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Kitchen and bath designer Janel Swanson was selling cabinetry online to her clients when she quickly realized “people spending a large amount of money on a product want to see it before the investment,” she says. Having already installed her favorite products in her own home, she opened her doors to her clients. “But that got old real quick,” she says, laughing.
What Swanson needed was a showroom. She found a space in Hudson, then moved to a location in White Bear Lake, which she outgrew. Then, she found an opportunity in Lake Elmo: “A beautiful building with lots of light that feels like you’re in the North Woods,” she says. Today, Wildwood Kitchens and Baths includes gorgeous kitchen vignettes “with cabinetry features and accessories so clients can experience all of the functions and how everything works.”
Wildwood features a range of semi-custom and custom cabinetry, including Crystal Cabinets out of Princeton, Homecrest (Indiana), and Wolf (Pennsylvania). The showroom also has flooring (hardwood, engineered, tile, laminate, and carpet) and countertops—from granite and quartz (including Cambria) to laminate and butcher-block.
Wildwood doesn’t only focus on kitchen and bath design. “We’re full-service,” Swanson says. Clients can purchase product only, or they can opt for installation along with plumbing and electrical. “I have a general contracting license, so we can offer everything people need. We can help clients from start to finish, from design concept to final touches. Wildwood is a one-stop shop if clients want that.”
The showroom is also open to contractors and designers who wish to bring in their clients. And while Wildwood “specializes in kitchens and baths,” Swanson adds, “we love doing whole-house remodels as well.”