The new kitchen space in the Miami condo has been opened up and brightened. Bob meets with LesCare cabinet representative Brad Brewster, of Princeton Custom Cabinetry, who explains the features of this semi-custom cabinet line. Bob has selected a standard white, contemporary style that features invisible hardware, undermount drawers, and edge-banded finishing that completely encases the fiberboard core. The cabinets look seamless, and almost completely eliminate off-gassing thanks to the edge-banded design. Brewster shows Bob the kitchen layout and the lazy Susan that spins 360 degrees to provide full access to the corner cupboard. Bob prices out the kitchen cabinetry and counters per running foot and finds it to be an affordable, elegant, easy-care solution for the getaway kitchen.

Bob Ryley installs a chair rail and replaces the glass in the doors of the dining room hutch. Ryley cuts the necessary pieces of railing using a coping saw to achieve an exact fit. Bob then describes the restoration and replication process of the corner cupboard. Danny Ruffini is busy glazing the cabinet doors, using a hot glue gun to secure the glass to the frame. Lastly, hinges are added and the doors are hung.

Bob Vila takes us from the shower that will also have a toilet and lavatory, through the dressing area with space reserved for a bench and cubby space, two small closets, and a sink and vanity. Brad Brewster of Princeton Custom Cabinetry joins Bob for the installation of a LesCare vanity that will be floated 12 inches above the floor, using a cross-braced configuration on the side wall, and a full cleat for support along the back. The floating installation was necessary because of the desired height of the vanity and the pipes that were detected in the walls. Brewster shows Bob the glued-dowel construction of the cabinets and the undermount hardware from Blum that will make all fasteners and cabinet hardware invisible once installed. Ernie Wernecke of Princeton Custom Cabinetry installs the vanity that has been pre-cut to accommodate plumbing, inserts drawers that were marked when removed for easy installation, and snaps on the doors of this lichen-green Formica-faced vanity.

Thomas Bump of Fine Custom Cabinetry shows Bob the Maple and hardwood panel cabinets that were built specifically for the Brownstone kitchen. The floor-to-ceiling cabinets were built in the shop, then disassembled for finishing and transported to the site for installation. The cabinets are constructed with Maple interiors and mixed hardwoods for the face frames and frame. The panel is medium-density fiberboard (MDF). The door hinges are concealed inside the cabinet and have three-way adjusting screws so that the door can be shifted up or down, right or left, in or out, to hang the door level and plumb. The cabinets have been spray painted with a lacquer finish that is tinted then catalyzed for a durable, easy-to-clean finish. Bump then shows Bob how the panels are made using puck holes predrilled on the back of the panel that are filled with adhesive so that it can sit in the frame without being pushed proud by a thick layer of adhesive. A small dab of hot glue holds the face of the panel in place. Bump then shows Bob the drawers that are solid Maple on the sides, front, and back, with a Maple veneer on the inside. They feature dovetail joinery and concealed tracks underneath that have a quick release and self-locking mechanism. These drawers are also self-closing.

Bob meets with Mark Van Sickle from Merillat who is installing hardware on the new semi-custom kitchen cabinets. The Merillat cabinet doors and face frames are solid cherry in a cider finish. The cabinet end panels can be specified by the homeowner or architect to either match the cabinet fronts or to be made of plywood. Mark has set up a drilling jig for drilling holes for hardware to keep all holes on the same 5-inch center. He shows us the contemporary profile stainless steel pulls that will be attached to the doors. This set of cabinets has an unusual setup; it consists of 3 wall cabinets stacked on top of each other and built up on a platform for a toekick. This is an unusual installation creating a whole wall of cabinets like a butler's pantry while saving money buy using standard overhead cabinets. Solid end panels will be added to cover the seams of the stacked cabinets. Bob and Mark move over to the other wall where they notice the orgonomics - the extra organizational features that can be added to cabinetry - including a built-in wastebasket, a pull-out for cooking oils, a sink tray for scouring pads and sponges, an under sink tote for cleaning supplies, and a dishtowel holder. The pantry unit also incorporates orgonomics with slide-out wire baskets that are easy to install and adjustable to different heights - perfect for dry goods, cans, and cereal.

