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Custom Kitchen Cabinets in San Francisco: What to Prepare Before Planning Your Kitchen
Planning a custom kitchen can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. There are finishes to choose, appliances to coordinate, storage needs to think through, and dozens of small decisions that can affect the final design.
At ARTEZIA, we have found that the most productive kitchen projects start with a little preparation.
If you are planning custom kitchen cabinetry in San Francisco or the Bay Area, this guide will help you understand what information is useful before your first design conversation, and what to have ready when completing our project intake form.
You do not need to have every answer figured out. That is what the design process is for. But the more context we have at the beginning, the better we can understand your space, priorities, and vision.
1. Tell Us How You Actually Use Your Kitchen
We always begin with function.
A beautiful kitchen should also make everyday life easier, so think about how you currently use the space and what you wish worked better.
Ask yourself:
Who uses the kitchen every day?
Do you cook frequently?
Do several people cook at the same time?
Do you entertain often?
Do you need space for a coffee station or wine storage?
Are countertop appliances creating clutter?
Is there anything in your current kitchen that frustrates you?
These details help us plan work zones, cabinet configurations, storage, appliance placement, and circulation.
You do not need to come up with solutions. Simply tell us what is working and what is not.
2. Share Any Floor Plans or Drawings You Have
If you already have architectural drawings, floor plans, elevations, or contractor plans, upload the latest versions with your project information.
These help us understand:
Room dimensions
Ceiling heights
Windows and doors
Plumbing locations
Existing walls
Adjacent spaces
Structural constraints
If your project is part of a larger San Francisco kitchen remodel, these drawings are especially helpful because the cabinetry often needs to coordinate with architects, contractors, lighting designers, and other trades.
Do not have professional plans yet? That is okay. Photos and approximate measurements are still useful for an initial conversation.
3. Photograph the Existing Space
Photos often tell us things that drawings cannot. When completing the intake form, try to include a few wide photographs from different corners of the room rather than only close-up images of the existing cabinets.
It is helpful if we can see:
The full kitchen
Windows and doors
Ceiling conditions
Plumbing
Existing appliances
Adjacent dining or living spaces
Any architectural features that will remain
If something feels awkward or problematic in the current kitchen, photograph that too.
Those details can often become the starting point for a much better solution.
4. Send Inspiration, Even If You Are Not Sure Why You Like It
One of the easiest ways to communicate your design preferences is through images.
Pinterest, Instagram, magazine clippings, screenshots, and photos from projects you have seen are all useful.
When collecting inspiration, look at more than just complete kitchens. You might be drawn to:
A particular wood tone
A cabinet profile
A matte lacquer finish
A concealed appliance
A kitchen island shape
A combination of wood, stone, glass, or metal
Do not worry if the images do not all match.
As designers, part of our job is identifying the common thread between the things you are drawn to and translating that into a cohesive kitchen.
5. Start Thinking About Appliances Early
This is one of the most important parts of planning custom kitchen cabinetry.
Appliances affect cabinet dimensions, ventilation, clearances, electrical requirements, and the overall layout, particularly when they are fully integrated behind cabinetry panels.
If possible, let us know what you are considering for:
Refrigerator and freezer
Cooktop or range
Wall ovens
Dishwasher
Microwave
Coffee machine
Wine refrigerator
Steam oven
Warming drawer
Exact model numbers are ideal once they are available, but you do not need to have every appliance selected before contacting us.
Even knowing that you want an integrated refrigerator, a 36-inch cooktop, or a built-in coffee machine gives us valuable information.
6. Think About What You Need to Store
One of the biggest advantages of custom kitchen cabinetry is being able to plan the kitchen around the way you actually live.
Before completing the intake form, think about the features that would make your kitchen easier and more enjoyable to use. You do not need to know exactly how they should be designed yet. Simply tell us what matters to you.
That might include:
Pantry storage
Appliance garage
Integrated refrigerator or dishwasher
Wine storage
Coffee station
Baking storage
Large drawers
Tall storage
Charging and electrical solutions
Built-in trash, recycling, or compost bins
If there is something you use every day, tell us.
If there is something you want completely hidden, tell us that too.
Depending on the project, we may recommend deep drawers, pantry pull-outs, appliance garages, integrated recycling, internal drawers, specialty organizers, or concealed storage.
The goal is not to add more cabinetry simply for the sake of it. It is to make each cabinet work harder.
7. Think About the Spaces Beyond the Main Kitchen
Many of the homes we work with in San Francisco and the Bay Area have cabinetry that continues beyond the kitchen itself.
Your project may also include:
A walk-in pantry
Butler's pantry
Bar
Breakfast area
Dining-room cabinetry
Living-room storage
Home office cabinetry
If any of these areas are part of the project, mention them in the intake form even if they are not fully designed yet.
