Custom Cabinetry Support for Residential Designers & Showrooms

 

At Waukee CabinetWorks, we’re not just another cabinet line—we’re your custom fabrication partner, here to help you win more residential projects and confidently take on design challenges that off-the-shelf solutions can’t solve.

 

My name is Jason Balm, and I’m the owner of Waukee CabinetWorks. I began my career more than 30 years ago as a finish carpenter, and over the years developed a passion for building and finishing cabinetry. It’s possible I even installed one of your past projects.

 

For over a decade, Waukee CabinetWorks operated as a full-service cabinet shop—with designers on staff, a large showroom, and multiple dealer lines. But almost five years ago, we made a shift: we stopped selling directly to the public and committed fully to supporting independent designers, showrooms, and trade professionals. Today, our entire operation is built around making your job easier—from technical execution to creative flexibility and speed.

 

Because we’ve been on both sides—selling dealer lines and manufacturing custom—we understand exactly where the pain points are. We know how quickly things get complicated when modifications pile up, when timelines slip, or when your vision outgrows the catalog. That’s where we come in—with flexible solutions, fast quoting, and real-world collaboration.

 

What We Offer Residential Designers

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• Fill in the gaps when standard lines fall short or break the budget

• Build custom pieces to match or complement dealer cabinetry (hoods, vanities, islands, more)

• Tackle one-off or emergency items like missing parts, trim kits, or cabinet modifications

• Custom closet systems that install easily and profitably

• Expert finishing, including in-house color matching and custom stains/paints

• Surprisingly fast lead times—we often beat dealer brands

• Engineering support and CAD-ready shop drawings

• Professional jobsite or warehouse delivery (we do not install but are available to support your installers)

• Full custom cabinetry when the project demands it

• Access to customer leads and referrals when the fit is right

• Real partnership—no competing for your clients, ever

 

Our 8,000+ sq ft facility includes precision CNC equipment, over 2,500 sq ft of dedicated finishing space, and an in-house color lab where we mix our own finishes to reduce waste and improve control. We proudly source many of our components from Central Iowa vendors, keeping things local and reliable.

 

We work exclusively with trade professionals—you are our customer, and your success is what drives our process. Whether you need a one-off solution, a custom cabinet package, or a reliable partner who makes your business look even better—we’re here to help you deliver.

 

Let’s build something great together.

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Ordering Process Overview

At Waukee CabinetWorks, we offer an extremely wide range of custom capabilities—which means there’s no one-size-fits-all online order form. Instead, we focus on responsive, real-world communication that gets you what you need, quickly and accurately.

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We understand the pace of your work and the need for fast, clear quoting. Our goal is to develop a working relationship where we can return most quotes and design details within 24 hours whenever possible. The more we work together, the faster and more streamlined things become—our best partnerships operate like a true extension of each other’s teams.

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We’re always happy to discuss your project before you submit anything, especially if you’re unsure what details to send.

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When you're ready to send us a request, please include as much of the following as possible:

 

• Basic project overview (client goals, timeline, use case)

• Drawings, sketches, or layout plans (even napkin sketches help!)

• Photos or inspiration images (style, finish, or aesthetic references)

• Material and finish preferences

• Relevant specs (dimensions, appliance info, preferred hardware or accessories)

• Budget target or options you’d like to explore

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The more information you provide, the faster and more accurately we can respond. Whether it's a single specialty cabinet or a fully custom kitchen, we’re here to help make it happen.