Crystal Cabinets and Kitchens by Wedgewood Really Made a Difference ~ Twice!

Several years ago, I told the world about my successful kitchen remodel. My designer at Kitchens By Wedgewood helped me design a dream kitchen, with an efficient layout that added tons of work space and storage options at my fingertips. We opened up the kitchen by knocking down our walk-in pantry wall and adding a work island the size of Tahiti, that became the center of my work triangle.

Working with Mike, my designer at Kitchens by Wedgewood, was a pleasant experience. Since I love to cook, I had many requirements for the design and layout. We modified the design several times before it felt "right" for my cooking, baking and storage needs. Mike was patient with all my changes, and my new kitchen design makes working in the kitchen feel more like fun than work. Selecting cabinets also took some time, with so many cabinet and drawer styles to choose from at the store. When you're designing your dream kitchen, don't forget to check out products like pullout trash bins and spice cabinets, vertical storage for baking trays, and pullout drawers for your pantry cabinet. Crystal Cabinet Works offers all these features, and I'm glad that I integrated them into my design!

Selecting appliances was something I did on my own, but after making my choices, my kitchen designer made sure the cabinets were the proper dimensions to fit them. Don't underestimate the importance of designing your cabinets to fit your appliances ~ it's trickier than it seems! My new Wolf Electric Cooktop and large prep sink with spray faucet bridge the gap between my Electrolux refrigerator, Double Convection Oven and KWC faucet. A new bay window adds much needed light and great view of my backyard trees. Pendant lights provide contemporary ambiance and task lighting.

To add warmth with modern flair, we chose slab cabinet doors in medium brown Lyptus Wood from Crystal Cabinet Works. Lyptus Wood has a beautiful grain and gorgeous reddish brown color. The hardwood is a cross between Eucalyptus and tropical hardwoods like mahogany. It's grown sustainably in Brazil, according to Fibria's website: http://www.lyptus.com/.

When we initially received our Lyptus cabinets from Crystal Cabinet Works, we were pleased with the installation, but had a few problems with the slab doors matching the crown and baseboard trims. The crown was much lighter in color than the doors. While the company fixed the problem initially by restaining the trim, the veneers faded tremendously over time, leading to a patchwork appearance.

About 6 months ago, I emailed the company, asking if there was anything they could do to rectify the problem. To my surprise, they immediately responded and told me to contact my Kitchens by Wedgewood designer to assess the problem. Mike, my designer, visited my home and agreed that the fading was more severe than normal, and set the replacement process in motion. It took awhile, but eventually the company sent all new cabinet fronts to be installed in my kitchen! The process is nearly complete, and I'm happy with how the new door fronts look.

I am very grateful for how both companies, Crystal Cabinet Works and Kitchens by Wedgewood, came through for me ~ even though they were under no obligation to do so. I am pleased that Crystal Cabinet Works was so responsive and generous in solving my problem, but my designer was not surprised at all. He told me several times that Crystal has often gone above and beyond the call of duty in responding to their customers. In addition to being happy with Crystal Cabinets, I am beyond delighted that Kitchens by Wedgewood stepped up to the plate and worked on my behalf to solve the problem. I definitely recommend Kitchens By Wedgewood, not only to help you design your dream kitchen, but also to stand behind the products they sell.

Please read my original article: My Kitchen Remodel to see photos of my kitchen cabinets and design. Learn How We Gained a Bigger, Lighter and Better-Organized Kitchen Without Changing Our Home's Footprint.