Completely Personal Homes LLC

In 2013, we decided it was time to downsize. After building a large house in 1999 with three levels, six bedrooms, and four and a half baths, we realized we no longer needed such a sprawling space after our three sons moved out. Having lived in southeast Charlotte, NC, for over 24 years, we were committed to staying in the area but wanted a smaller home that suited our lifestyle. We focused on higher-end, custom-built houses or townhomes in the +/- 3,000 square-foot range. Eventually, we found an ideal home in a beautiful townhome community in southeast Charlotte. Built around 2007-2008, these homes feature high ceilings, crown molding, and upscale touches. We settled on an end-unit townhouse with an elevator, which made the three-level layout functional despite not having a primary bedroom on the main floor. While we loved the house, we recognized a few areas that needed improvement, particularly the kitchen layout, which didn’t maximize the available space, and the awkwardly placed powder room. Additionally, the main floor’s lofty ceilings were paired with standard-height doors instead of full-height ones, which felt like a missed opportunity. Fast forward to April 2024, we decided to bring our renovation ideas to life. Finding the right partner was crucial, and after interviewing several designers, we knew Christopher “Chris” Ely was the perfect choice. With years of experience as a general contractor and custom home builder, Chris brought unparalleled knowledge to the project. Having transitioned his focus solely to design, Chris now helps homeowners navigate major renovations like kitchens and baths. When facing a renovation involving structural changes and relocating utilities, you need a trusted partner, and Chris was, and is, that person. In May, Chris helped us reimagine our space. What began as an 800-square-foot combination of dining room, hallway, kitchen, and powder room became a stunning, functional design. Key features include a butler’s pantry, a full walk-in pantry, an extended hallway to obscure the powder room, a defined dining room, and a 9’ by 4’+ center island with seating for four. The kitchen also now includes a coffee bar and a cozy banquette area for six. Chris guided us through every step, introducing us to trusted suppliers for cabinets, countertops, tile, and appliances. Over five months, we finalized the layout and selections through four iterations. The final design included photo-realistic renderings and a 20-page “design book” detailing every aspect of the project. This book has served as the blueprint for the general contractor and trades since demolition began in mid-September. He also recommended a reliable general contractor, ensuring the project was executed to perfection. As of this review, we’re in the final stages and excited to move into our beautifully reimagined space in January. His expertise and dedication have exceeded our expectations, and we look forward to working with him on future renovations.

Chris was so fun to work with. He really cares to take the time to know how you like to live and function in your home, then proposes designs with that in mind. He is thoughtful about all components of the home.

When we finally decided that we needed to do a complete remodel of our 20+ year old kitchen, what most held us back is that we had no idea of what the process was and which of the endless vendors we should work with. Finding Chris's website and recommendations , took all that uncertainty away. Although we were not moving any walls or that kind of complexity, we were amazed at how much detailed planning went into how we used the kitchen and what would be the best configuration for our needs. In addition, Chris knew the vendors for us to talk to, and who were the most experienced sales rep to work with. Having Chris as an independent consultant ment that we always had another voice available when we were not sure we understood what we were being told. Although we had built a house only 12 years ago, we were surprised at how much the technology and design trends have evolved, and you can only watch so many you tube videos before you are overwelmed. Our kitchen project went well, on time with no technical surprises. The most difficult challenge is probably that our recent inflationary spiral has significantly increased the remodeling costs beyond most of our expectations.

Chris saved the day! Faced with an unexpected kitchen-island remodel (water damage), I was overwhelmed with all the possibilities and knew that I needed professional help. Chris stopped by and within minutes, he had everything figured out. He had excellent suggestions on the proper amount of space needed around the island and the best layout for seating. In addition to the practical elements, his aesthetic is Houzz-worthy. He recommended a mitered-edge countertop to elevate the island and make it the focal point it should be and had great ideas about the hardware, the lighting, the surrounding backsplash, and small tweaks to the neighboring area. In addition to his design help, he provided suggestions for stone houses, fabricators and tile installers. I'm not done with my project, but hope to post pictures soon.

