Traditions in Woodworking

Traditions in Woodworking takes on custom cabinet jobs from its base in Columbia. Chris Heston runs the operation and builds cabinets for kitchens, bathrooms, and offices. He also handles built-ins, furniture pieces, hardwood flooring, and full remodel work that includes stairwells and storage solutions. The shop focuses on American made pieces where wood gets hand selected for grain and color match on each project.

Customers call him for kitchen updates that include new layouts with added pantries and cherry cabinets that still look solid after fourteen years. He has built floating bathroom cabinets that hold up in humid spots, repaired large tables on site, and added under sink units plus closet built ins. Other jobs covered deck wood supply, invisible island supports, and whole house remodels where cabinets get installed room by room over multiple years. Results often exceed what homeowners pictured at the start.

Chris meets clients at the shop or job site to walk through designs and material choices while keeping budgets in view. He travels as far as two hours for out of town work, quotes stay fair, and he has returned years later to fix a door at no charge. Communication stays direct through the whole process from first look to final install, and he suggests skilled helpers when extra trades are needed.

Reviewers give the work top marks for solid materials and clean fit in both large kitchens and small tricky spots. The Google rating sits at 5 from 28 reviews with repeated notes on how pieces age well and how Chris keeps costs reasonable without cutting corners. DIRT Score 4.5 from reviews on Finds.

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“I have worked with Traditions In Woodworking in Columbia, MO on several projects, including my own home, between 2016 to 2023. Chris Heston just builds great cabinets. They are beautifully made with quality materials, and they hold up very well over time. His attention to detail, his precise matching of the wood grain, and his guidance based on years of experience made each project achieve a result that exceeded my expectations. In addition to great cabinets, he has helped me with wood floors, a custom glass and wood stairwell, invisible support for a kitchen island, and suggested other skilled craftmen who did equally good work. He recently served as the general contractor on a whole house remodel that involved moving walls, running new utilities, new roofing, and all new finishes. He finds creative solutions for problems that always seem to pop up in every project. Yes, I would most certainly recommend him. He is skilled, artistic, smart, honest, hard-working, and a great asset on any project he chooses to take on.”

“We have used Chris for three projects. In 2006, he redid our bathroom and closet. In 2009, our kitchen. More recently, he helped procure special wood for our deck. He is professional in all encounters and does fantastic work. He pays attention to details I didn’t even realized mattered. His prices are totally reasonable and he works to make sure to keep expenses down. He likes to work with Cherry and it was cost effective to do so. I've included some pictures of our 14 yr old kitchen project. Still looks great. His work is top notch. On one occasion, I needed follow up on a door and he fixed it for free years later. I wouldn’t hire anyone else for any large woodworking projects. You’d be lucky to have him work on your project.”

“We were having a bathroom remodeled in our home and wanted a custom floating cabinet, we hired Chris with Traditions in Woodworking and were so pleased with the results. Chris met with us and helped us to design the bathroom cabinet so it would have good aesthetics as well as function in that space. He is very personable and knowledgeable. We chose sapele for the wood, and it turned out great, obviously a bathroom is a humid environment, but the cabinet continues to function perfectly and remains beautiful. I would highly recommend Chris and Traditions in Woodworking for your cabinet project.”

“Positively the best cabinets I have ever had. He uses top quality materials and is very precise. He also has innovative ideas that are interesting and useful. A true artisan. Planning additional projects for Mr Heston.”

“Excellent! We had a very large table that needing some work. Chris traveled to us and did the work on sight. His quote was fair and his work was wonderful. I definitely will call him again!”

“"Finding Traditions in Woodworking was a true gem of a discovery. When I embarked on my kitchen renovation project, I knew I wanted cabinets that would not only enhance the beauty of the space but also stand the test of time. Thankfully, Traditions in Woodworking delivered beyond my expectations. The quality of their cabinets is simply outstanding. From the moment I laid eyes on them, I could see the meticulous attention to detail that went into their creation. Each cabinet exudes a sense of precision and craftsmanship that is rare to find in today's mass-produced world. The materials used are of the highest caliber, ensuring durability and longevity. The beauty of their work is not only skin-deep. Opening and closing the cabinets is an absolute pleasure, thanks to the smoothness of the hinges and the precision fit. Every aspect, from the handles to the interior shelving, is thoughtfully designed and flawlessly executed. It's evident that Traditions in Woodworking takes immense pride in their workmanship. The functionality of the cabinets is equally impressive. They have maximized storage space without compromising on style. I can easily organize my kitchen essentials, and the c”