Ryley installs the built-in vanity from Crown Point Cabinetry in the downstairs master bath. The first step is to attach the three cabinet units together. Ryley uses a cabinet clamp to draw the stiles together and hold the faces flush while he screws the stiles together. He attaches spacer blocks at the back of the cabinets to solidify the unit. Next Ryley measures the location of the holes for the lavatory waste pipes and then drills the holes with a hole cutter. Then, having marked the studs, he attaches the unit to the wall with three inch screws. Bob admires the satin finish of the cherry doors and the chrome hinges, so appropriate for a bathroom, that come on and off easily with a Phillips head screwdriver. He also notes the drawers' dovetail construction and bottom-mount sliders.

Bob continues in the kitchen with Brad Brewster of Princeton Custom Cabinetry, representatives for LesCare Cabinets. Brewster shows Bob how the three base cabinets will be installed to support the rounded countertop that will serve as the dining and counter space for the shared kitchen/living area. Bob looks at the shims on the floor that have been set to receive and level the cabinets, as well as set them at a good height for the flooring that will be 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch thick. Once in place, the cabinets will be secured to the shims. The heavy 3/4-inch construction means that they will stay in place without being secured directly to the concrete slab.

Richard Wagner of Wagner Cabinetry is in Punta Gorda for the installation of Cardell Maple cabinets. He starts with an overhead box that is marked for placement using a laser level. Since the exterior walls are concrete and the wall studs are steel, Bob asks how they handle installation. Wagner explains that as with wood, it's a matter of finding a stud and tacking with a finish nail before screwing the cabinets in place. Once tacked, the cabinets are checked again for level and screwed together with 2 1/2-inch flathead, square drive, zinc-coated screws with wood master tips that are serrated and cut through wood like a drill bit. With these screws, Wagner can avoid pre-drilling. After the doors are reattached and adjusted for swing, the crew moves to the base cabinet, which is nearly level and needs only be shimmed in the back. It is checked with a laser line at the wall and two feet out before being drilled in and finished with a toe kick. Bob shows the crown molding that is glued and tacked in place at the top of the cabinets for a finished look.

Bob is in the Punta Gorda house with Jack Ballantine of Ambassador Kitchens, where builder line kitchen cabinets have been installed. These Maple cabinets from Cardell Cabinets of San Antonio, Texas, have Maple faces, solid wood frames, and pressboard boxes. The hinges are from Blum and are fully adjustable European or concealed hinges. The drawers feature a builder-grade box, which means it's of consistently high quality but not of the company's highest grade. A builder-grade cabinet will feature baseline construction with custom features like cabinet faces and wood selections. The benefit, Ballantine explains, is that the cabinets are delivered on time, consistently. A special rate and quality service are extended to customers, like Ambassador Kitchens or Mercedes Homes, who outfit a number of homes with their line. In Florida, where the demand and wait time are extensive, a delivery time of three to four weeks is terrific.

Bob and Chris Vila are in the huge kitchen of the Manhattan Brownstone with floor-to-ceiling cabinets and oversized elements that take advantage of the abundant space. The island is a full 96 inches wide with front-facing deep cabinets and drawers with panel fronts that match the wainscoting throughout the kitchen and living space. The appliances are large-scale, professional quality, and stainless-steel. The 48-inch Wolf range has six burners, a central grill station, and convection and standard ovens. The Wolf range hood is also stainless steel, and functions as a smart appliance, responding to heat by automatically turning on and adjusting its fan speed. The hood vents to the outside and has halogen lighting. A pot-filling faucet sits above the stove for easy filling of large pots. The stainless-steel sink is made by Julien of Canada and features front drawers for sponge and scrubber storage.