Chris did an amazing job helping me design my kitchen, great room, and entire house. He listened to what I wanted and provided great ideas that enhanced the original plan. He provided excellent 3D drawings with such quick turnaround. The place looks great, and Chris was a big part of that. Would hire him again in a heartbeat. Thanks, Chris!

A decision to only change our countertops ended up in considering a complete new kitchen. Our contractor recommended we talk with Completely Personal Kitchens and after the initial on site meeting and a design that was ‘spot on’, we were on our way to our dream kitchen. Chris Ely knew the questions to ask, listened to our comments on how we used our kitchen and applied all this to his design. It’s the perfect two cook kitchen complete with a TV! We would highly recommend this company. Robert and Sharon McGirt Waxhaw, NC

Chris did an amazing job redesigning our kitchen. Giving my wife the ability to visualize the space post construction was a key aspect of being able to commit to much of the design changes we were hoping for. Beyond that key aspect, Chris' connections with vendors for the various parts of the process was key in delivering the high quality outcome we desired.

We were referred to Chris Ely two years ago and have been extremely pleased with his designs. Last year we had a very large remodel that included a addition of a second story bathroom, remodel of an existing bathroom, turning a porch into an indoor sunroom and adding an outside patio. It all turned out so beautiful, we asked him to design our kitchen and family room this year. We did not change the kitchen layout, but removed all the cabinets etc. and changed our existing fireplace. Once again, it all turned out perfect. My kitchen is so user friendly and exactly what I envisioned. Chris assisted us in all our decisions in tile,countertops, flooring, cabinets, etc. We are so happy with our decisions and the design.

Christopher Ely is a wizard that transformed our home from ordinary to exceptional. Our request was an additional room off the kitchen. We were looking for a room to relax & enjoy the great views. His vision and guidance created a space that offered all of this and more. This room is so comfortable and inviting that we use this space daily to relax or to enjoy guests. It is perfect! Chris is a talented professional that is a great designer, one to meet deadlines, and to communicate. He is aware of our budget and brings ideas to us that are amazing. Best decision ever was to hire Chris.

Hiring Completely Personal Kitchens was the best decision we made in our remodeling project! Our designer, Christopher Ely, helped us make our wish list become a reality beyond our expectations. Christopher took the time to learn about us and our needs, then visited our home to learn about the structure and existing design of our old kitchen to help us determine what would be possible in a remodeling project. He went right to work on our design, and created digital renderings of plans that would help us envision our dream kitchen. Once he revealed our plans based on our wish list and structural needs, he introduced us to acompanies that could make our dream kitchen become a reality. His vast knowledge about products and services really helped us navigate through decisions and design choices. When we couldn't decide on a selection, he would add our choices to the digital renderings of the design so we could see what it would look like in our design. Our kitchen project involved a complete demolition and redesign, which can be challenging, but the Christopher explained the process so we would know what to expect when construction began. I highly recommend Completely Personal Kitchens for your remodeling needs. Our kitchen is a dream come true!

Completely Personal Kitchens did an excellent job on our bathroom remodel. We asked Chris to helps us redesign our master closet and bathroom space. In our ideal situation we wanted to relocate the laundry to the second level. After reviewing the space and our needs he came up with the perfect solution that gave us everything we wanted. He then assisted with interior design and even helped us recruit a builder to complete the project. It was a great experience and Chris was there for us every step of the way! Highly recommend.