Considering these spaces together allows us to create a more cohesive material palette and architectural language throughout the home.
8. Tell Us Which Materials You Are Drawn To
You do not need to know the technical name of every finish. Start by telling us what you are naturally drawn to, whether that is warm wood, matte lacquer, stone, glass, metal, or a more architectural finish.
Design Direction
It also helps to know the overall look you prefer, such as Modern / Minimal, Contemporary / Warm Modern, Traditional / Classic, Transitional, or Organic / Natural.
If you are not sure, that is completely fine. Inspiration images often tell us more than a style label.
Cabinetry Preference
Let us know if you are leaning toward European cabinetry, North American custom cabinetry, or would like to explore both.
If you are unsure which is right for your project, we can guide you based on your design goals, materials, budget, and level of customization.
Materials
At ARTEZIA, our cabinetry can be specified in a wide range of materials, including:
Wood veneer for the warmth and character of natural wood
Solid wood, including frame-style doors and TEAM 7 cabinetry
Laminates, including melamine, HPL, Fenix, acrylic, and PET, available in wood, solid-color, metal, concrete, stone, and textile-inspired finishes
Lacquer in matte or glossy finishes
Porcelain, including Dekton and Neolith, which can also coordinate with countertop surfaces
Glass, from clear and semi-opaque to solid-color finishes
Metal in a variety of finishes
Natural stone, available on select TM ITALIA cabinetry
Concrete, created with a thin layer of real cement for a more tactile architectural finish
You do not need to make final material selections before the design process begins. We can help narrow the options based on the look you want, maintenance, durability, and how the cabinetry will work with the rest of the kitchen.
If natural wood is high on your list, explore our TEAM 7 cabinetry, crafted from solid wood and designed to highlight the warmth and natural character of the material.
9. Let Us Know the Scope of the Project
One question clients sometimes overlook is how much of the kitchen is actually changing.
Are you replacing cabinetry within the existing layout?
Or is this part of a complete kitchen remodel involving new flooring, electrical work, plumbing, appliances, lighting, countertops, or structural changes?
Knowing the scope helps us understand who else may be involved in the project and how the cabinetry design needs to coordinate with the construction timeline.
If you are not sure yet, that is completely fine. Give us your best understanding of the project at this stage.
10. Have a General Budget and Timeline in Mind
You do not need a final number before speaking with us, but having a realistic investment range helps us recommend the right cabinetry system, materials, and level of customization from the beginning.
At ARTEZIA, most kitchen cabinetry projects fall into a few broad ranges:
ARTEZIA Euro-Line: typically $35,000–$70,000
Premium European and custom collections: typically $55,000–$110,000
TEAM 7 solid wood cabinetry: typically $75,000–$150,000
Most ARTEZIA kitchens start around $45,000, with the average cabinetry package typically falling between $55,000 and $95,000. Larger kitchens, specialty materials, and highly customized designs may go beyond these ranges.
Design services are separate and tailored to the scope of the project. Our initial design consultation is complimentary, and projects that move into detailed design are structured around the level of planning, coordination, and customization required.
Timing is equally important. Depending on the cabinetry collection, manufacturing can take approximately 5 to 12 weeks, with imported European cabinetry requiring additional shipping time.
If you are working toward a move-in date, construction schedule, or specific completion target, include it in the intake form. The earlier we understand your timeline and investment range, the better we can guide you toward a cabinetry solution that fits both the design vision and the realities of the project.
What Should You Prepare Before Your First Kitchen Consultation?
If you are filling out the ARTEZIA project intake form, the most useful items to have ready are:
Floor plans or available measurements
Photos of your current kitchen
Inspiration images
Appliance preferences or model numbers
Your main storage needs
Any pantry, bar, or adjacent cabinetry requirements
Materials or finishes you are drawn to
The overall renovation scope
Your approximate timeline
Your general investment range
Do not worry if you cannot provide everything.
The form is simply a way for our design team to understand your project before we meet. It gives us a clearer picture of the space and allows the first conversation to focus on the decisions that matter most.
Planning Custom Kitchen Cabinetry in San Francisco and the Bay Area
Every home is different, from compact San Francisco kitchens where every inch matters to larger Bay Area homes with open-plan layouts, historic details, or cabinetry that extends into adjacent living spaces.
That is why we approach each project individually. At ARTEZIA, we design custom kitchen cabinetry and European cabinetry around the architecture of the home and the way our clients live, creating kitchens that feel considered, functional, and fully integrated into the space.
If you are planning a custom kitchen in San Francisco or the Bay Area, start by sharing your project details through our intake form. Upload any drawings, existing-space photos, inspiration, appliance information, and other details you already have.
You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. The form simply gives our design team a clearer starting point so we can make the first conversation more focused and productive.
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