--- title: "Basic Builders, Inc. — Kitchen & Bath Remodelers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-remodelers/basic-builders-inc-pfvwus-pf~629441381 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~629441381.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Basic Builders, Inc." category: ["Kitchen & Bath Remodelers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/9de33e3e01428c80_8238-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "21 Emory Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07304, United States" latitude: 40.718 longitude: -74.0754 phone: "(201) 433-7358" website: http://basicbuilders.com rating: 5 review_count: 47 best_of_houzz_awards: 8 followers: 180 last_updated: 2026-09-05 --- # Basic Builders, Inc. Original Houzz profile: [Basic Builders, Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-remodelers/basic-builders-inc-pfvwus-pf~629441381) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Kitchen & Bath Remodelers - **Location:** Jersey City, NJ - **Serves:** Newark, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Clifton, Bayonne, Passaic, East Orange, Union City, North Bergen, Hoboken, West New York, Bloomfield, West Orange, Kearny, Montclair, Belleville, Orange, Nutley, Maplewood, Carteret, Roselle, Hillside, Lyndhurst, Secaucus, Palisades Park, Harrison, Rutherford, South Orange, North Arlington, Weehawken, Verona, Roselle Park, Ridgefield Park, Cedar Grove, Upper Montclair, Guttenberg, Ridgefield, Little Ferry, Union, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Manhattan, New York - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (47 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 8 awards (2014–2023), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Industry Research - Barometer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves IKEA Kitchen Experts: Design, Installation, Customization At Basic Builders we take the time to get the details right. With over 20 years experience, Basic Builders is the premier kitchen installer of Ikea style cabinets in the New Jersey & New York metro area. Husband & wife team Peter and Lissa Welles are both Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates, each holding a B.S. in mechanical engineering. We call ourselves the Kitchen Engineers. Our design service includes a two hour private session in your home creating your dream kitchen. ### Services Provided - Kitchen Remodeling - Cabinet Installation - Tile Installation - Backsplash Installation - Kitchen Design ### Areas Served - Newark - Jersey City - Elizabeth - Clifton - Bayonne - Passaic - East Orange - Union City - North Bergen - Hoboken - West New York - Bloomfield - West Orange - Kearny - Montclair - Belleville - Orange - Nutley - Maplewood - Carteret - Roselle - Hillside - Lyndhurst - Secaucus - Palisades Park - Harrison - Rutherford - South Orange - North Arlington - Weehawken - Verona - Roselle Park - Ridgefield Park - Cedar Grove - Upper Montclair - Guttenberg - Ridgefield - Little Ferry - Union - Bensonhurst - Coney Island - Manhattan - New York ### Typical Job Cost $5,000 - 15,000 ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Basic Builders, Inc. | | Address | 21 Emory Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07304, United States | | Phone | (201) 433-7358 | | Website | http://basicbuilders.com | | License Number | 13VH01976900 | | Followers on Houzz | 180 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/BasicBuildersIKEAKitchenInstaller?v=wall&ref=ts - Blog — https://medium.com/@peterkimnyc/our-kitchen-renovation-8e492ac5535a\#.ae7a9hoon ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Basic Builders, Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-remodelers/basic-builders-inc-pfvwus-pf~629441381) - **Website:** http://basicbuilders.com - **Phone:** (201) 433-7358 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - BS Mechanical Engineering - **Best of Houzz:** 8 awards (2014–2023), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 47 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — HU-74826051, May 2022** > We have our dream kitchen thanks to Basic Builders! Peter is an artist! He brings an attention to detail, precision, and true craftsmanship to his work that is not equaled. We could not be happier and are so grateful he was willing to travel out to us. **★★★★★ — Carmen Dreyer, Dec. 2019** > Basic Builders designed and built our kitchen and the experience was perfect from start to finish. Peter and Lissa were efficient, responsive, and suggested great ideas we would never have thought of ourselves. Their flexibility and speed made the process as painless as possible. Plus, now we have a dream kitchen! **★★★★★ — Eric Zuckerman, Oct. 2019** > I would highly recommend Lissa and Peter! Out of all of the contractors I have worked with I felt Basic Builders was by far the easiest. Very transparent communication, executed on a mutually agreed timeline, and really took pride in the quality of their work. Thanks again for being great partners, Lissa and Peter! **★★★★★ — K Shah, Sept. 2019** > We hired Basic Builders to do a gut renovation of our kitchen. As this was our first renovation we were a bit nervous, but the owners (Peter & Lissa) were a pleasure to work with. They answered all of our questions along the way and provided the necessary guidance along the way. The project finished within the timeline we were initially provided and there were no "hidden" or "surprise" costs that came up along the way. If were to ever need another kitchen redone we would definitely use them again. **★★★★★ — Adam Chen, Sept. 2019** > Stop searching, Peter and Lissa are the Pro you are looking for! Words can't describe how beautiful the new kitchen is. **★★★★★ — karen solomon, May 2019** > We were recommended to Basic Builders by a neighbor who thought highly of their work. We investigated other kitchen renovators as well to judge for ourselves. After speaking to a few other people we decided to go with Basic Builders. We instinctively had a good feeling. And we were right! > From the