers, corbels, floating shelves, crown molding) the timeline will be lengthened depending on what needs to be fabricated and finished in-shop.

DO I NEED TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR?
Each city has regulations for building and remodeling. In most cases, you will already have a contractor managing the build or remodel. If you are doing it yourself, or if there is no construction involved, then you may not need one. Your city or town may not require permits or inspections. In a kitchen remodel, for example, if the plumbing and electrical is all staying in the same place, you may not need more than a fresh paint job in order to prepare the space for cabinets.
For legal reasons, homeowners will need to research whether or not to hire a general contractor.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT I’M GETTING?
The drawings will hopefully answer all of your questions. Since they will be produced with your input, feedback and edits, you will feel confident before we order cabinets!

I HAVE A CUSTOM SHOP THAT I WANT TO WORK WITH, CAN I JUST HIRE YOU FOR DESIGN?
Absolutely. Please check out pricing for design services here.

I WANT TO INSTALL MY OWN KITCHEN, WILL YOU STILL HELP ME DESIGN AND ORDER IT?
Sure thing! Installing it yourself will save money. If you have never installed a kitchen, I may protest, however! There are many things you need to know before putting together a puzzle that costs thousands of dollars and involves glue and screws and tricks of the trade! But if you are fully confident in your skills, I can definitely support that.

WHEN DO I PAY?
You will receive a bid part way into the process with detailed estimates for cost. Upon agreement, a 50% down payment is required before ordering cabinets, and the other 50% is due upon installation of the cabinets.

WHAT ABOUT COUNTERTOPS? Please note: Countertops are templated and ordered after the cabinets are installed. The remaining 50% of the cabinet payment is due before the countertops arrive. Countertops are not included in the bid and are billed and installed by partnering contractors. I will help navigate this process.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY KIDS SCRATCH MY NEW CABINETS???
Minor damage can be handled with touch-up kits that I order for each new cabinet installation. If it is beyond touching up, there are really reasonable protection plans available through the cabinet manufacturers that I recommend purchasing up front. These plans will send new parts or cabinet doors to replace the ones that were damaged, no questions asked. Work that arrives scratched or damaged will be replaced free of charge.

I ALREADY KNOW MY KIDS ARE HARD ON THINGS. WHAT ARE YOUR BEST FINISH RECOMMENDATIONS?
This is a really good question! It turns out that natural wood grain with a ‘natural finish’ (meaning a clear topcoat with no stain) wears the best over time. If there is a stain or paint on the wood, the finish, especially along sharp corners and edges, gets worn-through over time and will need touching up. Stain is easier to touch up than painted finishes.
What the $@*&%, this is blasphemy! I know that painted finishes are popular and I personally love the way they look. It is my opinion that natural wood will wear better and stay ‘in-style’ longer than any color of paint or stain. Why? Even though different wood species wax and wane in popularity, it is nothing compared to colors and their association with certain decades. Yes, even white. If you are deeply in love with painted cabinets, I won’t talk you out of them!

DO YOU DO FLOORING?
Only in my own house :)