The Cabinet Center Company Profile

A kitchen remodel is an undertaking most homeowners face only once in their lives. The potential challenges are enough to keep many of us dreaming of new countertops and cabinets while cooking in our old space.

Even seasoned consumers can be unnerved by pricey up-front deposits, strong sales pressure and fear of being pushed into making a decision before the designer has a true understanding of the clients' personality and space. Many customers spend the entire remodel bogged down with concerns, wondering if they will end up with a finished product that matches their vision.

We wondered if it was possible to find a cabinet company whose primary goal is helping customers construct the perfect design rather than making a quick sale. In our effort to prove that remodeling your kitchen doesn't have to be painful, we searched for a designer who takes time to talk with clients without demanding hefty deposits before measuring and creating an initial design.

Three Steps to Perfection
We were thrilled to find a local design center committed to understanding your ideas and dissolve your worries. Andrew Wilson, cofounding partner of The Cabinet Center in Pleasanton CA and San Carlos CA, knows customers can have the kitchen they've envisioned, and he's committed to making the process pressure-free and inviting.

The professionals at The Cabinet Center take a three-step approach to designing the ultimate space for their clients. The first meeting takes place in one of The Cabinet Center's showrooms in Alameda County and San Mateo County. This enables potential customers to share ideas, view samples and talk in-depth with a designer. With no sales pressure, the information-only meeting eases customers' minds. The only decision clients have to make after the first meeting is whether or not they want to schedule a second meeting.

During the second step, designers measure customers' existing kitchen space. They discuss the personality of the family and the space, looking for a design that perfectly fits their lifestyle and their home. If the clients want to proceed, designers present their proposal at a third meeting. After seeing the design, homeowners are encouraged to take their time and decide whether The Cabinet Center is a good fit for their project and if the remodel will move forward. No money exchanges hands until the customers decide to make a deposit toward their design.

Clients are pleasantly surprised by this no-hassle, no-commitment approach to kitchen design. No money down and three separate meetings guarantee customer control of the decisions. The Cabinet Center's skilled designers are dedicated to working within customer budgets and have designed cabinets ranging from $5,000 to $150,000.

Andrew Wilson, The Cabinet Center partner and a graduate of Chico State's finance program, was born an entrepreneur. As a child, he earned money selling lemonade and mowing lawns, and he opened a tee-shirt business while in college. A dynamic go-getter who always had an interest in design and construction, he jumped at the opportunity to work with business partner Brad McCarthy. Brad's training as an airline mechanic prepared him to work in intricate and minute details, bringing an experienced eye to the cabinetry trade.

Translating Natural Beauty
Customers are often blindsided by the unexpected natural qualities of wood. Armed with only a tiny showroom sample, many design firms don't let customers know what they can expect in complete kitchen cabinetry, both during and after installation. Customers are surprised to find the finished project takes on a very different look than the small samples they relied upon as their guides.

The Cabinet Center's Andrew Wilson doesn't shy away from reality. He wants his customers to understand the beautiful and unique nature of wood. "I point out the flaws that are inherent in wood. Cherry will age and darken, it has spots and that you can't take out. Some say maple will mellow—I say it yellows. I want to point it out so customers know what to expect."

Consumers find this upfront candor refreshing. Gina, a customer, shared her experience with The Cabinet Center during a research phone call. "They were very delightful to work with and they took a lot of time with us discussing what would be the best cabinets for us," she said.

The Cabinet Center's two showrooms in Pleasanton CA and San Carlos CA feature sample vignettes, giving customers an up-close and personal feel for the materials and design. Unlike at giant warehouse showrooms that are all show and no substance, The Cabinet Center designers are the highlight of the business. Many of The Cabinet Center's designers have been with the company for years, including one who has been in the industry for more than 25 years. Using computer programs and even freehand drawings, committed personnel take on any challenge to create perfectly suited spaces for their clients.

All About Connection
Andrew Wilson recalls a customer that came to him with a realistic budget and a fear that their dreams were impossible after a frustrating encounter with a different cabinet designer. In his calm manor, Andrew talked with the client and discovered their requests were simple and possible within their budget parameters.

"Sometimes people talk in terms of money because they don't know what else to say," he said. "I asked the customer some basic questions, and at end, it wasn't about the money. It was that the other designer wasn't listening. Once you're able to find out the underlying cause you can address it correctly. It's the trust factor."

Trust extends beyond the planning stage. Before the cabinet installation, the designer and contractor meet and lay out the entire project. Not content to just leave their job description at designing and ordering, Andrew Wilson says the professionals at The Cabinet Center know their clients' satisfaction revolves around a team approach. "If we work with the contractor, it goes seamlessly," says Andrew Wilson. "It's a team situation-the more the contractor knows, the better the project turns out."

Redesigning your kitchen doesn't need to be an exhausting or frustrating venture. The professionals at The Cabinet Center can turn your dreams into reality through their simple and customer-friendly three-step process, all the while listening to what their clients are really saying.

Andrew Wilson believes designing the perfect kitchen space is more than concocting an eye-pleasing combination of cabinets and countertops. He understands the importance of a personal connection. "Find the person you connect with and they will solve your problems," says Andrew Wilson. "I want to address concerns and be there for the customer. It's their kitchen. My goal is to guide them along the process."

—Lauren Bongard Schwarz
Associate Editor
The Prime Buyer's Report