Hiring Chris Ely of Completely Personal Kitchens was the best decision I made when wanting to remodel our kitchen. He came to the house and we first discussed what we were thinking about. We wanted to totally gut the kitchen, keeping the flooring. He had lots of suggestions. His enthusiasm for ways we could upgrade everything was key. We had no idea what we wanted and he had the best suggestions. So after talking he took measurements. Then he went home and created an 18 page document that showed our kitchen and his proposed suggestions including 3-D images and blueprints including the measurements. Chris then invited us to meet with the vendors: cabinets, countertops, appliances, etc. I would not have had a clue which companies to go with. He made all those decisions so much easier. Once the demolition started, Chris was available at any time as things developed, by phone, email and texts. He responded immediately. Whenever I had a question about the construction process (I have NO clue about what this whole process entails), Chris quickly responded and helped me understand how things would go. He even called the cabinet company owner when I was dissatisfied with their lack of communication and what seemed to me incompetence. I had no idea how to handle the issues. His knowledge was invaluable!! When we first met Chris he said that once the project was finished he wanted us to walk in the kitchen and say WOW. And that’s exactly what has happened. We love everything and our neighbors were wowed as well. Chris has been professional, available and very knowledgeable.

This was one of the best decisions I have made. I was really having a hard time deciding what I wanted to do in my kitchen so ended up doing nothing. My sister made me an appointment with Mr. Ely and he was wonderful. He gave me a great design for my kitchen and living room and made multiple changes when I was not sure of something. He asked me a lot of question about what I wanted and changed anything without compliant when it turned out it was not what I wanted. He really supported what I liked and wanted and my color choices were bold to say the least. He is wonderful to work with and gives great suggestions but in the end he supports what you fill is right for you.

Chris was terrific with our kitchen remodel. We were new to the area and it seemed that he had contacts everywhere, starting with a wonderful cabinet person. He understood immediately what we wanted in our kitchen and made it his goal to make sure it happened. He was responsive always and great to work with. I highly recommend him.

Chris was instrumental in getting our kitchen remodel project started. We had a beautiful but dated 1989 design that we wanted to update, but where to begin? We opted to use a designer to help get us "out of our comfort zone." Chris helped us to re-think the whole layout of the kitchen and adjoining family room. He listened to our needs, and he came up with an initial design. If you've ever worked with a designer, you know it's an iterative process. His 3D rendering helped us to visualize everything. After going through the various designs he suggested, we were able to zero in and moved forward with getting a bid on doing the work. We absolutely love our new kitchen! The layout is so much more functional than before, and having cabinets all the way to the ceiling gives us so much extra storage space. Our experience working with Chris has been nothing short of amazing and we won't hesitate to call on him again!

Hiring Chris to design our kitchen was one of the best decisions my husband and I made in our kitchen renovation project. He was able to listen to our rather vague ideas and create a kitchen design that we never would have imagined without his help. The 3D images he presented to us enabled us to see how the kitchen would look and, more importantly, feel. Chris was also able to illustrate why certain design choices would work better in our space, like a peninsula rather than an island. Once the initial design was in place, Chris worked with us to fine-tune every detail to tailor the kitchen to our wishes. The end result is truly the kitchen of my dreams, and my husband says his favorite part of the project is the joy he sees on my face every time I’m in our beautiful, light-filled, new space!

We thought we could redesign our dated ranch house ourselves - NOT!! When we stumbled onto Chris Ely w/Completely Personal Kitchens, we knew we had found a match made in Heaven! He has all the right credentials; he has all the modern technology; but most importantly, Chris has the passion to dig deep to design exactly what his client(s) want. We LOVED Chris's drawings so much that throughout the rebuild, we stuck to the original design with almost every detail. The result: together we created an amazing light filled home that has everyone literally stunned!! I'm quoting, 'we turned the ugly duckling into a beautiful swan'!! Thank you Chris for a home we plan to enjoy for many years!!

We worked with Chris on a project to convert our back porch to a 4 season room, add a new back patio, renovate an existing upstairs bathroom, and add a new bathroom upstairs. We worked closely with Chris on the initial design. Chris was extremely thorough, and really listened to our needs and wants. He provided us with an outstanding initial design that we loved. He worked with us to make some small tweaks based on our thoughts as the project transitioned from an idea to reality. The final outcome was a truly sensational renovation that was very close to Chris' initial ideas based on our input. We are absolutely ecstatic with the design and the final result. I've attached a few photos, but they don't do the project justice. You have to see it in person to truly appreciate it.

