Significant changes often can be traced back to a single catalyst—an event or object that propels a project into motion. For the May family of four that catalyst was their gas range. It was too small to keep up with the family’s penchant for cooking. In order to upgrade their cooktop, while keeping the gas method of cooking that matriarch Gaby loves, the family needed to install a much more efficient ventilation hood. And just like that, the family was renovating their entire kitchen and living room with Jeff Daso and his crew at Daso Custom Cabinetry.
Gas cooktops are a hot topic in the news today with cities banning the cooking method in new construction, but Gaby didn’t for one second look at any other methods while renovating the kitchen she’d designed 16 years earlier when they built their custom home.
“I’m from Mexico City where cooking is a huge part of our culture,” Gaby explains. “We cook all the time. For me cooking on gas gives more taste and flavor to dishes. We char things like peppers for a lot of our dishes. We didn’t even consider electric.”
“What we did change was our hood over the stove. We had a hood with a low ventilation capacity…not very powerful. When we went larger, we went with 1200 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of ventilation power. That has helped tremendously.”
Completely custom
Gaby and her husband, Jeff, did extensive research when looking for a contractor to manage their renovation. Jeff May is a contractor himself, so he knew exactly what he wanted in a partner on this project.
“We interviewed a few companies,” Gaby says. “When we met Jeff Daso, we really liked the way they do everything in house. Daso Custom Cabinetry has their own warehouse where they build everything. We are very, very thankful we chose them.”
Daso explains that while custom cabinetry is their backbone, they don’t stop there. “Cabinetry is what we’re known for, but we’re also a one-stop design/remodel shop. We have full-time electricians, plumbers…we’re not subcontracting. We’re not just building custom cabinetry; we’re doing everything on a custom level and people find value in that.”
Despite having grown his company to now include 47 employees and showrooms in Strongsville, Dublin and a third opening in Powell this summer; Daso still likes to visit his clients personally.
“I went out and met with Jeff and Gaby for the first time and was able to give them my thoughts. They brought their ideas as well and we collaborated. We went through a design approval process with my lead designers for a month to tweak their drawings and make selections.”
“Homeowners lean on us for our experience, and we lean on them because it’s their home and they know what they want and need,” Daso says. “They are our best source of information because they live in the space every day.”
Modern, but not too modern
Gaby says her home is very traditional, but she wanted a change in her upgraded kitchen and living room. She was careful not to go too modern with her selections, but she used a more modern color palette to update the space.
“Everything before was very dark, so we went with lighter colors,” she describes. “But we used tones with a yellow tint to keep the space warm.”
The Mays could not be happier with the finished product. “Jeff and his team did a phenomenal job, and they are really nice people. The installation crew was so professional and kind and accommodating. We are thrilled with how it all worked out.”
Article by Sarah J. Dills | Photos by Ken Love
Article originally appeared in March 2023