Question 1

What is the process and timeframe for a new kitchen?

Accepted Answer

After your initial inquiry, we will reach out for a phone/video consultation and will most likely request some additional photos of the existing space and inspiration photos if you have not already provided them. The inspiration photos are helpful for us to get a sense of the style you are looking for. If you need help finding your style, you can view our Style GuideThe video call consultation will help us learn a bit more about what you are looking for. Typically from there we are able to give you some rough pricing. The next step if you are interested in moving forward is that we enter into a Design Agreement. This requires a deposit to cover our time measuring the space, developing CAD renderings and honing in on a final design. If you move forward with the build, this deposit is credited towards the project. The Design Process can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months depending on the complexity of the project and revisions to the first renditions.Once design is finalized, we sign a Production Agreement that moves the project intoProduction. From date of a signed Production Agreement it is typically 8-12 weeks until we are ready for delivery and installation. The length of installation will depend on the size of the project, but is usually about 2 weeks for a standard kitchen.

Question 2

What type of wood do you use for your doors and face frames ?

Accepted Answer

For traditional “5-piece” cabinet doors that are painted, we use maple hardwood for therails and stiles with MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) for the center panel. Hard maple is an excellent choice for paint grade woodwork because it takes paint well, it's stable and very dent resistant. MDF is the superior choice for center panels that will be painted because there are no glue joints that will telegraph through the final coating, relative to using a glued up slab of hardwood for the panel. There is also considerably less expansion and contraction of the center panel with MDF than solid wood. With solid wood panels, weather changes cause the panel to shrink and expand. This will often reveal a line of unfinished material where the panel meets the frame since the panel is now smaller than it was when originally finished.We also use other hardwood species for solid wood doors including walnut, cherry, and white oak. We're able to use veneered MDF for the center panels to match wood selections. These are options that are typically stain grade or just finished with clear coat to showcase the wood's natural grain pattern and colors.

Question 3

What are some common mistakes people make when undertaking a kitchen remodel?

Accepted Answer

Buying your appliances before starting the design process is a common mistake. If appliances are already purchased, there is less flexibility for the design as the kitchen now must be designed around the appliance dimensions. For example, if you purchase a standard depth refrigerator, there may only be a single location where that will fit. Alternatively if you purchase a counter-depth model there will be multiple options that can function better. It’s best to have a design in place before making any purchases or beginning any work on the space.Another common mistake is purchasing cabinetry from a big box store - this hardly ever ends well. The designs are typically given minimal attention to detail and foresight, mistakes are frequently made while measuring and ordering, and installers are subcontractors that the store has little if any relationship with. If there are issues during or after install, clients don't have a single point person to answer for mistakes. Instead your complaint goes into a massive corporate system that may take weeks or months to remedy the issues, if they ever do.

Question 4

Should the floors be installed before cabinet installation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when possible we prefer to install with the floors in place and finished. There are two primary reasons for this: First, there is a much higher chance of the cabinets getting damaged if the floors are installed after the cabinets are in place. Secondly, you have flexibility down to the road to change your kitchen layout without worrying about patching in flooring, which can be difficult to match years in the future and expensive.

Question 5

Do you do exterior millwork?

Accepted Answer

At this time our focus is interior millwork, custom cabinetry, and built-ins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the process and timeframe for a new kitchen?

What type of wood do you use for your doors and face frames ?

What are some common mistakes people make when undertaking a kitchen remodel?

Should the floors be installed before cabinet installation?

Do you do exterior millwork?