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April 2023 by Michelle Zuzik
The TLDR:Run, don’t walk, to Leo Claudio if you’re looking to put in a well-designed, quality kitchen designed and constructed by a master who takes pride in their work, offers amazing customer support during a very collaborative process, and delivers on schedule!The Full Details:My husband and I have fully renovated several homes in SF before we finally landed in our dream forever home. And, of course, we wanted to put in our dream kitchen as we are both avid cooks, bakers, and entertainers — and the kitchen is where our entire family hangs out.Since we have done this several times before, we had a very clear vision of what we wanted in terms of function, style, design, and features. We were also looking for a very high level of quality and attention to detail that would ensure the kitchen would last decades — something that is very hard to come by these days. And lastly, we expected our cabinet maker to care as much about the outcome and final product as we did.Initially in this project, we hadn’t heard of Leo Claudio and so we tried working with a couple of other vendors. However, we found ourselves very frustrated when those other vendors either offered a lead time of 6+ months OR took a ‘take it or leave it’ approach to the design process after collecting our design deposit and not following anything in our vision. I literally found myself in tears on a daily basis trying to work with the other vendors.Enter Leo Claudio whom I found by serendipitous luck. From the beginning, even before I paid a deposit, his daughter Astrid listened to my design requirements and challenges (what house in SF doesn’t have structural challenges?!?!) and gave me feedback, and was so incredibly supportive. I knew I was in good hands. Once I paid the deposit, the design process was so incredibly collaborative with Astrid and I texting and calling each other back and forth in real time so that my vision could be followed and Leo Claudio’s excellent design sense would be maintained. This experience was far far different from other cabinet companies which had multiple “middlemen” and a week+ turnaround time after each communication. Additionally, Astrid was very mindful of my initial budget and very transparent about what any additional features would cost so there wouldn’t be any surprises.A couple of other “extras” in terms of customer support that we didn’t get elsewhere….my husband and I were able to tour Leo Claudio’s factory in San Bruno. Also, Leo himself came over during the the onsite measurements and gave my general contractor feedback on how we could get even more square footage out of our kitchen and he had a brilliant design idea on how to handle a tricky situation with our exhaust duct.Lastly, we also hired Leo Claudio’s team to do the installation rather than having our GC’s team doing it. And the install team was as perfect as the construction team. Every single detail is absolutely perfect and shows obvious pride in craftsmanship.We *love* our kitchen. The function, the design, the quality….absolutely everything. Even better, we enjoyed the experience of bringing our vision to life with Leo Claudio, his daughter Astrid, and the entire LC team.Services: Kitchen design
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April 2023 by Michelle H.
The TLDR: Run, don't walk, to Leo Claudio if you're looking to put in a well-designed, quality kitchen designed and constructed by a master who takes pride in their work, offers amazing customer support during a very collaborative process, and delivers on schedule!The Full Details:My husband and I have fully renovated several homes in SF before we finally landed in our dream forever home. And, of course, we wanted to put in our dream kitchen as we are both avid cooks, bakers, and entertainers -- and the kitchen is where our entire family hangs out. Since we have done this several times before, we had a very clear vision of what we wanted in terms of function, style, design, and features. We were also looking for a very high level of quality and attention to detail that would ensure the kitchen would last decades -- something that is very hard to come by these days. And lastly, we expected our cabinet maker to care as much about the outcome and final product as we did.Initially in this project, we hadn't heard of Leo Claudio and so we tried working with a couple of other vendors. However, we found ourselves very frustrated when those other vendors either offered a lead time of 6+ months OR took a 'take it or leave it' approach to the design process after collecting our design deposit and not following anything in our vision. I literally found myself in tears on a daily basis trying to work with the other vendors.Enter Leo Claudio whom I found by serendipitous luck. From the beginning, even before I paid a deposit, his daughter Astrid listened to my design requirements and challenges (what house in SF doesn't have structural challenges?!?!) and gave me feedback, and was so incredibly supportive. I knew I was in good hands. Once I paid the deposit, the design process was so incredibly collaborative with Astrid and I texting and calling each other back and forth in real time so that my vision could be followed and Leo Claudio's excellent design sense would be maintained. This experience was far far different from other cabinet companies which had multiple "middlemen" and a week+ turnaround time after each communication. Additionally, Astrid was very mindful of my initial budget and very transparent about what any additional features would cost so there wouldn't be any surprises.A couple of other "extras" in terms of customer support that we didn't get elsewhere....my husband and I were able to tour Leo Claudio's factory in San Bruno. Also, Leo himself came over during the the onsite measurements and gave my general contractor feedback on how we could get even more square footage out of our kitchen and he had a brilliant design idea on how to handle a tricky situation with our exhaust duct.Lastly, we also hired Leo Claudio's team to do the installation rather than having our GC's team doing it. And the install team was as perfect as the construction team. Every single detail is absolutely perfect and shows obvious pride in craftsmanship.We *love* our kitchen. The function, the design, the quality....absolutely everything. Even better, we enjoyed the experience of bringing our vision to life with Leo Claudio, his daughter Astrid, and the entire LC team.
