Custom kitchens in Cambridge
Hailey Inc designs and builds custom kitchens in Cambridge, from stone houses in old Galt to new builds in Hespeler. Each kitchen is made to measure in our Guelph shop, a short drive up Highway 6, and installed by our own crew. You deal with one family owned business from the first visit to the last cabinet door, and the people who build your kitchen are the ones who put it in.
One team, from drawing to install.
A lot of kitchen jobs pass through several hands: a showroom sells the cabinets, a factory builds them, and a subcontractor installs them. We do all of it ourselves. The layout is drawn up with you, the parts are cut on our own CNC, the cabinets are assembled, primed and painted in our shop, and our crew installs them in your Cambridge home.
That means one phone number for every question, and no gap between the people who measured your kitchen and the people who fit it. We have worked this way since 2005, and Guelph readers have voted us their pick in the Readers' Choice Awards ten times.
- Designed with you. Layout, storage and finish planned around your room.
- Made to measure. Cabinets built to your walls, not picked from stock sizes.
- Installed by the builders. The crew that made your cabinets fits them.
A look at our kitchens.
Kitchens, bars and kitchenettes from our shop, each one built to fit its room.
Three towns, three kinds of kitchen.
Cambridge was formed in 1973 when Galt, Preston and Hespeler joined together, and each one still has its own kind of house. That shapes what we build.
- Galt. Nineteenth century stone and brick homes near the Grand River, where kitchens are often small and tucked at the back. Cabinets run to the ceiling and fit around deep window sills and uneven walls.
- Preston. Older workers' cottages and post war houses with compact kitchens. A reworked layout, a peninsula or a pantry cabinet can add a lot of storage without adding space.
- Hespeler and the newer east side. Newer subdivisions such as River Mill and the homes around Saginaw, where open layouts suit a large island and a full pantry wall in place of builder grade cabinets.
- Bars and basements. Wet bars, coffee stations and basement kitchenettes for family rooms and in law suites.
Working in older Cambridge homes.
Many of Galt's older homes were built with thick stone walls. They are rarely flat, and plaster on stone does not hold a screw the way a stud wall does. We measure every wall, scribe cabinets and panels to the surface, and plan how the upper cabinets will be anchored before anything is built.
Designated heritage properties in Cambridge are protected mainly for their outside, so interior kitchen work is usually not affected. If your plan touches a window or an exterior wall, it is worth checking with the city first.
As in the rest of the region, new cabinets in the same layout do not usually need a building permit, but taking out a load bearing wall or moving plumbing usually does, through the City of Cambridge. We flag that at the estimate.
Custom or stock cabinets?
Stock cabinets from a store usually cost less up front. Custom cabinets cost more, but they are built for your room instead of the other way around. Which is better value depends on the kitchen.
- Stock makes sense when the room is a standard shape and the budget is tight.
- Custom makes sense when walls are out of square, ceilings are high or low, or the room has odd corners and windows, which is common in older Cambridge homes.
- Filler panels add up. Stock sizes rarely fit wall to wall, and the gaps get closed with fillers that waste space.
- Keeping what you have. If your cabinet boxes are sound, a respray or refacing can cost less than either.
Your Cambridge kitchen, step by step.
- 01
Home visit
We come to your Cambridge home, look at the room and hear what you want from it.
- 02
Drawings and quote
You see the layout and finishes, and get a written price.
- 03
Shop build
Cutting, assembly, priming and painting, all in Guelph.
- 04
Installation
Cabinets, trim and hardware fitted by our crew.
- 05
Final look
The kitchen is cleaned top to bottom and we check every door and drawer with you.
Pricing a custom kitchen in Cambridge.
Your price is set by your room, so we start with a free visit and follow it with a written quote. In Cambridge the older homes in Galt and Preston often need more fitting and wall work than a newer house, and that shows in the number.
The main things that move it:
- How much is being built. Wall length, cabinet height and the number of units.
- Fitting an older room. Scribing to uneven walls and anchoring to stone or plaster.
- What moves. Walls, plumbing or wiring that change place.
- Your choices. Door style, paint colour, hardware, islands and bars.
Cambridge kitchen questions.
Is it cheaper to buy cabinets or have them built?
Stock cabinets usually cost less up front. Custom cabinets cost more but fit the room exactly, which matters most in older homes with uneven walls and odd layouts. We can tell you honestly which suits your kitchen.
Do you work in Galt, Preston and Hespeler?
Yes. We build custom kitchens across all of Cambridge, from the older homes in Galt and Preston to newer houses in Hespeler.
Can you build a kitchen in an old stone house?
Yes. We measure each wall, scribe the cabinets to fit, and plan how the uppers will be anchored to stone or plaster before we build.
Do you build bars and basement kitchenettes?
Yes. Along with full kitchens, we build wet bars, coffee stations and basement kitchenettes.
How far is Cambridge from your shop?
Our shop is in the south end of Guelph, a short drive from Cambridge along Highway 6 and the 401. Cambridge is one of the main areas we work in.
Custom kitchens near Cambridge.
The same shop and crew serve these cities too.
Our services in Cambridge
Planning a kitchen in Cambridge?
Call or send a few details. We will visit your Cambridge home and give you a free estimate for your custom kitchen.