Our Customers

Feedback From Bay Area Customers

 

Over the last 25+ years we have built long lasting relationships with our customers, they drop in just to say hello sometimes. They come back to buy a new piece, bring there children in to so they can buy their first piece.  We love our customers and they love us.

Here are just a few of those testimonials we have privileged to receive over the years.

“The Berkeley Mills people designed, built and installed a full set of beautiful, modern vertical grain maple cabinetry in the kitchen and dinette of our French provincial Oakland home (circa 1938). The execution of the entire process was virtually flawless from beginning to end, given, of course, the need for minor adjustments along the way (not necessarily involving the work of Berkeley Mills) — as we encountered some surprises behind the original walls and worked together to solve inevitable problems. The Berkeley Mills designer and project manager communicated genuine personal interest in our relatively small project, appreciated our input, refined specifications carefully and artfully, and kept their facets of the job moving with real respect for all the other trades involved — demolition, plumbing and electrical, preparation of walls, floor refinishing, measuring and installation of countertops (from Fox Marble, San Francisco), installation of sink fixtures (new sink, faucet set, garbage disposer), and major appliances (new refrigerator, dishwasher), and painting. The Berkeley Mills installers are intelligent, imaginative, skillful, meticulous, masterful — they plan carefully, manage the details, handle their work like sculptors, know exactly what to do. The quality of Berkeley Mills materials and workmanship is superb; and the finished kitchen, with its clean modern lines, turned out to be an extraordinary fit, even considering the traditional look of the rest of the house. Berkeley Mills is known to be at the high end of providers. But in truth, the Berkeley Mills bid was only about 15% above that of the next highest professional cabinet shop (whose design/build specifications and installation processes did not, in my estimation, come close); so, for the sake of confidence, lasting quality and beauty, the long view, the additional expense was well worth the deeper reach into our pockets. In all, the cost of the Berkeley Mills part of the job was approximately 60% of the total expense noted above”

William and Brenda

Oakland CA

“Berkeley Mills designed, constructed and installed cabinetry and a built-in table for our kitchen and did design and cabinetry for three baths. Our 1950s house is in the upper Rockridge area of Oakland. For all four projects, we received great personal attention, highest quality design services and products, and help making choices for accessories, counters, appliances, etc. We were sensitively coached to help us find the right woods and cabinet pulls to fit our house and to fit our own tastes. Berkeley Mills carries a range of absolutely beautiful woods and wood combinations and has exceptionally skilled craftsmen and installers. We appreciated the opportunity to preview and approve cabinets before installation in the Berkeley Mills shop. All timelines and budgets were met without any problem. We are proud and happy with the outcomes of all four rooms”

Sylvia

Rockridge CA

“Cathy and I wanted to thank you for the cutting board.  We love that it came from you and your shop – it is so consistent with how we live and eat.  It will get years of service in our new home.

And, I would also like to point out that we’ve enjoyed every interaction that we’ve had with your team at Berkeley Mills.  From Joel, to Peter, to Dave, and of course to Diep.  Everyone is genuinely helpful, without an ounce of “attitude”.  Knowing that you are busy, and that you have many high-profile clients paying top dollar for roomfuls of furniture (or islands!), it’s especially nice to get the service, attention, and genuine smile throughout the entire process that makes it a special experience.  Making a purchase is a vulnerable and fragile action – especially for expensive items.  Just the slightest attitude or lack of attention to detail can make it less-than-satisfying.  It’s not always easy to articulate why it feels good or not-so-good, but there’s a distinct feeling that one gets when purchasing an item.  I want to let you know that you and your partners have done a great job in creating a team and a wonderful atmosphere for conducting business.

We enjoyed getting to know Diep – she was very helpful in getting us to a great choice for the covering for the cushions.  You guys make a great team, that is clear”

 Take care, Clark and Cathy

“It’s pretty cool to have Berkeley Mills offload furniture at our home! The Parson’s Table looks great. My wife is happy! (she’s always happy…)”

William Thorn, LEED AP
Thorn Architects
Lafayette, CA

“HI Joel,

We just wanted to let you know that we absolutely love our kitchen.  You folks did a fantastic job.  It’s so beautiful and so functional!  We are really enjoying cooking in it.

Thanks so much for a wonderful job”

Jeannette & Ashok
Palo Alto CA

“I wanted to send you all a note to tell you THANK YOU for all the hard work on the Warriors Owners Lounge [now the “Bridge Club”].  This was a tremendous amount of work & coordination in a short period of time, and we pulled it off.  Great work!”

Bridge Club team

This was a great show of teamwork: multiple contractors working in the same tight space, and the whole project was on a budget and a timeline.  You guys made this happen, and I appreciate it, and the Warriors Ownership appreciates it.  They now have a great room they can use for many years, thanks to everyone on this email.

Great job team – hope to see you all at some Warriors games this year, and let’s keep in touch!”

Billy B.

“Just a note to say how pleased we are with the 21st Century AV Platform Bed you made for us.  It continues to exceed our expectations which were very high from the start.

Beautiful, strong, functional.  The angle of the massive headboard lends itself to comfortable reading and AV consumption.  The extended platform at the foot, present for the AV cabinetry, is also a handy open storage spot for the accessible extra blanket on chilly nights, the Wenge slab at the rear of the TV is sized just right to appear diminutive yet it blocks the view of the unsightly wires.

All in all an excellent piece of functional, beautiful furniture.

The bed has received top marks and we slept like the dead.

Thanks to all that had a hand in the process.  I am as persnickety as they come, and this piece of furniture is as handsome as it is solid”

Fritz Stoop
Moraga CA.

“We’ve been really happy with our new kitchen & bath. I like to cook and now it’s much easier because everything I need is so accessible. Easy to clean up too, I was worried that there wouldn’t be enough space for everything, but you we’re right, all the space we had is more usable that I have more space. Thanks for the great kitchen design!”

Marianne Hane
Palo Alto CA

“Just to let you know I am very much enjoying my Bubinga desk.  You were right about the height, the depth, and the wood.  They call that an expert”

Thanks again,
Bill Herron

“Gentlemen of Wood, I just saw the Foster sliders today and they are indeed a WORK OF ART! The focal point of the project! The fence is also outstanding!”

Hal Moseley Architect
Aptos CA

“Hi Dave,

Blair delivered the Zama Table and Oxbow Chairs this morning. Just beautiful.

Great job, the grain of the wood accents every curve. They are heirloom pieces and fit right in our ‘Little Hacienda’

Thanks to all at Berkeley Mills”

Don & Maren.

“Just wanted to let you guys know that Joyce and I are enjoying our new table and chairs a great deal. It fits in very well with some cherry furniture that we had purchased from Stickley about 20 years ago”

Tyler Shilling

“Hello Berkeley Mills. The table and sideboard you designed and made for us arrived today. They are beautiful. Works of art.

Thanks very much and best wishes”

Chris and Shauna Somerville