what is millwork? (+ 4 inspiring examples)

Did you know we have our own millshop?

guerilla can create custom woodwork for your home that fits your style perfectly.

If you’re considering renovating your home or planning a custom-built house, you might have come across the term "millwork." Millwork is a key element in high-end interior design and home renovation projects, offering unique, customized woodwork pieces that can transform any space.

Whether you’ve heard about millwork from your contractor or stumbled upon it during your home renovation research, understanding what millwork is and how it can be used will definitely help you give your home a glow-up.

From custom cabinets to intricate moldings, millwork adds a touch of elegance and craftsmanship that is unmatched by mass-produced furniture.

In this article, we will break down the concept of millwork, explain how it’s used in home renovations, and showcase four inspiring examples of custom millwork that can elevate your home.

what is millwork?

Put simply, millwork is any wood product that’s been fabricated by a carpenter.

For example, taking a beautiful slab of wood and turning it into cabinets. Millwork pieces can include a variety of woodwork, including doors, cabinets, moldings, etc.

Millwork pieces can include doors, cabinets, moldings, and more.

Millwork is custom-made and installed on-site to fit seamlessly with a client’s specifications.

Think of it this way: in fashion, you have ready-to-wear pieces and couture.

Ready-to-wear items can be bought off the rack without any modifications. With couture, you get a garment custom-fitted to your measurements and preferences.

In construction, millwork is couture. Instead of simply painting an old cabinet, you can have custom cabinets crafted and stained to match your unique style and preferences.

wood finishing sample tiles on a table

types of millwork

Millwork isn’t just cabinets.

Millwork can also include:

Baseboards
Window trim
Molding
Mantels
Railings
Banisters
Doors
Wall paneling

You can create woodwork that’s as maximalist or as minimalist as you want. Quality custom millwork will fit seamlessly into your home and look like it was part of the original house.

what’s the difference between millwork and casework?

People often confuse millwork with casework, but they are different.

Millwork is custom-made and fitted into your home. Casework items are constructed off-site and arrive ready to use.

Casework is modular, similar to furniture. An example of casework is glass and wood vitrines used in exhibitions.

Essentially, millwork and casework are cousins.

Good casework pieces often feature millwork details, like wood trim on display cabinets.

Thinking back to our fashion analogy, casework is ready-to-wear, while millwork is couture.

how much does millwork cost?

In Baltimore, you can expect to pay between $2,680-$6,250 per linear foot for custom millwork.

The price varies based on factors such as contractor rates, cabinet length, and chosen materials and finishes.

The room where you install millwork also affects the cost.

For instance, bathroom cabinetry can range widely depending on size and complexity, while garage cabinets might require more robust materials and hardware.

inspiring examples of millwork

At guerilla we have our own millshop. It’s one of the many reasons our projects are so special.

guerilla can create custom woodwork for your home that fits your style.

Check out some gorgeous examples of our work below.

example 1: custom kitchen millwork

In this example, the client and the architect designed a space that was all about clean lines. Our carpenters carefully matched up the wood grain on the custom cabinets. The natural variations in the wood became a design element unto itself. Lighting and discrete hardware round out the presentation.

custom kitchen cabinets and sink made out of light wood

example 2: innovative kitchen millwork

In this kitchen, our designer-client had a vision for a space that blended, wood, concrete, and stone. Cabinets were built to his exact specifications. Appliances, such as the hanging exhaust hood, were wrapped in wood.

kitchen featuring stone, wood, and concrete cabinetry and furniture

example 3: elegant bathroom millwork

This bathroom renovation looks simple to the eye, and that’s intentional. Not every bathroom needs a big design moment, this one falls closer to the quiet luxury trend. That includes a custom pocket door, and beautiful cabinets that have a wood slat pattern. Radiant heat in the floor, soft pink ceramic floor tile, and brass fixtures warm up the space.

example 4: mid-century modern coffee station

This is a coffee station in a splendid mid-century house in Greenspring Valley.

The woodgrain has been carefully placed to show its best advantage. The color stain was chosen to match some of the existing woodwork in the adjacent dining room. This space used to be a closet.

wood coffee station and coffee pot

want millwork in your home?

If you love these examples, talk to us about how millwork could fit into your next home renovation project.