My wife and I decided to work with Chris to design our master bathroom remodel. And we could not be happier with the results. Chris provided an in-depth consultation to learn what we wanted in our bathroom project. He then proposed many excellent suggestions. Once we had a rough draft of what we wanted he created an amazing computer/visual presentation that brought the ideas to life. We were again provided an opportunity to make changes, which Chris incorporated into the final drawings. Chris then recommended several contractors and vendors that could do the work or provide the materials. Chris also provided our general contractor with drawings that helped with the actual work to make the remodel happen. In the end we have a beautiful master bathroom. A million thanks would not be enough to thank Chris for his efforts.

I am an avid cook, so my kitchen had to be perfect, both functionally and esthetically, which is why I chose to work with Chris Ely as my designer. His astute observations and unexpected recommendations made me re-evaluate the design I had originally imagined in my mind - but I'm so glad I did!!! He pointed out things I just hadn't considered, and as a result, my kitchen is a delight! I am thrilled with the result! Even when I'm not cooking, I love to just walk in from time to time, look around, and breathe in the wonderful feeling it gives me!

Chris did an amazing job of listening to our needs for our kitchen and bath remodel, and then translating them into a real-world working environment. Throughout the process we were able to give feedback, make changes, and be guided to some of the best ideas for the spaces we had. The outcome for both is a delightful bath and laundry area which more than meets our needs and wants, and a kitchen that pleases the eye, is more than functional, and a centerpiece of conversation while allowing easy access to all the amenities need while preparing a meal for a family of four or twenty-four, without being in one anothers way.

Chris designed our new laundry room, powder room, pantry area. The original structure was very closed off with many walls, doors, and an inefficient use of space. Chris listened to what we wanted and designed a great plan that included a very open space, more functional and efficient use of the pantry area, and new closets (to replace a built in desk), The design 3D renderings he walked us through were great and very detailed which allowed us to really "see" the space prior to construction. We are very happy with the final result.

Chris helped us decide on our ideal layout for our screened porch by presenting several options. The renderings were accurate and closely resembled the end product.

In my experience with building projects, in home or business, my time with Chris has been the best., His thoughts and process, and quality surpass any thing i could have imagined . Also he is a kind and good man, and always adds the touches the matter most.

Chris was great and highly recommend! He can really take your vision of any room and create a space that you’ll fall in love with! He designed our kitchen for us and it looks like we moved into a brand new home! He is very professional and really listens to what you want!

Christopher has worked with us, the general contractor, and our clients on a few of our residential renovations and we have all benefited from his services. He is an extremely talented, organized, thoughtful and dedicated professional from beginning to end. His design concepts are always designed around his clients needs and functionality as well as final looks and balance. I would definitely recommend Christopher to anyone looking to undertake a large renovation to their home. We have enjoyed working with him on our projects and look forward to many more ! Waxhaw Renovations NC

Chris is OUTSTANDING!!! As a person that has more than 40 years of customer service experience my expectations are high and usually not met with the level of expertise and professionalism that Chris exhibits. From our first interaction and discussion about my design needs Chris listened intently and used my input to help craft "OUR" vision of a new kitchen/family room. The reason OUR is important is because Chris is less about driving a theoretical or even personal style of his own but more of meeting the "Client" needs in a manner that is tasteful, creative, economical where needed, but overall comfortable and suited to my lifestyle. Personally you will not find a more energetic and engaging person to work with. I can humbly say my remodel is a work of art that I get to enjoy on a daily basis. Every aspect of how I live is captured in the renovation that Chris designed. He took my lifestyle as a canvas and painted a masterpiece.

We started with Chris nearly 4 years ago. We mapped out a vision for the kitchen remodel, and he provided amazing renderings. Now, in 2021, we are ready to remodel and those original ideas with Chris are still our favorites!

Chris did an excellent job designing our kitchen renovation. We are very pleased with the functionality and the new design.

