Sarasota County · about 5 min (1 mi) from the shop
Kitchen Remodeling in North Sarasota, FL
The neighborhood closest to our bench: custom cabinets and kitchen updates for North Sarasota's original 1950s and 1960s block homes.
- Built in our Sarasota shop since 2011
- 4.4★ from 52 Google reviews
- 3D model before anything is built
- Solid-wood boxes, dovetail drawers
No Census place sits closer to our workshop than North Sarasota. The shop at 1121 Lewis Ave, off 12th Street a quarter mile east of US 301, is about a mile and five minutes from most streets here, which makes kitchen remodeling in North Sarasota about as convenient as it gets: quick measures, easy sample drops and short install-day drives.
The housing is what shapes the work. The 2020 Census counted 2,418 residents in 877 housing units, many of them original 1950s and 1960s concrete-block homes with compact kitchens, eight-foot ceilings and plaster on masonry walls. Those rooms reward careful measuring and cabinets built to fit them.
Five Minutes From 12th Street: Visiting the Lewis Ave Workshop
Living this close means you can see the work, not just a brochure. Shop visits are by appointment; there is no showroom, only benches, machines and cabinets in progress. Many people like to stop by when their doors are glued up but not yet finished, to approve the grain and color in person.
Measure at home
We measure walls, windows, ceiling height and the location of every pipe, vent and outlet.
Drawings and 3D model
A set of drawings plus a 3D rendering lets you check the new kitchen and ask for changes.
Build on Lewis Ave
Boxes, face frames, doors and dovetailed drawers are made in the shop from hardwoods you choose.
Install and finish
We install and scribe the cabinets, then coordinate the countertop templating once everything is set.
Post-War Block Homes Near US 301 and What Their Kitchens Need
A typical North Sarasota kitchen was laid out for one cook: a galley or small L, a single window over the sink, and wall cabinets that stop well short of the ceiling. Many have been patched over the years with a newer counter here and replacement doors there, while the original boxes underneath have dried out, sagged or been chewed up by old leaks under the sink.
Concrete-block construction changes how cabinets go in. Wall cabinets hang on masonry anchors rather than studs, and plastered block walls are rarely flat, so we scribe filler strips and end panels to close the gaps. Terrazzo or old tile floors often run out of level, which is easier to handle with adjustable toe kicks built into the base cabinets. Most block houses of this era also sit on a concrete slab, so the sink drain runs under the floor; moving it across the room means a licensed plumber cutting slab under permit.
Small rooms make storage the real design problem, and it is where custom kitchen cabinets earn their keep. Full-height pantry pull-outs, deep drawer bases in place of door-and-shelf cabinets, and wall cabinets carried to the ceiling can add a surprising amount of space without moving a single wall.
Kitchen Remodeling for North Sarasota's 34234 Homes, Plus Furniture
Because we are so close, North Sarasota homeowners often bring us furniture as well as kitchens. These six suit the neighborhood's houses most often.
Kitchen Remodeling
Full kitchen remodels for original block homes, from layout and drawings to installed cabinetry, with licensed trades handling any rewiring or replumbing. Most plans keep the sink under its original window.
Custom Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinets built to the inch for small galley and L-shaped kitchens, with drawers and pull-outs that make the most of every foot of wall. Under eight-foot ceilings, uppers can run all the way up.
Cabinet Refacing
If the boxes in a later kitchen are still sound, new doors and drawer fronts can update the look at a lower cost than replacement.
Furniture Refinishing & Restoration
Dining sets, dressers and chairs can be dropped off at the Lewis Ave shop, only a few minutes from home, for repair and refinishing. Ask about pickup for heavier pieces.
Cabinet Repair
Patched original kitchens here often have sagging doors, sticking drawers or a sink-base floor softened by old leaks. A repair can buy years before replacement, and we will say honestly which one the boxes need.