“Like some people, we did not have a vision for what we wanted our kitchen to look like, but we did need to update the space significantly. Chris DOES have a vision and is great at communicating options to potential customers in an effective, complete manner. We toured his workshop, and it was amazing to see how excited Chris is about his craft. His attention to detail and creativity with design are truly exceptional skills. He builds a relationship with customers to better understand what they consider important for their home and works hard to make it happen.”

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Chris on four projects in our home. It starts as a personal concept, then I consult with and incorporate Chris’s fast knowledge and detailed expertise - A unique and wonderful blend of both craftsman and artist. I couldn’t be happier.”

“Beautiful, Quality, Custom Cabinetry! We have enjoyed the beauty and quality of our Traditions in Woodworking cabinets for over a decade and every day I think how beautiful they are. Recently added some additional cabinetry and wouldn’t have used anyone else!”

“It was a pleasure to work with Chris at Traditions in Woodworking. This was my wife and I’s first time having cabinets built so we had plenty of questions and didn’t know what to expect. Chris listened to what we wanted, made recommendations and showed us details that we hadn’t considered. He made sure to keep our budget in mind throughout the process and was up front with materials that would meet our needs. I would highly recommend them for anyone looking for custom cabinets. Our cabinets have been installed for 8 months now and they are stunning! We get many compliments from friends and family.”

“Outstanding quality! Excellent design! Highly recommended! We have worked with Chris at Traditions In Woodworking on several large and small projects. Each time Chris built beautiful cabinets that showcased his intelligence, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. In addition to his designs for larger areas such as kitchens and baths, we were equally impressed by his ability to create elegant cabinetry solutions for smaller or challenging areas.”

“Chris has remodeled 2 kitchens for us. Both turned out better than we could have ever imagined. Chris’s attention to detail and perfection will not disappoint!”

“Traditions hosted our Cub Scout Den of 10 3rd graders for an achievement our Bears needed to earn, completing a wood working project. They allowed our kids access, set up 10 work stations, provided all the tools, and made the experience wonderful. Doing business with Traditions in the future will be an easy decision for me. Highly recommend! Support local!”

“We had an awesome experience with Chris. He did an out- of-town project (2 hours) for us in a MCM home we remodeled, and his attention to detail and customer service was impeccable. Our kitchen is tiny, but packs an incredible amount of style, not to mention storage. Would confidently use this business again.”

“Chris did our bathroom under-sink cabinets and it came out great! The finish is beautiful, and the attention to detail he gives to every aspect of his work is well worth the wait. Would recommend Chris for any of your woodworking needs!”

“Chris does fantastic work! We have worked with him on multiple projects for our home and he does a fantastic job of making our dreams a reality. If you are in search of top quality custom cabinets at a reasonable price give him a call! Once you use Chris for your cabinets you won't want to go anywhere else.”

“Very high quality cabinets, and Chris had exceptional attention to detail. We had a new construction project and he helped with design of cabinets and vent hood. He even went above and beyond to get the stain color just right for us. We are very happy with the finished product and would highly recommend him!”

“We have an older home with a small kitchen compared to more modern homes. Chris Heston was able to re-design the layout to accommodate our needs, truthfully what should have been done when built, as we now have a pantry where there was none before. Our cherry cabinets are aging beautifully and the materials he uses both inside and out of his cabinetry are top notch. A true professional, an honest man.”

“Since the late 1990's we have used Traditions in Woodworking extensively as we remodeled our house room by room. Chris created beautiful cabinetry for our kitchen, made "built-in" closets in two bedrooms and in our dining room, and even built drawer units to fit under two of our beds. Craftsmanship has been exemplary in all of these cases. We recommend highly Traditions in Woodworking - they are the best.”

“Best service from a carpenter I've ever experienced. Chris made custom seats for some outdoor chairs and did the work at an affordable price very quicky. Will be my first stop for all future woodworking projects.”