A cabinet design consultation should leave you with more information than you walked in with, whether or not you hire the company. If it feels like a sales appointment with a measuring tape, something has gone wrong.
We have been running free in-home consultations across East Texas since 2004. Here is exactly what ours involves, what we will ask, and how to get the most out of the hour.
Why It Happens in Your Home
Cabinetry cannot be designed from a photograph. The room has to be measured, and more importantly, it has to be seen. Ceiling height, window placement, how light moves through the space, where the traffic actually flows, what the existing trim and flooring look like, and whether the walls are anywhere close to square are all things that only show up in person.
For remodels, we also want to see what is not working now. That is often the most useful conversation of the whole visit.
What Happens During the Visit
We measure
Full field measurements of the space, including ceiling heights at multiple points, window and door locations, existing plumbing and electrical positions, and any obstructions such as HVAC returns or structural columns.
We ask how you use the room
This is the part that shapes the design more than anything else. Expect questions like:
- How many people cook or get ready at the same time?
- What small appliances stay on the counter and which get put away?
- What do you own that never has a good home right now?
- Do you prefer drawers or doors for base storage?
- Is there anything about your current cabinets that drives you crazy?
Specific answers produce a better design. Vague answers produce a generic one.
We talk about style and materials
We will look at any inspiration photos you have, discuss wood species and finishes, and talk through door styles. If you are matching existing woodwork elsewhere in the house, we look at that too.
We talk about budget honestly
Budget comes up because it has to. Knowing the range early lets us design something buildable rather than designing something beautiful that has to be stripped back later. We would rather have an uncomfortable ten-minute conversation than waste a month of your time.
What You Get Afterward
Following the visit, we produce CAD drawings of the proposed cabinetry. These are scaled drawings, not sketches, and they let you see:
- Exact cabinet sizes and how the run fits the wall
- Door and drawer configuration for every cabinet
- Heights, clearances, and how the cabinetry relates to windows and appliances
- How the layout works in elevation, not just in plan
You review the drawings, mark them up, and we revise. This loop continues until the design is right. Nothing gets fabricated until you approve it.
How to Prepare
You do not need to have decisions made. You do need a few things to make the hour productive:
- Photos of kitchens, closets, or built-ins you like, and ideally a couple you dislike
- A rough sense of your budget range
- A list of what is not working in the current space
- Any appliances you have already bought or plan to buy, with model numbers if possible
- Everyone who is part of the decision, in the room at the same time
- Any deadline you are working toward, such as a holiday, a move-in date, or a business opening
That last one matters more than people expect. If you need cabinets by a specific date, tell us at the consultation so we can work backward and tell you honestly whether it is achievable.
Questions Worth Asking Us
A consultation goes both directions. Questions worth asking any cabinet company:
- Do you build the cabinets yourselves or order them from a manufacturer?
- What is the box constructed from?
- Who does the installation?
- What does the warranty cover and for how long?
- Can I see completed work in person or in a gallery?
- What happens if a measurement is wrong?
For the record: we fabricate everything in house, build with three-quarter-inch solid hardwood rather than particle board, do our own installation without subcontractors, and back the work with a lifetime warranty on labor and hardware. You can see finished projects in our gallery.
What the Consultation Is Not
It is not a commitment. It is not a high-pressure close. And it is not a quote produced on the spot from a formula, because an honest number requires knowing what is actually being built.
Common Questions
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. The measurement, the conversation, and the CAD drawings are free.
How long does it take?
Usually around an hour for a single room, longer for whole-house or commercial projects.
Do I need to have demolition done first?
No. For remodels we measure the existing space, then take final field measurements later once the room is opened up.
Do you travel outside Tyler?
We serve Tyler, Whitehouse, Longview, Jacksonville, Kilgore, Athens, Henderson, Marshall, Nacogdoches, Palestine, and the surrounding East Texas service areas.
Book Yours
Call or text (903) 570-5904, or request a free in-home consultation online. We are in the shop Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, with additional hours by appointment.