Custom Kitchen Remodeling in Orlando — Cabinet Design to Full Build-Out

Do your cabinet doors stick when the afternoon storms roll through? Do they swell up every summer and refuse to close? This is more than just annoying. It means moisture has gotten inside the wood.

This happens a lot in Central Florida. Our air holds more water than most places in the country. Particle board soaks it up like a sponge. Then it swells and warps. No amount of AC can fully fix that.

Older homes in College Park and Baldwin Park often have this problem. Many were built back in the 1980s and 1990s when builders used cheaper materials. Those cabinets were never meant to last 30 years in Florida heat.

Here are signs you need new cabinets, not just repairs:

• Drawers get stuck or fall off their tracks
• Cabinet boxes feel soft or spongy near the sink
• Shelves bend under the weight of dishes
• You can't fit your air fryer or Instant Pot anywhere

Solid wood and marine-grade plywood last much longer here. If your cabinets are made of builder-grade materials, replacing them now saves you money and headaches down the road.

Think about Sunday meal prep or getting ready for a Gators watch party. You move from the fridge to the sink to the stove over and over. A bad layout makes you walk too far. A good layout keeps everything within arm's reach.

Lots of homes in Winter Park and Dr. Phillips have those open Florida floor plans. They look great for entertaining but can feel like one big room with no clear cooking zone. An island or peninsula helps fix this. It gives you more counter space for setting out appetizers. It adds storage underneath. And it keeps the view open to the family room.

We ask questions about how your family really uses the kitchen:

• Do you need a landing spot near the fridge after Publix runs?
• Would a pull-out trash can near the sink help during meal prep?
• Do you run out of counter space when cooking for a crowd?

Small changes make a big difference. Moving a cabinet a few inches can open up your workflow. Adding a lazy susan in that dead corner can double your storage. We always figure out the layout first before picking cabinets.

What your cabinets are made of matters more here than almost anywhere else. Central Florida humidity tests every surface in your home. The wrong materials swell, warp, or grow mold in just a few years.

Cabinet boxes made from plywood work best for our climate. Plywood fights moisture and holds more weight on shelves. For cabinet doors, solid wood or MDF with a sealed finish keeps the humid air out.

Countertops get used hard every day. Hot pans from the stove, knife cuts, spilled sofrito—they all take a toll. Quartz and granite handle this well. They don't stain or scratch easily. They also fight those water spots from our Florida hard water better than laminate does.

Hardware matters too. Soft-close hinges stop doors from slamming shut. They last longer than cheap hinges. They also don't rust and corrode in our humid air like bargain hardware does.

Here's what holds up best in Orlando kitchens:

• Plywood cabinet boxes with strong dovetail drawer joints
• Solid wood or sealed MDF doors in your style
• Quartz or granite countertops rated for heat
• Soft-close hinges and full-extension drawer slides

These cost more up front. But they save you money because you won't be replacing them in five years.

Knowing what to expect helps you plan around the chaos. Most Orlando families stay home during a kitchen remodel. Set up a temporary kitchen somewhere else in the house. A microwave, mini fridge, and hot plate in the Florida room works great.

Here's how the project usually goes:

1. Design and permits — We plan your cabinet layout and pick out materials together. If we need to move electrical or plumbing, we pull permits through Orange County or the City of Orlando.
   
   
2. Demo day — Old cabinets and countertops come out. We cover your floors and tape off other rooms to keep the dust contained.
   
   
3. Rough work — Electricians and plumbers move outlets or water lines if your layout is changing. County inspectors check this work before we close anything up.
   
   
4. Cabinet install — We set base cabinets first, then uppers. Each box gets leveled and screwed into the studs. This part takes 2–5 days depending on your kitchen size.
   
   
5. Countertop install — After cabinets are locked in, fabricators come measure. Quartz and granite tops arrive 1–2 weeks later for final install.
   
   
6. Finish work — We add handles, trim, and under-cabinet lights. Then we do a final walk-through with you before we call it done.
   
   

Heads up for Lake Nona and Windermere folks—HOA reviews can add extra time before permits get approved. We also try to schedule around hurricane season. June through November can bring delays if a storm is headed our way.

Before you write that final check, take time to inspect everything. A simple walk-through helps you catch small problems while they're easy to fix. Waiting makes repairs harder and more expensive.

Start with the doors and drawers:

• Open and close every single door. They should swing smooth without rubbing.
• Test the soft-close hinges. Doors should slow down and shut quietly on their own.
• Pull drawers all the way out. They should glide without wobbling or scraping.
• Check the gaps between doors. They should look even all the way across.

Next, look at the cabinet boxes:

• Push down on shelves to make sure they sit level and feel sturdy.
• Peek inside corners for clean joints and sealed edges.
• Check under the sink for any gaps where water could sneak in.

For countertops, run your hand along the seams. They should feel smooth and almost invisible. Edges should be finished clean with no rough spots or chips.

Here's the thing about Florida—our humidity swings between rainy season and dry season. This can show gaps or slight warping after a few weeks of use. Check your cabinets again after about a month. We stand behind our work and fix anything that pops up.

A few easy habits keep your kitchen looking brand new for years. Our Central Florida climate makes this a little trickier than up north. But the fixes are simple once you know them.

Every day:

• Wipe cabinet doors with a soft cloth and mild soap. Don't let water sit on the wood.
• Clean countertops with soap and water after cooking. Skip the rough scrub pads and bleach.
• Dry around the sink and faucet. Our hard water leaves spots fast.

Every month:

• Open and close all your doors and drawers. Listen for squeaks or sticking.
• Look under the sink for any signs of leaks or moisture.
• Wipe down your hardware with a dry cloth to prevent gunky buildup.

Twice a year:

• Check hinge screws and tighten any loose ones. Our humidity makes wood expand and shrink with the seasons.
• Look at the caulk line where countertops meet the wall. Reseal any cracks you find.
• Run your kitchen exhaust fan every time you cook. It pulls moisture out of the air.

These little tasks only take a few minutes. But they add years to your custom kitchen cabinets. We're always happy to answer questions about care and upkeep after your project wraps up.