We were doing a bathroom remodel but it was needing to be a complete redesign first. We had the contractor for the job lined up but needed guidance on the redesign. This is where we were introduced to Christopher’s company. We met with him to discuss our vision on the new bathroom. He came out several times to look at the current layout & measure. His designs & 3D images were excellent- you were able to “see” the new bathroom before they even started on it. He listened to our wants & needs. Also, he was very patient with changes or additions to the plans. Very satisfied with his services.

As a design build firm, we zhave collaborated with Christopher on numerous projects. Christopher not only brings his vast knowledge and many years of experience but most of all we get personal attention and comprehensive service that speaks volumes.

We had a vision of what we wanted our cabin to look like, but Chris took our simple drawings and made it into a wonderful reality. He immediately understood what we were looking for and was able to not only produce amazing drawings, but also to help guide us to thinking about things we had never considered. He has decades of experience being a general contractor and that allowed him to see ahead what mistakes we might be making (our builder said the plans were the best he had ever gotten from a designer). Plus, the technology that he has is unbelievable. We were able to "walk" through our a 3-D rendering of our house and really see what it is going to look like. We could change the wall colors, or the floor or tile at the press of a button. Seriously cool! Can't recommend enough!

I just completed a walkthrough with one of Chris' clients in Huntersville. I served as a custom builder on the project and helped execute the 3-D realistic plans that Chris created with the clients. Chris incorporated unique and personal features such as a custom cabinet front for a hidden pantry. As a builder, there is true joy in watching the homeowner show me the features and describe how the transformed space impacted their everyday life. Chris' focus on the client is remarkable and I see it in every finished product. Chris shares the same passion for the client experience that I do. I am honored to work with him and look forward to the next transformation! - Paul Kowalski

We had a wonderful experience with Chris. Presented thoughtful, comprehensive ideas and renderings that agreed well with our vision. As the job progressed, his flexibility and adaptation, as ideas and such changed, made our experience as smooth as we could have expected. Highest of recommendations.

My kitchen was in dire need of an update but I didn't know where to start. Luckily a friend recommended Completely Personal Kitchens and put me in touch with Chris Ely. After discussing with me my wish list he came back to my home with drawings that let me envision exactly what my kitchen would look like. Every time I changed or tweaked something he would come back with updated drawings. Chris was so accommodating and just a pleasure to work with. I now have my dream kitchen that is a joy to work in.

As part of a larger remodeling project, we hired Completely Personal Kitchens to design our kitchen and master bath. Their designs were both beautiful and practical as we needed to make the home safe and accessible for our 82 year old mother. They worked with us on design and product selection and stayed engaged with our contractor throughout construction to ensure the final spaces were just as beautiful as the designs. The process was easy and there was seamless integration among designers and contractors. They did a great job and we are very happy with the final result.

We agree with the consensus positive praise-worthy HOUUZ reviews of Chris Ely. We highly recommend Chris. We are extremely satisfied with the quality of our remodel design and build. We received excellent economic value as our home is updated and more attractive to future buyers. Many thanks to Chris and his team - we look forward to enjoying our home for years to come. Chris is experienced and capable, and he’s especially passionate about project design and the build to customer satisfaction. We agreed with the vast majority of Chris’ design plans. Importantly, Chris leads a team of competent and experienced contractors, trades people and vendors who have experience from other projects designed by Chris. From beginning to end, Chris regularly communicates to monitor client satisfaction. Key team members are listed below. Each of these individuals are seasoned pros in their respective areas. Anthony Casales (Casale Builders) project general contractor Robert Zebrowski (DesignLoft) designer of kitchen cabinetry and storage, bench seating, and stacked fireplace wall Chip Player (Plaza Appliance) kitchen appliances and living space electronics Note to reader - please click on the “Tri Level Makeover” link for before and after pictures, as well as a video of the finished project. Pictures really do say a thousand words.

We hired Completely Personal Kitchens to assist with remodeling our kitchen and master bathroom. Chris was integral during the design stage and provided a 3D video rendering of the new kitchen and bath. This tool was extremely valuable and we were able to make changes and visualize the finished rooms prior to construction. He also assisted with the contractor selection process and was helpful to us throughout the project. We are very happy with our renovations and highly recommend Completely Personal Kitchens.

