---
title: "The Kitchen Therapist — Kitchen & Bath Designers | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/the-kitchen-therapist-pfvwus-pf~1292245617
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1292245617.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "The Kitchen Therapist"
category: ["Kitchen & Bath Designers"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/907390db01bca16d_6590-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "4652 Via Marina Suite 107, Marina del Rey, California 90292, United States"
latitude: 33.9779
longitude: -118.4525
phone: "(310) 963-4798"
website: http://ted_benz.houzz.com
rating: 5
review_count: 3
followers: 63
last_updated: 2026-09-24
---

# The Kitchen Therapist

Original Houzz profile: [The Kitchen Therapist](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/the-kitchen-therapist-pfvwus-pf~1292245617)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Kitchen & Bath Designers
- **Location:** Marina del Rey, CA
- **Serves:** Los Angeles, Bel Air, Brentwood Los Angeles, Hollywood, Venice, Torrance, Inglewood, Santa Monica, Hawthorne, Redondo Beach, Culver City, West Hollywood, Manhattan Beach, Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Hermosa Beach, El Segundo, Marina del Rey, Topanga, Westwood, Playa del Rey
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (3 reviews)

## About

### Houzz Badges

- 100 Ideabook Saves

We specialize in design and product for kitchens, baths, entertainment rooms, wet bars and all other rooms in your home. We often come up with ideas that fall within our client's style, before they even know what their style is. Read our reviews to see how we've transformed people's houses in homes. 

When designing your home you might require the assistance of a designer for design services, product selection, or both. When inquiring for design specifically, space planning can be a useful resource for creating a standard design and requirements for your project; this is especially helpful when contacting other professionals for a quote on their services based on your vision. 

We can design in the cabinetry line of your choice or for custom local manufacturers. (Manufacturers such as- Wood-Mode, Brookhaven, Columbia Cabinetry, Decora, Ultracraft, Poggenpohl, Siematic, Bauformat, Burger, Quality Custom Cabinets, LesCare, Fieldstone, Italian Imports, Bijoux, Opera, Generations by Ultracraft, Allmilmo, Falper, Rutt, and more.

### Services Provided

- Kitchen Design
- Custom Cabinets
- Bathroom Design
- Custom Kitchen Cabinets
- 3D Rendering
- Custom Pantries
- Lighting Design
- Laundry Room Design
- Floor Plans
- Universal Design
- Custom Walk-in Closets
- Sustainable Design
- Drafting
- Wine Cellar Design
- Kitchen Remodeling
- Bedroom Design
- Closet Design
- Custom Furniture
- Custom Murphy Beds
- Dining Room Design
- Home Office Design & Construction
- Home Staging
- Interior Design
- Kids Bedroom Design
- Living Room Design
- Playroom Design
- Space Planning
- Color Consulting
- Custom Built-ins
- Custom Entertainment Centers
- Custom Fireplace Mantels
- Custom Home Bars
- Entertainment Room
- Feng Shui Design
- Home Office
- Home Theater Design
- House Plans
- Interior Design Photography
- Laundry Room
- Library
- Sunroom Design & Construction
- Wet Bars

### Areas Served

- Los Angeles
- Bel Air
- Brentwood Los Angeles
- Hollywood
- Venice
- Torrance
- Inglewood
- Santa Monica
- Hawthorne
- Redondo Beach
- Culver City
- West Hollywood
- Manhattan Beach
- Beverly Hills
- Pacific Palisades
- Hermosa Beach
- El Segundo
- Marina del Rey
- Topanga
- Westwood
- Playa del Rey

### Typical Job Cost

$50,000 - $250,000.00

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | The Kitchen Therapist |
| Address | 4652 Via Marina Suite 107, Marina del Rey, California 90292, United States |
| Phone | (310) 963-4798 |
| Website | http://ted\_benz.houzz.com |
| Followers on Houzz | 63 |

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [The Kitchen Therapist](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/the-kitchen-therapist-pfvwus-pf~1292245617)
- **Website:** http://ted_benz.houzz.com
- **Phone:** (310) 963-4798

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- NKBA, Asid, PKBP

**Affiliations**
- [NKBA Southern California](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/nkba-southern-california-pfvwus-pf~219204573)
- [ASID California Central and Nevada](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/schools-and-organizations/asid-california-central-and-nevada-pfvwus-pf~1452912040)

