Kitchen Solvers Customer Review: Robert Janeiro Says Kitchen Solvers Transformed Childhood Home
Kitchen cabinet remodeling company helps turn tiny 1948 kitchen into a gathering place for the Janeiro family
Robert Janeiro has lived in his current home, off and on, for more than 60 years. The home that he and his wife Cindy share in La Crosse, Wis., belonged to Robert’s parents and was Robert’s childhood home.
“I think we had new cupboards put in when I was in grade school,” said Robert, 68. “My dad bought it from the bank in 1948, and it was just a shell.”
Like a lot of older homes, it had a few issues — one of which was a tiny kitchen. Ever since Robert and Cindy bought the home and moved in 20 years ago, a new kitchen had been on Cindy’s wish list.
“I’d been holding off, but all my excuses went away when I retired,” Robert said.
Robert tackled much of the remodeling work himself — knocking out a wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room, tearing the rooms down to the studs and plastering walls, then laying down a new floor. When it came time to install the kitchen cabinetry, though, he called in the pros. He hired the local Kitchen Solvers franchise, owned by Suzie and Brian Crowley.
We talked to Robert about the decision to redo his kitchen:
How did you decide on a new kitchen design?
We worked with Kitchen Solvers on four different designs. We had some ideas on our mind, and they sent out a guy who did measurements. We told them what we wanted, and they did a printout of our design, but they also did another design that they thought might be more suitable. We went through four different designs before we settled on one that they suggested. They came up with the idea for a pantry, which I was skeptical about at first, but it grew on me and now I think it’s probably one of the best things I’ve ever had.
How did you start shopping for a new kitchen? What was the process like?
I looked around at a lot of different cabinets, a lot of different setups. I looked at magazines and drew up a few designs. Another thing that Kitchen Solvers did was hang the microwave, which we weren’t going to do, but which we like. We probably have twice as much storage space and cupboard space as we did before, and we have a big island in the middle that is utilized all the time. I’ve got two stools and there is a big bay window where the dining room is, and we can sit four people over there.
How did you find out about Kitchen Solvers?
My daughter had Kitchen Solvers come into her home 9 or 10 years ago and redo her kitchen, and they did a beautiful job. She just praised them up one side and down the other. We went to talk to them, and they were so accommodating, it was unbelievable. Everything they suggested really worked out well. We talked to a few other people who have had them come out. We didn’t price compare so much — what we wanted was what we wanted. They were the best. We went down to their shop and looked at things. My wife picked out all the colors, and she did a good job. It really came out well. They lowered our costs a little bit, too, by changing a few small things, and you can’t tell the difference.
How long were they there?
Brian came in and had it done in a day and a half. They even stained our existing crown molding so that it would match our crown molding in the kitchen. It’s pretty much picture-perfect as far as I’m concerned.
What did you like about Kitchen Solvers?
They just kind of added ideas to our heads that were great, and it was a comfortable process. They showed us four different designs and suggested what would work best based on their experience. Anytime we had a question, they would answer immediately, and if they said they’d be here at 10 a.m., they’d be here. And the crew that put the cabinets in, they didn’t even leave a piece of dust behind when they left. I don’t know who could have done as well.
How much did your kitchen remodel cost?
I think about $18,000 altogether — around $9,000 to $10,000 for the cabinets. We weren’t trying to cut costs — we were only planning to do this once, and we wanted it done right. We got all sliding drawers and soft-closing cabinets and the pantry, as well as self-closing drawers.
Do you get more use out of your kitchen now?
Oh, yeah, about 100 times. We used all the walls up with cabinets. My wife is an accountant, and she does a lot of bookwork out here. We eat at the counter a lot. It keeps the house a little more organized.
How has it changed the way that you use your kitchen? Do you ever show it off?
We show it to friends and relatives. We’ve heard nothing but compliments on it. We always give out Brian and Suzie’s name. They did us good, so we’ll do them back. My wife’s brother just had their kitchen countertops and cabinets redone by Brian and Suzie. We have two daughters — one out in Denver, and one in Mississippi — and there’s plenty of room for everyone when they are here with the grandkids. The 8-year-old and 9-year-old love spinning on the new bar stools. The lighting is perfect in here now, too.
Why does the kitchen matter to you?
It’s where you spend 50% of your life. I do 90% of the cooking now that I’m retired. It’s just such a comfortable place to cook! I’ve got the dishwasher going right now. I like everything about it. It makes your whole home look 10 times better. Now, I wish I had done it 20 years ago.
Learn more
Kitchen Solvers has remodeled more than 45,000 kitchens since the company was founded in 1982. The company pioneered high-end cabinet refacing and also installs new cabinets and redesigns kitchen layouts. To learn more, visit kitchensolversfranchise.com.
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