Target search: custom kitchen cabinets cost Palm Beach County · kitchen cabinet remodel West Palm Beach · Meta description: What custom kitchen cabinets cost in Palm Beach County, what drives the price, and how Professional Contracting builds an honest, comprehensive proposal. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

The first question almost every homeowner asks about custom kitchen cabinets is the price, and the honest answer is that it depends on the kitchen. But "it depends" is not helpful when you're planning, so here is how we think about cost on the kitchen cabinet projects we build across Palm Beach County, from Palm Beach and West Palm Beach down to Boynton Beach and Delray Beach.

What actually drives the price

• Linear footage and height. A galley kitchen with 20 feet of cabinets and a great-room kitchen with 45 feet plus an island are very different projects. Ceiling-height uppers add material and labor but eliminate the dust shelf on top.
• Paint-grade vs. stain-grade. Painted cabinets (poplar, maple, or MDF doors) cost less in material than stained hardwoods like white oak or walnut, where the wood is the finish and every board has to be selected.
• Door style. Flat slab doors are the least labor; raised panel, inset doors, and beaded frames add shop time.
• Interior fittings. Pull-outs, drawer dividers, trash pull-outs, corner solutions, and soft-close hardware are where a kitchen becomes easy to live with — and where the budget quietly grows.
• Range cover, pantry, and island. A finished wood range cover or a walk-in pantry build-out is its own small project inside the kitchen.
• Demolition and what's behind the walls. In older Palm Beach homes, plumbing and electrical that need to move change the schedule more than the cabinets do.

Typical ranges in South Florida

Custom kitchen cabinetry projects with us start around $25,000 for a smaller painted kitchen and run to $60,000–$100,000+ for a large kitchen in stained hardwood with a custom range cover, pantry build-out, and island. Full kitchen-and-bath remodels with millwork throughout have ranged up to $250,000. A single range cover starts around $8,000; a run of trim and crown from $5,000. Those are real ranges from our projects, not a national average — but we would still rather measure your kitchen and give you an exact number than have you plan around the wrong one.

How our proposal works

We visit the kitchen, measure, and talk through layout and materials. Then we write a comprehensive proposal that spells out every item you asked for, in conjunction with the architect's or designer's drawings if you have them. That means the scope is clear and the price is honest before any work begins — the same approach that earned us the comment from one customer that we finished "in time and on budget."

Ways to control cost without cutting quality

• Keep plumbing and the range where they are if the layout works.
• Choose painted doors and spend the savings on interior fittings you'll use daily.
• Do the range cover now; retrofitting one later costs more.
• Phase the pantry or bar as a second project if the budget is tight.

Common questions

How long does a custom cabinet kitchen take? Most run a few weeks on site after the proposal is approved; larger kitchens with demolition take longer. The proposal includes a schedule.

Do you build the cabinets or install prebuilt boxes? We build custom cabinetry to the room. Where it makes sense for a budget, we can install quality manufactured boxes and build the trim, range cover, and finish details around them.

Target search: coffered ceiling installation Palm Beach · beamed ceiling contractor West Palm Beach · tongue and groove ceiling Florida · Meta description: Coffered, beamed, or tongue-and-groove? How to choose a custom ceiling for a Palm Beach County home, from the carpenters who install them. Professional Contracting, 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Ceilings are the most overlooked surface in a house and the one with the biggest payoff when you do something with them. Ceilings, beams, columns — it's a large part of what we do, and most of our ceiling customers started with the same question: which style fits my house?

Coffered ceilings

A grid of beams that creates recessed boxes. Coffers suit formal rooms — dining rooms, great rooms, studies — and work best with at least nine feet of height. We size beam depth and box spacing to the room and center the layout on the fireplace or the main window so the grid lands where the eye expects it. Recessed lights move to box centers and LED tape can go in a reveal along each beam.

Beamed ceilings

Parallel box beams give a room warmth without the formality of coffers. They're the right answer for a family room, a lanai, or a kitchen with a long run. Beams can be painted to match the trim or wrapped in stained wood for a Florida tropical or coastal look. Hollow box beams are light, straight, and hide wiring.

