How to Plan for Custom Cabinets
As part of our primary bedroom project one challenge we faced was identifying space for our closet. As you may know, we decided to take the original walk-in closet and add it to the new bathroom. So, in making that decision we had to get creative with our new closet space and — by way of a brilliant idea from my mother-in-law — we landed on installing wall-to-wall custom cabinets in our bedroom!
So, today I’m breaking down how we planned for custom cabinets, chose our cabinet maker and found the perfect hardware with a vintage flare.
How I planned for custom cabinets
As mentioned above, when we jumped into our renovation, the primary bathroom and closet proved to be the biggest challenge for us. We spent weeks developing plans to expand the bathroom, but each plan resulted in major renovation (moving plumbing for two bathrooms, at least three walls, and relocating the closet in our guest bedroom). Plus, the primary closet never seemed to fit in right. One day as I was talking through various options with my mother-in-law, Kerrie, she hit me with the best idea..why not create built-in cabinets in our primary bedroom for use as a closet. Our bedroom is large and even when dedicating two feet of depth along the wall for built-in’s, the room still feels expansive.
When planning the layout + design of these closets, I researched closet dimensions and reviewed all types of organizational systems. I also decided to really get intentional about what types of organizational systems I find useful and actually like to use so that I could rule out any unnecessary items. Ultimately I landed on a simple layout with room for additional hanging rods and adjustable shelving if desired. Our bedroom ceilings are also very tall and so I chose to add awning style cabinets for additional storage above our daily-use cabinets.
How I chose a cabinet maker
There are some home projects that require a very specific set of skills and this project was one of them. The vaulted ceilings created a unique challenge and we wanted to maximize every bit of our space. Also, building cabinets in general is an art.
To begin, I reached out to a couple of different cabinet makers, including local makers and larger box stores to talk about our project. I drew some sketches to communicate the job and was also open for ideas from each maker. Each builder has their own style and way of creating. If you are planning custom cabinets, be sure to review the builder’s previous work as part of your review process.
After initial consultations with about three builders, we chose to work with Miller Custom Cabinet on the project. Miller Custom Cabinet is a local maker in Lincoln, Nebraska and is owned by Jason Miller and his father. The company was started in 1955 by Jason’s grandfather and has been providing our community with custom cabinetry for 66 years! You can check out their Facebook page here.
Jason and his father were great to work with and not only did they bring top-notch workmanship and service to our project, they were extremely knowledgable. I had full confidence in their skill to create a closet system that was perfect for our space. After our consultation, Jason came out and did an official measure of our space, I handed over my drawings and paint chip, and he set off to build our cabinets. The build + paint job took about a month and a half to complete. Once the paint cured, Jason and his father came out to install our cabinets. It was so fun watching the vision take shape and kind of wild to see how large the cabinets actually were. So large, in fact, that they had to be brought in through our bedroom window!
It was also fun getting to know Jason and his dad on a little bit of a personal level. They were even crazy enough to allow me into their shop to snap a few photos of them in action. And it was an EXPERIENCE! Their shop has every wood working tool you can imagine and the entire floor is covered in about four inches of saw dust. It was so cool to see these makers in their creative space and to capture a small part of their process.
How I chose hardware
From there we went on to the Guld Edge, a local hardware shop in Lincoln, Nebraska, that has just about every type of drawer pull and knob that you can imagine. To keep with the traditional style of our bedroom and the mixed metals of black and brass in our bathroom, I chose a brass cabinet pull to be installed on our closet doors. The hardware needed to be large enough to balance the large doors and I also wanted it to feel traditional and cohesive to the space rather than new or modern.
We ordered our hardware back in April and like everything during covid, the handles were on backorder for a few months. We received them in mid-June and then called Jason to come back out and install the hardware.
What I would do differently
If I were going to plan these custom cabinets again, there are a couple things I might change. First, would be adding a library ladder to easily reach the upper cabinets. I did consider a ladder for a small amount of time, but quickly ruled it out as I could foresee it getting in the way when both Garrett and I were attempting to access our closets. Having to share a bathroom sink while our primary has been under construction has taught me a lot ;). To add a ladder now, I would have to find mounting hardware that fits the existing space rather than planning for mounting hardware from the beginning. In addition, I would also consider adding a traditional moulding style to the cabinet doors to feel a little more traditional French than the farmhouse Shaker style we chose.
If you are going to plan for custom cabinets at your home, I hope that this article has been helpful. And, if you would like some extra creative energy for your next project, get in touch!