Chris is very professional, has insightful ideas; and, at the same time, is very good at bringing out his client’s preferences and incorporating them in his designs. Chis is amazingly prompt in turning around his drawings...which are excellent in quality and detail. He also prepares videos that show what the finished product will look like. I would highly recommend Chris to a prospective client.

We wanted to combine our current kitchen with our dining room. As we were creating the new kitchen design, we discovered that there was a major obstacle of two entirely different ceilings; the dining room had a high coffered ceiling and the kitchen had a high vaulted ceiling. No one had an answer on what to do. One "expert" advised us that we needed to restructure the roof of our ranch home at a cost of over $100,000. We were frustrated! What was to be an easy job was becoming overwhelming. Chris was recommended to us by a Kitchen Designer. Chris was AMAZING! He was so different than any of the other contractors or designers that we had consulted with. Within a few days he had a design created that blended both ceilings, looked stunning, and the cost was so much lower than expected. He put the new design into a video, so we could picture walking into our house and into the new kitchen and it was incredible to see our mental vision in a video. Plus Chris did not end his work there. He continued to consult with us from placement to appliances to crown molding to wall color. His expertise and advise continues. Hiring Chris was the best decision we made with out remodel. We love our new kitchen and we are so glad that we hired Chris!

Chris was recommended to us through our architect. We were doing a major renovation to our house and the kitchen was part of that. Working with Chris was easy, I had a vision for what I wanted and he put that vision to reality. He asked questions and gave solutions to things that I never considered. He was always available when I had a question or idea to run by him. His knowledge and expertise helped immensely when problems needed to be worked through. The vendors he put us in contact with were top notch especially our cabinet company. I would highly recommend Chris if you are looking for that dream kitchen you have always wanted in the budget you can afford.

My husband and I recently completed a bathroom/closet renovation. Our contractor introduced us to Chris as we needed help visualizing the space. With measurements of our current space, Chris was able to design a new space that incorporated the new bathroom features and closet that we wanted. We were able to visualize the finished project with the drawings he provided for the new space. He is very knowledgable about design, layouts, functionality and the latest trends. When it came time to pick out plumbing, lighting, mirrors, etc. he was always willing to answer questions, provide feedback and refer us to his numerous contacts in the business to help us make the right choices! We will definitely consult with him again on our next renovation project!

Chris helped us with a major master bathroom project. Chris was very responsive and accommodating to our schedules and desires for the project. His contractor contacts through out the scale of the project were very helpful.

My husband and I hired Chris to redesign the kitchen/den in our 25 year old home. The kitchen had some serious functionality issues. Chris entirely changed the space to maximize functionality resulting in more countertop space, more cabinet storage and significantly more floor space. It looks like an entirely different space—open, airy and so truly beautiful. Chris was able to intuit my style preferences in just a couple of short meetings. With his help, product selection was even easier than I dared hope. An example: Chris felt my kitchen sink area should be special since so much time was spent there. We splurged on a Rohl (Shaw) fireclay 1 1/2 bowl apron sink—but also, Chris recommended a beautiful casement window that overlooks a fly through bird feeder. This workspace has provided such satisfaction: it is hard to describe. Chris also redesigned our fireplace, an important feature to me. It now provides the most harmonious focal point of the space. All the colors and textures we selected are soft and harmonious (our go-to catchphrase as we made all our product selections). What I liked most about my experience with Chris is not just his professional expertise but his passion about the work. Simply put, Chris loves creating beautiful spaces that are reflective of the people living there. Our new kitchen and den genuinely do this, and have brought us more joy than we ever could have imagined.

I worked with Chris for over 1 1/2 years on designing a kitchen remodel for our uptown Charlotte home. He assisted with layout, function, vendor selection, solidifying my design choices, etc. I wanted my kitchen to be a "jewel box" and we achieved that. I love my new kitchen!!