Tongue-and-groove

Planked ceilings — painted white, whitewashed, or natural — are everywhere in Palm Beach County for a reason: they suit the climate and the architecture, and they're the usual choice for covered lanais and porches as well as bedrooms. Combine T&G with beams and you have the classic South Florida ceiling.

Which one for your room?

• Formal room, 9 ft or higher: coffered.
• Family room or kitchen: beams, or beams with T&G.
• Lanai, porch, bedroom: tongue-and-groove.
• Lower ceiling (8 ft): a shallow beam grid or T&G alone; skip deep coffers.

What installation involves

Layout is everything. We chalk the full grid on the ceiling before cutting a board, confirm it with you, relocate any lights, then frame, trim, and finish. You can see one of our ceiling installs in Palm Beach on our videos page.

Common questions

Will a coffered ceiling make my room feel low? Not if the beam depth is sized to the room. In a 9-foot room we keep beams shallow; in 11 feet and up we can go deeper.

Can you match my existing crown? Yes — we profile-match or choose a complementary profile and show you samples first.

Target search: bamboo columns Palm Beach · bamboo trim installation Florida · tropical interior trim contractor · Meta description: How Professional Contracting installed 6" bamboo columns and matching bamboo trim in a Palm Beach home — materials, layout, and what to expect. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Bamboo is one of the few materials that looks completely at home in South Florida and nowhere else. We recently installed six-inch bamboo columns with matching bamboo trim in a Palm Beach home — the project we call the Tropical Bamboo Room — and filmed the install for our YouTube channel. Here's what went into it.

Why bamboo

The owners wanted a room that felt like the outside had come in: natural texture, warm color, and a tropical look without the kitsch. Bamboo poles delivered that, and because bamboo is a grass, not a wood, it handles Florida humidity well once it's sealed.

Sourcing and sorting

Six-inch poles are large, and no two are the same diameter or color. We sorted the poles for consistency, matched the columns to each other, and set aside the straightest material for the trim so the lines read clean from across the room.

Layout and installation

Columns were set on a rigid internal structure so the bamboo is decorative, not structural, and plumbed and secured top and bottom. The trim was cut and fitted around the columns, doors, and ceiling line. Joints in bamboo need to be planned — you can't caulk and paint a gap the way you can with painted poplar — so every cut was laid out first.

Finish

A clear sealer protects the surface and keeps the natural color. It's a wipe-down finish; no repainting.

Is bamboo right for your project?

It's ideal for a lanai, a Florida room, a bar, a tiki-style outdoor kitchen, or an accent wall. Pair it with tongue-and-groove ceilings and natural-finish beams for a complete look. Watch the two project videos — 6" Bamboo Columns and Bamboo Trim in Palm Beach — on our videos page.

Common questions

Can bamboo go outside? Under a covered lanai, yes, with a proper sealer. Fully exposed to rain and sun it will weather; we'll tell you honestly whether your location works.

Can you mix bamboo with painted trim? Yes — bamboo columns with painted beams and white T&G is a clean combination.

Target search: custom wood range hood cover · range cover carpenter West Palm Beach · custom range hood Palm Beach County · Meta description: Custom finished wood range covers built to match your cabinets, from Professional Contracting in West Palm Beach. Styles, venting, and sizing explained. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

A stainless hood insert does the work; a finished wood range cover makes the kitchen. We build range covers to match your cabinetry in style and finish so the range wall becomes the focal point instead of an appliance.

What a range cover is

A wood enclosure that surrounds a ventilation insert or liner. The insert handles the air; the cover handles the look. It can be painted to match painted cabinets, stained to match hardwood, or done as a contrasting accent.

Styles we build

• Tapered or "chimney" cover with crown at the top — the classic look.
• Box cover with flat sides for modern kitchens.
• Arched or curved face for traditional and Mediterranean homes common in Palm Beach.
• Shiplap or beadboard face for coastal kitchens.
• Corbels, brackets, and a mantel-style shelf for added detail.

