After building a custom entertainment piece for this client a few years back, they decided it was time to remodel their kitchen. Throughout the design process, we struggled with the current location of the existing first floor bathroom. When the decision was made to relocate it to the other side of the kitchen, this provided the possibility of adding a peninsula into the design. The peninsula opened up the space, as well as provided more countertop space, which was one of the client’s wish list items.
Relocated First Floor BathroomCustom Cabinets With Storage SolutionsPull-Out Cabinet For Spice Storage
Storage solutions, like this pull-out cabinet, make it easier to view your spices and other kitchen items. Inside standard cabinets, it’s easy to lose sight of products as they get pushed to the back. This is the perfect solution!
Large Built-In Pantry Under Stairway
Using the area under the stairway for a large built-in pantry helped to increase the accessibility of dry goods storage.
It’s the month when many of us are on the hunt for the perfect Father’s Day gift. One sure-fire way to make Dad happy? Let him customize the gift you select. Here are six great ways The Cabinet Maker can do just that!
1. A better way to watch the game
Unless he’s lucky enough to have his own personal screening room, chances are Dad doesn’t have the ideal set-up for watching the Packers, Bucks and Brewers, not to mention his favorite movies. Finding a spot to hang the flat-screen TV might mean sitting too close, too far, or too low. And is there ever enough room for the beer and nachos?
The Cabinet Maker can look at Dad’s space and offer customized ideas. Options include a cabinet that hides the TV screen until it’s time to use it, built-in shelving that can position the screen in just the right spot, or a handsome entertainment center that fits Dad’s style like a glove. And who knows? Maybe we can find room for a mini-fridge, too.
Custom Entertainment Center
2.A more organized way to garden
Anyone who gardens has tools and supplies. And when it comes to handling seedlings or potted plants, a convenient and rugged work surface is great, too. That’s where a potting bench comes in.
The Cabinet Maker can custom-design a gardener’s potting bench to fit the space available in a garage, in a basement, or even outside. Shelving, cubby holes, drawers — all can be designed to Dad’s specifications, creating the ideal place to organize his gardening hobby. What about a sliding work surface that reveals a space for potting soil beneath? Or a hideaway trash bin? Or a spigot hook-up? Or heavy-duty slide-out shelves? We can even design something on wheels. We’ll work with Dad to customize all the options.
3. Room to stretch in the kitchen
We know lots of Dads who love to spend time in the kitchen, whether rolling out dough or chopping veggies for soups. And most would love more room to set up and spread out. Why not let The Cabinet Maker assess the kitchen and recommend ways to create more countertop space? We have lots of experience finding ways to use existing space or reconfigure it for efficiency, ease and functionality. Bonus: Dad just might make more of those muffins you love.
4. Show off his prized collection
A 2021 survey found that 45 percent of male respondents said they collect something physical, roughly twice the amount of women who identified as collectors. Does the Dad in your life collect something? If so, there might be a better way to display and organize his prized possessions. Rods and reels, comic books, bobbleheads, bourbons, vinyl albums, sports memorabilia — each type of collection needs a different storage solution, and solutions are what The Cabinet Maker specializes in. We can also design something that will display items nicely by incorporating lighting, glass doors, pull-out shelves and drawers with just the right storage dimensions.
Custom Coin Collector Cabinet
5. Bars for any part of the house
The basement bar is a long-standing Wisconsin tradition, and The Cabinet Maker can design one that’s up-to-date, functional, and designed to make the most of Dad’s available space. One of our favorite examples is a basement bar pictured here that we designed for a client who wanted the perfect gathering place for family and friends, especially during football season. It incorporated a lighted, etched mirror cabinet and plenty of other custom touches. We also have lots of handsome, functional, and often compact ways to build bars into other parts of the house, like the garage bar we designed (pictured here) that incorporated a wet bar, mini-fridge, and some extra pantry space. Maybe there’s a niche, closet, or under-utilized part of the family room that can be fitted with a space for mixing Dad’s favorite cocktail. Let us help him figure it out!
Basement BarGarage Bar
6. A workbench that really works
This one’s for all the DIY Dads out there, the ones who prize their tools and pore over plans for their next projects. If he can dream it, we can build it: mobile or built-in, extra work surface or extra storage space, stowaway or permanent.
Work bench solutions will be different depending on the hobby and the space available, and our customized approach means we can address those specifications. There’s a wide range of materials, too. Or maybe Dad is using an old-school work bench that could use an upgrade. Whatever the need, a custom craftsman like The Cabinet Maker is cut out for the job.
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 Dad in your life a great custom-cabinet gift. Just use our online form to schedule a phone consultation. And have a happy Father’s Day!
This kitchen was ready for an update. The existing overall layout was functional however this homeowner wanted a more up-to-date look with more light and a brighter-looking room. The existing storage was not meeting their needs so our solutions included improved lighting, and brighter colors on the walls, cabinets, and countertops.
