To many people the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s the place where meals are prepared, the family enjoys time together and friends gather to reminisce. It’s the room where lifelong memories are made. No wonder homeowners consider it one of the most important rooms in the house. Personalizing it and getting it “just right” is what Steve Carson and the staff of Carson’s Cabinetry and Design do best.
Carson’s Cabinetry and Design has the finest selection of both custom and manufactured cabinets available in Gainesville. In their downtown showroom, Steve and his associates will walk you through every step of your kitchen renovation, from selection of cabinets and hardware to the final installation. Carson's uses in-house staff, as opposed to subcontractors, for cabinet installation so that they can have total control over the quality from the start of the project to the end of the project, Steve said.
Because it can be difficult to visualize how your selections will look, Carson’s takes it a step further by taking you on a virtual tour of your new kitchen. You can see the finished project on their big screen television, long before any of your choices are permanent.
With so many contractors in the area, it can be difficult to find one who truly knows the craft of cabinet making. “Most of the businesses only sell cabinets made elsewhere,” Steve said. “The difference between Carson’s and other dealers is I’m a hands-on craftsman with the shop and equipment to support it.” This independence also allows Carson’s to make adjustments or corrections at the job site, instead of having to wait for a piece to be reordered.
When first speaking with Steve, it’s easy to see why customers immediately feel comfortable with him and his expertise. Born and raised in Gainesville, he left the area after high school to become a boat captain. His lifestyle brought him to all parts of the world, including Europe, the Caribbean and the northeastern United States.
Steve’s well-traveled and storied past has served him well in kitchen design. “I ran corporate yachts for CEOs and saw of lot of designs in the boat building business,” he said. “I became friends with these individuals, traveled with them, saw their homes and furnishings.” This exposure to many types of architecture and design is evident in Steve’s work today.
Upon returning to Gainesville, Steve decided to pursue his lifelong interest in carpentry and construction. “I had an uncle that was a carpenter. When I was young he introduced me to woodworking, and that’s how I became interested in it.” Steve decided to start by making his own handcrafted, custom furniture. The business quickly grew to the point where he had clients on a year-long waiting list. Steve looked into other areas of woodworking and became interested in cabinetry, thus Carson’s Cabinetry and Design was born in 1991.
Carson’s kitchens are a creative balance of beauty, style and function. “We pull out all the stops and take it to where the homeowner wants the kitchen to be,” Carson said.
While many people put off renovating a kitchen because of cost, simple adjustments can be made so that just about any budget can afford a stylish, well-planned kitchen. “We can do it through design, changing manufacturers or with other small elements of the room,” Steve said. Carson’s also specializes in the use of Florida’s indigenous trees. Divers recover old growth heart pine, cypress and other native trees to make a truly special room. Steve and his staff recently renovated the kitchen at the Whitehurst Lodge in Williston using river-recovered cypress.
Such effort is a testament to the expertise that Steve is so very proud of. “When we make custom cabinets, our background allows us to create cabinetry on a level no one else does. We match grains, use old fashioned methods by joining and gluing in a furniture-style method. Nothing is nailed or stapled.” That traditional craftsmanship and artistry in wood is the mission of Carson’s Cabinetry and Design.
Carson’s Cabinetry and Design Located at the Union Street Station in downtown Gainesville, across the street from the Sun Center and next to Starbuck’s Coffee. 352-373-8292 www.carsonscabinetry.com
