Custom Cabinets & Kitchen Remodeling in Old Saybrook
MJ Martin Design Woodworking is a design-build company based in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, a shoreline town known for its colonial-era houses and grand shingle-style estates along the water.
The MJ Martin team builds handcrafted custom and semi-custom cabinetry, wood countertops, architectural millwork, and heirloom-quality furniture suited to that range of homes. MJ Martin works directly with homeowners on full project design consultations, and also partners with architects, interior designers, and contractors on their projects.
Built for Old Saybrook's Historic Homes
Old Saybrook's shoreline is lined with colonial houses near the South Green Historic District and shingle-style estates in the borough of Fenwick and along Saybrook Point, often built by hand with joinery and trim detail that stock cabinetry was never designed to match. Many of these homes were built for entertaining and multigenerational gatherings, with porches, mudrooms, and open kitchens designed around a slower, water-oriented way of living, and a remodel needs to work within that rhythm rather than against it.
MJ Martin approaches every project the same way those homes were originally built: designed and constructed piece by piece for the specific room, not selected from a limited set of sizes. A kitchen in a shingle-style cottage and a kitchen in a colonial near the town green call for different proportions, different trim details, and often different wood species, and MJ Martin designs around what each home actually calls for.
What MJ Martin Builds in Old Saybrook
From kitchens to bathroom vanities to built-in cabinetry, millwork, and furniture, MJ Martin's full range of services covers every piece designed and built for the specific room it's going into, not from a fixed catalog.
Cabinetry & Kitchen Remodeling
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MJ Martin designs and builds custom cabinets from scratch, matched to the layout, storage needs, and finish of the specific kitchen. For a full renovation, the custom kitchen remodeling process covers design, cabinetry, countertops, and installation, all from one shop, so nothing gets lost between separate vendors.
For projects that call for a higher level of finish, the luxury kitchen remodel and renovation work includes furniture-grade joinery, hand-selected wood, and custom hardware chosen to match.
Bathroom Vanities
A vanity gets more daily use than almost any other piece of cabinetry in the house, and it deserves the same level of craftsmanship as the rest of the home.
MJ Martin's bathroom vanity showroom is located in Old Saybrook, where homeowners can browse vanity styles, countertop pairings, hardware, and finishes in person before committing to a design. Every custom bathroom vanity built here is sized and finished to fit the specific space it's going into.
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Built-Ins, Millwork & Custom Furniture
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MJ Martin builds custom wood pieces for nearly any room in the house, suited to homes where the existing craftsmanship sets a high bar.
Built-in cabinets solve storage problems a standard closet or shelf can't, and MJ Martin designs bookcases, media walls, home offices, and pantry systems around the exact dimensions of the room. The same shop also builds custom furniture and architectural millwork, including trim, paneling, tables, and benches made from the same hardwoods used throughout its cabinetry work.
Old Saybrook Interior Design Services
Cabinetry and furniture are only part of the process. MJ Martin's interior design services in Old Saybrook help homeowners choose materials, finishes, and layouts that work together across the whole home, not just one room. The team can take a project from first sketch through final install, and also collaborates with outside interior designers on their clients' projects.
Working With the Best Talent in the Area
MJ Martin is not a general contractor, and doesn't try to be one. Over 20 years of building along the Connecticut shoreline, the team has built relationships with the electricians, plumbers, tile setters, and other tradespeople who do the best work in this specific area, and brings them in project by project rather than keeping every trade in-house.
Homeowners who want to manage their own project can do so with MJ Martin handling the cabinetry, millwork, and furniture alone. Architects, interior designers, and contractors also bring the team in specifically for that scope of work, fitting it into a project that's already staffed with trades they trust.
Questions Old Saybrook Homeowners Ask
Homeowners here tend to ask good questions before they commit to a project. These are the ones that come up most.
Do I need a building permit for a kitchen or cabinetry project?
Many renovation projects require a permit through Old Saybrook's Building Department. MJ Martin can advise you if a permit will be required for your project. .
Is there a showroom in Old Saybrook?
Yes. The Design Studio showroom is located at 851 Middlesex Turnpike, with vanity styles, finishes, and countertop samples on display.
How long does a custom kitchen remodel take?
Timeline depends on the size of the project and cabinet lead time. Try the budget calculator for a starting estimate, or contact MJ Martin for a project-specific timeline.
Does MJ Martin build custom furniture, or only cabinetry?
Both. The team builds cabinetry, built-ins, and standalone furniture pieces like tables and benches, all in the same shop.
Is interior design part of the services offered?
Yes. MJ Martin offers interior design services alongside cabinetry and woodworking, so materials and finishes are chosen to work together across the whole home.
Does the coastal climate affect wood cabinetry or countertops?
Humidity and salt air are real factors for wood along the shoreline. MJ Martin selects species and finishes suited to coastal homes, and its wood countertops are sealed for daily use and moisture exposure.