Convenient Knife Storage
Convenient knife storage easy access with this pull-out drawer. Moving outlets off the backsplash wall to the bottom of the upper cabinets helped to create a clean look without having to cut into the new tile backsplash.
Hidden Microwave Storage
The mixer is always within reach when needed and the shelf microwave is hidden behind the top-hinged pocked door when not in use.
Decorative Hood Cabinet
This decorative hood cabinet was designed with the homeowner’s tastes in mind. We decided to make the hood the focal point of this space while ensuring it was not too overpowering.
Bay Window
Keeping the bay window in the new design was an essential element in this kitchen. This allowed room for water filtration options.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
It’s a fresh new year and you’re eager to get organized. A look around the house might suggest just where to begin. Are the kids’ boots and mittens piled at the back door? Are your baking supplies still on the kitchen counter? Are you looking for a place to display the gifts you’ve unwrapped?
When things accumulate, it’s often a sign that you don’t have enough cabinet space, or the cabinets you have aren’t efficient. That’s just the kind of problem The Cabinet Maker loves to solve.
“When I meet with people, I always ask them about the little things that drive them crazy, whether it’s in the kitchen, the mud room or any other place in the house,” says Cabinet Maker owner John Phillips. “Once I know that, we can get to work designing a cabinetry solution to make life easier.”
Here are just a few examples.
Kitchens: Making Things Easier to Reach
Organization problem: Too much bending over, crouching and reaching to retrieve items stored in lower cabinets, but not enough room to find a more convenient spot.
Cabinetry solution: Replace cabinets with drawers that can be pulled out for easy access. “Even heavy items can be stowed in drawers, because we design and build them to accommodate the weight,” said John.
Organization problem: Someone in the house loves to bake and decorate delicious things, but their collection of appliances and utensils is taking over the counter space.
Cabinetry solution: The Cabinet Maker can design a solution for appliances that will seamlessly match your cabinetry. We will also look for small, unused spaces and design a custom solution for utensil storage. “We have some ingenious tricks that can make use of wasted space while getting you organized,” says John.
Mud Rooms: Making Things Easier to Stow
Organization problem: The floor of the mud room, which leads into the back yard, is constantly cluttered with shoes, mittens, boots and gym bags.
Cabinetry solution: A custom-designed bench locker with cubby holes below for boots and shoes, cabinets above for seasonal items, and hooks in between for coats and bags. “We can work with your space and your family size to find the optimum solution,” says John. “We can even design the coat hooks as pegs that can move higher as your children grow taller.”
Bookcases: Making Room for Things You Love
Organization problem: There’s a book-lover in the family who doesn’t use e-books and can’t part with anything they’ve read. Books are piling up everywhere!
Cabinetry solution: Custom-designed bookcases that will stow the books while freshening up the look of your home. “I’ll want to know your ideas, how many books you want to store, and how you like to organize them,” says John. For instance, you may have a collection of art and coffee-table books that are too tall for conventional shelving. “I’ll work with your space, your design style and your book collection to make the best use of every inch available.”
Organization problem: Between gifts from loved ones and mementoes you’ve collected on your travels, you don’t have enough display space for everything.
Cabinetry solution: Same bookcase solution as above! And when bookcases are used for displaying items, The Cabinet Maker can suggest built-in lighting features, display niches, and even a hidden storage area for seasonal items you’ll rotate in and out. “The only thing we haven’t figured out how to add is automatic dusting,” says John with a laugh.
We’ll help you get organized!
That’s just a sampling of the solutions The Cabinet Maker can offer. Contact us for a consultation to find out if we can solve your organization problems with beautiful, functional cabinetry designed just for you.
This lower-level man cave features beverage coolers, an icemaker, and an integrated audio/video system with a large flat screen on the back bar wall. The dark stain finish on custom maple cabinetry beautifully compliments the granite countertops. RGBW LED lighting with 2 separate zones allows flexibility so you can change the color theme to match the game, providing the perfect finishing touch!
Wet bar prep sink
This man cave also includes a conveniently located bar sink.
Comfortable seating with under-counter accent lighting
Ample seating at the bar to watch the game on the flat screen or just enjoy a cocktail and conversation.
Installation of the front bar
Installation of the front bar wall constructed of 2 x 6 material for stability.
Display your favorite bourbons
Great way to display your favorite bourbons or other liquors.
My wife and I had an excellent experience with John Phillips and his Company team. Through all phases of the project from design, selection of materials, to construction and installation, the project was well-handled. Our correspondence from phone calls and e-mails was very productive and did not waste our time or his. He was always courteous and prompt when dealing with us. He paid attention to detail and knew how to ask pertinent questions to guide us through the design and material selection process. He offered appropriate suggestions, at times, but was never overbearing or insistent that we do things his way . He was also patient with us, when we needed time to evaluate options.
The quality of the work, attention to detail and punctuality of John and his team made his Company a pleasure to work with. We highly recommend John and his Firm.
