Sierra Cabinets
Meticulous Design Wedded to Substance
By Deborah Teramis Christian
Ray Huerta, founder of Sierra Cabinets, has refined cabinetry to a process that weds superior craftsmanship with detailed artistic excellence. Sierra has been in business since 1980, but Ray has been in the industry for over 40 years, including mentorship by respected leaders and over 12 years of management experience at what was one of the largest and most talented cabinetmaking firms in the Bay Area. With this wealth of experience to draw on, Sierra Cabinets focuses on high-end custom design and construction. Ray has built his company into an exemplary model of cabinetmaking with a superior reputation among designers, contractors and homeowners.
(Photo courtesy of Sierra Cabinets)
(Photo courtesy of Sierra Cabinets)
The design process is of fundamental importance and one of the things that sets Sierra apart from the competition. Dedicated full-time CAD designers develop architectural quality shop drawings that portray cabinetry and design aspects in great detail, showing section details, plan views and elevations. With drawings in hand, Ray can then meet with the homeowner, architect and/or builder to review what is planned, eliminating any guesswork or assumptions from the finished product. "This way there are no surprises in the construction process - and enthusiasm builds as you see your vision taking shape on the pages."
(Photo by Linda Svendsen)
The processes that they follow, from design to painstaking craftsmanship, are time and labor-intensive. And the products that result from these detailed processes are exemplary in workmanship and artistry. Ray finds that their portfolio of finished projects is a powerful sales tool, for the visual representation of their work speaks volumes about the competency and excellence of this cabinetmaker.
(Photo by Bruce Schneider)
(Photo by Bruce Schneider)
(Photo by Bruce Schneider)
Sierra''s captivating designs feature Old World artistry, including hand-carving upon request, as well as a blend of other materials where appropriate to the project. When consulting with clients, Ray brings a designer''s eye to the vision. He is able to guide and shape what will work and what won''t. If a client is wedded to a particular vision, he can advise on how to make that work effectively in the given space. Unlike non-custom cabinet shops, Ray takes time to consider the larger floor plan, usage needs, other cabinetry, and the myriad elements that affect what is constructed, as well as how and where it is placed. The end result is not just fine custom woodworking, but also how it blends and flows in the home.
Sierra Cabinets'' quality extends far beyond the facade of the finish work, however. "Our quality of manufacturing is high," says Ray. "The construction methods extend beyond the incredibly designed exteriors. The cabinet interiors on all projects, large and small, conform at a minimum to ANSI and custom-grade Woodwork Institute specifications.
(Photo by Linda Svendsen)
Design and construction elements are brought together by modernization. Ray advocates using cutting-edge equipment and computerized tools to improve manufacturing efficiency, cut costs and save labor. Improvements like this allow CAD design drawings to be ported to state-of-the-art machinery on the shop floor. "Our talents do not stop at our cabinet-making skills; our field installation crews are artisans as well, resulting in a complete start-to-finish orchestra of quality workman- ship." Methods like this allow the lengthy custom production curve to be made as timely as possible. Skilled craftsmen provide excellent support in the field, but Ray is always pushing for improvement. "Everyone can become more organized and detailed. We strive for this every day."
Ray enthusiastically anticipates the conference table sessions where he can sit with homeowners, designers and builders and talk about the myriad details that turn possibilities into design realities. "There are multitudes of details that go into doing a project. I help them come up with solutions."
(Photo by Linda Svendsen)
Ray Huerta is the president and owner of Sierra Cabinets, Architectural Custom Woodworking, Inc. Offices are located at 1066 Broadway Avenue in San Pablo. Visit their website at sierracabinets.com or call (510) 235-4121.
February 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue