Licensed Millwork Contractor — Metro Vancouver Since 1981
Custom Cabinetry & Millwork in Vancouver, BC — Licensed Since 1981
Most homeowners don't realise their millwork failed until the finish starts peeling — or the cabinets don't fit because no one measured against the actual renovation drawings.
- Licensed & insured in BC
- WorkSafeBC registered
- 1,000+ projects completed
- 5.0 stars on Google
Why Custom Millwork in Vancouver Goes Wrong
Custom millwork refers to wood-based interior finishes and built-in furniture designed and fabricated to fit a specific space — including kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, built-in shelving, walk-in closets, wainscoting, coffered ceilings, media walls, wine cellars, and fireplace surrounds. Unlike prefabricated cabinets, custom millwork is measured, designed, and built to the exact dimensions and finish specifications of the room. A licensed millwork contractor in Vancouver will coordinate fabrication with the renovation timeline to ensure cabinets arrive after walls are confirmed, not before.
Most millwork problems start with coordination — or the lack of it. A cabinet shop measures your kitchen before the renovation starts. Then walls move, plumbing shifts, and the ceiling height changes by three inches. When the cabinets arrive, nothing lines up. Now you have two contractors pointing at each other, and you are the one paying to fix it.
The other common failure is finish quality. Vancouver's climate — high humidity, damp winters, temperature swings — punishes millwork that wasn't built or finished correctly. Paint that bubbles. Doors that warp. Drawer faces that swell and stick within a year. These are not material problems. They are installation and finishing problems that a general contractor with 40 years of millwork experience does not make.
DELANA Interiors has been building and installing custom cabinetry and millwork in Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Burnaby since 1981. We are a licensed general contractor — not a cabinet shop. Your custom millwork is designed, built, and installed inside the same renovation contract as everything else. One company. One set of drawings. No gaps between trades.
Custom millwork is most often part of a kitchen renovation — cabinets, islands, and pantry units built to the confirmed renovation drawings. For North Shore projects specifically, see our dedicated kitchen renovation North Vancouver page covering CNV vs DNV permit handling and full custom millwork on Lynn Valley, Edgemont, and Lonsdale homes. We also build millwork as part of custom home builds, where bespoke cabinetry, wainscoting, and built-ins are specified room by room. Standalone millwork projects, a single built-in bookcase or a custom media wall, are quoted and managed the same way. See our completed millwork projects or read what clients say.
Custom Millwork Services We Offer in Vancouver
From kitchen cabinetry to architectural millwork — every piece is designed for your space and built to last in Metro Vancouver's climate.
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Kitchen Cabinets
Custom kitchen cabinetry built to your exact layout — shaker, modern, transitional, or classic. Solid wood, wood veneer, or painted MDF with soft-close hardware.
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Bathroom Vanities
Custom bathroom vanities designed for Vancouver's humidity. Wall-mounted or freestanding, with painted or stained finishes specified for wet environments.
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Built-In Shelving & Storage
Floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves, home office cabinets, laundry room cabinetry, and custom storage solutions built to the room's exact dimensions.
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Walk-In Closets
Custom walk-in closet systems with hanging sections, drawer units, shelving, and integrated lighting. Built for the space — not adjusted to fit it.
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Wainscoting & Wall Panelling
Traditional wainscoting, shiplap, board and batten, and full-height wall panelling. Matched to your home's existing trim profile and proportions.
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Coffered Ceilings
Custom coffered ceilings designed and installed to suit the room's scale. Heritage profiles, contemporary grid patterns, and everything between.
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Media Walls & Entertainment Centres
Custom media walls and built-in entertainment centres with cable management, integrated lighting, and speaker enclosures.
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Wine Cellars
Custom wine cellar racking, cabinetry, and millwork — from a single display wall to a full temperature-controlled room.
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Fireplace Surrounds
Custom fireplace surrounds and mantel millwork matched to the room's architecture. Heritage profiles available.
How We Build and Install Custom Cabinetry in Vancouver
Every custom millwork project DELANA manages follows a defined process. Nothing is measured until renovation drawings are confirmed. Nothing is fabricated until the site is ready.
