“When I was in high school I got a job with a construction framing crew,” Jeff Salonen says. “I fell in love with it, seeing things come together.” Today, Jeff works for Creative Kitchens in Traverse
Traverse City and he still enjoys seeing things come together. “I get to know people,” he says. “Find out what they want—and then design something that makes the dream fit the budget.”
Why kitchens? “I love to cook,” Jeff says. “To entertain—and everybody gathers in the kitchen.” He likes to organize the space so that things are where they should be. “When you reach for a knife, you find it.”
“Sure, there are computer programs that can design your kitchen,” he says, “but it might not be balanced or functional. Each customer has individual needs. I work to build a relationship,” Jeff says, “develop trust, and let the product sell itself. I’m a people person. If I make a mistake, I take care of it.”
He admits he works long hours. “We can be at Disney World and I’ll get a call—and I can tell someone exactly what needs to be done. I’ve got a big heart and a conscience, so I want people to be happy.”