Category: News

Mother’s Day happens to fall in the same month as National Home Improvement Month, and that gave us an idea. What custom cabinet projects would be a hit with Moms? The Cabinet Maker has lots of ideas. And the best part: We can customize each one of these projects to suit each unique space and taste — and each unique Mom.

1. A better way to organize the kitchen

We hear it all the time: “I want a kitchen where everything can be put in its proper place!” All too often, we outgrow our kitchens as our families get larger and our collection of kitchen supplies grows bigger. If Mom would love a more organized kitchen, we can help. 

The Cabinet Maker can suggest dozens of solutions that can be as simple as converting cabinets to pull-out drawers or finding a better solution for that inconvenient corner cabinet. A built-in spice rack, a drawer-within-drawer or a tray rack can make all the difference. We can consult with Mom, assess the existing kitchen layout, and make suggestions for a more efficient environment.

2. A space to organize hobby supplies

Whether it’s knitting or scrapbooking, gardening or jewelry making, photography or genealogy, hobbies involve a lot of stuff. And as anyone with a hobby knows, that stuff needs to be organized so things are easy to find when you need them. Why not convert a closet or niche to the ideal hobby center for Mom?

Once the Cabinet Maker learns about the tools, materials and resources Mom’s hobby involves, we can tailor a storage solution for her. Trays for holding beads? Bins for storing yarn? Felt-lined cubby holes for camera lenses? Shallow drawers with inserts for sorting craft supplies? No problem! We’ll make Mom’s hobby closet functional and attractive while optimizing the space that’s available.

3. A laundry room that makes the job easier

What would Mom do if she could design the perfect laundry room or laundry nook? Maybe each family member would have a separate hamper. Maybe it’s extra storage space for laundry supplies or more countertop space for folding. The Cabinet Maker can consult with her and design the laundry room she always wanted.

4. A storage “locker” or bench for all that gear

Everyone in any household has some kind of gear: sports gear, workout gear, school gear, office gear … the list goes on. And without a way to keep it organized, all that stuff either gets lost, becomes a tripping hazard, or both. Some Moms we’ve worked with have solved that problem with locker-type storage benches.

They function just the ways a sports locker does, with a cubby for each person, hooks, a place to sit while you’re lacing your shoes, and a place to stow footwear. The Cabinet Maker can custom-design a storage bench to fit the space available and handle the stuff that needs to be organized. We can even do pegboard-style coat hooks that can be positioned higher as kids grow. And with summer break just around the corner, now is a great time to work on a design.

5. A his-and-her bathroom vanity

Here’s an upgrade that adds a little bit of luxury without a complete overhaul. If you have enough room for it, two sinks instead of one is a great way to share the bathroom more conveniently while having one’s own space — no more tussling for sink time when you’re rushing to be somewhere. The Cabinet Maker can custom-design a vanity that optimizes storage space and suits your personal taste. We can also incorporate special touches like a custom drawer designed to hold a blow dryer and curling iron. 

6. An indoor “She Shed”

A She Shed (as opposed to a Man Cave) is typically an outdoor shed converted into a special retreat where mom can relax, do yoga, read — or just get some time to herself. Here in Wisconsin, an outdoor solution isn’t always practical. But what about finding a spot inside the house that can be custom-designed as mom’s special place? Whether it’s a window seat outfitted with special lighting or a nap nook with extra storage and privacy, if you find the space The Cabinet Maker can consult with mom on a design just for her.

Let us know how we can help!

Whether it’s an idea on this list or something else you have in mind, we’d love to help you give the Mom in your life a great custom-cabinet gift. Just use our online form to schedule a phone consultation. And have a happy Mother’s Day!

Featured Project: Wauwatosa Kitchen Refacing

When The Cabinet Maker gets a call from someone asking about a kitchen makeover, one of the first things we ask is what they want to achieve. Depending on the answer, we can determine whether kitchen refacing might be an option rather than a full remodel.

What Is a Kitchen Refacing?

A kitchen refacing means changing the look of your existing cabinetry, the functionality of your existing cabinetry, or both. It’s a great option if you plan to keep your existing layout. Many refacing projects go a step further by incorporating other upgrades, such as lighting, hardware, fixtures or even appliances — as long as they can work within the existing kitchen configuration.

Why Consider a Kitchen Refacing?

When you discuss your options with us, our focus is on you and how we can improve your kitchen to best fit your lifestyle. By keeping form and function working together, your kitchen can be both beautiful and functional.

If a kitchen refacing is an option, there are some nice benefits.

• Lower total costs than a full kitchen remodel.
• Less time-consuming and disruptive than a full kitchen remodel.
• A great option if you like the basic layout of your current kitchen.

How Do I Know If Kitchen Refacing Is Right for Me?

