The Cartier Kitchen

There was a time, not long ago, when a kitchen was just that—a kitchen. You probably had one: functional but unexciting. Vinyl or laminate countertops, white appliances. Your neighbour’s likely looked similar. Most of us were only ever in the kitchen to prepare a meal; entertaining was done within the strict confines of the living room or backyard. You may have done everything in your power to keep people out of your kitchen.

But then a revolution began. With the advent of consumer-level CAD (computer-assisted drawing), homeowners were able to envision possibilities beyond the standard builder’s kitchen. Enter Doug Stephens, Sales and Operations Manager at Canadian-owned Cartier Kitchens, Inc. Across North America, the company produces 80-100 kitchens a day. After 30 years in the business, Doug himself estimates he’s handled about 25,000 installations. He laughed when we suggested he call himself the Kitchen King.

During the past dozen years, the industry has evolved. “People are entertaining in their kitchens more than ever. It’s a gathering space.” Cartier Kitchens are the epitome of luxury and function and in the last decade, the team has noticed

changes: a desire for bigger designs, sometimes blurring the lines between the kitchen and living and dining areas. “A lot of people are interested in open-concept.” Plus, Doug’s clients are often desiring higher-end finishes, opting for countertops made of quartz and granite, refrigerators hidden behind cabinets, and pullout accessories of all sorts, to name a few.

Cartier Kitchens’ DaVinci line, Doug’s favourite, blends old-world charm with newworld technology to give customers an experience of true luxury. “People want soft-close drawers, antique finishes, all the bells and whistles. These are standard on our premium collections.” When asked the greatest kitchen he’s ever installed, Doug chuckles—“mine!”

His territory, (Orangeville to Peterborough, Toronto to the North), is a tough marketplace, but it doesn’t faze Doug. “We specialize in logistics and service. We even provide complimentary expert design, something that sets us apart.” This exemplary attendance is indicative at every stage of the process. He’s practically beaming when he recalls transporting a manufactured kitchen to an island in Muskoka.

“We used a Sea-Doo and a raft to barge the product to the customer’s house.” The people at Cartier Kitchens are passionate problem-solvers. Having a kitchen installed by Doug and his team couldn’t be more time-efficient. “The kitchen comes built, we don’t ship you flat-packed boxes.” After finalizing designs and manufacturing the product, (at the company’s plant in Brampton, Ontario), Cartier Kitchens is in and out of clients’ homes in an average of 1-2 days. Doug can offer such time-effective service, because he has lifelong connections with local tradespeople, who work with him to put the design and installation together. It’s because of the trust he’s developed that everything is able to move so smoothly, with minimal interruption to his clients’ day-to-day life.

Doug’s customers are more than homeowners; he also has exclusive partnerships with some of the largest and most prestigious builders, not only in the area, but throughout Canada. His experience, coupled with the prestige of Cartier Kitchens and the quality it provides, makes Doug and his team ideal partners for projects of any size, at any stage of construction or ownership.

When asked how he defines success at Cartier Kitchens, Doug simply points to the myriad of referrals they’ve had over the years. “We know a customer is happy when they recommend us to a friend or contact us again in the future for remodelling.” He sits back and looks pleased.

by Kolter Bouchard | photo Stephen Plumley