Words Vicki Jones, Images Ashlee DeCaires
There is a kind of magic that happens when a new kitchen project comes together perfectly. It isn’t just about the cabinetry, the benchtop, or the latest clever appliance. It’s the satisfaction of a space that works exactly the way you need it to.
For the team at Cambridge-based Treetown Kitchens, creating that ‘wow’ factor is the ultimate goal.
“Just think how every morning you get out of bed, you come out here to make yourself a cup of tea or whatever. You come home to it at night. You see it all the time,” explains Treetown Kitchens owner Kevin Middlemiss. “So you really want your kitchen to be able to put a smile on your face.”
This unwavering commitment to getting it right sits at the heart of this family-owned business, working alongside a loyal and growing customer base to create bespoke kitchens and custom joinery in the Waikato and throughout the upper North Island.
A Legacy of Craftsmanship
The history of the business is deeply-rooted in Cambridge, stretching back over half a century in various guises. Originally L F Grey’s Joinery on Kelly Road, the business evolved into Treetown Joinery before finding its current identity and home on Albert Street. Since they took over the reins 20 years ago, Kevin and his wife, Bridget, have seen the business move from general joinery, including windows and doors, to a highly specialised, dedicated kitchen and cabinetry business.
Today, Treetown Kitchens operates with a tight-knit team of nine, using traditional joinery craftsmanship with modern design technology.
While the design tools of the trade have evolved from hand-drawn sketches to precise digital renderings, the focus on delivering on the customer’s vision remains the same. And for Kevin, it’s the way his team and their clients work together that really makes the difference.
Working with, Not for
Kevin is quick to dispel the idea of a transactional relationship with clients. “We don’t work for people,” he says. “We work with people.”
This collaborative ethos is the backbone of the Treetown experience, with Kevin recalling the many times that clients have referred to this as a highlight of the working relationship.
Whether a client is a design novice or has a clear vision, the process is deliberately inclusive.
Kevin’s design and customer service team of three works with clients to turn their ideas into a practical reality, guiding them through the options, complexities and creative possibilities. But it’s not only with the clients that collaboration is key.
Currently, the scullery is one of the most common requests the design team works really closely alongside our joinery and production team, as well as the installers, to make sure every plan and idea is doable,” explains Kevin. From the basics of shelf heights and handles, to unusual design requests, the teams work together to make sure every detail hits the mark.
This dedication to the client’s happiness is why many customers return for a second or even third kitchen as their lives evolve. The owners of lighting design company, Mr Ralph, have come back for several kitchen designs now, also showing their genuine faith in the team by asking Treetown to build a beautiful and unique high-end display kitchen in their Gordonton showroom.
It is a level of service built on trust, where ‘no’ is rarely the answer.
Kevin talks with pride about the unfortunate example of a client whose dream home in Maungatautari was destroyed by fire. Sue Hodgson asked Treetown to recreate an exact duplicate as replacement, 15 years on from the original build. “The design and finish worked so well for Sue that she asked us to remake the exact same kitchen. Not a single change.”
Designing for the Future
The way we live and use our kitchens has changed. The old, isolated kitchen tucked away at the back of the house has been replaced by the open-plan hub of the home, and the designs that Treetown is creating these days reflect what families are looking for today.
Kevin has seen trends cycle through the years. “The blues and greens that were popular a few years ago are making a comeback,” he observes, “and the Shaker-style doors will always be timeless.”
Currently, the scullery is one of the most common requests the design team gets, reflecting the desire to keep the busyness of a kitchen neatly tucked away.
While appliances have become increasingly high-tech, the fundamentals of good design remain constant. It’s about practicality, whether it’s a simple kitchen or a high-end designer space.
“It’s about knowing that a fridge needs a certain amount of clearance to open properly, or that a drawer needs to be sized for your favourite mug that you use every day.”
The Perfectionist
Kevin’s passion for his work is palpable. He takes heartfelt pride in seeing the joy on a client’s face when they first see their completed kitchen looking exactly as they dreamed it would.
His drive for perfection is rooted in a simple but powerful mantra: “If I wouldn’t put it in my house, I wouldn’t put it in yours.”
This translates into an uncompromising approach to quality. The team uses only the best materials and stands firmly behind everything they build. Long after the installation, if a client calls with a minor issue, the team is there to help.
Treetown Kitchens offers something increasingly rare: a genuinely personal journey. It’s the difference between a kitchen that is merely functional space, and one that feels like the beating heart of a home. For the families who have worked alongside the Treetown team, that difference is everything.