KINGSTON — Anyone can get cabinets installed or millwork done in their house, however, there is a difference between having pre-manufactured woodwork installed and a carefully crafted and customized design storage.
The latter is what the owners of Northwest Renovations, Inc. pride themselves in, with an in-house workshop, showroom and offices at their Calvary Lane location.
Owners Charlie Mackall and Bill Warner work along side nine employees who create custom-designed cabinets and millwork. The millwork includes fireplace enclosures, wine racks, library shelving, home office units, wainscoting and crown molding.
“Every conceivable remodel project, we do that,” Warner said.
The company has been in the remodeling business since 1998 and has been sited at the Calvary Lane office since September 2002. Northwest Renovation’s work can be seen all over the region, in homes from Gig Harbor to Port Ludlow. The business averages about 35 to 40 projects a year.
The cabinetry arm of the company was introduced in 2000, when Mackall and Warner hired a skilled builder to do some custom work in a kitchen. Once they realized the extent of this particular carpenter’s skill, the two decided to add the service to the business.
“It didn’t seem right to ignore all that talent,” Mackall said.
While pre-manufactured cabinets tend to come in only three industry-standard sizes, crews from Northwest Renovations can create cabinets to the customers’ exact specifications.
Aside from millwork and cabinetry, the company owners have also noticed how clients want more customized storage spaces throughout their houses.
“Closets are becoming more of a desired product,” Warner said, noting there is even a new publication devoted to storage areas called “Closet Magazine.”
The desire for more space started with the spacious walk-in closet, followed by closet organization systems with various types of shelving. Now, many homeowners are interested in installing personal touches, adding to the growing trend of incorporating quality millwork throughout the home, from the kitchen to the closet, Warner said.
These details are part of what makes the company unique, he added, noting that larger manufacturers don’t tend to use as much detail as the crew at Northwest Renovations. Such details include self-closing doors, full length drawers that pull all the way out, built-in spice racks and customized lazy susan racks.
“Making our customers’ quality of life better,” Mackall said about what he likes the best about the work.
“The creativity,” Warner added. “I like the customer contact. Some of these folks are our best friends.”
