Ls Kitchen Specialist

I can't recommend Lee enough. His design help was exceptional. Our kitchen is mainly Ikea with some custom door fronts (by swedish door) and some custom touches (by Lee!). We completely reconfigured the dysfunctional layout of the original kitchen to put in a fairly standard layout (see pics). During the design phase (we had no designer, it's a pretty simple smallish kitchen) Lee's deep understanding of what was possible with Ikea components was absolutely key. He made countless better suggestions upon seeing my online ikea plan - big and small. He pointed out we could have a bigger island, and we are definitely grateful for that! He also worked with my ideas to try to get me what i wanted. Our understairs "pantry" is everything I hoped for and the island is exactly what my family wanted - we use it for sitting, eating and homework every day.

The demo was completed during the lockdown phases of COVID and Lee was very careful both about the mess and disruption AND about the COVID protocols. Because of the open nature of the house, plastic sheeting was hung at the stairs up and down. We used the basement to cook and eat and sit, leaving the whole main floor to the renovators. Lee's subcontractors (tile, plumbing, countertop) were similarly great and helpful.

Throughout the usual problems (exacerbated by COVID related issues), Lee was patient and understanding and calm. Various components from Ikea not available? Where possible, he would alter what was available. Otherwise, we waited until they came back into stock (at this point IKEA was completely closed for shopping; everything was being done online).
One thing I really wanted was a built in, counter depth fridge. The placement was slightly awkward, up against a wall but i kept insisting that the door had a swing open in a way that might have let it hit the wall. Now, instead of just a spacer to prevent the door hitting the wall, we have a tall narrow broom closet, useful and perfect and unnoticeable from the outside. My plug points/usb ports on either side of the island are similarly unobtrusive and perfect.

Lee is a professional. He is also extremely warm and personable and understanding. No one does a kitchen renovation thinking they will be home the entire time - and so will their remote-schooling teens. Yet that is what we had to do. "How noisy will it be today?" is probably not a question that any contractor wants to have to answer, day after day. But they were all so understanding and kind to my kids and to me. Lee even put up with our exceptionally annoying (lovely, but always underfoot and always ready to eat whatever looks edible) kittens (he even helped us design a little cat space for them under the stairs...) When Lee and his main helper, Carlos, finished the job, we were genuinely sorry to see them go. It was great to have them around.

It's been about 7 months since the job was finished. The two things I regret about it are things Lee told me to do and I said no. Everything else is rock solid great and working perfectly for our family. Anyone who likes the Ikea route, wants a contractor who has attention to detail, a strong design sense, respects your budget and your ideas, gives you straight talk about limits and costs, and can work through problems, should talk to Lee. If I had another kitchen reno, I would hire Lee again. I recommend him unreservedly.