I have worked with Chris on several jobs over the years and i must say it has been a pleasure. his attention to detail is unmatched. he is truly a asset to any job and i highly recommend him for any project. you wont be disappointed!!!!

Chris helped me plan for a kitchen remodel. He had an eye for enhancements that I had never considered. He met with me multiple times & listened to my goals. And, he delivered drawings on paper and via a You Tube walk-through that was professional & VERY exciting! I'm ready to build now!

I am a Real Estate Broker. I have used Chris's design service twice to help sell homes that were unique and needed an extra tool to help sell the home. The Sellers were also impressed that such a service was available and could feature a home the way buyers could only imagine. Chris's experience, combined with his knowledge and level of quality, are of great value

We worked with Chris on our kitchen and downstairs remodel, and the results were all we hoped for. From the start, Chris listened to our vision, and made great suggestions that we would have never thought of on our own. He was very patient with us and was always very responsive to our questions or if we wanted him to meet a vendor with us. He helped set us up with the right vendors for product selections. The visual plans he put together were great to get a real sense of what our space could transform into. We would highly recommend Chris for any remodel project.

Lemons to lemonade After discovery of our water leak that ruined our kitchen floors and cabinets, Chris Ely came to our rescue. When the water dried up and mold encrusted floors and cabinets removed, we had a clean slate for Chris to help us plan our dream kitchen. Chris listened to how we like to use our home and, with detailed insight, we came up with a new plan to expand our living space with a dream kitchen, added a drop zone, dining room, screened porch, and deck. He was there throughout the construction walking through any decisions and guidance needed for our new construction. What a joy to have all eight of our grandchildren able to sit around our new huge island at Thanksgiving. Our newly expanded living space now offers great flow and a feeling of peace even in a house full of people.

I contacted Chris at Completely Personal Kitchens to help me select a flooring for my kitchen, which had to be replaced due to a water leak. My kitchen floor adjoined 3 other floors in the house and I knew it was very important to get the right flooring. My friend had worked with Chris and had highly recommended him so I gave him a call. Chris was prompt and was ready to help me work to replace my kitchen floor which, in part, had been torn out. He was open to several different flooring options. He advised me on the pros and cons of different options and provided with me several samples. Ultimately, we selected the first title sample Chris picked out. It was perfect and made a kitchen I already loved even more beautiful! While I had originally planned to consult with Chris on just the flooring selection, I realized, after spending only a little time with him, that he possessed a wealth of knowledge and experience that could make this seemingly unpleasant kitchen demolition a much smoother experience. I asked Chris to continue working with me on retaining a contractor and various subcontractors. Having been through a kitchen remodel once, I knew the importance of having knowledgeable and dependable subcontractors. Not only did Chris connect me with an excellent contractor and subcontractors, he also provided some critical planning in advance that helped to insure that the project flowed smoothly and efficiently (by anticipating potential snags along the way). Chris' planning and work up front made the whole construction process as painless as possible. Chris finished off our kitchen project by helping me select the perfect paint and trim color that took our kitchen from great to awesome! Chris' contribution to our kitchen design has made it a totally different and wonderful space. Chris' experience as a builder, designer, and many other areas makes his overall insight into a project extremely valuable. He is very professional, prompt, courteous, fair, reasonable and listens to and considers your concerns and input. When I'm ready to do my next house project, whether it is a kitchen or any other part of my house, I'm calling Chris!

I hired Completely Personal Kitchens to help me first with my living room and my kitchen. I live in an old mill house and my living room was completely gutted. I could not see what was the best use of space so my sister suggested I hire a designer. I really lucked out and got Christopher Ely. He listened to what I liked and wanted and drew up some plans for the livingroom and kitchen. We did some changes and I got something I really loved. The livingroom is done but it will be awhile before I start the kitchen (money shortage). Christopher told me whenever I start to ask him for any help and he would do everything he could to help me get what I want. I would also like to say that while I liked his work that I had seen, it was really not my style. I am eclectic and wild and really out there (my living room is orange with one steel gray wall and the alcove is true red), but he was still able to give me somthing perfect for me, without making me feel like someone with no taste. I was scared of being pushed around by a designer but I got Chris, who is charming, kind, a great listener and a top rate designer. He produced two designs, one with the actual drawings, and one that looked like the finished product and then he revised them and gave me copies of the revised designed, he kept all appointments and not only is he a designer but an architect and best of all for me reasonably priced. I highly recommend him.

