If you do a search on homeadvisor dot com, you will find ratings for cabinet makers in your area. I was greatly disappointed by our contractor who made us go to some warehouse in Anaheim, and got bulldozed into picking the best of bad stock cabinets with granite countertops. I stopped the process this morning. After sleepless nights, knowing I got bulldozed, I crashed! Freaked is a better word! My husband wants to save money, so I say "I'm willing to live with the horrible cabinets that are there rather than sell my soul for cheap stock cabinets!" So he says "fine!" Get bids!! HomeAdvisor dot com had a lot of options and I read the reviews. Like you, I am in Southern California. We purchased a short sale home, and it's a hot mess! $$$ everywhere!! I found a cabinet maker that actually spoke to me for a long time, and he is coming to give us a bid on resurfacing what is there and rebuilding to fit the new appliances. He had six reviews. All 5 star! I'm not a salesperson, and will not post his site, but you can find him or someone else like him if you search. Color me happy! Suzi

Jerzeegirl (if you are from NJ ... I just moved down here from NJ 3 years ago - lived in Hoboken and then in Glen Ridge). I spoke to both Millers Dutch Haus and Taters. Taters was recommended by my General Contractor -- but he has a habit of only recommending places where I think he receives a little something on the backend. Anyways, I liked the gentleman from Taters BUT he really is just a salesman without much insight on configuration or design. Additionally, he went silent on me for 2 weeks during the planning/pricing stage and then told me his delivery time for the cabinets would be 3 times longer than he first estimated because I "didn't order the cabinets last week". This turned me off and I started researching alternatives. On Gardenweb I had learned about Millers. I hadn't thought to contact them because they look like a furniture store ..not cabinet maker (and the furniture in their showroom is a bit on the old-fashioned side). I've been EXTREMELY PLEASED with Lee at Miller's Dutch Haus. He is a pleasure to work with and brought very good ideas to the table. The best part ...his pricing was actually less than Taters. I ordered all my pantry cabinetry (its a 12 foot by 7 foot pantry), mudroom (14 linear feet) and 15 foot window seat from him. Its scheduled to be installed 2 weeks from now ...so I can't comment on the quality of the cabinets yet but I can say it has been a pleasure to work with him. I also ended up ordering Conestoga cabinets for our 6 bathrooms from Brian at the CabinetJoint. Most of all because I was concerned about Florida humidity in a bathroom and wanted to ensure I was getting 'baked on' stains - so I never really planned to go w/ a custom cabinet maker for these. I had also spoken Rick at the CabinetAuthority BUT he really just wanted to give me a price and take my order ..where as Brian at the CabinetJoint was extremely patient and really really helped me 'design' out what the cabinets should look like. Note, both the CabinetAuthority and CabinetJoint are Conestoga resellers ...so they are 'selling' the same product. So if you want to go this route, I recommend CabinetJoint over CabinetAuthority - they'll meet each others' pricing so it really comes down to service and in my case CabinetJoint really shined in this department. I'm expecting my cabinets from Conestoga to arrive the first week in May ... so can't comment on quality of these yet either. I also need to find someone to install them (the downside of ordering online) ... so we'll see how that goes. If you'd like to speak on the phone, please send me an email and I'll be happy to chat. Also I can share photos and experience by mid-may ..at that time all my custom cabinets from Millers and my Conestoga cabinets from CabinetJoint should be in. My house is in Laurel Oaks in Sarasota ... so once they are in, if you want to stop by and see them, you are welcome to do so! Deirdre

Check out Pacific Crest, down in Kent/Sumner area. Not totally custom, but they will do any size vertically and horizontally for you, down to 1/8" increments. Huge variety of woods, finishes, and styles. They used to sell only to contractors and retail stores, but you can now buy directly from them. The customer service is exemplary, and the sales people very helpful. Can't recommend them enough.

Hi Megma, Chris Russell made cabinets for my neighbor's kitchen. We were going to use him to put in new cabinets in our own kitchen. Instead we decided to keep the cabs we have. The reason I know he is so easy going is she raves about Chris Russell. My neighbor's kitchen is amazing. There is a curved counter, detailed drawers, doors, molding... Not sure if there is a website or not. I do have a cell phone number on his card. (978) 337-2902 And another kitchen GC closer to where I live Christopher Cahill (603) 465-7124 I think they work together on large projects. Not sure. I do not know Chris Cahill but have heard good things. And a third company but this one is NH 603)525-6687 D. Huntington I believe they work on the coastal towns like New Castle, Rye and the Lakes Region too. I have no idea what they are like but I have heard they create kitchens for the wealthy & famous... Sununu, Steven Tyler, Umma Thurman, woodwork in the State Capital of NH, Adam Sandler,... I think Chris Russell is probably the best best. I hope it works out. ~boxerpups