Cabinets & Design Studio Company Profile

ust speaking with Lee Greenlund, owner of Cabinets and Design Studio in Santa Rosa, makes one want to remodel their kitchen. Her enthusiasm for the subject is contagious. Lee, originally a Southern California girl, came to Sonoma County in 1992 while working as a representative for another cabinet company. "I fell in love with this area," she said.

KITCHEN DESIGN AS ART
She has a background fine art and commercial art and, growing up, always imagined that she would be an artist. And, as it turns out, she is an artist. Her canvases are kitchens all over Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Lee began designing kitchens in 1979. She was manager of an appliance store and when the in-store designer quit one day, Lee volunteered to take over the position temporarily. She found that not only did she love the work, she had a natural flair for it. In 2003, after years of working for other kitchen and cabinet businesses, Lee took a leap of faith and founded Cabinets and Design Studio and the rest, as they say, is history. Since then she has helped thousands of homeowners design and remodel not only their kitchens, but their bathrooms, entertainment rooms and offices as well. With finesse and a flair for thinking outside the box, Lee can transform the ordinary into something magical.

HELPING TURN A DREAM INTO REALITY
When a client calls Cabinet and Design Studio, Lee and her crew can usually set an appointment within one week. When she gets there she will take the time to help her new client clarify his or her dream. According to Lee, often people know they want a change, and they have some idea of what they would like to see happen, but the details are fuzzy.

"I think I'm very good at what I do because they can tell me what they think they want, and I help them discover their own vision," said Lee. "My job is to interpret what they're saying and make it come alive." Laughing, she said, "Sometimes a husband and wife think they're both in agreement and imagining the same thing but find they're both picturing it differently. I can help clarify all the details of design, color and materials so we're all seeing the same thing."

A WIDE VARIETY OF BRANDS AND STYLES FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE
There are many types and styles of cabinets from which to choose. Cabinets and Design Studio is proud to carry such fine brands as Crystal and Medallion along with many others including Kraft, Aristokraft, Schrock, Columbia Frameless and Edgewater. It's all about personal taste and budget. If a client has something completely unique in mind, Lee will help them find what they're looking for.

EXPERIENCED, DEPENDABLE INDUSTRY CONTACTS
Cabinets and Design Studio can also help with countertops made from a variety of materials including granite, stone, quartz or laminates. Because of Lee's long experience in the business she has many contacts with reputable, honest contractors and suppliers so no matter what the customer is seeking, she can find it. "I have lots of great contractors I've worked with over the years," she said. "These are guys I trust and that I know will get it done and not leave the clients hanging."

Cabinets and Design Studio now has four employees with three designers between the two store locations. All are capable and knowledgeable. Lee and her crew will take the time, with no obligation to their potential clients, to produce professional drawings of design ideas to make the process easier to visualize.

For now, Lee plans to keep her business small so she can be sure to have the time to give each client her full attention and the best customer service. "I love talking to people and discussing what makes them happy," she said. "It's wonderful to take a dream and see it through to fruition. When people get a new kitchen, it's something they've saved for and looked forward to and they're excited about it. The best part of my job is hearing my clients when they smile and say, ‘I love my new kitchen!' "

---Jim Brumm
Staff Writer
The Prime Buyer's Report