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In-Home Consultation and Site Assessment
We walk the space with you before quoting. We review renovation drawings, confirm wall positions and ceiling heights, and discuss style preferences — modern, transitional, shaker, or classic — and material options including solid wood, wood veneer, painted MDF, and stained oak or maple.
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Design and Drawings
We produce a detailed millwork design based on confirmed site measurements. You review the layout, door profiles, finish selections, and hardware choices — soft-close drawers, integrated lighting, pull-out storage, and matte black or brushed brass hardware. Nothing goes to fabrication without your sign-off.
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Material Selection and Finish Confirmation
We bring finish samples on-site. Paint colours, stain tones, and door profiles are confirmed against your actual walls and flooring — not a showroom sample under different lighting. This step eliminates the most common finishing mistake in custom cabinetry.
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Fabrication
Cabinets and millwork components are fabricated to the confirmed drawings — built to your actual site dimensions, not standard box sizes adjusted with fillers. Fabrication takes four to eight weeks depending on project scope and material availability.
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Installation Coordination
Because DELANA manages your full renovation, millwork installation is sequenced after walls are painted and floors are protected. Plumbing, electrical, and structural rough-ins are confirmed complete before millwork enters the home.
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Installation and Final Walk-Through
All cabinets, built-ins, and millwork elements are installed by our crew. Hardware is fitted, doors are hung and adjusted, and drawers are tested. We walk the finished millwork with you before any renovation punch list is signed off.
Why Vancouver Homeowners Choose DELANA Interiors for Custom Cabinetry
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Millwork and Renovation Under One Contract
Every competitor in this category is a cabinet shop — they measure, build, and leave coordination to you. DELANA is a licensed general contractor. Your kitchen renovation, bathroom renovation, and custom millwork are managed under one contract. One timeline. One point of contact. One company responsible if anything doesn't fit.
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40+ Years Building Custom Cabinetry in Metro Vancouver
DELANA has been building and installing custom cabinetry and millwork in Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Burnaby since 1981. We have built kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, built-in shelving, walk-in closets, wainscoting, coffered ceilings, wine cellars, and fireplace surrounds across every era of Metro Vancouver residential construction.
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Finish Quality Built for Vancouver's Climate
Vancouver's humidity and temperature range punishes poorly finished millwork. We use finishes specified for high-humidity environments — critical for bathroom vanities, laundry room cabinetry, and millwork near exterior walls. All painted finishes are applied after priming and sanding to the correct profile. We do not rush the finishing process.
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WorkSafeBC Registered — Zero Liability for You
Every trade on your project is WorkSafeBC registered. You carry no liability for on-site injuries. We carry full liability insurance from the first day of work through to project sign-off.
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Built-Ins That Match Your Home's Architecture
Custom millwork — wainscoting, coffered ceilings, built-in shelving, and panelled walls — is designed to match the proportions and style of your existing architecture. Our team has experience with heritage homes in Shaughnessy, post-war character homes in East Vancouver, and contemporary custom builds in West Vancouver and North Vancouver.
Custom Cabinetry vs IKEA, Stock, and Semi-Custom
Vancouver homeowners researching a kitchen typically compare three tiers — IKEA SEKTION at the entry level, big-box semi-custom in the middle, and fully custom millwork at the top. Each tier has a legitimate use. Here is what you actually get at each level so the choice is informed, not anxious.
IKEA SEKTION (entry level)
$2,000 – $5,000
Particle-board boxes, melamine-laminated door fronts, stock sizes assembled on-site. Soft-close hardware included. Self-installable or low-cost contractor install. Honest pick for: a rental flip, a basement suite, a backup kitchen. Realistic service life under household use: 5 to 10 years before filler strips, sagging shelves, and worn drawer slides start showing.
Big-box semi-custom (middle)
$10,000 – $18,000
Plywood or MDF boxes, real-wood or wood-veneer door fronts, stock cabinet sizes with limited custom adjustments (a few non-standard depths, a few colour options beyond the stock palette). Better hardware than IKEA — typically Blum or Hettich soft-close. Service life: 15 to 25 years. Honest pick for: a standard flat-wall kitchen with no plumbing or layout changes, where the existing footprint already works.