Sizing and venting

The cover is built around the insert's dimensions and clearance requirements, with the width matched to the range and the cabinets on either side. Ducting runs up through the cover to the roof or out through the wall. We coordinate with your HVAC or electrician so the duct path is settled before the cover is built.

Matching the cabinets

If we're building the kitchen, the range cover is built from the same material and finished at the same time. If you already have cabinets, we match the door style, color, and crown profile so it looks original to the kitchen.

Common questions

Can you add a range cover to my existing kitchen? Yes — this is one of our most common stand-alone projects.

Does the wood get hot? The insert and liner keep heat away from the wood; covers are built to the insert manufacturer's clearance specifications.

Target search: shiplap installation Boca Raton · shiplap wall contractor Palm Beach County · custom shiplap trim · Meta description: How Professional Contracting installs custom shiplap trim in Boca Raton and across Palm Beach County — material choices, layout, corners, and finish. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Shiplap has gone from barn siding to one of the most requested interior finishes in South Florida, and there's a wide gap between a box of thin planks from a home center and a properly installed shiplap wall. Our Custom Shiplap Trim project in Boca Raton is a good example of the difference.

What makes shiplap "real"

True shiplap boards have a rabbeted edge that overlaps the board below, leaving a consistent shadow gap. The gap is what gives the wall its depth. Thin tongue-and-groove planks or MDF strips with a routed line can look flat by comparison, especially in strong Florida light.

Layout decisions

• Horizontal or vertical. Horizontal widens a room; vertical adds height and suits entries and hallways.
• Board width. Wider boards (6–8") read calmer; narrower boards (4–5") feel more detailed.
• Gap size. We keep it consistent and plan it so the last board at the ceiling isn't a sliver.
• Where it stops. Full wall, wainscot height, or a feature wall behind a bed or TV.

Corners, outlets, and trim

Outside corners get a clean mitered or capped treatment; inside corners are scribed. Outlets and switches get extension rings so the covers sit flush. Base and crown are integrated so the shiplap looks like part of the house, not something applied to it.

Finish

Painted shiplap is primed and painted after install, with the gaps back-painted first so no bare wood shows. Stained or natural boards are sealed before install.

Common questions

Can shiplap go on a ceiling? Yes, and it's a popular lanai and bedroom ceiling. See our ceiling guide.

Does it work in a humid climate? With primed, sealed boards and proper acclimation, yes.

Target search: crown molding installation West Palm Beach · crown molding contractor Palm Beach County · Meta description: Crown molding installation by Professional Contracting in West Palm Beach — choosing a profile and size, handling corners and vaulted ceilings, and what a good install looks like. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Crown molding is the fastest way to make a room feel finished, and the easiest trim job to do badly. Open joints, mismatched corners, and crown that's too small for the room are what you see when it's rushed. Here's what we look at on every crown installation.

Choosing a size

Crown should be proportional to ceiling height. As a rule of thumb: 3–4" for 8-foot ceilings, 5–7" for 9–10 feet, and built-up multi-piece crown for 11 feet and taller — common in newer Palm Beach County homes. Too small looks like an afterthought.

Choosing a profile

Traditional cove-and-ogee profiles suit Mediterranean and colonial homes; simple stepped or flat profiles suit coastal and modern interiors. If your house already has crown in some rooms, we profile-match it so the new rooms look original.

Corners and the hard parts

Inside corners are coped, not mitered, so they stay tight as the house moves. Outside corners are mitered and glued. Vaulted or cathedral ceilings need transition blocks or compound cuts; rounded (bullnose) drywall corners — very common in Florida — need a three-piece corner. This is where experience shows.

Material

Paint-grade poplar or primed finger-joint for painted crown; MDF where it will be painted and the room is dry; hardwood for stained crown. We'll tell you which is right for the room.

Finish

Nail holes filled, joints caulked, and two coats of paint, unless you have your own painter.

Common questions

Can you install crown on a textured ceiling? Yes; the top edge is caulked to the texture.

Do you do just one room? Yes. Many customers start with the living and dining rooms and add on later.

