We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyle Kwiatkowski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyle, what inspires you?
Passion – witnessing the passion in others for their medium or craft.

Tangible outcomes – bringing to life that which started as a thought or idea.

Genuine connection – people being able to connect with each other over art and food whether its in an inviting space or nature.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Standing in my 5000 sqft shop at 41, in awe of what I have built, came from walking an arduous and passionate path. I was always creative and functioned with my hands – I built, tore apart, assembled, moved, and fixed things most of my life. Despite my mother having to deal with the outcome of my success or failure, she encouraged that curiosity and creativity.

As a young adult I saddled up to a mentor that got me into a nearly 10 year career in roofing. This was a back breaking and rewarding job that kept me grateful as I got to travel Maui on a daily basis peering off rooftops at the amazing natural beauty around me.

I eventually moved to Denver to pursue woodworking by attending the Fine Wood Working Department at RedRocks Community College before landing a part time teaching position there. That gave me the time to work at various shops around town such as a brand development firm that created one of a kind physical marketing pieces, a production level custom cabinet shop, an international way finding and signage shop, and a high end Millwright shop for residential and commercial Millwork.

Throughout this colorful array of jobs I constantly found myself wanting more. At 30 years old I took the plunge into the entrepreneurial lifestyle by stepping into a custom furniture and millwork business as co-owner with a good friend of mine. This was an amazing journey filled with creativity, passion, and long long hours! After a year or so of building that company we took on a third partner and started The Cabinet Face. This decision was sparked by the wasteful nature of the cabinet industry after helping on a project that produced an $80k kitchen then proceeded to tear out, dispose of, and replace it 10 years later. The last 10 years has been the steady growth of TCF, the removal of 2 business partners, and the sale of the furniture and millwork company. The culmination of the last 30 years has finally landed me as the sole proprietor of an awesome cabinet shop that specializes in creating beautiful kitchens and other spaces by manufacturing custom fronts to fit the Ikea cabinets using high end materials and focusing on top quality service and product for all clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I truly believe that a good understanding of a place is to eat its food. So, we would likely play each day doing stuff like museums, art walks, the Zoo, gardens, foothill hikes, etc and making sure to finish the days at a variety of restaurants that range from hole in the wall Taqueria to fancy Italian. The food scene in Denver is actually quite good!

Depending on the friend, I may take them for a quick getaway to the Joyful Journey hot springs outside of Buena Vista. Such a serine and relaxing space.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
RedRocks Community College – this was my main place of learning for nearly a decade through teaching and taking classes.

Kezurou-Kai USA – an amazing organization focused on the education of Japanese woodworking by bringing folks from all walks of life together in a fun and inclusive environment. They support those curious about and already deep into a life long passion for Japanese tools and trade within woodworking.

Website: https://thecabinetface.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecabinetface/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-cabinet-face

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCabinetFace/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqlUysgys23rMfl2Naz2usQ

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/thecabinetface/
https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-fixtures/the-cabinet-face-pfvwus-pf~691049139?

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