Custom Cabinets, According to a Boston Kitchen Designer

One of the best investments in any renovation or new build: custom cabinets. And, yes, we’re a bit partial—custom cabinets are the only option at our studio. Sure, semi-custom and off-the-shelf cabinets might look like a bargain, but they tend to bring design restrictions, awkward gaps, and that unmistakable “budget” vibe. Plus, we love working with local artisans, because not only do they fix issues faster, but shopping local has its perks (and fewer long-distance headaches). For this project, we teamed up with Salmon Falls Woodworks from Dover, New Hampshire—a shop now closed, but certainly not forgotten. (New Hampshire is so close, it’s not uncommon for a Boston interior designer to head north for a good cause). Enjoy a look at these beautifully crafted, one-of-a-kind cabinets and get a peek into the design process that makes it all happen.

Boston Brownstone Kitchen Design

In our Boston brownstone interior design project, we prioritized maintaining the classic architecture of the historic home. As a kitchen designer, we drew all of the plans and elevations to work perfectly with the odd dimensions that old structures give us (a nuance of historic home design). We mixed painted finishes with natural wood finishes… a go-to color palette move for kitchen designers. Choosing multiple colors and finishes in the space makes it feel dynamic – light grey, deep navy, natural oak, and walnut. All pairing together nicely while not feeling ‘too much.’ And if you’re interested in our pendants, click here, we love these polished nickel numbers by Kelly Wearstler.

Designed for Every Nook and Cranny: Historic Home Design

Custom means you can pretty much design anything you want (within reason, of course). That’s how we managed to create pieces that fit perfectly in every quirky corner a historic home can throw at us. Take the custom coffee armoire below, for example—designed specifically not to hit the ceiling so it looks like a freestanding piece of furniture. The perfect detail, just right for a brownstone with classic details This pantry is painted a soft grey with a navy interior, sized for espresso gear, kettles, and a collection of favorite mugs. We also designed this custom cabinet to have bi-folding pocket doors that retract into the cabinet. When the doors are open, they reveal a cute coffee station… and when they’re closed. A clean-countered kitchen. No morning mess here.

In the media room, we turned an awkward alcove into a full wet bar with a wall of cabinets. An ice maker and beverage fridge sit front and center for easy entertaining. A tall cabinet on the right hides the dining room china, silverware, and tabletop decor—the dining room is just a step away. To the left, a coat closet is disguised behind tall doors. The tall space allowed us to install floor to ceiling cabinets—not fully reachable, but perfect for off-season decor.

Finally, we have the casual dining room located just off the kitchen. While the custom kitchen design features soft grey cabinets, this space highlights natural oak cabinetry for a versatile desk area—ideal for kids’ homework or adult work-from-home needs. The change in cabinet finish and material subtly marks it as a distinct area, even though it flows seamlessly from the kitchen. A walnut surface tops the desk, complemented by polished nickel library sconces for a refined touch. You know we couldn’t resist a wishbone chair – we always add a mid-century modern design element.

Custom Mudroom Built-Ins Deserve the VIP Treatment Too

Custom cabinets in the mudroom are a game-changer—you need every inch of organization you can get. In this Milton home, we ditched the typical 90s spec double-door closet. You know the one: plastic-coated wire shelves and a sad clothing rod. We replaced it with a custom L-shaped built-in, utilizing storage on both walls AND the corner. The natural oak finish ties perfectly with the kitchen island next door and is accented by hand-finished hardware (not cheap, but worth every penny).

And yes, even the pets have their own dedicated cabinet space because they’re basically royalty. One side of the tall pantry units features pull-out shelves for pet food and all the dry goods. The blind corner cabinet offers floor-to-ceiling storage for bulk buys (looking at you, Costco paper towels). Roll out trays hold ALL the soup cans (and other pantry goods). Adjacent to the oak units, painted grey cabinets house “human” items, with open bays in the center showing off shiplap details and oil-rubbed bronze hooks. Exposed hooks are ideal for everyday grab-n-go. On either side, closed cabinets and drawers keep all the mudroom chaos hidden—out of sight, out of mind. The tile is from Ann Sacks, one of our favorites. You can also see more of this traditional Milton interior design here.

Reviving the Hearth

Back in a historic brownstone, these built-ins embrace the best part of any room—the fireplace. Light grey cabinets from the kitchen extend towards the newly designed fireplace. We designed the new mantel to feel classic without trying to fool anyone into thinking it’s been there for centuries. And, since our ‘cabinet guys’ help out with our fireplace mantels too, the install was easy. The simple soapstone surround is topped off with natural walnut and mid-century sconces, blending the new with the old in true brownstone fashion. The fireplace molding is a natural stained walnut, and perfectly matches the ceiling trim throughout the kitchen and tops all tall pantry units. A+ for cohesiveness.

In the rear parlor, we went traditional on millwork at both sides of the original fireplace. Yes, this wood-burning beauty still works (bonus points). The fireplace has its original marble mantel and authentic green tiles. On the right, open shelves in a warm taupe are ready for books and knick-knacks. Below, woven antique brass cabinet doors add a vintage touch. Any Boston design firm knows the rules – historic features must stay (we love our history) – so we hired specialists to make this room remain ‘original’. We enlisted both a plaster restoration specialist (right off the boat from Italy) and a faux painter – ensuring our original architectural details remained.

And finally, in the primary bedroom, we paired a salvaged marble mantel with soapstone and added custom cabinets on either side. This thoughtful setup brings not only a timeless look but also a much-needed storage boost for the primary suite. See more of this historic Boston brownstone design here. The rooms WITHOUT custom cabinetry are pretty nice too.

Crafted to Last, Designed to Impress

At the end of the day, custom cabinetry isn’t just about filling space—it’s about creating pieces that truly belong. They add function, beauty, and character to every corner. From hidden coffee stations to perfectly fitted mudroom storage, custom cabinets prove that thoughtful craftsmanship can make a home both practical and unforgettable. We design, create our own construction drawings, and review millwork shop drawings to bring custom cabinets to life. And the studio always adds hand-finished hardware as the final touch. As a New England interior design firm (and a sometimes very traditional interior design firm), we are adept at working in old homes, and prefer to incorporate custom cabinets wherever we can in our work. We’re also ALWAYS looking for new industry partners, so reach out if you happen to specialize in custom kitchen design in Boston (or beyond), we would love to hear from you, email us here.

And as a little closing gift – ALL of the gorgeous area rugs in this post are from Landry & Acari, a great source for both vintage and off-the-bolt carpeting. You’re welcome.