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Deslaurier Custom Cabinets and Downsview Kitchens are two frontrunners in the custom kitchen cabinet marketplace in the Ottawa and Eastern Ontario region. 

For over 40+ years, both of these family-owned and operated companies have dominated the space, providing quality products alongside quality service.

At Deslaurier, while we are proud of our design services and product offerings, we recognize that many of our competitors also do fine work. One of which is Downsview Kitchens, whom we believe is one of the Top Cabinet Manufacturers in Ontario.

Ultimately, it is important that you evaluate your options and choose the best company for your needs and preferences. We believe that everyone deserves a stand-out kitchen—whether or not it comes from us.

This article gives an objective overview of both companies and compares these two leading cabinet manufacturers head-to-head, revealing how they’re alike and where they differ. 

Downsview Kitchens

Downsview Kitchens is a kitchen design and cabinet manufacturer founded in 1967. Named after the small suburb of Toronto, Downsview have been family-owned and operated for over 55 years.

Downsview serves four main categories of clientele:

• Retail customers
• Pro renovators
• New home builders
• Dealers

What started as a 2,000 sq ft shop, Downsview Kitchens now utilizes upwards of 300,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space with over 200 employees. 

While their head office is located in Mississauga, their Ottawa distribution partner is Astro Design Centre. 

Deslaurier Custom Cabinets

Deslaurier Custom Cabinets was founded in the Deslaurier family garage back in 1979. The company first sold cabinets, lawn furniture, and other woodworking novelties. Over forty years later, Deslaurier Custom Cabinets now employs just under 200 people. 

Deslaurier specializes in custom cabinetry, offering an extensive collection of standard, semi-custom, and custom products.

Like Downsview, Deslaurier serves four main categories of clientele:

• Retail customers
• Pro renovators
• New home builders

• Dealers

All Deslaurier cabinets are manufactured in our 48 000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Renfrew, Ontario. Deslaurier has a showroom at their manufacturing location in Renfrew, as well as a showroom and Design Centre located in Ottawa.

Deslaurier vs. Downsview: The Process 

Working with Deslaurier and Downsview (through Astro Design Centre in Ottawa) is a personalized design experience from start to finish.

Both companies employ an in-house team of award-winning kitchen designers. You’ll be assigned a professional designer to guide you through your design selections and create a customized floor plan for your project. Upon order, each company’s respective manufacturing facility will produce the pieces and install them in your home.

It’s worth noting that neither company performs other renovation tasks, such as flooring installations, plumbing work, or electrical upgrades. Those jobs are up to the homeowner to manage or outsource with their home builder or contractor. 

That being said, most professional designers have a host of industry connections and can refer you to contractors for these jobs if you need them. Designers can also work in conjunction with your contractor selections.

To learn more about working with Deslaurier, read about our kitchen design process, and our kitchen design process for builder clients!

Deslaurier vs. Downsview: Warranty

With over 40 years to our name, we know how important an expansive warranty can be for products and services, alike. 

Downsview warranty offers: 

• 5-year warranty from the date of shipping
• 5-year warranty for all hardware, drawer slides, and interior metal accessories
• 1-year warranty for all handles and knobs supplied by Downsview

Deslaurier warranty offers:

• a 20-year warranty on cabinet materials and workmanship for residential buyers (including finishes)
• a 1-year warranty on cabinet materials and workmanship for commercial buyers (including finishes)
• a 12-year warranty on PET doors
• a 10-year warranty on acrylic and thermofoil doors
• a 5-year warranty on polyester doors
• a 1-year warranty on installation
• a lifetime warranty on slides and hinges
• Other components (hardware, accessories, and countertops) are subject to the warranty of their manufacturer

In summary, both companies offer generous warranty policies. Deslaurier’s warranty may be more advantageous for you if you are a residential buyer, and Miralis’ may be more attractive if you are a commercial buyer.

As a disclaimer, all cabinet doors (with the exception of one-piece MDF doors) will potentially crack at the joints. 

This cracking is a natural phenomenon known as “breathing,” which occurs due to the inherent expansion and contraction of wood as a result of fluctuation in humidity and temperature. 

Since this issue of breathing occurs naturally, it is not listed under warranty by either company.

Deslaurier vs. Downsview: Product Partnerships 

A key difference between Downsview and Deslaurier kitchens boil down to the supplier partnerships of each company. 

For instance, neither Downsview nor Deslaurier manufactures their own cabinet hardware. The knobs, pulls, and handles that you order to match your cabinets come from each company’s supplier network.

So, a particular piece of hardware that you find at Downsview may not be available at Deslaurier, and vice versa.

That being said, both companies source literally thousands of hardware products through their supplier network, so it’s unlikely you’ll have trouble finding a selection you like. 

There are even a few renowned suppliers that both companies have in common, such as Blum, Berenson, and Richelieu.

Industry Awards & Accolades

With decades of experience behind each name, Downsview Kitchens and Deslaurier Custom Cabinets have amassed an impressive number of awards and accolades for their work.

Often working in the same circles, both companies hold memberships in many of the same organizations, such as:

• National Kitchen + Bath Association
• Ontario Home Builder's Association
• Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association 

Both Deslaurier and Downsview are recognized as Platinum Club members (a designation given to winners that have maintained their status for seven or more years) of Canada’s Best Managed Companies by Deloitte.

Undoubtedly, both businesses have garnered praise and established a reputation of quality in the local community and throughout the province of Ontario

Deslaurier vs. Downsview: Dealer Networks

Deslaurier and Downsview are also expanding their brand’s reach in Canada and across international borders.

Deslaurier has over 30 distribution dealers alone in the province of Ontario. They’ve also recently partnered with NV Realty Group in Palm Beach, Florida, with a showroom located in Jupiter. 

Based out of Mississauga, Downsview has 2 locations in the GTA, and 3 others within Ontario, including their Ottawa showroom at Astro Design Centre. 

Outside of the province, Downsview Kitchens has a larger distribution outreach than that of Deslaurier. Downsview has over 50 distribution locations throughout Canada and the United States, including one in the Bahamas!

Manufacturing Practices 

Deslaurier and Downsview have proven to be powerhouses in the initiative to make their manufacturing processes greener.

The two companies implement many noteworthy environmentally friendly products and practices in their work.

Deslaurier and Downsview both use water-based, UV-cured finishes. Water-based finishes emit significantly fewer VOCs than traditional solvent-based products.

They also use wood species that are locally sourced, reducing pollution associated with transportation. Core cabinet construction uses, at a minimum, CARB1-compliant and EPP-certified panel materials.

As you can see, each company has heavily invested in the efficiency and environmental safety of its manufacturing facilities. These are just a few of the ways each company demonstrates an ongoing commitment to ensuring their eco-friendly internal practices continue in the future.

Discover Deslaurier Custom Cabinets 

If you’re looking for custom cabinets in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, we hope this information helps you decide which local manufacturer is the best fit for your project. 

At Deslaurier, we understand that we’re not the only cabinet specialist around. That’s why we like to show prospective clients what we have to offer—no commitment needed!

Book a free consultation with one of our professional designers in Ottawa or Renfrew and discover the Deslaurier advantage today!

Interested in becoming an authorized Deslaurier dealer? Visit our Become a Dealer page to learn more! Live outside the area? Find a Dealer to connect with a Deslaurier dealer near you!