You might want to reface if one or more of the following is true:

• You like your current layout and don’t need to change the kitchen footprint.
• You don’t plan any changes that involve plumbing work, such as moving the sink.
• Your current cabinets are structurally sound, but dated, and you want a new look. This can be achieved by painting them or installing brand new drawer fronts and cabinet doors.
• You don’t need to replace countertops and backsplashes. Removing existing countertops often causes damage to the cabinetry structure.
• You don’t need to replace your kitchen flooring.
• You want to improve your kitchen’s efficiency and functionality by adding features such as LED lighting, a warming drawer, pull-out shelves or under-cabinet drawers. The Cabinet Maker can suggest a wide range of options like these to bring your kitchen to the next level of convenience and functionality.

How Do I Know If Kitchen Refacing ISN’T the Right Choice?

You will need to remodel your kitchen if:

• You want to expand your kitchen or completely change its footprint by moving walls, removing soffits or making other structural changes.
• You want larger appliances and new features that won’t fit into your existing kitchen.
• Your plans will involve more than minor plumbing and electrical work.

What About a Hybrid of Both?

Sometimes a kitchen refacing can involve some amount of remodeling. This could be a great option if you are working with your existing kitchen footprint but rethinking one portion of the space, such as one wall of cabinets or the kitchen island. This would entail remodeling only a segment of your kitchen while sticking with its existing footprint.

The Cabinet Maker Can Help You Decide!

When you partner with us on your new kitchen, we can help you decide whether kitchen refacing is the right option. Here’s how:

• Assess your existing cabinetry and determine if it’s structurally appropriate for a refacing.
• Suggest ways to use your space more efficiently to expand your work and storage or space or to make existing space more accessible.
• Suggest new solutions for lighting, hardware and many functional and aesthetic details.
• Create custom-designed details especially for you, such as cabinet and drawer fronts to suit your personal taste.

We love discussing kitchen dreams with our clients and finding creative solutions. Use our online form to schedule a phone consultation. We’re eager to help!

Do you buy lottery tickets, visit Vegas now and then, or carry a four-leaf clover in your wallet? Are you trying to increase your chances for success? We’ve got a way to do that with home improvement projects. Hiring an experienced, certified custom cabinet maker will bring you great results without hunting through a patch of clover.

Since feeling lucky is a risky way to remodel a kitchen, bathroom, office or any part of your home, here are six ways to maximize your luck when hiring someone for your cabinetry project.

1. Experience

How long in business, staff experience levels and the range of projects undertaken — all make a difference when choosing a cabinet maker. If a cabinetry business has worked in many types of homes, with many different materials and products, and in many different styles, you can rest assured they’ll have the skills for your project. They’ll know how to anticipate potential complications, solve problems on the spot, and advise you about your options because they’ve been there, done that.

2. Can accommodate your unique space and tastes

What space are you working with, what style do you want, and what problems are you trying to solve? The right cabinet maker will ask those questions and design a cabinetry solution that accomplishes just what you want. That’s the “custom” part of custom cabinetry. Off-the-shelf cabinets might be cheaper upfront, however, they may not meet your needs or you may have to compromise on design.  Custom cabinet makers do the opposite by making cabinets fit your unique plan.

3. Great customer testimonials

Use your favorite social media channel or search engine to look for customer testimonials about any cabinet maker you are considering. Explore their websites, too. You should read about great communication, courtesy and professionalism in addition to terrific results. Are they making the project about YOU and your wants and dreams? At the end of the day, you are the one living in that space.

4. ‘Wow’ portfolios

Any good cabinetry professional will have a portfolio of photos showing off their workmanship; this is often posted on the website but if it’s not, ask to see it. If you don’t see the type of project you’re looking for, or if the photos don’t get you excited and inspired, you should probably move on. A portfolio is also another way to understand the range of experience a cabinet maker has and the quality of their work.

5. Licensed, certified and insured

Licenses and certifications give you confidence that a cabinetry professional has the skills and knowledge to deliver excellent results. Knowing they are insured gives you the peace of mind that they are professional enough to establish best practices for their business — and covered if something unexpected happens.

6. NARI membership

If you don’t already know about the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, or NARI, you should. Membership in this nationwide professional organization is a great stamp of approval. NARI members must adhere to NARI’s strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Each member is verified according to criteria that ensures professionalism, quality work, and continuing professional education. The Milwaukee chapter is the third oldest in the nation and one of the biggest.

The Cabinet Maker Checks All the Boxes!

Explore The Cabinet Maker’s website for terrific testimonials, an inspiring portfolio of projects, top-notch qualifications and more. You’ll see that we check all six boxes when it comes to bringing luck to your home project:

• Highly experienced in a wide range of cabinetry solutions including kitchen remodels, bathrooms, offices, basement spaces and more — even RVs!
• Eager to design a solution for any space or need. We love the creativity and challenge involved in building something special for each situation, and we have some amazing, innovative ideas to bring to the table.
• Glowing customer testimonials where you’ll read about our quality work, thoughtful design, and professional approach to every job. Check out our Google reviews and our website, too.
• A portfolio that doesn’t just show off our work (though we’re pretty proud of what we do) but also gives you plenty of ideas for your own project.
• Fully licensed, certified and insured, and a member of The Cabinet Makers Association.
• In addition to being a NARI member and certified remodeler, The Cabinet Maker has received NARI Milwaukee’s Remodeler of the Year award twice, in 2013 and 2019. Owner John Phillips is a NARI committee member and has served on the board of directors.

