e3 Cabinets and Design is a custom and specialty full service cabinetry and storage system company specializing in eco-friendly designs and products. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, their focus is on working closely with homeowners, architects, designers and both residential and commercial builders. Through their structured process and years of experience they make the design and implementation process both efficient and cost effective.  I had the pleasure of interviewing e3 Cabinets and Design Partner, Thom Knowles.  His unique perspective on the design process and his dedication to excellence are what sets e3 Cabinets and Design apart from their competition.  Here’s what I found out through my conversation with Thom Knowles:

1. Tell me about your company, how you got started, where you are today and what made you decide to go into this industry? “ I was living in Italy in the late 90’s designing informational kiosks for the Vatican in Rome.  During my time in Italy, I fell in love with the architecture and Italian design all around me.  I eventually sold my business and returned to the states where I joined my brother, and Mick Saron who had started e3 Cabinets and Design in 1999.   I decided to help out for a year and it got into my blood.  15 years later, I’m still in the business.  Its’ good to see the smiles on our clients faces when they see their custom spaces completed.  Our business is all about relationships and working closely with families to design their ultimate living space.  e3’s  philosophy is to create a tailored space that is custom and handcrafted for how a particular family lives.  People are no longer worried about resale value which allows us the freedom to design outside the box and to create a space that fits the uniqueness of every family.”

2. Tell me about what you specialize in and how you separate yourselves from the competition?  “e3’s knowledge of the construction industry helps us separate ourselves from the competition.  Our vast knowledge  helps us educate our clients on what will work and what won’t work.  This is important because what looks good on paper often doesn’t work onsite. Our highly skilled designers work with our clients to figure out how to make a design happen.  Our knowledge and design principles, combined with our sensitivity to a client’s budget sets us apart from the competition.  Not only do we know how to make a client’s dreams a reality, we know how to make it happen within a certain budget.”

3. What made you decide to put the Berlonibrand inside your showroom?How is Berlonidifferent from their competition?  “My love of the Italian design that Berloni offers stems from the time I spent in Italy, but the beauty of Berloni is the superior quality. With Berloni products, my clients get a better value for their budget. I also believe that the breadth of the Berloni line is amazing and the precision with which they manufacture their product is second to none.  And, the technology behind their manufacturing is tremendous!  Dealing with Berloni America makes our job easier because they do all the hard work for us, dealing with all the behind the scenes details. Working with them allows us to do what we do best, creating truly bespoken spaces.”

4. What new trends are you seeing in 2012? What is a person remodeling a kitchen or bathroom looking for in 2012?   “Simple lines.  Light colors.  Our clients want functional spaces suited to their lifestyles, with very little concern for resale value.  They want their new space to fit the way they live because they are staying in their homes longer. In terms of design, the trend lies somewhere between traditional and modern.  Clients are looking for simple doors, linear lines, clean transitional hardware, darker woods in exotic engineered veneers and light paint finishes.”

5. What advice can you give a potential client about ways to prevent a remodel from becoming too expensive?  ”Create a realistic budget by seeking out professionals and doing your homework.  I recommend having your architect, designer, and builder meet together.   Having a cohesive team from start to finish is the key.  If a client has the whole team together from inception, they can avoid costly changes that need to be made down the road.  The team members need to meet together instead of separately.  That process makes everything smoother and faster.  That way, the extra expenses associated with change orders are virtually non-existent.”

6. What are people most surprised about when their kitchen remodel is finished?  “That we’re still friends  Seriously though, they’re surprised that we have made their dreams a reality. They can’t believe it’s the same space and they can’t believe that it was all done within their original budget.”

7. Tell us about a memorable project and what made it special.  ”All projects are special to us in some way.  It’s our job to make each and every project special.”

9. So how can our readers get in contact with you for design consultation and what can they expect?  “They can visit the e3 website, www.e3cabinets.com  or email me directly at  thom@e3cabinets.com.  As for what to expect? They can expect to be amazed.  We set the bar high.  Clients can expect unwavering devotion from us to their project.  They can expect their dreams to become reality.  But they should also expect several meetings.  It can be overwhelming and that is exactly why you should hire a professional. The Initial consult is often done in our showroom for new construction.  If it’s a remodel, the first meeting is done on site.”

E3 Cabinets and Design is located at 130 Southside Drive
Charlotte, NC 28217. Phone – 704-523-5181. Fax – 704-523-5182.