When embarking on a kitchen remodel, it’s easy (and downright delightful) to succumb to the siren song of Calacatta marble countertops—mmmm—polished brass fixtures—uh-huh—vintage pendant lights—oh my—and some Morracan zellige tile backsplashes—yes!
However, Nick and Lindsay Garrison of Durango Cabinet Company (DCC), note that without a solid foundation of cabinets supporting the function and organization of a kitchen, homeowners may wind up pouring money down the sink.
Nick, a remodeler and contractor with 25 years’ experience, points out that an exceptional cabinet begins with a quality box design, from the hinges to the dovetailing. He says, “The box build is really where a well-built cabinet begins and ends. I’ve torn apart cherry cabinets that looked gorgeous but were just flimsy.”
Besides the box, Lindsay notes that the doors on the cabinets not only need to look beautiful, but also need to withstand both the toll of daily life and the dry southwest climate.
“We use our kitchen as our showroom because we have two kids, two dogs, two cats, and a business—our kitchen weathers it all!” she says.
As a family-owned boutique operation, DCC offers a uniquely wide array of wraparound services. They are on-hand to help map out a project from start to finish. They can install the cabinets that a homeowner has already selected. And, they can also assist in creating custom solutions to round out a tricky remodel. Lindsay finds that Nick’s vast skillsets enable him to address more than attaching cabinetry to a wall.
From plumbing to flooring, DCC’s versatility cuts down on what might otherwise be a Pandora’s box of additional subcontractors and added expense. And at the same time, the Garrison’s maintain excellent relationships with local architects, designers, and subcontractors who gladly (and promptly) collaborate when called upon.
Whatever the project, Lindsay affirms, “We are meticulous.” And they delight in their labors. “We are house nerds! We love everything to do with home improvement.”
To ensure the homeowner’s vision infuses the final look, DCC conducts thoughtful dialogues. Inspiration photos from magazines or perhaps photos snapped while traveling abroad serve as excellent fodder for highlighting individual tastes.
With the design goals established, DCC visits the project site to survey the space and gather measurements.
Finally, Nick says, “We give everyone a 3-D rendering of the space.” These detailed renderings offer the homeowner a peek into the future. With a thumbs up secured, Nick launches into his favorite phase of any project: the installation!
He confesses, “When we take this empty space and transform it with cabinets—it goes from something on paper to something in reality and that’s exciting!”
“He has a knack for it,” Lindsay praises her husband and business partner. She explains that he started learning his craft at age 13 not simply because it was his father’s trade but more so because he was as innately fitted to the work as any custom cabinet is fitted to the room it occupies.
“She’s always been great with the minutiae of things,” Nick takes his turn to praise his better half and DCC’s project manager. “Ever since I first met her, she’s always been on top of that stuff. In the way I was born to build things, she was born to project manage.”
After 17 years together, Nick and Lindsay exude mutual respect and deep admiration. Their ability to notice each other’s superpowers extends to their talent for seeing cabinets as so much more than a box with doors. Cabinets store our assets, organize our equipment, and safeguard our treasures. They house our memories and relationships.
“The kitchen is the heart of our house. It’s a gathering space,” Nick says. “We always love taking a space that wasn’t the heart of the house and turning it into one.”
In other words, he and Lindsay love making a home feel less like a swoon, and more like a good relationship: open, inviting, and enduring.
Learn more about Durango Cabinet Company by visiting them online: www.durangocabinetco.com.
Box of Tricks
Before your penchant for bells and whistles runs amok with your home improvement budget, DCC recommends the following cost-saving tricks:
- Sometimes, all a kitchen needs is a hardware upgrade. Consider swapping out old hinges for stronger, soft-close options.
- An organizational makeover can revolutionize your daily interactions with your kitchen! Swing-out doors, heavy appliance lifts, bottle caddies are just a few smart solutions worth considering.
- Lastly, remember that you can always up your cabinet-game in the garage, bathroom, study, laundry room, and the man-cave (or she-shack) in need of wet bar.