Family Businesses Serve You Better
We’ve been around long enough to learn that people matter.
From our expert woodworkers to our designers to the next person to walk through our showroom door, we all matter. We have individual skills and needs. When people matter, you create a positive workplace environment. Happy people work better, and care about doing a good job. In the end, it means a better experience for you, the person we do it all for.
Welcome to Laurysen. We look forward to getting to know you. Here’s a little more about who we are.
Benefits of a family business
There’s always a family member on hand at our showroom and manufacturing facility. Your questions will never get lost in an endless journey up the corporate ladder.
When you’ve had knowledge passed down through 3 generations, it creates a depth of expertise that you just can’t get anywhere else.
We’ve had a lot of time to learn how to refine our processes so you get maximum value for your dollar, whether you’re buying standard size cabinets or custom millwork.
When your family name is on something, it matters more. Quality matters, and making customers happy matters.
Laurysen has been around since 1970, and we plan to be around for many years to come. That means if you ever need us, we’ll still be here.
Our founder, John Laurysen had a reputation for quality workmanship that we are committed to carrying on.
It’s All in the Family
People have always been the very heart of Laurysen Kitchens.
When John and Adri Laurysen first opened up shop in 1970, “John Laurysen Custom Cabinets” was a small garage of 1200 square feet. It was a far cry from the 55,000 square foot manufacturing facility we’ve become. Our staff has grown to a fully qualified and very experienced team of over 100 people.
As with any family owned business, the operation has evolved and grown up. Along the way there were some growing pains but that is what makes us who we are today.
John Laurysen’s reputation for quality kitchens grew, reflecting the company slogan “Custom Designed with you in Mind.” When John’s children Bill and Caroline grew old enough, both would come home after school and help Mom and Dad in the shop. They helped with everything from woodworking to design to processing the paperwork, which means they knew all aspects of the business, inside and out.
Everything seemed to be going so well. The tiny shop expanded into a 40,000 square foot facility with better equipment. John was able to hire more people, and for years the company grew and prospered.
In August of 1987 the worst thing that can happen to a business happened to us. A massive fire completely destroyed our factory. For many businesses this would have been the end.
It seemed that all was lost that day; everything but our spirit. We were determined to rebuild better than ever before.
We set up a temporary plant by converting 3 barns rented from a local farmer. While the new facility was being built, we continued to create great kitchens for our loyal customers and with the support and hard work of our team. The dedication and spirit of our family and staff carried the day.
The official opening of our new 55,000 square foot facility provided us with an opportunity to introduce Bill and Caroline, now grown, to the management team. We became “Laurysen Kitchens Ltd.” With tongue firmly in cheek we changed our slogan to “Kitchens that Sizzle!”
In 1994, John Laurysen passed on, and it was up to his children Bill and Caroline to continue leading the company into its 25th year of business. Bill is now the COO, Caroline is the CEO and his grandsons Corey Laurysen is the VP of Sales and Service and Michael Laurysen is the VP of Operations.
In 1994 Laurysen started reaching beyond our beloved Ottawa across the province of Ontario. Today we have a dealership network that stretches across 27 different marketplaces, with orders for cabinets coming in as far away as Bermuda.
The demands and trends of the wider Ontario market have led to some positive changes to our product and modes of operation. It’s provided us with the ability to purchase the most modern machines for manufacturing. This allows us to maintain our commitment to quality as we increase our production capacity.
Smart storage has become more of an issue for many home owners over the years. Laurysen answered the demand by introducing our newest custom closet line in Ottawa. These exquisite closets and storage solutions come in a variety of woods and melamine colours that are built to enhance your enjoyment of your home. It’s easier than ever to have things out of the way but still instantly accessible.
The green movement presented us with another opportunity to move our production into the future and become a more environmentally responsible manufacturer. In November of 2009, we introduced a water based UV finishing system.
We reached another milestone in our history in 2010 as we welcomed the 3rd generation to our company, Corey and Michael Laurysen.
Corey (VP of Sales and Service) has an MBA degree from the John F. Welch School of Business from Sacred Heart University.
With a degree in Wood Products Processing from the University of British Columbia, Michael is VP of Operations, ensuring that everything works smoothly during manufacturing.
Opening of Laurysen Kitchens Carleton Place Manufacturing Facility in 2018
We are pleased to announce that Laurysen Kitchens has opened a 23,000 square foot facility in Carleton Place. The new facility focuses on our melamine cabinetry, as well as countertop cutting.
This production expansion could not have been possible without the loyalty and growing sales of our builders, dealers, renovators and retail customers.
We thank you all for the many years of business. We are increasing our production capacity to meet your needs, provide timely deliveries and continue to provide the quality and reliability that you have come to expect from Laurysen Kitchens. Click here for our Free Magazine.
Awards
Year by year, we’ve built our reputation for providing affordable quality, and this shows in the large number of prestigious awards we’ve received. You can read the full list on our awards page, but here are some of the highlights:
- We’ve won numerous awards from the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
- We’ve won multiple “Best of Houzz” awards for both Design and Service.
- For over 20 consecutive years we have been voted the Best Kitchen Manufacturer by the people of Ottawa in the Consumer’s Choice Awards.
- Our design team has garnered over 25 GOHBA (Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association) first place design awards.
- The Ottawa Business Chamber of Commerce recognized us as the 2004 Mid Market Business of the Year.
- Laurysen Kitchens was the first industry supplier inducted into the Enbridge Hall of Fame which recognized the long term contributions we have made to the Ottawa residential construction industry.
Our integrity is also measured in the quality of our work, our loyalty to our customers, our warranties, and the many ways in which we support the community in which we live.
Our Mission
Laurysen has always been the company that customers turn to when they are looking for beautiful, affordable cabinetry. Whether it is the latest in kitchen trends, a bathroom to truly relax in, or a new twist on closets we can provide the look you want, the space-saving efficiency you need and a cost you can afford.
As Laurysen continues to grow and change the next generation will be building on our culture of quality; the most powerful of all the values that John and Adri started out with.
Through it all, our mission statement will continue to guide us:
“To provide quality Laurysen Kitchens, individually designed, to enhance our customers’ home environment in a professional and dependable manner at an affordable price.”
