The Radiator Stays

Removing the radiator in this project was not an option

Planning and Design
My kitchen remodel was a long time in the works. We bought our house in 2000 and immediately had to do some projects to protect the structure of the house so the more “fun” kitchen remodel went to the back burner. We were hoping to save some of the original cabinetry so over the years we talked to different contractors and cabinet makers. Everyone had good ideas, but it wasn’t until I met with John that I felt like we could make our vision happen. Now we have achieved our goal of preserving the original character of the kitchen while modernizing everything and making it a very charming and efficient place to prepare meals.

It was the collaboration with John that made it happen. The final product was a combination of our ideas and John’s design expertise and craftsmanship.  Trade partners were recommended by John included, Milestone Plumbing, and Tamarack Renovations. Overall the project went smoothly. John is very particular in who he works with – he set high standards and the work performed lived up to them. 

The cabinets that John constructed for us are beautiful and functional and complement the house style. John was attuned to the look we were trying for in the kitchen. For example, we worked together on keeping the big cast iron radiator under the sink – John built a cabinet that surrounds it while I found the register cover that he built in to it. Keeping some of the old created design challenges, but John was very adept at saving the existing and creating great modern solutions for the new.

Kitchen remodel matching new with old

We chose custom flush inset cabinetry which is a high-end cabinet to complement the existing cabinets. The cabinetry was not inexpensive, but I did comparison with other cabinet makers and semi-custom cabinet lines. I feel that I absolutely got my money’s worth and that John’s price was competitive with other contractors. The best decision I made on this project was choosing John, The Cabinet Maker. We are thrilled with our new (and old!) kitchen!

Joe & Vera, Wauwatosa, WI