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October 2022 by Edam Triffett
We have worked with Leo Claudio on a couple of projects and we’ll be coming back for our next one. We have happily referred them to friends looking for great cabinetry and they have been super happy too. Leo, Astrid and the team worked with us to get the look and function we needed, while also helping us stick to budget and schedule. They go above and beyond to make sure their part in the project is executed flawlessly, taking pride in their craftsmanship and finishing detail.Services: Bathroom design
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November 2021 by Shawn S.
My husband and I just finished a major home remodel which included a completely new kitchen (during a pandemic none the less). There was a number of unique challenges in our project. However, thankfully Leo, Astrid, and his team were able to adapt and help us through every step of the project. Leo was kind and considerate throughout our process. He met with us numerous times to discuss design elements and to ensure our project was done to our own unique requirements/needs. The quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail were and continue to be greatly appreciated. In the end, we now have the kitchen we've always wanted. We're grateful to Leo and his team everyday when step into our kitchen.
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August 2021 by Brian Miller
Always great service!
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February 2020 by Jongan S.
I have had this beautiful kitchen cabinet for 7 years made by Leo and his team. From the beginning whenever I have questions or minor adjustments/fix needed, they have been very responsive for ongoing support. I'd highly recommend Leo Claudio.
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December 2019 by Marie S.
Leo Claudio made all the custom cabinets for my kitchen remodel in 2013. This was a large remodel, which included a seven foot island. There is a total of 57 upper, lower and island cabinet doors/ panels and a total of 28 drawers. While the original product was acceptable, it clearly does not hold up over time. Regrettably, Mr. Claudio does not honor his commitment to a quality product. There is significant cracking on 20 cabinet doors/panels. SEE PHOTOS. I had a meeting with Leo and my real estate agent, Kathy ( from BARB CO) to discuss the problem. Leo acknowledged the cracking on the cabinets. He was argumentative and said it was not his responsibility. He said the cracking was due to movement of the wood. He reluctantly proposed to fix the cracked cabinets at a charge and said he could not get to the job for at least four months (March 2020). I was not comfortable with his negative reaction. The response from a reputable business owner would have been, "I am so sorry, this should never have happened. We will make this right. We will remove the cabinet doors within a week or two, repair, repaint, and reinstall". This was a far cry from Leo's response. I spoke with several licensed contractors (general and painting) and they all agreed they had never seen this type of cracking on cabinets. Their conclusion was that since the cracking appeared on half of the cabinet doors (not all of them), it was due to poor workmanship, specifically too much paint on certain cabinets, not "wood movement." Based on this information and the nature of Mr. Claudio's "fix" I chose to end my relationship with him. I selected a licensed contractor with 28 years experience who did an excellent job and finished the job in eight days at a cost of $3300. I am very disappointed that Leo refused to stand behind his workmanship. The photos clearly demonstrate the poor quality of Mr. Claudio's cabinets and his explanation of wood movement is ridiculous. During our meeting, Mr. Claudio was arrogant and said, "I am good and have so much work, I really don't care what you have to say." Bottom line, stay away from Leo Claudio Cabinets, there are many fine cabinet makers that will produce a quality product and stand behind it. Equally disturbing was the patronizing and sexist manner in which Mr. Claudio spoke to Kathy and myself during our meeting. At one point, he jokingly squeezed my cheeks. I doubt he would have taken this disrespectful tone if he were dealing with male clients. Furthermore, the BARB REAL ESTATE CO has removed Leo Claudio Cabinets from their referral list. My kitchen designer, ELLEN B, a long time designer and resident of Presidio Heights, has also removed him. Mr. Claudio's cabinets are displayed at Ferguson's, which is a fine reputable store. However, they might want to reevaluate their relationship with Claudio Cabinets given the the type of product they are endorsing
