Kitchen Window Remodel Grand Rapids MI — Replacement, Garden Windows & Cabinet Doors

The Situation: Heritage Hill Victorian 1898. Original single-pane wood kitchen windows showing sill rot and condensation between storm windows and primary panes. Homeowners had delayed the replacement for two years — they were concerned that HPC approval would be difficult and that double-pane windows couldn’t meet historical character requirements. They feared doing it wrong and facing enforcement action.

What We Did: Pre-application meeting with Heritage Preservation Commission staff before any window was ordered. Custom double-pane replacement windows manufactured to match original opening exactly — same sash configuration, same exterior profile and trim details. Replacement windows installed in existing frames — no frame replacement required. HPC approval obtained. Documentation filed with city and copy provided to homeowners.

The Result: HPC pre-approval obtained without objection. Windows installed in 6 hours. R-value improved from 1.0 (single pane) to 3.2 (double pane). Sill rot repaired before new window installation. No visible exterior change — the windows look identical from the street.

The Situation: Forest Hills 1985 ranch kitchen with a standard 32-inch double-hung window over the sink. Homeowner wanted a garden window for herbs and additional light. A window company had told them the available garden window sizes (36-inch minimum) were larger than the existing opening and the project “couldn’t be done without major construction.”

What We Did: Structural assessment of the existing window opening: the header was a standard doubled 2×6 — more than adequate for the 3-inch additional span required to reach 36 inches. No structural concern identified. Existing header extended by 3 inches. Opening widened at rough frame. Garden window (36×48 projection style) installed. Interior sill extension fabricated in the same painted finish as existing cabinetry.

The Result: Garden window installed and operational. Herb garden producing basil, rosemary and thyme 4 months after installation. The interior sill extension matches the cabinet finish exactly — the window looks like it was part of the original kitchen design.

The Situation: West Grand bungalow 1938. Homeowners had a full cabinet replacement quote from a big-box store installation program at $14,200. Before signing, they called us because the price seemed high. During our in-home assessment: cabinet boxes were original 1938 solid wood construction — plumb within 1/16 inch, no water damage, hinges mounting without give. The only problem was the flat plywood doors from a 1970s renovation.

What We Did: Recommended door and drawer front replacement only — 18 doors and 6 drawer fronts. New Shaker profile doors in painted white manufactured to fit existing box openings. All 18 pairs of hinges replaced with new concealed European soft-close. Brushed brass hardware throughout replacing original pulls. Interior pull-out shelf organizers added to base cabinets. Completed in 2 days.

The Result: Kitchen appearance completely updated. The solid 1938 cabinet boxes are structurally superior to any new box that would have replaced them at the available budget. Homeowners kept $11,000 versus the big-box quote.