beginning the project got off to a great start. We had some glitches which had nothing to do with Basic Builders. They always found a way to fit us back into the schedule. > Peter supervised and was always on the job himself with another worker. They were thorough, paid attention to detail and always had valuable insight for the project. They were always really pleasant as well! > The contract was very clearly laid out and invoices were as expected. No unexpected surprises! > We love our kitchen and are so happy that the experience was great from beginning to end. Would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a kitchen renovation. **★★★★★ — Elie C, April 2019** > We absolutely loved working with Lissa & Peter. From beginning to end, they strive to make this renovation project as quick, painless and smooth as possible. Lissa was so calm throughout the whole process. We had some hiccups with IKEA, which was no fault of Basic Builders and Lissa calmly worked through the issues. Basic Builders patiently worked with us to get building management approval and started the project quickly and finished exactly as promised. The picture I loaded does not do Peter's work justice. We are in LOVE with our kitchen. Peter was very very thoughtful in the way he worked and texted us the progress along the way. Any questions we had for them was answered timely. We are SO happy that Basic Builders was recommended to us. Whenever I am in my kitchen, I take a pause just to soak in the happiness. We wish that they did more than just kitchens too! We highly recommend Basic Builders!!! **★★★★★ — Rachel Weber, Nov. 2018** > We hired Lissa and Peter to upgrade our very old, awkward, shabby kitchen. We wanted IKEA kitchen cabinets with a tight, professional fit and they did not disappoint. Lissa was on top of the design process, editing until we were satisfied and Peter ensured a professional insulation from soup to nuts. We love our beautiful kitchen and wholeheartedly recommend this fab duo! **★★★★★ — Rossen Stoyanchev, Oct. 2018** > We were looking for a complete makeover of our 15 year old kitchen which had lots of issues including limited space, poor lighting choices, small sink pressed against the wall, no backsplash, all around bland looking, and so on. Obviously we can't alter space but when space is limited, careful choices are even more important and small changes can make a big difference > > We weren't sure if we could do all this, if we needed a designer, how expensive it would be, etc. At first we tried a national chain that gives free consultation but we came out of that with a proposal to reface cabinets only for 8K. That wasn't even scratching the surface of what we wanted to do. Then I came across the profile for Basic Builders on Houzz by searching locally in Jersey City. I was sold on the solid reviews, the fact they were local, and have been doing it for a long time. So we decided to give them a try. > > What I appreciated immediately is the practical process, especially compared to the national chain. I was given a questionnaire to fill out with questions that made us think about what we wanted to do and take as much time as we needed, and in turn it gave them an idea of the scope of what we want. Then we got back a proposal with a rough of idea of the price, and only then we scheduled to meet for a measuring and consultation session. That sequence made perfect sense to me and took a lot of pressure out of trying to figure out everything in an initial 1-2 hour meeting. > > All along the way I felt that Lissa and Peter had lots of experience in what they're doing and were very resourceful pointing me in the right direction, while also allowing us to make decisions, which is exactly what we wanted. I believe they do have the option to design what needs to be done, but in our case we were comfortable with thinking about what we want while at the same time having someone very knowledgeable to ask about what is and isn't feasible. > > In the end we got an updated kitchen that we can fit things into without clutter, with good lighting, and a pleasure for us to be in. **★★★★★ — TRACI SCHWINN, Oct. 2018** > Look no further. I cannot say enough good things about Lissa and Peter. The process is excellent. The work is excellent. The prices are competitive. We've used them once in 2009 for our kitchen (which still gets frequently complimented) and just again in 2018 for a smaller, but very challenging project. I look forward to calling on them again. **★★★★★ — Jennifer, Oct. 2018** > Basic Builders did an excellent job on my kitchen renovation. In fact, if I had known the process would be so smooth, I would have done it years ago. > From the first interaction, Lissa was calm, polite and professional. She managed the process fantastically, especially the IKEA concierge service, which was worth it's weight in gold. > Peter was fantastic on site - always on time in the morning, and he left everything clean at the end of the day which was much appreciated. He took the time to let me know if anything "unusual" had come up during the day, and was patient with both my curious cats and children. Peter strikes me as a perfectionist, even down to the tiniest cabinets he built next to my stove which are perfect for my step stool, rather than just including a filler panel. > I'm so pleased that I found Basic Builders on Houzz. **★★★★★ — Ale Weinberg, Oct. 2018** > We love our new kitchen and the process was well organized and timely. The Ikea kitchen system has a lot of moving parts, both literally and figuratively, and Lissa is wonderful at navigating what can be a little daunting, to make sure you have all your nuts and bolts. > Peter is hands down the most conscientious and exacting craftsman we have ever had work in our home. He has the right tools and abilities to make sure everything fits together beautifully. We are especially amazed at the way he was able to keep the symmetry in our somewhat tricky backsplash. There were several times Peter went out of his way to ensure our satisfaction with the finished product. The project