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 3 reviews**

### All 3 reviews

**★★★★★ — Carol Aneshensel, Oct. 2016**

> Working with Ted to design the kitchen renovation was an exceptionally positive collaboration. The first time we met, he showed me a wide range of styles, some of which I liked a lot and others that didn’t work for me. After 15 minutes or so, he was showing me only things I liked – having figured out my style before I recognized it. For a couple of things, like the style of cabinets, he persisted in showing me refinements on the basic style I preferred until we hit perfection.
> In starting this project, I didn’t think that the footprint for this small kitchen offered much in the way of redesign, but Ted proved me wrong. The most significant change, which has altered the entire experience of being in the kitchen, was countertop height for the area connecting the kitchen to the dining room. It had been split level, counter height in the kitchen and bar height in the dining room—each area was narrow, meaning that there was little space for food preparation in the kitchen. Ted’s redesign leveled the entire space to counter height and also extended it several inches into the dining room. While I immediately liked the look of it in the drawings of the renovation, it was such a radical change that I hesitated until I asked several young people about whether to keep the old design or change it – they unanimously went for the expansive, continuous, counter height choice. I was nervous about it until the countertop was installed – and then I could not have been happier with it.  The area for food preparation has greatly expanded, making it a pleasure to cook instead of a hassle, and there is a sense of continuity with the dining room and living room that makes me realize how closed off the kitchen was before.
> Other design features were less dramatic, but equally effective. For example, Ted built into the design ways to use the “dead” spaces in the corners of the cabinets. And he has exceptionally good taste. This is evident in the color of the cabinets, slate, which is a sophisticated look similar to furniture. He also suggested doing the area under the countertops in the dining room with panels that match the cabinets, giving the area a very “finished” look. And, he kept me from making mistakes, ruling out a color choice for the backsplash, for example, that would have been all wrong, and picking one that seemed weird to me, but is perfect. In fact, perfection goes down to the smallest details: everyone who has seen the kitchen has remarked on the hardware.
> I thoroughly enjoy being in the kitchen and spend more time cooking than I did before the renovation. My neighbors and friends have all expressed envy over the kitchen. Their reactions make me certain that it has increased the value of my condo. Equally important, it was a pleasure working with Ted and I recommend him with enthusiasm.

**Comment from The Kitchen Therapist:**

> Thank you Carol, for your review. I can see you are truly pleased with your new kitchen.

**★★★★★ — User, July 2016**

> Ted is a true professional in every way and so it the company he works for.
> Ted is intelligent, courteous, kind, patient, creative, insightful, thorough you could not want more in a designer. We have been throughly impressed by him and the work he has done for us…

**★★★★★ — connietweston, July 2016**

> Ted...Such a great and lovely person!!!!!  We were so lucky to call him first, just out of the blue at Bay Cities for general information.   It was our first kitchen remodel after almost 25 years when we bought our condo new.  We fell in love with Ted the moment we walked into his place of business.  Till this day any remodeling we do we contact Ted first and only,   He listens to our needs, what we have in mind, our likes and dislikes then very meticulously puts together plans that we can work with and/or rearrange to come up with exactly what we want and need.  He is right on because he listens, puts himself in our shoes and always comes up with the perfect solution for our home.  Ted meets deadlines and works within ones budget.  We still work with Ted no matter what our project is, as he has great insight as to our personalities and our needs.  We love you Ted, Connie & John,  Marina Del Rey

## Selected projects

- [MESSINA](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/messina-pj-vj~1454710)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 1
- [TRADITIONAL SHOWROOM DISPLAY KITCHEN](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/traditional-showroom-display-kitchen-pj-vj~1452683)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 1
- [LIBUSER](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/libuser-pj-vj~1452606)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 3
- [BAUFORMAT & BURGER GERMAN BUILT](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bauformat-and-burger-german-built-pj-vj~1456991)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 55
- [WEINER RESIDENCE](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/weiner-residence-pj-vj~1452444)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 5
- [NESHEIM](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/nesheim-pj-vj~1452591)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 3
- [ELDER](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/elder-pj-vj~1452471)
  - Location: Beverly Hills, CA
  - Photos: 6
- [SPANISH STYLE BUNGALOW](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/spanish-style-bungalow-pj-vj~1452725)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 2
- [WONG](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wong-pj-vj~1452579)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 1
- [ANESHENSEL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/aneshensel-pj-vj~1488792)
  - Location: Santa Monica, CA
  - Photos: 7
- [VARIOUS](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/various-pj-vj~1454739)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 81
- [VANESSA](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/vanessa-pj-vj~1488786)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 4
- [BEVERLY HILLS](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/beverly-hills-pj-vj~1452695)
  - Location: Beverly Hills, CA
  - Photos: 1
- [HORTON](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/horton-pj-vj~1454718)
  - Location: Venice, CA
  - Photos: 1
- [VENIT](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/venit-pj-vj~1454704)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 2
- [SCHRIER](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/schrier-pj-vj~1454694)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 1
- [SASSOUNIAN](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sassounian-pj-vj~1454681)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 4
- [SHOWROOM DISPLAY](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/showroom-display-pj-vj~1452705)
  - Location: Santa Monica, CA
  - Photos: 2
- [SHOWROOM WORKING KITCHEN](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/showroom-working-kitchen-pj-vj~1452638)
  - Location: Santa Monica, CA
  - Photos: 1
- [MATZ RESIDENCE](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/matz-residence-pj-vj~1637120)
  - Location: Los Angeles, CA
  - Photos: 9

[See all 51 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/the-kitchen-therapist-pfvwus-pf~1292245617)

## Ideabooks

- [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/168490573/list/wish-list) — 1 idea
- [MY CREATURE COMFORTS](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/89071168/list/my-creature-comforts) — 6 ideas
- [MODERN PROJECTS](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/57984811/list/modern-projects) — 25 ideas
- [WESTON](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/112024516/list/weston) — 4 ideas
- [BRIAN NOVACK](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/115460291/list/brian-novack) — 25 ideas
- [TED DESIGNS TINY HOUSES ON WHEELS](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/95372811/list/ted-designs-tiny-houses-on-wheels) — 22 ideas
- [ELNITICARTA](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/96466130/list/elniticarta) — 2 ideas

[See all 7 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/ted-benz)

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-24.*