The Artisanship of Fine Cabinetry

Kingdom Woodworks revives the lost art of refined cabinet craftsmanship

by Dana W. Todd

Marcel Olariu, along with his wife, Mirela, founded Kingdom Woodworks 26 years ago to design and build luxury custom cabinetry. Born in Romania to a carpenter, he emigrated to the United States when he was just 12 years old, and he embodies the American entrepreneurial spirit. “I became a proud citizen of this country at 18 and enjoy the freedom and opportunities our country offers to all who come here,” he says. His appreciation for the country is why all of Kingdom Woodworks’ products proudly carry the label “Made in America.”

A trifecta of values drives Olariu’s business: faith, family and fine craftsmanship. He derived these values from his father and grandfather, both craftsmen who practiced the trade. His grandfather was a veneer layer in a fine furniture factory, and his father was a master finish carpenter, who taught Olariu step-by-step over the years how to build cabinets and run a business. “I worked side by side with my father in his small shop from an early age,” he explains. “I learned old-school cabinet and millwork construction methods that are almost a lost art today. I also learned how to be organized, going to every client meeting with him. It’s during those years I caught a passion for design. My dad taught me everything he knew and was by far the most influential mentor in my life.”

Olariu maintains a family-oriented company as his generational business has grown into a large operation. Along with his wife, two of his four children currently hold positions at Kingdom Woodworks. He has a full group of employees behind him as part of the Kingdom Woodworks family, designing, manufacturing and installing bespoke cabinetry. They serve customers from a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, offices and showroom north of Atlanta.

Faith plays a large part in the company’s business operations. Raised in a Christian household and now serving as a minister of music at a local church, Olariu says: “My faith has directly influenced the principles by which we run the company. They are common sense ethics consistent with fairness and respect for all people. I have a banner in our shop that sums it up: Quality means doing it right when no one else is looking.”

It’s this high level of integrity that drives the Kingdom Woodworks team to scrutinize every detail as they design and produce customized cabinets and architectural millwork for every room of their customers’ homes. “Our process includes client and designer interaction, and we provide detailed drawings for client approval before we begin manufacturing,” Olariu says. “The design process frequently takes as much, if not more time, than production itself.”

Attention to detail and the combination of handmade craftsmanship with the latest tools and technologies create flawless cabinetry and custom millwork for Kingdom Woodworks’ homeowner clients. “This balance has been historically proven to work,” Olariu explains. “There is a lot that happens behind the scenes that clients are paying for but not seeing. We offer the assurance of responsible construction methods and materials that do not cut corners. And we only hire like-minded individuals who subscribe to our company principles.”

The showroom serves as a starting point for homeowners to gather inspiration and imagine the possibilities of the cabinetry they could design for their homes. While the cabinets on display in the showroom are meant to help homeowners clarify what they like, Kingdom Woodworks designs and builds cabinetry that is specific for each residence. “The homeowner is intimately involved in decision-making, with input from an entire team of trade professionals,” Olariu says. “Then we manufacture everything in-house to maintain complete control of design flexibility, product quality, cost, timing and installation.”

The team doesn’t shy away from complicated projects. “It seems like we are a magnet for the most complex projects, but it always keeps us searching for new and improved products,” Olariu explains. “The most interesting projects are the ones that push our creative limits and challenge us to think outside the box in terms of material use and finish palette.”

The team provides turnkey cabinetry service under one roof, including design, manufacturing and installation. “Everything we do is meticulously designed, intentional and with purpose, from the white glove service and delivery to detailed designs and the use of high-quality materials,” he adds.

Even though Olariu received extensive hands-on training in the cabinetry craft from his father, he attended Georgia Tech and earned an architecture degree. Although he ultimately decided to work in the cabinetry business, he feels his architectural education, coupled with time spent working for a residential builder, prepared him to apply unique design and construction skills to enhance his artisan creations at Kingdom Woodworks. “No two solutions are ever exactly the same; cabinet design cannot be approached in a vacuum. It has to be contextual to the architecture of the home. Our cabinetry is designed with a thorough understanding of a home’s particular architectural style and is fitted perfectly to its environment. This approach is immeasurably valuable to our clients,” he says.

Although Kingdom Woodworks produces completely custom-tailored cabinetry for its clients that are not based on fads, Olariu continues to keep in touch with the pulse of industry trends. “We are experiencing a major trend toward classical architecture with warm tones being in higher demand,” he explains. “Clients are paying more attention to small architectural details, like molding profiles and decorative hardware. Designers are moving away from the cold gray tones and minimalist décor that have dominated the design industry in recent years.”

The Kingdom Woodworks team is flexible and adaptable, and achieves the highest level of construction and detailing found anywhere in the industry. With a willing ear ready to listen to his clients’ needs, Olariu says it’s all about one-on-one interaction with his favorite part of the business: the people. He says: “I love the design challenges that need creative solutions. I am privileged to actually enjoy what I do for a living.” *

Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and fine art.

More Information

Kingdom Woodworks

2402 Tech Center Parkway NE #500

Lawrenceville, GA 30043

770.560.4374