DELANA custom millwork (top)
$16,000 – $30,000+
Hardware-grade plywood boxes built to your actual wall dimensions (no filler strips), solid wood or MDF door fronts in any profile and any finish, Blum or Hettich soft-close hardware standard, integrated lighting and pull-outs designed around how you actually use the space. Heritage trim matching available where the project sits in a Shaughnessy, Kerrisdale, or character West Van home. Service life: 30 to 50 years. Honest pick for: a kitchen where layout changes are planned, ceiling heights vary, walls are out of plumb, or the finish needs to match existing built-ins or trim profiles that retailers cannot supply.
The right tier is the one that matches your project, not the most expensive one. DELANA will tell you honestly during the consultation if your kitchen would be better served by semi-custom — we do not pitch custom on every project. Custom is the right answer when fit, finish-match, or service-life economics favour it, not by default.
How Much Does Custom Cabinetry Cost in Vancouver, BC?
A note before the numbers
Below are the going rates and average charges according to local statistics. However DELANA Interiors and Jim Lazos have a goal to break these numbers for your benefit. Our years of experience allow us to beat any price our competitors quote.
Kitchen cabinetry — per linear foot
$800 – $1,500 / lin ft
A standard 20-linear-foot custom kitchen typically runs $16,000–$30,000 for cabinets alone — depending on material, door profile, and hardware selections.
Architectural millwork — by project type
- Built-in bookcase: $3,000 – $12,000
- Full media wall / built-in: $8,000 – $25,000
- Wainscoting: $40 – $80 / linear ft
- Coffered ceiling: $15,000 – $40,000
- Walk-in closet / pantry: $5,000 – $18,000
Notes about your final cost
- The reality is that the actual and final price is controlled by you, since we are only supplying the products you have selected. Cheap material, average, standard, medium, and all the way to top of the line and high end determines the actual real cost
- All construction, renovations, additions, and remodelling require a building permit — we walk you through what your project needs
- We provide a full cost breakdown on request
- We provide detailed drawings and a written estimate
- We send past project photos on request
- All work begins only after a written agreement signed by all parties
- Any change to scope or finishes during the project is documented in a signed written addendum before that work begins — protecting your budget and ours
- Our experience beats market prices
Average according to local statistics, custom kitchen cabinetry in Metro Vancouver runs $800 to $1,500 per linear foot, with most custom kitchens landing between $16,000 and $30,000 for the cabinets themselves. Architectural millwork — wainscoting, coffered ceilings, built-in shelving, media walls, and fireplace surrounds — is quoted by project scope rather than linear foot because complexity varies significantly. A single built-in bookcase runs differently than a full panelled library with integrated lighting. The final number depends on material selection (solid wood, painted MDF, wood veneer), door profile (shaker, flat-slab, raised panel), hardware grade (Blum or Hettich soft-close, integrated lighting), and whether the millwork is part of a larger renovation contract or a standalone project.
The best way to understand your real cost is to get a proper estimate — not a number from a website. Every custom millwork project is different. Factors like wall plumbness, ceiling height variation, finish-match tolerance against existing trim, and your hardware choices all affect the final price. We give you a detailed, itemised breakdown so you can make decisions based on real numbers.
Every estimate from DELANA is free and comes with no obligation. Call us at (236) 858-8187 or send us a message through our contact page to arrange a time to visit your home. We will assess your space and give you a written quote, not a rough guess.
Client Reviews
What Vancouver Homeowners Say About Our Custom Millwork
"We hired DELANA to renovate our kitchen in West Vancouver and build custom cabinetry throughout the main floor. Having one contractor manage both meant the cabinets were measured after the walls were confirmed — not before. Everything fit perfectly on installation day. No adjustments, no surprises."
"We wanted floor-to-ceiling built-in shelving in the living room and a custom media wall in the family room. DELANA designed both to match the existing trim profile in our North Vancouver home. The finish quality is exceptional. They also coordinated the flooring refinishing under the same contract — one team, one schedule."
"The wainscoting and coffered ceiling DELANA installed in our dining room completely changed the character of the space. They matched the existing crown moulding profile exactly. Written estimate, clear timeline, no cost overruns."
