Kitchenware and Tableware Market

If you missed the Dwell on Design show last weekend, the L.A. at Home crew can catch you up on what was new and notable, starting with Duarte-based designer John McDonald and his SemiHandmade line.

Thinking outside the box paid off for McDonald, who was "overwhelmed" by interest in his inventive mix-and-match — not to mention economical — approach to custom cabinetry. The idea is simple: Keep the kitchen or bath cabinets you already have, and McDonald will replace doors, panels and drawer faces to your specifications. Another option: Buy cabinet boxes from manufacturers such as Ikea or Home Depot, and then upgrade with McDonald's custom facades.

McDonald displayed sequence-matched veneers, redwood, laminate on plywood and reclaimed basketball floorboards that he says cost "about 30% more than the nicest Ikea doors." He is rolling out SemiHandmade in Southern California before launching it nationally at the beginning of next year. For further information and pricing, call (323) 383-2009 or e-mail McDonald at john@ahandmadehome.com.

– Lisa Boone

Photo: SemiHandmade

CORRECTED: An earlier version of this post had an incorrect e-mail for John McDonald.