Your home should be your haven – a sanctuary of solace that provides warmth, respite and even functionality. Yet over the years, it can become a space that needs sprucing up. So, whether you’re looking to add usefulness to a mudroom or completely overhaul the look of your kitchen, the talented team of experts at Cabinetry by Better Bilt can guide you from the smallest update up to the most jaw-dropping transformation.
A staple in the community for the past 47 years, the company has undergone its own remodel since Andrea Yeip purchased it five years ago, after joining as an interior designer in 2012. The showroom has been elegantly expanded and improved, and she’s brought on several designers with a fresh vision who she says are willing to push the envelope and work with trends. The team is often gathered in an office, collaborating on various projects.
“The future of the company is what we provide to people. We know whatever project they have planned; they’ve been saving for it and it’s an investment for them,” Andrea says. “They come to us because they’ve either passed by us over the years and now, they need us, or their parents came here and they remember Better Bilt. They come in as a stranger and leave as a friend.”
Although known for kitchen remodels, Andrea and her team also provide design and products for bathrooms, laundry rooms, offices, and mudrooms. With its refreshed facade beaming from the corner of Gratiot and Cass avenues in Mount Clemens, the respected business is a one-stop shop for your project. Here, customers have their pick of a variety of striking countertops, eye-catching backsplash, stylish flooring, lighting, plumbing fixtures, sinks and even cabinet handles and drawer knobs. They range in styles, from the iconic minimalism of mid-century modern to the dignified sophistication of traditional to the rustic warmth of farmhouse.
Last year, Better Bilt added the availability of interior design services incorporating furniture, including stools, club chairs, dining tables and coffee tables, as well as lighting. Andrea notes the company also designs closet organizers, bookshelves and even mudroom lockers.
“People want to go to one place, so the more things we can offer keeps the project moving and is less stress on the homeowners,” says Andrea. “We have a network of people that we built relationships with, so if you are asking for something that we don’t offer, we can confidently refer you to the right vendor to assist you.”
At the beginning stage of a project, both Design Manager Devon Moore and Interior Designer Alex Tooma prefer to visit a client’s home to first understand how the surrounding space will integrate with the new changes.
“It also helps me get a sense of who they are in their own home, or what they like or dislike. They can be overwhelmed here because there is a lot to see,” says Devon. “I tend to do my info gathering in their comfort zone before I bring them into my comfort zone.”
For Alex, next steps involve color. A recent kitchen project showcased warm tones, with dark maple cabinets opposite those of white maple, complemented by light countertops with dark veining, a neutral backsplash and natural flooring that captured both cabinet colors.
“Our portfolio is very diverse … no job is the same,” he says. “I like the learning aspect of the job. Every project is different with no two jobs being the same. When we run into a challenge, it sticks with you, and you remember it for next time.”
Devon, who has been designing for 19 years, still finds herself becoming attached to clients. “Because I’ve been doing this for so long, I have repeat clients. I’ve seen babies born, they’ve seen mine,” she laughs. “I like seeing the job come to fruition … to have a customer say, ‘This is exactly what I envisioned. I can’t believe this is my house,’ even years later. It’s what I love about this job – I’m doing something to make people happy.”
“It’s fun to see how excited the client is throughout the process,” adds Danielle Malecki, design assistant. “I love to see them get what they expected at the end, and then soon they’re calling us for their next project.”
Andrea says the most important aspect of Better Bilt’s customer service is to ask clients their opinions and what they want their space to look like. “Listening is our little sweet spot; it really sets us apart.”
“The future of the company is what we provide to people."
“Listening is our little sweet spot; it really sets us apart.”