took place during a particularly busy time for us and we felt absolutely confident leaving Peter and his helper alone in our home, they even took care to keep an eye on our dog in our absence. > Thank You Basic Builders! Four thumbs up from myself and the Mrs. ## Selected projects - [IKEA Bodbyn White kitchen Montclair](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-bodbyn-white-kitchen-montclair-pj-vj~5466842) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - [Voxtorp White and Walnut IKEA kitchen in Staten Island](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/voxtorp-white-and-walnut-ikea-kitchen-in-staten-island-pj-vj~5438513) - Location: Staten Island, NY - Photos: 8 - [IKEA bright white in Brooklyn](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-bright-white-in-brooklyn-pj-vj~3791604) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 1 - [IKEA Tingsryd Kitchen Update](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-tingsryd-kitchen-update-pj-vj~3659615) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - [Family Time! SemiHandmade Doors on CUSTOMIZED IKEA frames](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/family-time-semihandmade-doors-on-customized-ikea-frames-pj-vj~3182971) - Location: Jersey City, NJ - Photos: 1 - [IKEA Stainless Steel Galley kitchen in Jersey City](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-stainless-steel-galley-kitchen-in-jersey-city-pj-vj~2842039) - Location: Jersey City, NJ - Photos: 1 - [IKEA Kallarp and Ringhult](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-kallarp-and-ringhult-pj-vj~2821651) - Location: Lyndhurst, NJ - Photos: 3 - [Customized Compact IKEA kitchen in Ringhult](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/customized-compact-ikea-kitchen-in-ringhult-pj-vj~2781682) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 3 - [IKEA Kitchen : Ringhult White and Grey in Manhattan](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-kitchen-ringhult-white-and-grey-in-manhattan-pj-vj~2622596) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 3 - [Montclair Gray & White IKEA Bodbyn Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/montclair-gray-and-white-ikea-bodbyn-kitchen-pj-vj~2576060) - Location: Montclair, NJ - Photos: 5 - [IKEA Kitchen Abstrakt White Manhattan](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-kitchen-abstrakt-white-manhattan-pj-vj~369847) - Location: Manhattan, NY - Photos: 5 - Description: Removal of wall opens space up for this clean, bright Manhattan kitchen. Deep island with waterfall Ceasarstone "Blizzard" counters creates eat in function. Microwave built in to island, keeping counters open for workspace. Under-cabinet task lighting and pendants add function and glam. Sub-Zero built into wall, faced with customized IKEA kitchen panels. - [IKEA Berkley Heights Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-berkley-heights-kitchen-pj-vj~2421122) - Location: Berkeley Heights, NJ - Photos: 5 - [IKEA Kitchen Custom Doors](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-kitchen-custom-doors-pj-vj~2384647) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 18 - [Hoboken IKEA kitchen Makeover Bodbyn Grey](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hoboken-ikea-kitchen-makeover-bodbyn-grey-pj-vj~2215394) - Location: Hoboken, NJ - Photos: 4 - [IKEA Adel White in Princeton NJ](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-adel-white-in-princeton-nj-pj-vj~399420) - Location: Princeton, NJ - Photos: 20 - [Brooklyn Heights IKEA Adel White](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/brooklyn-heights-ikea-adel-white-pj-vj~430403) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 7 - [IKEA Jersey City Loft](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-jersey-city-loft-pj-vj~2388941) - Location: Jersey City, NJ - Photos: 10 - [IKEA Kitchen Adel White Eclectic](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-kitchen-adel-white-eclectic-pj-vj~365659) - Location: Little Silver, NJ - Photos: 6 - [IKEA Applad Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ikea-applad-kitchen-pj-vj~2378851) - Location: Maplewood, NJ - Photos: 1 - [Brooklyn Customized IKEA Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/brooklyn-customized-ikea-kitchen-pj-vj~2365843) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 3 - Description: This project features custom-made cabinets with butcher-block counter tops and a farmhouse sink. [See all 33 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-remodelers/basic-builders-inc-pfvwus-pf~629441381) ## Community Q&A **Q: What is the name of this countertop? What is it** *(in Photo Questions)* Love the countertops. Not sure the material or name A: The client chose the counter. I don't know the name. **Q: Countertop is beautiful! Can you tell me more about it?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Here is a blog our customer wrote detailing his kitchen reno, and listing all the materials choices. Enjoy! http://basicbuilders.com/our-kitchen-renovation-by-peter-kim/ **Q: Backsplash** *(in Photo Questions)* Hi, what type of tile was used for the backsplash of this kitchen? Thank you!! A: The customer purchased the tile, I do not have any info on it! **Q: love the kitchen, where is i from?** *(in Photo Questions)* my name is sanele i just like the design and also the colour my email adress is liezelsanelisiwet@yahoo,com.but at the centre a small vegetables rug like this one in this centre could you please email me such photo. A: This kitchen is IKEA Abstrakt high gloss red, a color that has been discontinued. It is a very fun kitchen indeed! **Q: Farmhouse sink** *(in Photo Questions)* Hi is the sink from Ikea as well? If not is it difficult using Non ikea sinks with their countertops? A: This is not an IKEA sink, the cabinet has been customized to accommodate it. **Q: what is the backsplash? thanks** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The client sourced the backsplash tile, I believe it is marble mosaic. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-05.*