Most kitchen remodeling projects involve new cabinets – or at least the appearance of new cabinets. Remodelers can offer homeowners three choices:

(1) replace the old cabinetry with new custom-built units,
(2) replace the old with off-the-shelf cabinetry, if it fits, and
(3) put a new face on the old cabinets.

Custom-built cabinets usually are top-of-the-line because of the cost – perhaps $20,000 or more depending on the size of the kitchen and the number of cabinets. The materials typically are of excellent quality, and the labor to produce cabinets to a specific size is pricey. Off-the-shelf, semi-custom cabinets are okay, but there's no guarantee they will fit the space occupied by the old cabinets without the use of fillers, which add to the cost, too. And both methods create a lot of disruption for the homeowners in day-to-day kitchen operations.

However, refacing the existing cabinets minimizes the costs of labor and materials. David, who owns Jensen Enterprises, a small remodeling company in Chebanse, Ill., got interested in cabinet refacing through Kitchen Solvers, a national franchise operation that uses remodelers and other small builders to do the work.

Through Kitchen Solvers, David can provide his clients a wide selection of wood and finishes. On first visits to his clients' homes, David displays sample doors by the dozens, and the homeowners choose the style and finish they want on the spot. David orders and installs new cabinet doors, drawer fronts and hardware. He also applies matching 3/16-inch veneer over the existing cases. The finished project looks like a brand new kitchen – and it's complete in only a week or two with minimal disruption to his clients' lives.

David started business in his garage 15 years ago, building a line of furniture with material such as stone, iron and wood taken from buildings that were being torn down in Chicago, some 65 miles north of Chebanse. These odd pieces soon found a ready market in upscale shops in Chicago. From there, his reputation for unusual and creative design spread, and soon he was in demand for work other than furniture.

David has found the refacing business so intriguing that he has ventured into the construction of custom-made cabinets, where he can combine his creative flair with the clients' pragmatic needs.