When you picture a truly finished Austin home—one that feels curated, calm, and unmistakably “you”—built-in cabinets are almost always part of the scene. From a wall-to-wall living-room media center in Westlake to a slender mudroom drop zone in Mueller, the right built-ins transform everyday clutter into clean lines, purposeful storage, and timeless style.
At Michael Edwards Custom Cabinetry & Closets, we design, mill, and finish every component in our San Antonio facility, then bring it to life in Austin homes with a meticulous, installation-first mindset. The result? Built-in cabinetry that fits your architecture like a glove, performs flawlessly, and looks incredible for years.
Why Built-Ins Beat “Good Enough” Furniture
Seamless fit. No gaps, no wasted inches—custom built-ins are designed around your walls, windows, outlets, and ceiling heights, maximizing every square inch.
Better organization. Adjustable shelves, soft-close drawers, integrated power, hidden cable management, file drawers, pull-outs for printers or AV gear—everything has a place.
Design continuity. Door styles, moldings, and finishes are tailored to your home’s architecture—Mid-Century in Allandale, Modern Farmhouse in Circle C, Spanish Revival in Tarrytown, or clean Soft-Modern downtown.
Long-term value. Quality built-ins feel permanent (because they are). They enhance daily living and add perceived value when it’s time to sell.
Our Austin-Favorite Built-In Ideas
1) Living-Room Media Walls
From floating slab doors to inset Shaker with framed glass, we custom-size bays for your screen, speakers, and components—and route discreet channels for ventilation and cables. Add LED task lighting and fluted or rift-sawn white oak to elevate the whole room.
2) Home Office Libraries
Think floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with a center desk, file drawers, and integrated wire management. We design for natural light angles and camera framing so your video calls look clean and professional.
3) Mudrooms & Drop Zones
Cubbies for backpacks, hockey gear, and dog leashes; bench seating with deep drawers; tall lockers with charging shelves—perfect for busy South Austin households.
4) Dining Room Buffets & Wet Bars
Built-in buffets with quartz or furniture-grade tops, appliance garages for espresso machines, and soft-glow lighting behind reeded or ribbed glass doors.
5) Primary Closet Systems
Custom closet built-ins with valet rods, jewelry trays, tilt-out hampers, back-lit display shelves, and islands with velvet-lined drawers.
6) Kids’ Rooms & Flex Spaces
Window seats with hidden storage, craft tables with wipeable surfaces, and media-gaming nooks that actually corral controllers and cords.
Crafted in San Antonio, Perfected in Austin
Unlike many cabinet “shops” that assemble off-the-shelf parts, we mill our own wood and fabricate components to spec in our San Antonio warehouse. That control over materials and methods means tighter tolerances, truer panels, crisp joinery, and better finishing. Our founder, Mike Swientek, champions a perfection-driven culture—every reveal, scribe, and shadow line matters.
What that means for you:
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Consistent quality: We own the process end to end—no mystery suppliers or finish mismatches.
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Design precision: Your unique door style, rail widths, panel profiles, and edge details are engineered, not improvised.
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Reliable timelines: Manufacturing in-house helps us schedule, coordinate, and install efficiently.
Materials & Finishes Built for Austin Life
Hardwoods & veneers: Rift-sawn white oak, walnut, maple, and ash—selected for stable grain and long-term durability.
Painted finishes: Catalyzed finishes cured in controlled conditions for a smooth, furniture-grade surface that resists yellowing.
Specialty textures: Fluted panels, tambour doors, micro-bevel planks, and integrated metal accents for a refined, custom look.
Counter surfaces: We coordinate with your stone or solid-surface choice and match profiles for a cohesive, designer-level finish.
The Process (It’s Simple and Thorough)
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On-Site Consultation (Austin & Surrounding Areas)
We measure, evaluate wall conditions, note electrical and HVAC, and discuss storage goals, style, and budget. -
Design & 3D Renderings
You’ll see elevations and perspectives that make decisions easy—door styles, hardware, reveals, lighting, and interior accessories. -
Precision Fabrication
Your built-ins are crafted in our San Antonio facility with exacting quality control. -
White-Glove Installation
Our Austin-area install teams protect your home, coordinate with painters/electricians as needed, and leave the space spotless and ready to enjoy.
Details That Make a Big Difference
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Inset vs. overlay doors: Inset delivers a timeless furniture look; full overlay feels sleek and modern.
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Soft-close everything: Doors and drawers glide quietly and protect the finish.
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Integrated lighting: Puck, strip, and toe-kick lighting with hidden drivers and easy access for maintenance.
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Smart power: Concealed outlets in drawers or behind flip-down fronts for charging and printers.
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Pro-grade hardware: High-cycle hinges and undermount slides stand up to daily life.
Designed for Austin Homes & Lifestyles
Whether you’re renovating a Bouldin Creek bungalow or outfitting a new build in Steiner Ranch, we tailor built-ins to your space and rhythm. Want a low-profile media wall that doesn’t compete with your Barton Creek views? Prefer a bold, stained-oak library with a rolling ladder? We’ll dial the design to your architecture—and your personality.
Ready to Plan Your Built-Ins?
Tell us how you live, what you need to store, and the look you love. We’ll create built-in cabinets that fit so well, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.
Michael Edwards Custom Cabinetry & Closets
Texas-owned. Mill-to-install craftsmanship. Serving Austin and surrounding communities.