“Actually,” says Cabinet Maker owner John Phillips, “luck is just a way to describe professionalism, experience and skilled craftsmanship. We’ll bring all those qualifications to whatever you envision for your home.” Your cabinetry project doesn’t have to feel like a gamble with The Cabinet Maker. Use our online form to schedule a phone consultation.

We love our custom cabinetry clients. Every day, they give us the opportunity to solve problems, make someone’s life easier, pursue a craft we love and create something beautiful. They welcome us into their homes throughout southeastern Wisconsin to share their visions with us. We appreciate each and every one of them and want to wish them a happy Valentine’s Day!

We are happy to say that our clients return the sentiment with some awesome testimonials and reviews. We are incredibly honored to have a 5-star rating on Google reviews. Feedback like this motivates us to do our best every day:

• “Helpful every step of the way.”
• “Listened and asked questions to help clearly understand our vision.”
• “Always courteous and prompt.”
• “Patient with us when we needed time to evaluate options.”
• “Kept our project running smoothly.”
• “The work is AMAZING. Our cabinetry is beautiful as well as functional.”

The Secret to Our Success

How do we cultivate such great client relationships? It’s actually not too different from any great marriage or match. We believe every good relationship in the custom cabinet business is built on a few important traits that we’d like to think Cupid would approve of.

• We listen closely to your needs. When you hire The Cabinet Maker, it’s all about YOU. Your needs are our priority. Do you need more storage? Are you working with a small space? Are you remodeling or are you replacing? Would you prefer design ideas from us, or do you have your own? We’ll start by listening and asking questions so we can get a deep understanding of your vision, tastes and needs.

• We communicate. In addition to listening, we’ll be clear and transparent about our custom design-and-build process. We’ll keep you informed as your project goes from planning to design to construction to installation. We’ll be responsive when you have questions.

• We show you respect. We will respect your time, your home, and your opinions. We are punctual and tidy. We’ll check in with you throughout the process and answer your questions along the way. Many cabinetry projects can be disruptive, especially when they involve remodeling. We strive to minimize the stress.

• We value home life. Do you treasure your home life? We do, too! No matter what the age, the style or the era, we want to help home environments be the best they can be — comfortable, beautiful, functional. Whether you are adapting to a growing family, adjusting to a different lifestyle or simply in need of a change, we love to help.

• We’re in it for the long haul. When we build custom cabinetry, we believe in getting it right. It’s built to last, and we stand by the quality of our work. We want your cabinets to be durable, functional and long-lasting.

• We’re honest. We’ll be honest about prices, product options and design approaches. Our experience helps us spot potential problems, and we’ll let you know what they are. We won’t recommend a product we don’t stand behind. We will give you honest opinions about what approach is best for you, your home and your vision.

We’re a Great Match!

Do you need a custom cabinetry solution for your bathroom, kitchen, home office or anywhere else in your home? If so, we could be a great match. To set up a up a date, use our online form to schedule a phone consultation.

The Cabinet Maker, LLC prides itself in hiring talented team members and is seeking a Full Time Sales Assistant.  This key team member will be a high energy, customer service focused individual with the ability to support the company owner for driving and closing sales aligned with company growth strategies.

Are you looking for an opportunity to grow your sales skills in the remodeling industry with a company that is growing and has a strong reputation for excellent customer service and unmatched quality in the products it produces?

The successful candidate will manage the sales lead pipeline, coordinate sales appointments and related documentation, as well as manage his/her own sales pipeline of projects with size and scope appropriate to his/her experience.  The position provides growth opportunity for motivated candidates.

This role offers a competitive base salary with an opportunity to earn commission.

Job Duties include:

• Managing his/her individual sales pipeline and that of the team
• Answering incoming phone calls
• Maintaining prospect and job folders
• Organizing sub-contractor folders, including gathering required documents and keeping current
• Sales scheduling and support
• Social media updates and postings
• Keeping email lists current
• Selling clients on projects as assigned, including managing aspects of the job through completion
• Managing post-project client feedback program
• Coordinating and scheduling projects with clients and trade partners
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Passionate about delivering exceptional service that maintains brand recognition and reputation
• A minimum of two years of experience in a similar role, such as Customer Service, Inside Sales, or Sales Support
• Keen attention to detail
• Experience in a manufacturing or construction/remodel industry or similar setting preferred
• Strong data entry skills, with attention to accuracy and detail
• Ability to work independently and within established processes to proactively achieve team and individual goals
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Technically proficient in Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Team player with desire to advance career

Contact Information

If your background and experience meet these qualifications, please forward a cover letter with resume and salary requirements to: info@thecabinetmakerwi.com

About Us: The Cabinet Maker, LLC is a high service, custom design-build cabinet shop. We specialize in manufacturing one-of-a-kind residential kitchen and bath cabinetry, bars, and built-ins, matching style and color in existing homes.