Our Story
Alki Artisan Works is a small, family owned & operated business that started in the "Triangle" neighborhood of West Seattle that manufactures custom cabinets.
Owner Tom Wyrick got his start in the 70’s building a dizzying array of items for the motion picture production companies in Southern California…things that most carpenters never have to tackle like spaceship consoles, old west bars & furnishings, and all manner of props and décor. Included in this mix were numerous real world items like kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities that were fully functional. Tom was trained by real craftsman with old-school ideals.
Tom went on to enjoy a career in IT, but always kept a hand in various finish carpentry pursuits which were his real passion. Finally in 2012, he opened up his own custom cabinet shop which has proven the saying “Do what you love and never work a day in your life.”
Our Process
Before we begin manufacturing, we create detailed shop drawings showing 3D, elevation & plan views. Once these are approved, we turn those drawings into cut lists and then we can start building.
Typically our cabinets are constructed with prefinished maple plywood (all domestic, not imported). No particle board or MDF in casework construction. We use 1/2" thick backs and 3/4" thick top/sides/bottom which provides a sturdy box that is easy to maintain and won't fall apart if it gets splashed with water.
Our standard drawers are dovetailed 1/2" solid maple sides with a 3/8" veneer plywood bottom for strength and are finished with a 20 sheen varnish.
We use Blum soft close drawer slides & hinges
As you plan your next project, please take the following into consideration:
- We typically do not “finish” our cabinets (i.e. stain, clear or paint). Some like to take the cabinets to a finish shop before installation and others like to install first and then have them finished. In either case, we think that finishing is an art form unto itself and we leave that to the professionals.
- Similarly, we do not install cabinets. Again, we leave to the professionals who work onsite to fit our cabinets into a real world environment.
Basically, we stick to what we do best: manufacturing nice, strong, custom sized cabinets by hand...with all the modern features and conveniences in the style & wood species of your choice.
Recent Work
Rift white oak kitchen
Copyright © 2023 Alki Artisan Works - All Rights Reserved.