Natural wood cabinets were popular in kitchen remodeling in the early 2000s. However, like many trends, preferences change over time. Painting wood in light or dark blue colors has become the new standard. Now the trend is evolving again, said Melissa Schmidt, owner of Kitchens & More by Melissa, a hardware store serving northwest Iowa.
The popularity of furniture is once again shifting towards natural wood aesthetics.
“We're starting to see more natural woods and wood tones mixed with paint,” says Melissa. She and her husband Matt are the talented people behind some of the area's great kitchens. The couple has operated their home business in Melissa's hometown of Arthur since 2009.
According to Melissa, the most popular wood tones she and her husband are renovating and updating their kitchens with these days include true browns and even lighter tones like white oak. “I love that color,” says Melissa.
For the past 15 years, Kitchens & More by Melissa has been dedicated to updating and remodeling kitchens. Melissa has been an integral part of the home improvement industry for over 25 years.
As the business name suggests, Matt and Melissa's projects are primarily focused on the kitchen. However, the “MORE” in the company's name reflects its wide range of services. They specialize in renovating bathrooms, offices, bars, and just about any place where cabinetry can be installed.
The showroom is part of the Schmidt family home, allowing Melissa and her husband to manage their work schedules while caring for their children, Parker, 6, and Paige, 5. Kitchens & More by Melissa serves homeowners from Holstein to Odebolt, Storm Her Lake, Lakeview, Ida Her Grove, and more.
The couple receives part-time help with all aspects of their home business. While Matt handles the installations, Melissa's passion is design.
range hood and microwave drawer
What Melissa loves most about her job is building personal connections with her customers. She values the opportunity to visit their homes, listen to their ideas, and help them realize their dreams. But her most rewarding moment is when the cabinets are finally installed and she and Matt witness the customer's reaction to her finished work.
“We love visiting our customers' homes and hearing all their ideas, but the most fun part is installing the cabinets and seeing how they react when they're out all day. ” says Melissa.
As business in the area continues to grow, Melissa points out that some trends go beyond color schemes.
Customers now prefer rolling trays in cupboard design and choose deeper drawers for storage. Melissa points out that some customers want to add a range hood when remodeling. This changes the traditional stovetop microwave setup and many people choose a pull-out microwave instead.
Attention to detail is essential to the Schmitz family's business. Driven by her own “quirk”, Melissa ensures that all of her company's equipment is perfect.
“Installing heavy components like cabinets requires precision,” she explains. “We always order cabinets with dimensions that are flush with the countertop.”
The Schmidts partner with Holiday Kitchens, a Midwest company based in Wisconsin, to ensure top-notch workmanship on every project.
“We didn't want a company that was too far away,” Melissa said of choosing to work with the Wisconsin-based company. It was important to keep costs down. ”
This cost-effective plan is communicated to customers. “Customer satisfaction is our focus,” says Melissa. “It feels great to bring an idea to life.”