Target search: window trim replacement Palm Beach County · window casing installation West Palm Beach · modern window trim · Meta description: Replace out-of-style window casing with updated modern trim. Professional Contracting installs window and door trim across Palm Beach County. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Take out the out-of-style casing and window trim and replace it with new, updated modern trim — that's one of the first services we listed when we started, and it's still one of the best-value projects we do. New casing changes every room it touches without moving a wall.

Why window trim dates a house

Many Florida homes from the '80s through the 2000s have either no trim at all (drywall returns) or skinny clamshell casing. Both read as builder-grade. Proper casing frames the window and ties it to the baseboard and crown.

Styles to consider

• Craftsman flat stock with a header cap — clean, modern, and popular in coastal homes.
• Traditional profiled casing with rosettes or mitered corners for Mediterranean and colonial styles.
• Picture-frame casing with a stool and apron for a classic finished look.
• Drywall-return "modern minimal" cleaned up with a jamb extension and a small reveal.

What's involved

Remove the old casing, repair the drywall edge, add jamb extensions if the window sits back from the wall, install the new casing, fill, caulk, and paint. Doors get matched casing at the same time so the room is consistent.

Doing it with other work

Window trim pairs naturally with new baseboards, crown molding, or wainscoting — the labor overlaps and the result is a whole-room upgrade. See our Trim Job in Palm Beach on the videos page.

Common questions

Can you trim impact windows? Yes; we work around the frame and keep the required clearances.

How long does a whole house take? Typically a few days to a week depending on window count.

Target search: custom built-ins Palm Beach County · built-in entertainment center West Palm Beach · custom bookcases Boca Raton · Meta description: Custom built-in entertainment centers, bookcases, and media walls designed and built by Professional Contracting in Palm Beach County. Design tips and what to expect. 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Built-ins are where custom carpentry earns its keep. A freestanding media console never fits the wall; a built-in is the wall. Here's how we approach entertainment centers, bookcases, and media walls.

Start with what goes in it

TV size (and the next TV's size), sound bar or speakers, components, game consoles, books, and the things you want to display. We design around the actual contents — cabinet depths, shelf heights, and ventilation for electronics all follow from that list.

The wiring plan

Every built-in we design has a wiring path: a chase behind the TV panel, outlets inside the cabinets, and grommets where cables pass through. Plan it before building and nothing shows afterward.

Proportions

Lower cabinets around 24–30" high keep the TV at eye level from the sofa. Upper shelving can run to the ceiling with crown on top, or stop short with a display ledge. Symmetry around the TV is the classic layout; an off-center composition with a fireplace works when the room calls for it.

Lighting

LED tape under shelves or puck lights in the uppers turn a bookcase into a feature at night. We build the channels in so the strips are hidden.

Materials and finish

Painted poplar/MDF built-ins are the most common and match existing trim; stained white oak or walnut built-ins are the showpieces. Fluted or slat panels behind the TV are a current favorite.

Common questions

Can a built-in include a fireplace? Yes — see our fireplace mantel guide.

How long does a built-in take? Most single-wall built-ins are one to three weeks on site after approval.

Target search: wainscoting installation Palm Beach · board and batten contractor West Palm Beach · wall paneling Palm Beach County · Meta description: Wainscoting and wall paneling styles for Palm Beach County homes — board-and-batten, raised panel, beadboard, and picture-frame — installed by Professional Contracting. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Wainscoting protects walls and adds architecture to rooms that have none. The style you choose should follow the house; here are the four we install most and where each belongs.

Board-and-batten

Flat panels with vertical battens on a grid, capped with a ledge. Clean and modern-farmhouse. Ideal for entries, hallways, mudrooms, and dining rooms. Runs well at 36–42" or as a tall two-thirds-height treatment.

Raised panel

The formal choice: framed panels with a beveled center. Suits traditional, Mediterranean, and colonial homes in Palm Beach and Boca Raton. Best in dining rooms, studies, and stairwells.

