Custom Cabinets & Installation in Burlington, IA
Burlington built a street with seven curves in a single block because the hill left no other choice. The city calls it Snake Alley, and Ripley's calls it the "Crookedest Street in the World." That same problem-solving spirit lives in plenty of Burlington kitchens: sloped floors, walls that lean a little, and rooms that have been remodeled three times since the 1800s.
That's the kind of kitchen we like. Heartland Designs is a family-owned cabinet shop in Kalona, and we build cabinets for the room you actually have, not the one on a spec sheet. From a Heritage Hill Victorian to a 1990s ranch near Crapo Park, we make it fit.
Professional Cabinetry Services for Burlington
Burlington has been a town since 1836. We've only been at this since 1992, but we've spent those years learning what older Iowa homes need from a cabinet maker. Mostly, it's patience, careful measuring, and a shop that can build any size, not just the ones in a catalog.
Every cabinet, vanity, and built-in on this list comes out of our Kalona workshop or from semi-custom partners we trust:
Countertops in Burlington, IA
In a 130-year-old house, "level" is more of a suggestion. That's why we don't measure your countertops until your new cabinets are installed. It's the only way to get a perfect fit in a room that's settled for a century. Choose from Quartz, Granite, Laminate, or Corian. For a busy family kitchen, quartz is our favorite: it never needs sealing and laughs off coffee rings.
Custom Cabinets in Burlington, IA
Burlington kitchens come in every shape: narrow galleys in brick rowhouses, big farmhouse-style rooms, and kitchens squeezed into what used to be a pantry. Our shop builds each cabinet to the inch, so you're not stuck with gaps covered by filler strips. Want to save time or budget? Semi-custom lines from Holiday Kitchens and Fabuwood offer great quality with fewer decisions.
Bathroom Vanities in Burlington, IA
The homes around Snake Alley were built between 1845 and 1880, long before indoor bathrooms were standard. Many older Burlington bathrooms were added later, wherever they fit: under the stairs, in a spare closet, or at the end of a hallway. We build moisture-resistant vanities for those awkward spaces, sized so the door still opens and the drawers still clear the tub.
Commercial & Office Built-ins in Burlington, IA
Downtown Burlington is full of old brick buildings with tall ceilings and walls that aren't quite straight, including the former warehouses of the Manufacturing and Wholesale Historic District. Standard casework rarely fits. We build reception desks, retail displays, bar tops, and office storage made for the building you're actually in, and we install them without shutting down your business for a week.
Closet & Pantry Systems in Burlington, IA
Victorian bedrooms were built for wardrobes and armoires, not walk-in closets. If your Heritage Hill home has one tiny closet per room (or none), we can build custom closet systems, pantries, and entryway storage that feel original to the house but hold a modern amount of stuff.
Fireplace Mantels in Burlington, IA
A Heritage Hill parlor with a plain fireplace is a missed opportunity. We build mantels and surrounds in wood, stone, and mixed materials that fit your home's era, whether that means carved detail for an 1880s parlor or a clean, simple surround for a newer family room.
Home Office Built-Ins in Burlington, IA
Give your morning coffee a permanent home. We build coffee bars with a pull-out tray for the espresso machine, drawers for beans and pods, and open shelves for your favorite mugs. Want to take it further? Add a beverage fridge or wine storage, and it becomes the spot guests gather around.
Our Design Process: Simple & Transparent
Nobody likes surprises halfway through a remodel. Our 11-step process exists so you always know what's next, and it all fits into three stages:
- Initial Consultation: Come see the showroom in Kalona, or just call and tell us what's bugging you about your kitchen. We'll talk ideas, style, and budget.
- Budget & In-Home Analysis: A designer comes to your Burlington home and measures everything, including the slope in the floor you've been ignoring for years. Then you get a clear, honest budget.
- Construction & Installation: Your cabinets are built, and the same crew that planned the install shows up to do it, all the way through the final punch list.
Why Burlington Chooses Heartland Designs
- We Build for Hills & History: Uneven floors and leaning walls are normal in Burlington. Our shop builds cabinets to fit them instead of fighting them.
- Family-Owned, Iowa-Made: We're a Kalona shop, not a national chain. The people who design your kitchen are the people who stand behind it
- Everything Under One Roof: We handle cabinets, countertops, closets & pantries, fireplace mantels, and commercial installations, so you're not juggling five different companies.
- One Crew, Start to Finish: Our own installers handle every job. No handoffs to strangers.
- Brands You Can Trust: When semi-custom makes more sense, we use Holiday Kitchens and Fabuwood, finished with Top Knobs hardware.
- Straight Answers: If your cabinets just need new countertops, we'll tell you.
Which Wood Is Best for Kitchen Cabinets?
There's no single "best" wood, only the best one for your kitchen. Here's how the most popular species compare:
| Feature | Look | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Oak | Strong grain, warm tones | Busy family kitchens and classic styles |
| Maple | Smooth, even grain | Painted cabinets and modern kitchens |
| Cherry | Rich red tones that deepen with age | Traditional and Victorian-era homes |
| Hickory | Bold grain and color contrast | Rustic and farmhouse kitchens |
| Walnut | Deep, dark tones | Statement islands and high-end designs |
At your consultation, we'll bring real wood samples so you can see and feel the difference.
Our Installation & Cabinetry Projects Near Burlington
Burlington Neighborhoods & Nearby Towns We Serve
We work all over Burlington: on Heritage Hill and around North Hill Park, which has been a city park since the town was founded, through the neighborhoods near Crapo Park, and downtown. We also serve West Burlington and the rest of Des Moines County.
Ready to Start Your Burlington Remodel?
Snake Alley needs seven turns to get down one hill. Your remodel shouldn't need that many.
Start with a phone call or a few photos of your kitchen. We'll tell you what's possible, what it'll cost, and what's worth doing first. No pressure and no sales pitch. You'll just get a straight answer from people who build cabinets for a living.
Call Us: 319-656-3305
FAQs
In most cases, yes. Because we build in our own shop, we can match door profiles, trim details, and stain colors to your home's original woodwork. Show us photos or a sample piece at your consultation, and we'll tell you how close we can get.
Burlington's building inspectors issue permits for remodeling, including structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work, and the city asks homeowners to call the Development Department at (319) 753-8131 before starting. If you live in West Burlington, call West Burlington City Hall at (319) 752-5451 instead, since it's a separate city.
It might. Heritage Hill has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982, and some Burlington permits go to boards or commissions for review. Call the Development Department before you start, and they'll tell you what applies to your project.
It depends on your style and how you use your kitchen. Oak is tough with a bold grain, maple is smooth and ideal for paint, cherry darkens beautifully over time, hickory suits rustic kitchens, and walnut makes a statement. We'll help you pick the right one.
Yes. That's one of the biggest reasons to go custom. We measure every wall and floor, build cabinets to those exact dimensions, and scribe and level everything during installation, so your cabinets look straight even when the house isn't.
No. A designer comes to your Burlington home to measure and plan, and our crew comes to you for installation. You're always welcome to visit the showroom at 2036 Hwy. 22 in Kalona, open Monday through Friday, 8 AM–5 PM, and Saturdays by appointment.
Request a Quote online or call 319-656-3305. Photos of your current kitchen and rough measurements help us give you a faster, more accurate budget.