Painted or natural wood
A painted finish gives a clean look that matches your trim and walls. Natural wood shows its grain and warmth, and many pieces combine the two, like a painted desk with a maple top.
Millwork and furniture
Custom millwork and furniture
Custom millwork and furniture in Guelph, from fireplace mantels to desks, front counters and trim. We build one of a kind pieces in our shop on Gordon Street and install them ourselves, for homes and businesses across Guelph, Kitchener and Cambridge.
What it includes
One of a kind pieces, built to fit.
Millwork is the finished woodwork that gives a room its character: mantels, panelling, trim and the pieces built into or made for a particular space. Custom millwork is made to your measurements and design instead of bought off the shelf, so it fits the room exactly and looks like it has always been there.
We build it for homeowners who want a feature piece, like a fireplace surround or a desk that fits an awkward corner, and for businesses that need a counter or fixtures that suit their space.
- Fireplace mantels and surrounds. Painted or wood mantels, with panels and tile inserts, built to your fireplace.
- Desks and workspaces. Built to fit a corner or a nook, with shelving and solid wood tops.
- Front counters and business fixtures. Reception desks, counters and doors for shops and offices.
- Trim and panelling. Baseboards, casings and wall panelling to finish a room.
- Awkward spaces. Pieces designed for alcoves, slopes and corners that nothing standard fits.
Millwork or carpentry
What makes millwork different.
Carpentry is the building work done on site: framing, installing doors and putting up trim. Millwork is the finished woodwork itself, made in a shop with precise tools and then installed.
Because we mill, cut and finish our pieces in our own shop, with parts cut on our CNC and painted in house, the joints are tighter and the finish is smoother than work built and painted on site. Then our own crew installs it, so one team is responsible from the first drawing to the last nail.
- Made in our shop. Cut, assembled, primed and painted before it reaches your home.
- Fitted on site. Scribed to your walls and floors so it sits tight to an uneven house.
Our process
How a custom piece comes together.
- 01
Free estimate
We look at the space, measure it and talk through what you want the piece to do and how it should look.
- 02
Design and quote
We work out the design, sizes and finish with you, and give you a clear quote for the work.
- 03
Built in our shop
Your piece is cut on our CNC, assembled, primed and painted or finished in our Guelph shop.
- 04
Installation
Our crew installs it and fits it to your walls, floors and ceiling.
- 05
Final touches
Hardware goes on, any last adjustments are made and we clean up after ourselves.
Options
Choosing the details, and the trade-offs.
Every custom piece starts with a few decisions about how it looks and how it will be used.
Wood for a mantel
A painted MDF or poplar surround stays stable and takes paint smoothly. A solid wood beam or top shows character, but needs a species that suits its distance from the heat.
Built in or freestanding
A built in piece uses the full space and looks part of the house, but stays when you move. A freestanding piece can go with you.
Panelling style
Shaker panels and beadboard add texture and feel traditional, while flat panels look modern and are easier to keep clean.
Tile or stone insert
A tile surround inside a mantel adds colour and pattern. A plain stone or tile face is quieter and lets the woodwork stand out.
Storage built in
Drawers, shelves and hidden cabinets add storage to a desk or mantel wall, at the cost of more work and a higher price.
Cost
What custom millwork costs, and what drives it.
Custom millwork ranges from a simple mantel shelf to a full wall of panelling or a commercial front counter, so there is no single price. It depends on the size of the piece, how detailed it is and how it is finished.
We look at the space at a free estimate and give you a written quote. These are the things that move the number most:
- Size. How much material and build time the piece takes.
- Detail. Panelling, mouldings, curves and joinery add shop time.
- Materials. Painted MDF and poplar cost less than solid hardwoods.
- Finish. A painted finish, a natural wood finish, or both, and how many colours.
- Installation. Uneven walls, tile work or fitting around a fireplace insert.
Our work
Millwork we have built.
Where we work
Custom millwork in Guelph, Kitchener and Cambridge.
Every piece is built in our shop at 2270 Gordon Street South in Guelph. These are the three areas where most of our millwork goes.
Guelph
Guelph is where our shop is, so most of our mantels, desks and trim work are for Guelph homes and businesses. Being close means we can measure, build and come back to fit a piece without long waits, and small changes after installation are an easy trip.
Kitchener
Kitchener has a busy mix of homes and small businesses, and both need millwork that fits the space: a mantel for a new fireplace, a desk for a home office, or a front counter for a shop or studio. Kitchener is a short drive west of our shop along Highway 7.
Cambridge
The older homes in Galt, Preston and Hespeler often have original trim and fireplaces worth keeping, where new millwork has to be built to suit what is already there. Newer homes around them tend to want a clean painted mantel or a feature wall to give a plain room some character.
Also serving
- Waterloo
- Rockwood
FAQ
Custom millwork questions.
How expensive is custom millwork?
It depends on the size of the piece, the detail, the materials and the finish. A simple mantel costs far less than a full wall of panelling or a commercial counter. We give you a written quote after a free estimate.
What are some examples of custom millwork?
Fireplace mantels and surrounds, built in desks, front counters and reception desks, wall panelling, baseboards and casings, and custom doors. We have built all of these, from home office desks to a front desk and saloon doors for a local business.
How is millwork different from carpentry?
Carpentry is the building work done on site. Millwork is finished woodwork made in a shop, then installed. We do both: we mill and finish the piece in our shop, then install it ourselves.
What is the typical cost of a custom fireplace mantel?
A plain painted mantel shelf costs much less than a full surround with panels, a tile insert and built in storage. The size of the fireplace and the design you choose set the price, and we quote each mantel after seeing the space.
What is the best type of wood to use for a fireplace mantel?
For a painted surround, MDF and poplar are popular because they stay stable and take paint smoothly. For a natural wood look, a hardwood such as oak or maple, or a solid beam, gives more character. We will recommend what suits your fireplace.
Do you build millwork for businesses?
Yes. Along with homes, we build front counters, reception desks, doors and fixtures for local businesses in Guelph and the surrounding area.
More services
Other work we do.
Free estimates
Tell us about your piece.
Call or send a few details. We will come out, look at the space and give you a free estimate for your custom millwork.