Beadboard

Narrow vertical grooves; relaxed and coastal. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, porches, and beach-house bedrooms. Pairs with a simple chair rail.

Picture-frame (applied molding)

Molding rectangles applied directly to the wall, painted the same color. Elegant and the most affordable of the four. Dining rooms, bedrooms, and long hallways.

Height and proportion

Traditional wainscot height is about one-third of the wall (32–36" in an 8-foot room). Two-thirds height (60–66") is a current favorite for board-and-batten in entries and bedrooms. We lay out panel spacing so it works around doors, windows, and outlets instead of fighting them.

Paint

Wainscoting is usually painted the trim color in a satin or semi-gloss finish, with the wall above in a flat or eggshell color. Painting it the same color as the wall gives a quieter, more modern look.

Common questions

Does wainscoting work in a bathroom? Yes — beadboard or board-and-batten with a primed, sealed finish.

Can it go up a staircase? Yes; stair wainscot is laid out to follow the pitch and is one of the details that most impresses visitors.

Target search: custom bathroom vanity Palm Beach County · vanity installation West Palm Beach · bathroom remodel carpenter Boynton Beach · Meta description: Custom bathroom vanities and professional vanity installation in Palm Beach County by Professional Contracting. When custom beats stock, and what a proper install includes. 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Don't mess around with do-it-yourself vanity installation — we've said that on our site for years because we've fixed enough of them. But the first decision is whether you need a custom vanity at all.

When a stock vanity is fine

A standard 30", 36", 48", or 60" opening, a flat wall, plumbing in the usual place, and a style that matches the room. If all four are true, a quality manufactured vanity professionally installed is a sensible choice, and we're happy to install it.

When custom is worth it

• The space is an odd width — a 53" wall wastes 5" with a stock 48".
• Wall-to-wall or alcove installs where the vanity should fit exactly.
• Double vanities with a specific sink spacing or a makeup area between.
• Floating (wall-hung) vanities that need blocking and a built-to-spec cabinet.
• You want it to match the kitchen or existing millwork.
• Specific storage — tower cabinets, drawer stacks, outlets inside drawers.

What professional installation includes

Leveling and shimming, scribing to out-of-square walls, blocking for wall-hung units, cutting clean plumbing openings, securing to studs, setting the top, and trimming out with matching base or filler so there are no gaps. Then the plumber connects, or we coordinate it.

Kitchen and bath together

Our Kitchen and Bath Remodel in Boynton Beach is a good example of doing both rooms in one project with matching cabinetry — see how we sequence a two-room remodel.

Common questions

Can you build a vanity to match my kitchen cabinets? Yes — same door style, finish, and hardware.

Do you supply the countertop? We coordinate with your countertop fabricator or can recommend one.

Target search: custom fireplace mantel Palm Beach · fireplace surround carpenter West Palm Beach · electric fireplace built-in Florida · Meta description: Custom fireplace mantels, surrounds, and fireplace built-ins by Professional Contracting in Palm Beach County — gas, electric, or decorative. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

South Florida doesn't need a fireplace for heat, which is exactly why the ones here are about the wall, not the fire. Electric inserts have made a fireplace wall possible in any room, and a custom mantel and surround is what makes it look like it belongs.

Mantel styles

• Traditional mantel with pilasters and a shelf — painted, for colonial and Mediterranean homes.
• Floating beam mantel — a single stained timber on a stone, tile, or shiplap surround; the current coastal favorite.
• Full-height surround — paneling or shiplap from floor to ceiling, often with the TV above.
• Fireplace with flanking built-ins — the complete feature wall, with bookcases or cabinets on either side.

Clearances and codes

Wood trim near a gas or wood-burning firebox has to respect the manufacturer's clearance to combustibles; electric inserts are far more forgiving. We build to the spec of the unit you have or are buying, and we'll tell you if a design won't meet clearance before we build it.

Materials

Painted poplar for traditional mantels; stained white oak, cedar, or reclaimed-look timbers for beam mantels; shiplap, board-and-batten, or tile for the surround.