Common Questions About Custom Cabinetry in Vancouver
A typical custom cabinetry project in Vancouver takes six to ten weeks from the initial consultation to installation — four to eight weeks for fabrication, plus one to two weeks for design sign-off and site preparation. Projects that include a full kitchen or bathroom renovation may run longer depending on the renovation scope.
Custom cabinetry is built to the exact dimensions of your space — no standard box sizes, no filler strips. Prefabricated cabinets from retailers are stock sizes assembled on-site. Custom cabinetry costs more upfront but fits correctly, uses specified materials, and holds its finish significantly longer.
Yes. DELANA has built custom millwork in heritage homes across Shaughnessy, Kerrisdale, and East Vancouver. We match existing trim profiles, door panel styles, and finish tones. If original moulding profiles are no longer in production, we have them custom-milled to match.
Most custom cabinetry and built-in millwork does not require a permit in Vancouver unless it involves structural changes, plumbing, or electrical work. If your millwork project is part of a larger renovation that does require permits, DELANA handles permit applications as part of the general contracting scope.
Both. DELANA builds and installs custom cabinetry as a standalone millwork project and as part of full kitchen, bathroom, or home renovation contracts. Standalone millwork — a built-in bookcase, a custom media wall, a walk-in closet system — is quoted and managed the same way as any other project.
Vancouver's coastal humidity affects how cabinet materials hold finish and resist warping over a 20-year service life. For painted cabinetry, we recommend MDF doors and drawer fronts on plywood boxes — MDF takes paint cleanly and will not telegraph wood grain through the finish. For stained cabinetry, solid wood doors on plywood boxes give the natural grain pattern with the dimensional stability plywood provides. We do not use particle board for cabinet boxes — it swells when exposed to moisture, common in Vancouver kitchens and bathrooms. Hardware-grade plywood and solid wood are standard on every DELANA custom build.
DELANA fabricates custom cabinetry and architectural millwork locally in Metro Vancouver — not offshore, not from a centralised factory in another province. Local fabrication means we can confirm site dimensions, return to remeasure when a wall comes out, and adjust before fabrication rather than fix on installation day. Local fabrication also keeps the lead time predictable at four to eight weeks rather than the three to five months common for offshore-built custom cabinets.
Yes. DELANA provides a written warranty on workmanship and installation for every custom cabinetry and millwork project. Hardware (soft-close hinges, drawer slides, integrated lighting) carries the manufacturer warranty — typically lifetime on Blum and Hettich hinges and slides. We provide warranty documentation at handover. The BC Home Protection Act 2-5-10 warranty applies only to new home builds and major additions, not to standalone custom millwork projects.
Custom walk-in closet systems in Metro Vancouver typically run $6,000 to $18,000 depending on size, hardware, and whether built-in lighting and laundry hampers are included. Walk-in pantry builds with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and integrated organisation systems run $5,000 to $14,000. A full primary bedroom dressing room with built-in island and seating can exceed $25,000. We provide a written estimate after measuring the space and confirming finish selections.
Other Services We Offer in Metro Vancouver
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Kitchen Renovation Vancouver
Full kitchen renovation management — layout changes, custom cabinetry, countertops, plumbing and electrical, and permits where required.
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Bathroom Renovation Vancouver
Complete bathroom renovation management — tile, fixtures, plumbing, electrical, heated floors, and custom bathroom vanities.
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Basement Renovation Vancouver
Basement finishing, legal suite conversions, and waterproofing — custom millwork and built-ins coordinated as part of the full scope.
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Condo Renovation Vancouver
Full condo renovations with custom cabinetry built to your exact layout — strata coordination and all permits handled.
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Tenant Improvements Vancouver
Office, restaurant, retail, and clinic fit-outs — designed and built under one contract with in-house interior design and full project coordination.
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Flooring Contractor Vancouver
Hardwood floor sanding, staining, and refinishing across Metro Vancouver — coordinated under the same contract as your renovation.
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General Contractor Vancouver
Full-scope general contracting for residential renovations, additions, and new builds across Metro Vancouver.
Custom millwork serving West Vancouver · North Vancouver · Burnaby · Shaughnessy
Ready to Start Your Custom Millwork Project in Vancouver?
Tell us what you are building — a full kitchen, a single built-in, or anything in between. We review the space, give you a written estimate, and show you exactly what the process looks like before any work begins. Call us Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.