What we build
Outdoor build season runs March through October in DFW. November through February, the crew is in the shop building the indoor commissions clients have been waiting for. That work falls into a few buckets:
- Custom cabinets: Kitchen, bathroom, laundry, mudroom, garage. Solid-wood face frames with plywood box construction; sliding-dovetail drawers; full-extension soft-close hardware standard.
- Built-in shelving: Library walls, living room media units, home-office storage. Adjustable shelves on shelf-pin tracks; integrated LED accent lighting available.
- Kitchen islands: Custom base with butcher-block, quartz, or solid-wood tops. Outlet integration and pendant-lighting prep done by a partner electrician.
- Fireplace mantels: Cedar, walnut, oak, or paint-grade. With or without corbels. Floating mantels with concealed steel brackets when you want the minimal look.
- Mudroom benches & cubbies: Cedar or paint-grade poplar, with hooks, cubbies, and shoe storage. Painted, stained, or natural finishes.
- Custom millwork: Window seats, wainscot, beadboard ceilings, ceiling beams, custom door trim packages.
Materials we use
Wood selection depends on the look you want and the budget:
- Solid red oak / white oak: Most common stained hardwood. Open grain takes stain beautifully. ~$$.
- Walnut: Premium hardwood, deeper natural color, less common in DFW. ~$$$.
- Cedar: Lighter, faster-aging, often used for rustic-look mantels and outdoor-adjacent indoor pieces (sunrooms, screened porches). ~$$.
- Paint-grade poplar: Cheapest option, only used when the piece is going to be painted. Tight grain, no figure. ~$.
- Quartersawn white oak: Specialty grain pattern. Mission-style and craftsman-style pieces. ~$$$.
Build method
Most cabinets and built-ins are built in our Allen shop, finished in-shop (stain or paint applied off-site so dust and overspray aren't in your house), then delivered as assemblies and installed on-site over 1–3 days. Wall-anchored built-ins are through-screwed into studs and shimmed plumb; freestanding pieces are designed to be movable.
Drawer construction: solid wood face, plywood box, sliding-dovetail or locking-rabbet joints, full-extension soft-close drawer slides. Hinges: Blum soft-close concealed Euro hinges on inset and overlay door styles.
How much do custom cabinets cost?
The wide range you'll see online ("$300–$1,200 per linear foot") is real and depends on materials, finish complexity, and hardware. In our 2024–2025 work:
- Built-in shelving wall (10 ft, paint-grade poplar): $4,500–$8,000
- Custom kitchen island (4x7 oak with butcher-block top): $7,500–$12,000
- Custom kitchen cabinet refresh (20 linear feet, painted): $18,000–$28,000
- Library wall (12 ft x 8 ft, stained oak): $9,000–$15,000
- Fireplace mantel (cedar, with corbels): $1,800–$3,500
Mostly looking for outdoor work? See our cedar fence service and deck service.