Help & FAQ's

Yes, we sell a selection of countertop materials. We supply and install quartz, granite, and butcher block countertops.

Roughly, we require about 8-10 weeks to complete your cabinet order. An order will not be put into production until the following conditions are met:

1. The Deposit is paid.
2. All appliances are selected.
3. All material selections are finalized, and drawings are signed off on.

The complexity of the job and time of year can also affect lead times. Our busiest time in production is late Spring until the end of the Fall season. When special circumstances arise, we will always do our best to accommodate your needs. If you have a time problem, let us know early. We have a product line specifically designed for quick turnaround.

Please read here for a detailed answer. A few key points are below.

Try to determine the budget for your project. Make a list of changes you would like to see in your renovated space. Carefully consider which appliances you are keeping and which ones you will be replacing. Flip through magazines or browse websites for inspiration and to determine your design style.

The next step is to call our showroom for an appointment with one of our designers. We will ask you a few questions to ensure we pair you with a designer best suited for your project. When you come in for your appointment, we will walk you through the different finish options we offer and talk to you about what you’re looking for in your new kitchen design.

For the initial meeting, a rough drawing of your kitchen and pictures is helpful for our team to understand what changes you’d like to make. Our designers will ask a variety of questions, to ensure that we stay within your budget and to attain the design esthetic you desire.

1. Walls – Measure along all walls corner to corner.
2. Doors – Measure from corner to outside edge of door casing. Measure door outside of trim to outside of trim. (if trim on door)
3. Window width – Measure from corner to outside edge of window casing. Measure window outside of trim to outside of trim.
4. Window Height – measure from floor to bottom of window trim. Measure window outside of trim to outside of trim.
5. Appliance location – If you are keeping the same appliances measure the width, height and depth of all your appliances (fridge, stove, dishwasher and microwave). Measure from the corner to the edge of each appliance to note its location on the wall.
6. Sink center – Measure from the corner to the center of your sink
7. Outlets, switches and vents – measure from the corner to the edge of any outlets, switches and vents that may interfere with the cabinet design.
8. Ceiling Height – Measure from the floor to the ceiling. If there are bulkheads measure from the floor to the bottom of the bulkhead, the height of the bulkhead and the depth.

Renovations are limited by two things – your imagination and your pocketbook. The possibilities are endless. It is very important that you share your budget with your designer, otherwise time can be squandered, and dreams can be dashed. Cabinet door selection, finish options, interior features and design layout are just some of the factors that determine the final price. Our average kitchen projects range from $25,000 – $65,000. However, we’ve also done some amazing renovations from $15,000 to $80,000+. As a starting point, consider spending 7-10% of your home’s current market value on your renovation.

Due to the number of products we sell, our warranty information is quite substantial. Please refer to our FAQ RESOURCES Section for a comprehensive list of all Hawthorne Warranty Information. Than you for your consideration.

With many different materials the choice of doorstyles is virtually unlimited. We strive to offer the widest range possible. We have over a hundred wood door options, 20 MDF Door options, and approximately 35 Polymer/Polyester. By following the trends in the industry and media we bring in new styles as they are introduced, and are constantly ‘playing’ to come up with unique styles we can call our own. We ensure all current styles are represented not just on our website, but in our showroom as well.

This is largely contingent on your wish list. Please read here for a comprehensive answer. A few key considerations are listed below:

• What is the size of your room?
• Do you need new appliances?
• Door style, materials and ‘extras’ such as crown and light valance affect the cost of cabinets.
• Does your flooring need to be replaced?
• Do you want a particular finish (ceramic tile, glass tile, full-height quartz, etc.) on your backsplash?
• Are you moving or removing any walls or doors?
• Are appliances or plumbing changing location?
• Will you do any of the work yourself?

Kitchen renovations can be as economical as $5,000 or as high as your budget allows. While our average renovation is $25,000- $65,000, we have done renovations upwards of $200,000. Your imagination and your budget are the only limitations.