Custom Bathroom Vanities
Bathrooms in 1950s and 1960s block homes are as compact as the kitchens. A vanity built to the inch, with drawers instead of a door-and-shelf base, gains storage without moving the drain.
Permits for Unincorporated North Sarasota and Nearby City Streets
North Sarasota is a Census-designated place, not a city, so most addresses permit through Sarasota County. Some nearby blocks fall inside City of Sarasota limits, and those go to the city's building department instead. Because the line runs block by block here, we check the jurisdiction listed on the Sarasota County Property Appraiser record before drawings are final. Either way, cabinet work alone is handled differently from moving plumbing, wiring or walls; when those change, a licensed contractor pulls the permit and we work alongside the trades. Since April 2026 the county's permit counter has been the Planning and Development Services one-stop building on Apex Road, east of I-75 between Fruitville Road and Palmer Boulevard, a longer trip from here than our shop is.
If you are weighing what kind of cabinet to buy, our comparison of custom vs. semi-custom vs. stock cabinets explains what changes at each level, from box material to sizing.
Reviews
What customers near North Sarasota say
4.4★ average from 52 reviews on Google. Quotes are from public Google reviews, shortened where marked.
“We recently had a remodel done in our home in which all the custom cabinetry was beautifully done by SRQ Woodworks Co. Graham made cabinets for our kitchen, feature wall, dining room, and powder room. The quality is amazing and we are so happy with the wonderful attention to detail!”
“Graham, PJ and the team at SRQ were exceptional. Creative design for a massive library/wall unit that was a blend of modern and traditional. Outstanding workmanship. Highly recommend!”
FAQ
North Sarasota kitchen remodeling questions
Can I visit the Lewis Ave workshop from North Sarasota to watch my cabinets being built?
Yes, by appointment. The shop is about a mile from most North Sarasota streets, off 12th Street east of US 301. There is no showroom, so you will see real work on the benches. Visiting while your doors are sanded but unfinished is a good moment to confirm the stain or paint color before it goes on.
Do you update original 1950s-60s kitchens in North Sarasota block homes?
Yes, and they are some of our favorite rooms. We hang wall cabinets on masonry anchors, scribe to plastered block walls and build adjustable bases for uneven terrazzo or tile floors. If the update moves the sink or adds circuits, a licensed plumber or electrician handles that part and the permit, and we install the cabinetry around their work.
Is cabinet refacing a good fit for a smaller North Sarasota kitchen?
It can be, if the existing boxes are solid, dry and laid out well. Refacing replaces doors, drawer fronts and exposed surfaces while keeping the boxes. In many original 1950s kitchens, though, the boxes are worn or water-damaged and the layout wastes space, so new cabinets often make more sense. We check the boxes at the measuring visit and tell you which way we would go.
Can you add more storage without making the kitchen bigger?
Usually. Under the eight-foot ceilings common in North Sarasota block homes, running wall cabinets to the ceiling, swapping shelf bases for deep drawers, adding a narrow pull-out pantry beside the range and fitting corner pull-outs can all gain space within the same footprint. The 3D model shows each option on your actual walls, so you can compare them before we build anything in the shop.
Nearby
Also serving near North Sarasota
- Kensington Park, FLAbout 5 min (2 mi) from the shop
- Sarasota, FLAbout 5 min (2 mi) from the shop
- Desoto Lakes, FLAbout 5 min (3 mi) from the shop
- The Meadows, FLAbout 10 min (4 mi) from the shop
- Southgate, FLAbout 10 min (4 mi) from the shop
1121 Lewis Ave, Sarasota
About a quarter mile east of US 301, off 12th Street. Shop visits are by appointment. Please call ahead before stopping by Lewis Ave.
Living Well Crafted
Planning a kitchen in North Sarasota? Talk it through with the shop.
- Built in our Sarasota shop since 2011
- 4.4★ from 52 Google reviews
- 3D model before anything is built
- Solid-wood boxes, dovetail drawers