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"Hello, My name is Phil Carr-Jones, I am reviewing my experience of working with and building my own kitchen, using cabinets and doors from Arkansas Wood Door. While I am an Episcopal Priest, it turns out I get to do a lot of things they don't teach you in seminary. Over the years, I have had to get fairly skilled in all the trades, including, no surprise, carpentry. But I am by no means an expert. For instance, I employed a retired carpenter to help out with the crown molding and other trim. Apart from that though, this is all my and my wife's work. So let me state up front, Arkansas Wood Doors is the go to place for the DIY’er who is thinking of remodeling their own kitchen. Here's why: I searched the web for months, literally doing comparisons and research on flat pack rta cabinets. I went to the big box store for a design and pricing in their three lines of cabinets, and I went in for a consult with a small custom shop in my area. Here's what I found. 99 outof 100 rta cabinet companies have their product made in china which means the standards for formaldehyde are going to be as fishy as they smell, plus you can only get cabinets in fixed sizes so if you looking to eeck out every last inch of space you're going to lose a lot and you'll be using a lot of filler strips wasting what could have been useful storage. If you want to go custom, then you only have less than a handful of online options, companies that will make to order in any dimension. For instance, I only wanted an 8 inches deep spice cabinet to allow for greater working room over the counter. My wife and I are pretty serious about cooking from pastries to mains and sides. We want a very serious kitchen. Plus, I'll tall so I needed the room. In any case, if you want something custom your choices online are limited. The big box stores don't really do custom and are just as limited in their options as are the online rta places. Most online rtas offer far cheaply made boxes with construction methods less sturdy. I have found that if I buy cheap, I shouldnt expect my kitchen to hold up past a few years. The finish will fade. The drawers will warp. The joints will open up. The big box stores basically offer the same thing, too. When I go to a big box store to buy something, I do it knowing I probably willl get a year out of it, whether that’s a lawn chair of a power tool. I mean when was the last time you regretting spending too much money on a better grade of power tool? So if you want quality, a better and safer grade building material and much wider choices in sizing then your basically down to three or four options. I went with Arkansas Wood Door and am completely pleased and impressed by the experience. Now I could have spent twice what I did and gone to a small custom shop and gotten the same thing, but I am in to saving money and frankly I enjoy the challenge. AWD worked with me directly. Working up the order and getting the plan for each box just right. If you have never designed and built a kitchen before, there are plenty of tips and guidance on the web and I recommend you heartily research all of the aspects and complications involved. I hit a couple of unexpected bumps. But more about that below. So do your research. For instance you can save a lot of money by building the plinths yourself and only order squared off boxes without the toe kick. By making the platform on which you place the lower cabinets first, you can get that plumb and level, so throwing up the boxes is a breeze. And again, the cabinets are also less expense, a complete all around win. AWD uses an easy system for matching up box parts so assembly was easy. No special tools required. Given the many parts and I used a mix of frameless and face framed cabinets, there was a moment or two when in amongst all the materials I got nervous about having everything I needed, but low and behold, all was right there in the end. I also recommend the concept from French cooking "mis en place" that is have all your ingredients in place and all your tools where you need them before starting out. Also, it was a lot easier to work with my wife than doing it alone, but I did a few by myself and so if that is your only option than you should have no problem. I've assembled a lot of cheaper Swedish flat packed furniture in my day, and the quality and sturdiness of AWD leaves no doubt about how long these will last. Just rock solid. Great thing about AWD is the cost to quality ratio. Cant beat it. Which also means if you make a mistake the replacement is so reasonable it becomes not big deal. I mis-measured one box and so I needed to order the right size. Worked out fine, but that was because AWD had an incredibly fast turn around. The other few reliable companies are several weeks to months. And these other places are crazy expensive. And in truth, the other companies are a complete rip off on trim and accessories. AWD pricing was so amenable that my mistakes cost me so little in comparison with what I was saving. So there's a built in confidence for the first timer. Also AWD made one mistake on the placement of a hinge in two doors. They immediately and without question remade them and sent them out in under ten days. You just can't get that service anywhere in the custom cabinet world. It was so affordable I upgraded on one side to black walnut. Trying doing that at the other quality shops. The quality of the roll out drawers and top drawer boxes is superb and the hinges and under-mount sliders are top grade excellent. The hardware was the easiest part frankly. Their system, for lining up the hardware is just so easy. Drill driver is all you need as the placement is already leveled for you. SO: high end quality custom built cabinets, superior custom support, fastest turnaround in the marketplace, most affordable pricing out there, excellent hardware, and oh yeah, I almost forget, color choices. They offer complete line of lacquer - just pick a SW color and they'll match it. SO completely and truly custom for a fraction of cost without sacrificing any quality. The Rev. Philip Carr-Jones"

"I ended up not using them. But the guy that came was nice, professional and made a descent proposal."

"Excellent execution of his skill and knowledge. Efficient with labor as well as clean up, leaving the space clean and spotless. Available upon request, always tentatively on time, and very professional with the jobs performed. Pricing was extremely fair and the overall finished product was above expectation."