Putting a TV above it

Plan the TV height around the mantel shelf and the sofa, run the wiring in a chase behind the surround, and consider a recess so the TV sits flush. We do this on most fireplace built-ins now.

Common questions

Can you add a fireplace where there isn't one? With an electric insert, yes — it's a carpentry project plus an outlet.

Can you update an old brick or tile surround? Yes; a new mantel and a shiplap or paneled surround over the existing masonry is a common refresh.

Target search: deck builder Palm Beach County · outdoor living carpenter West Palm Beach · composite deck installation Florida · Meta description: Decks, outdoor columns, and outdoor living spaces in Palm Beach County by Professional Contracting — which materials survive South Florida sun, salt, and humidity. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Outdoor environments are part of what we build, and outdoor carpentry in South Florida is a different trade from the same work up north. UV, salt air near the coast, daily summer rain, humidity, and termites all have a vote. Here's what we've learned holds up.

Decking

• Composite and PVC decking — the default for most Palm Beach County decks: no rot, no splinters, no annual sealing. Lighter colors stay cooler underfoot, which matters here.
• Ipe and other tropical hardwoods — beautiful and extremely durable, but they need oiling to keep color and are heavy to work.
• Pressure-treated pine — fine for framing; as a walking surface it needs sealing every year or two.

Framing and fasteners

Pressure-treated framing rated for ground contact, stainless or coated fasteners, and joist tape on top of every joist to keep water out of the fastener holes. Near the coast, stainless is worth the cost.

Columns, pergolas, and ceilings

Outdoor columns and pergolas can be built from cellular PVC (paint-grade, never rots), fiberglass column wraps, or sealed cedar and cypress for a natural look. Covered lanai ceilings in tongue-and-groove are a Florida signature — see our ceiling guide.

Permits and wind

Decks, pergolas, and structural outdoor work in Palm Beach County are permitted and have to meet Florida Building Code wind requirements. Permitted structural work requires a licensed contractor, so on these projects we partner with a licensed Florida general contractor who pulls the permit and signs off on the structure while we build the carpentry. You get one point of contact and a fully permitted deck.

Common questions

Can you build a deck around a pool? Yes, with the required barriers and slip-resistant surfaces.

Composite or wood? For most homeowners here, composite. If you love real wood and will maintain it, ipe.

Target search: kitchen and bath remodel Boynton Beach · kitchen remodel contractor Boynton Beach FL · bathroom remodel Palm Beach County · Meta description: How Professional Contracting sequences a combined kitchen and bathroom remodel in Boynton Beach — demolition, trades, cabinetry, and finish — to save time and money. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Our Kitchen and Bath Remodel in Boynton Beach is typical of a project we see often: the kitchen and the main bathroom are both tired, the owners want to live through it once, not twice, and they want the two rooms to match. Here's how we run it.

Why combine them

One permit package, one demolition, one round of plumber and electrician visits, cabinetry built in one run so finishes match, and one disruption instead of two. The savings are real — mostly in trade mobilization and schedule.

The sequence

1. Proposal and selections. Everything — cabinets, countertops, tile, fixtures, hardware, paint — selected and in the proposal before demolition. Waiting on a selection mid-project is what blows schedules.
2. Demolition of both rooms at once, with a temporary kitchen set up (we'll tell you what you'll need).
3. Rough plumbing and electrical in both rooms in one trade visit.
4. Drywall, then tile — bathroom tile first so the vanity can set while kitchen cabinets go in.
5. Cabinetry install — kitchen cabinets, range cover, and the bathroom vanity.
6. Countertop template and install for both rooms in one fabricator visit.
7. Finish plumbing and electrical, trim, paint, and hardware.
8. Walkthrough together.

Living through it

Expect several weeks without a kitchen. A microwave, a hot plate, and a utility sink get most families through. We keep the site clean and contained every day; one customer's review of our work mentioned "neatness" before anything else, and we take that seriously.

Common questions

Can the bathroom be done first so we have one working room? Yes, with a modest schedule cost. We'll lay out both options in the proposal.

Do you pull the permits? We coordinate the permit and inspections as part of the project.