Remember: Houzz and Pinterest are great resources, but rarely show price or the struggle homeowners went through to make their dreams a reality. Oftentimes you are seeing truly custom projects that have been months, or even years in the making and many tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. We do projects that get posted on Houzz every single month, but we also do many more economical, functional and still beautiful kitchens every single week. Keep up with us on Facebook and Instagram!

If you are happy with ‘truckload sales’ and buying premade cabinetry off a shelf, a box store is your best bet. This tends to result in lots of dead space, large fillers, and a poor kitchen configuration.

If you are more interested in a kitchen that must be ‘ordered’ to fit your needs, it is a very different story. We compete against the box stores every week and we do not lose on price when comparing similarly designed kitchens with similar products. It is important to always compare ‘apples to apples’ when looking at quotations. If one quote includes soft-close hinges, full-extension soft-close drawers, and cabinetry to the ceiling with crown and light valance it will certainly cost more money. Similarly, if the layouts done by two companies differ substantially, they cannot be compared.

Quoting less than a client requests is a ‘game’ many designers play to look like the less expensive option up front. We take a different approach- we listen to your needs, and design your space to be as functional as possible. If you have a budget we will work with that number. Design excellence, and listening to our clients are pillars to our success. Be clear with designers what you expect- and ensure they have quoted what you asked for.

If you are comparing a similar layout, made with similar materials, it is very rare for us to lose on price. We do not just do ‘high-end kitchens’. We have products that cater to fixed budgets and are very proud of these product lines. Because of our in-house manufacturing methodologies (proper inventory procedures, maximizing yields, utilizing technology), we are truly able to offer more for less. If you think our quote is too high, it is important to compare a few common points of interest:

• Do both designs have the same layout? Do they have the same number of drawers? A Kitchen layout can dramatically affect the price of the project- a room can be designed to have $5,000 of cabinetry or $40,000 in the exact same footprint.
• Are the companies quoting similar types of hardware? Today many manufacturers are offering ‘soft-close drawers’ that were built for high-rise and low-budget developments to residential clients. It is also important to ask where the hardware is coming from- is it a reputable company, or is it a poorly-imitated substitute? Hardware can truly enhance your experience, or it can ruin it.
• Did both companies include Crown, Light valance, or cabinets to the ceiling? These three options are often ‘hidden’ on a second page as an ‘extra’. If you requested it initially, it shouldn’t be an extra.
• Did both companies quote glass doors? Same as above- Glass door cabinets are expensive. They are often neglected entirely, or ‘hidden’ on the second page. It is important to also ask if the interior of the glass door will be a matching finish, or a melamine that is ‘close enough’.
• Did both companies include accessories such as recycling centres, spice racks, cutlery trays, or pantry pull-outs? It isn’t just what the kitchen looks like- but what is inside each door- that adds to the price.
• Are both companies quoting the same materials? A raised panel and flat-panel doorstyle are very different prices. Similarly, if you are buying a wood or painted kitchen, will the end panels also be stained/painted, or will then be a melamine that looks ‘close enough’?
• How are the cabinets made? Some manufacturers simply staple their cabinets together. Others use dowels – which are expanded with water to hold your cabinetry together. Similar to cabinet construction is how the hardware is installed. What types of fastening systems are used to ensure the hardware will stay secure for years to come? At Hawthorne, we build your cabinetry to last a lifetime. We know of no other company who puts as much into their products as we do.
• Do both quotes include Removal and Disposal of your existing Cabinetry? Do they include Installation? Who is responsible for cutting out the sink? What about Plumbing? Many companies today don’t want to do anything but install their own products. While this is understandable, it leaves the customer in a difficult position. We offer a full range of services and are happy to do as much- or as little- as you desire. Work with us to tailor your project to your exact needs.