"This company has honesty and integrity--the most important qualities I could ask for in a contractor. They are fairly priced and they will do what they say! Could not recommend them more."

"The work itself is stellar. The customer service when coming up with the designs was friendly and professional. Will definitely be coming back!"

"Installed new storm door, repaired drywall, repaired rocking toilet, sanded, stained, and polyurethaned front entrance door, replaced glass in wooden storm door, repaired sliding closet doors in 2 bedrooms.  I have a couple other projects I will ask him about when he finishes up my front doors today."

"I interviewed 4 contractors before choosing Diana Construction to do my kitchen and dining room renovation.?They were cost competitive and the major reason I choose them was that Peter (owner) not only has the expertise and employees/subcontractors to ensure work is done correctly but could also help me design the project.?The other contractors were happy enough to create whatever I wanted but the problem was I was not sure what I wanted.?I had researched many different ideas and pictures but needed an expert to bounce ideas off of.?This is a value add that Peter has that created a kitchen/dining room that was beyond my dream.? Every step of the way, Diana Construction treated my home and money like it was their own.? I was on a very strict budget and Peter worked with me to find things we could compromise price on and those things that we did not want to compromise on. I was very specific on the kitchen renovation needing to be done for my daughter's trip home for Christmas and even with bumps along way, Peter made it happen. The dining room renovation included a handmade wooden?handrail for my existing iron banister overlooking the dining room and sunken living room.?Since replacing the entire unit was above my budget, Peter offered to repaint the iron work and hand make a wooden top rail to update the look of the banister.? The carpet was removed and replaced with hardwood floor.? The kitchen floor was already hardwood and it became apparent that we would not be able to match the color for the new floor.? Diana's floor subcontractor went above and beyond making the difference between the old and new floors seamless and the amount of work done by hand was impressive.? A doorway between the dining room and kitchen became a beautiful 6 foot opening.??Peter's understanding of the engineering made the change in a weight bearing wall safe and successful.? The dramatic impact with the wider?larger opening was beyond my imagination (although Peter knew all along that it would be just want I wanted!) The surprise plumbing we found in the wall and rerouting it didn't slow Peter down at all!? Diana Construction also repaired a plumbing error by another contractor that was causing an intermittent leak in the bathroom above the dining room and had caused the dining room ceiling to bow. The kitchen renovation was?a complete gutting.? New cabinets, granite, stone backsplash,?sink/faucet/garbage disposal, island, lighting, refrigerator and handmade window frame.?Peter worked with me to design the kitchen in?an efficient way that was also elegant and beautiful.? Being a townhouse, there?are space limitations but Peter found a way to include the upgrades I wanted that included a pantry, built in refrigerator and an island.? To that he added his special touches that I had not thought of which included under cabinet lighting, recessed lighting, wheels on the island so it could be moved, an overhang on the island that is a perfect sitting work space or hanging out with the cook, and building a new window frame for my floor to ceiling to floor front window.? Peter assisted with picking a paint that would compliment the granite. I chose and the living room color that I did not want to change.? He also recommended?a new hallway paint that would not clash with the new kitchen/dining room.?Rick, Diana Construction's tile expert, did an?impeccable job on my backsplash that created a beautiful focal point.? As our deadline approached and there were issues with the cabinet and granite vendors, Peter kept the pressure on to ensure our date was met.? He took my deadline on as his own and there was no way he was going to miss it! Peter was patient with me as I kept changing my mind about the new front door and checked several sources to find a stock door that I liked so we could avoid the extra cost of a custom door.? The result was a door that everyone that has seen it says "I love your new door!"? Always keeping his eye on details, Peter built a new door frame that matched my new kitchen window frame. Peter put the same care into even the more mundane parts of the job?like installing a utility sink replacement, having the entry hallway painted and replacing old ceiling lighting with recessed lights.? Every person I have been in contact with at Diana Construction as been professional, been expert in their trade and treated my home like their own.? I have already recommended Diana Construction to 3 friends who have been so impressed with what Diana Construction created in my home, that they just 'had to have them take care of work they need done!'? I use the word 'create' because what Peter and his crew did in my house was not a remodel; it was a? total renovation that created a home that has increased market value,?has a kitchen that is now a gathering place that flows into the dining room and the sunken living room and has beautiful curb appeal.? You can be assured that the next time I need work done in my home, Diana Construction will be the only call I make!"

"CJ's Construction & Remodeling LLC, were very professional and my bathroom and kitchen remodels are a "work of art," according to our visitors."

"Cougar Development did an excellent job creating a living space out of an addition to a home built in 1918. The drywall work was excellent as was the placing of needed electrical outlets and ceiling fan/lighting. Closet space is extremely hard to come by in our neighborhood and Cougar was able to build a 30 sq ft closet that our growing family is able to take advantage of. This room was just a storage space and is now a usable living area after Cougar was done with it. The quality of work for the price I paid was amazing! I have already recommended Cougar to those in my neighborhood and will continue to do so!"

"Everything was PERFECT. Best EVER!"