After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1980, Sandra moved to California and worked as a private chef to the rich and famous for many years before deciding to become a Kitchen & Bath Designer.
Shortly after opening her own business, Cabinets By Design in 2005, she met Scott. Together they expanded the business and went on to win multiple National Design Awards as well as the Best of Houzz Award for Customer Satisfaction. They have been featured in San Diego Magazine, San Diego Home & Garden and Better Homes Garden Kitchen & Bath ideas. – View Article
Collaborating ideas for challenging spaces with the designers, fuels Scott’s outside of the box thinking. Working closely with the designers and then installing the cabinetry himself, leaves virtually no margin for error. He doesn’t leave a job until it meets his expectations. “Do it once, do it right” is Scott’s motto. Sandra is active in the design community and has served many years on the board of the National Kitchen & Bath Association from which she obtained her certification as a Master Kitchen & Bath Designer (a prestigious certification that very few in North America possess). She also had the honor of judging the 2015 NKBA National Design Competition. Sandra is also a California Certified Interior Designer as well as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. She also has served on Palomar College’s Advisory Board and
occasionally lectures at Mesa College and enjoys mentoring young designers.
Sandra & Scott are passionate about cooking and passionate about the details of kitchen design from concept to completion. This love of cooking and design details carries over into the concern for quality installation and construction of the kitchen remodels that Cabinets By Design delivers to clients.
Award Winning Certified Designers
You can feel confident that when you hire Cabinets By Design you are hiring award winning certified designers. We are passionate about our craft and making sure that our customers have the best experience possible.
Awards received:
- NARI San Diego Chapter 2009 Coty Award Budget Kitchen
- NKBA National Design Award 2012, Small Kitchen
- NKBA National Design Award 2013, Universal Kitchen
- Best of Houzz 2014, Customer Satisfaction
- Best of Houzz 2015, Customer Satisfaction
- Best of Houzz 2017, Customer Satisfaction
Publications we’ve been featured in:
- Better Homes & Garden Special Interest Publications, Kitchen and Bath Ideas
- San Diego Magazine
- San Diego Home and Garden
- Country’s Best Cabins
- NKBA Magazine
- Kitchen & Bath Design News
Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer – CMKBD
The Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer is a designation which recognizes extraordinary experience and achievements in the kitchen and bath industry through designing award winning kitchens and being showcased in industry publications. This certification is only awarded to a select group of expert designers who hold both their CKD and CBD plus an additional 10 years experience, which equates to a minimum of 17 years.
California Council for Interior Design Certification
“Certified Interior Designer” is the only legally recognized title for interior designers in the state of California, and it defines an interior designer as one who has met all of the stringent requirements necessary to obtain that title. This sets them apart from other interior designers who have not obtained this very important credential. It is a state title contained within the California Business and Professions Code between Attorneys and Architects, and is not an appellation from a professional organization or club.
Certified Interior Designers are qualified by the CCIDC upon evidence of a combination of education and/or experience and passing an examination on California building codes, ethics, business practices and design standards.
Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist – CAPS
A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialst understands the unique needs of the older adult population and is knowledgeable about, aging-in-place home modifications, common remodeling projects and solutions to common barriers.
A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist can:
• Recommend updates that will help a person live independently in his or her own home
• Work with an OT to develop a home modification or build plan based on the safety and functional needs of an individual or household
• Collaborate with a licensed contractor or interior designer about building and design strategies and techniques for creating attractive, barrier-free living spaces