We sell frameless cabinetry, also known as European-style cabinetry. In frameless construction, cabinets do not have a face frame attached to the front of the cabinet box, which is often found in older or more traditional kitchens. For the most part, all you will see in a frameless cabinet kitchen are the door and drawer fronts, providing a sleek, simple aesthetic that can work with many design themes. It offers uncomplicated, more contemporary cabinet designs with full access to the contents stored within your cabinets.

It relies on sturdy box construction for stability with full overlay doors. Hinges are attached directly to the sides of the cabinet box.Frameless cabinets do not have a center stile coming down in the middle of the two cabinet doors, providing easier access to the items inside, as well as more storage space to work with. Shelves are typically adjustable. Drawers in frameless cabinetry also tend to be larger because of the space saved by not having a face frame attached to the front.

A design retainer of $1,000 is required prior to any designs being done by Hawthorne Kitchen’s Designers. This retainer also needs to be paid prior to any site visit to your home. The retainer will be applied against the final cost of your kitchen.

Our design services are related directly to the cabinetry and related products that we sell for your renovation. As such, we do not make house calls for general design advice.

This is a very important consideration when thinking about your project. So important, in fact, that we have dedicated an entire page to Renovation Expectations. Please read here.

• Appliance choices are critical for your designer to be able to do their job. For a designer to produce accurate renderings for your consideration the appliance choices have to be supplied
• No kitchen can be put into production without appliance specifications so everything fits perfectly with proper clearances for ventilation and warranty
• The cost of any new appliances will impact your final budget
• Appliance choices are a key part of project planning

We require a deposit of 50 percent of the total project to get started. This begins the process of site measures for dimension verification, material ordering, scheduling, and installation. Payment can be made by cash, cheque, VISA, Mastercard or interact.

The remaining balance of your project is due 1 week prior to cabinets being delivered. If payment terms are not met, your cabinets may not be delivered on time.

If plumbing is staying in its existing location, Hawthorne Kitchens can offer the service of coordinating a licensed plumber to complete the work necessary. All Plumbing and Electrical should be done by licensed professionals.

Hawthorne Kitchens will not step into any electrical scopes required. However, we do have a list of local trade professionals that we have worked with in the past and highly recommend.

All of our cabinetry is proudly made in Kingston, Ontario by our manufacturing team. Seamlessly blending old-world craftsmanship with the latest innovations and technologies, our team is dedicated to uncompromising quality. Our Craftsmen work with our design team to ensure we are leading the market with the latest trends and colours, and to ensure that everything that is designed can be made exactly as requested. Every week we balance our manufacturing with a blend of ‘standard’ projects for apartments and new homes, while simultaneously building projects with the latest customer-inspired requests from Houzz or Architectural Digest.

We are proud to have the most advanced manufacturing facility within hundreds of kilometres. Every single day we utilize our skills, technologies, and experience to make the finest products available. To us a kitchen is not ‘a bunch of boxes’- every single project is a testament of our commitment to uncompromising quality from start to finish.

In today’s Global Environment it is easy to get products from anywhere. Today manufacturers in every sector are substituting tried and tested products with knock-off components made in a non-standardized, uncontrolled environment. Products that are used every day and have an expectation to move, sound, and function perfectly day after day, year after year, need to be manufactured in a very specific manner. We expect our hardware partners to care as much about their manufacturing systems and the integrity of their products as we do ours. We do not use imitation hardware in any of our products- not even in closets or rooms where the requirements are less stringent.

While the doors may be the ‘face’ of the kitchen, the hardware is what allows you to continue enjoying your product for years to come. Do not underestimate the importance of its reliability.

Our highly trained design team will ensure that you get the materials and accessories that fit both your budget and your life. For example, if you have a busy family and the kitchen gets used constantly, we will suggest materials with the best durability and ones that will show the least dirt, so you don’t feel like you need to clean every 5 seconds! We will also only sell you products that we stand behind. If it’s something that will not hold up to your lifestyle, then we don’t want in your home! We have been in Kingston since 1976 and we don’t plan on going anywhere, we will achieve that by making sure every customer gets a kitchen that will last.