“When people hear the name they ask ‘what is that, an insurance agency?’” jokes Leesa Hovey, owner of Truax and Hovey. That confusion is why two years ago they renamed the business as Hearth, Cabinets and More. Now people at least know what they do in their spacious showroom and offices, located on Buckley Road in Clay, by the intersection of Morgan Road.
Hovey, who lives in Baldwinsville, has been around the interior construction business all of her life since it was started by her father over 50 years ago. For many of those years they had an additional showroom in Rochester, but now they operate solely out of Clay.
Despite the economy, Hovey says that kitchen remodels are still taking place, albeit on more conservative budgets. A possible theory is that because of the real estate market’s downturn, homeowners are spending the money to update one of the most vital rooms in the house, the kitchen. On average, each of the five designers work with three clients a week. Regardless, the remodels are a more drawn-out process than the hearth side of the business, which includes the sale of wood burning and gas stoves and the design of the mantle, etc. Even in June, they still sell three to four units a week.
“The most important thing in a project is the people. We make sure our customers know we are there every step of the way,” Hovey said. That level of personal attention starts from the moment someone enters the showroom and speaks to a designer, from free consultations to actual computer-aided drawings, or CAD plans, that can help the client visualize. They also do field measuring, ensuring that everything fits where it should as opposed to the mistakes that can be made when people chose to do it themselves.
“We discuss their “wish list” and at the same time evaluate, or sometimes even create, their budget. There’s no sticker shock at the end of the project here!” Hovey said. They do everything but the floors – including appliances, counters, cabinets and fixtures.
Designer Liz Mattox likes to gather information from her clients that can help her create their dream kitchen.
“Bringing even something small to the consultation, like a bowl or a light fixture, can help me envision what they want,” she explained. She also is quick to remind clients that this is not a quick process. An typical kitchen remodel can take up to 6 weeks and will most definitely disrupt normal life for a little while.
Though Hearth, Cabinets and More staff remain very involved with the project, they do not do any installation themselves. Outside contractors are used for every job, based either on the client’s choice or recommendations by the designers.
Aside from guiding people through cabinet and countertop selections, Hovey and her staff also help out local organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, to which they donated a prize for a silent auction, and Habitat for Humanity, to which they routinely donate materials. Last year they also donated their time to assist with the Extreme Home Makeover in Geneva and the Heritage Homes house they worked on in last year’s Parade of Homes won “Best on Show”.
To learn more, or just to fantasize about what your kitchen could look like, visit hearthcabinetsandmore.com
