Common questions.

Getting started

How do I get a quote for custom cabinetry?

Start by contacting us with whatever information you have — drawings, dimensions, photos of the space, inspiration images, or a rough description of what you are trying to do. We will tell you what we need to get to a budget number. You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

What information do you need to give me a budget range?

At minimum: space dimensions, a sense of the scope (what rooms, roughly how many cabinets or linear feet), and finish direction (painted or stained, simple or detailed). Appliance specs help for kitchens. A floor plan helps for anything complex. We do not need everything locked down to give you a range — we just need enough to understand the project.

Do you work from designer drawings or inspiration photos?

Both. We work with interior designers and architects who provide full drawing sets and elevations. We also work directly with homeowners who come in with inspiration photos and rough dimensions. Either way, we end up producing detailed shop drawings that we review and approve together before anything gets built.

Do you provide shop drawings?

Yes. We produce detailed shop drawings for every project and send them for client approval before fabrication begins. No surprises.

When does lead time start?

Lead time starts after final shop drawing approval — not at deposit. The time between first contact and drawing approval depends on how quickly decisions get made on layout, finish, materials, and appliances. Once drawings are approved and we have everything we need, we provide a production and installation schedule.

Do you provide finish samples?

Yes. Paint samples, stain samples, and door style samples are available before final selection.

Working with New Era

Do you work with interior designers, architects, and general contractors?

Yes. We work with designers, architects, general contractors, and direct with homeowners. We are used to coordinating with other trades and can work within your project timeline. See our page for designers and GCs for more on how we work with the trade.

Do you handle installation?

Yes. Installation is handled by New Era or by installers working directly with us.

What areas do you serve?

New Era Woodworks is based in Chicago and works throughout the Chicago area — the city, the North Shore, the western suburbs, and surrounding Chicagoland. Projects outside those areas are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Are the cabinets built locally?

Yes. Everything is built in our Chicago shop at 329 W 18th St in the South Loop. We do not outsource fabrication or use imported cabinet boxes.

What is the difference between custom and semi-custom cabinetry?

Semi-custom cabinetry comes in a fixed set of sizes that are adjusted slightly to fit your space — filler pieces cover the gaps. Custom cabinetry is built around the room instead of forced into standard sizes. That usually means a cleaner fit, better proportions, and fewer compromises, while still allowing for proper scribes, reveals, and site conditions. Everything — the box, the door, the drawer, the finish — is specified for your project.

Kitchen cabinetry

More detail on the custom kitchen cabinetry page.

Can you build around Sub-Zero, Wolf, Viking, Thermador, Miele, and other appliances?

Yes. We work from manufacturer spec sheets and cut sheets to build integrated panels, surrounds, and cabinetry around specific appliances. If you have model numbers, include them when you reach out.

Can you match an existing kitchen?

We can match door style, finish, and construction for additions or repairs to an existing kitchen. We can also refinish an existing kitchen — new paint or stain, new doors if needed — without a full rebuild.

Do you build inset and overlay cabinetry?

Both. Inset doors sit flush inside the face frame and have a traditional tailored look. Overlay is more common in contemporary kitchens. We can walk you through the visual and construction difference if you are deciding between them.

Do you do painted and stained finishes?

Yes — both. Painted and stained across all door styles. Samples are available before final selection.

Built-ins

More detail on the custom built-ins page.

What kinds of built-ins do you build?

Living room and library wall units, home office built-ins with desk surfaces, entertainment walls, bedroom wardrobe surrounds, window benches, fireplace flanking cabinetry, and architectural millwork niches and arches. If it is built into a wall, we probably build it.

Can built-ins be designed around existing walls, outlets, and trim?

Yes — this is almost always the starting point. We design around outlet locations, existing trim profiles, window openings, and whatever architectural conditions the wall has. Most built-ins are meant to look like they belong to the room, not like they were added in.

Do you help with design ideas?

We can work from your direction or help you think through the layout — depth, door vs. open shelf balance, lighting placement, and practical use. We are not interior designers, but we know how built-in cabinetry works.

Painted finishes

Do painted cabinets show hairline cracks?

Occasionally, yes — particularly at door joints. This is a wood movement issue, not a defect in the finish. Wood moves with humidity and temperature. Painted finishes show that movement more visibly than stain does. The material the door is made from affects how much movement happens. Read more in our painted cabinets article.

Why does wood movement happen?

Wood is hygroscopic — it absorbs and releases moisture as humidity changes through the seasons. In Chicago, that seasonal swing can be significant. All wood moves; the question is how much, and whether the construction accommodates it. More detail in our painted cabinets article.

What material is best for painted cabinet doors?

It depends on how much movement tolerance you want. MDF doors move the least and hold paint the most evenly, but they have a different edge profile than solid wood. Solid maple moves more but has a traditional wood look. We cover the tradeoffs in detail in our painted cabinets article — worth reading before making a final decision on door material.