Target search: custom pantry Palm Beach County · custom home bar West Palm Beach · custom closet carpenter Palm Beach · Meta description: Custom pantries, walk-in closets, and home bars built to the space by Professional Contracting in Palm Beach County. Planning tips, materials, and what to expect. 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

After kitchens, the custom cabinet projects we get asked about most are pantries, closets, and home bars. All three share the same logic: the space already exists, and the job is making every inch of it useful.

Pantries

A pantry works when you can see everything. We design shallow shelving (10–14") for cans and jars, deeper shelves or pull-outs below for appliances and bulk items, and a countertop section at working height for a coffee station or appliance garage. Adjustable shelves and good lighting matter more than square footage.

Walk-in closets

Double-hang for shirts, long-hang for dresses and coats, drawer stacks for folded items, shelves for shoes and bags, and a hamper that disappears. Built from the same materials as cabinetry — not wire or particleboard kits — a closet becomes a dressing room. We measure your actual wardrobe before drawing it.

Home bars and wet bars

From a dry bar in a dining room niche to a full wet bar with a sink, beverage fridge, and ice maker. Open shelving with LED lighting for bottles and glassware, closed storage below, and a countertop that handles spills. In Palm Beach County the bar often connects to the lanai — pass-through windows and outdoor-rated finishes are part of the plan.

Planning any of the three

• Inventory what goes in before we design.
• Decide painted vs. stained, and whether it matches the kitchen.
• Plan outlets and lighting first — they're hard to add later.
• Leave some flexible space; needs change.

Common questions

Can you convert a reach-in closet to a pantry? Yes — one of the most cost-effective projects we do.

Do you install the fridge and sink in a bar? We build for them and coordinate the plumber and electrician.

Target search: finish carpenter Palm Beach County · how to hire a carpenter West Palm Beach · custom carpentry contractor near me · Meta description: Ten questions to ask before hiring a finish carpenter or custom carpentry contractor in Palm Beach County, from Professional Contracting L.L.C. in West Palm Beach. Call 561-903-4118.

By Jon Pritchard · Professional Contracting L.L.C. · West Palm Beach

Finish carpentry is the work you look at every day — cabinets, trim, ceilings, built-ins. It's also the trade where the difference between good and bad is most visible. Here are the questions we'd ask if we were hiring.

1. Can I see finished work, not just in-progress photos?

Finished rooms, close-ups of joints and corners, and ideally a video. Our portfolio and videos are there for exactly this reason.

2. Who will actually be on my job?

The person you meet at the estimate should be the person running the work. At Professional Contracting, that's the owner.

3. Is the proposal comprehensive?

A good proposal lists every item you asked for, materials, and a schedule — in conjunction with the architect's or designer's drawings if you have them. A one-line quote is a warning sign.

4. How do you handle corners?

Inside corners on crown and base should be coped. If the answer is "we caulk it," keep looking.

5. What's included in "finished"?

Filling, caulking, priming, painting? Or does it stop at install? Either is fine as long as it's written down.

6. How do you keep the site clean?

Daily cleanup, dust control, and floor protection. Customers mention our neatness in their reviews because it's rare.

7. Are you insured, and when do you need a licensed contractor?

Ask for a certificate of insurance — any serious carpenter has one. Then ask the second question most homeowners miss: finish carpentry, cabinets, and trim don't require a Florida contractor license, but decks, structural changes, and anything that needs a permit do. A good carpenter tells you which side of that line your project is on and, for permitted work, brings in a licensed general contractor to pull the permit. We do exactly that.

8. What happens if something behind the wall changes the plan?

Older Palm Beach homes hide surprises. Ask how changes are priced and approved before work continues.

9. Can I talk to a recent customer?

References and online reviews — ours are here.

10. How long have you been doing this?

Professional Contracting L.L.C. has been building custom carpentry in Palm Beach County since 2015, with a background in full-service remodeling before that.

What a good answer sounds like

Specific, written down, and backed by photos. If you ask these ten questions and get clear answers, you've found your carpenter.