"Chris is a pure kitchen designer and not one that really just sells cabinets. This was a demanding high-end custom kitchen remodel that brought together a variety of different materials. Chris’s experience and use of computer generated drawings were invaluable in pulling these materials together and brought scale and detail to the project. From start to finish Chris was prompt, professional and resourceful. His fees were reasonable and his expertise exceeded all expectations. I would recommend Completely Personal Kitchens without reservation"

I am so very thankful that we hired Christopher Ely, with Completely Personal Kitchens. We did a complete remodel on our kitchen, family room and living room. Chris listen to us and came up with a new design for our home that fulfilled our needs and more. What was most helpful for me was how Chris went with me to the vendors and helped me narrow down my choices of products to purchase. His expert knowledge steered us in the direction of quality products, reliable businesses, and fair prices. It would have been overwhelming to me if I had to do all that on my own. Developing the plan went quickly, smoothly, and I felt confident in my decisions. Once the installation of the kitchen began, Chris would stop by to see how it was going and would contact the vendors for us when we had any questions. I would highly recommend Chris to anyone looking to remodel their kitchen/home. Chris often said that his goal is to see the happiness in the customer’s eyes once their remodel job is complete. I truly love my “new” home.

Working with Chris was a pleasure has a good steadfast approach to a project. He is very knowledgeable about design and planning. Chris took the time to make me aware of logistics and planning while working on my project . I look forward to finishing my kitchen and providing some photos.

Chris has been helping us with our home for a year. At first, it was just the kitchen. Then it became the dining room. Once those projects were complete, we are now working on the living room. I told Chris - he needs to change his name - because he does so much more than kitchens! I can't stress enough how thorough he is. He came to our house just to double or triple check a measurement, if something seemed off. Which is very comforting, you know he cares about your project. Also, I thought our project had a far amount of complexity. We needed our 1920's craftsman bungalows' kitchen to do it all. It had to be the laundry room, the mudroom, a mini office - and still look nice! During the renovation, Chris was onsite and worked seamlessly with our contractor to ensure every single detail was attended to. And afterward, he arranged for the cabinet repair person to come over and touch up a few spots. All of this made me think of Chris again when we wanted to redo our living room which has some challenges. We were going to buy a sofa, but something didn't feel right. So, we hired Chris and he used the layout of the room and the sofa we wanted - even changed the paint color and added artwork we wanted to use in the room in the concept - so that we could have confidence in our design choices. We're still working on the room and I'm sure Chris will have a hand in any renovations we decide to do, whether it is this home or a future one.

I really enjoyed working with Chris to make some changes to my kitchen. He immediately grasped what my hopes and tastes were, and he made a number of excellent suggestions for things that I would not have thought of myself. He also encouraged me to take things a step at a time instead of planning every step all at once - so that I could assess the effect as a went along before deciding on the next step. Thank you Chris!

Chris did a wonderful job designing and overseeing the remodel of my kitchen. I was very pleased with the way he efficiently and ergonomically created the perfect layout for the space available. Chris was always available to discuss the project and followed through in every way. When one of my design clients needs a kitchen overhaul, Chris is my go-to guy. I highly recommend that you contact Chris for any project that requires a professional touch. Thanks, Trish Interiors

I happened upon Cabinets by Design and Chris Ely through Houzz. Lucky for me when I contacted them regarding my kitchen remodel, Chris is the one who returned my call. Chris was an absolute delight to work with throughout the entire project, always responsive, helpful and went out of his way to make the process fun, pleasant and painless for me. Going into the project I had a definite vision of the style, layout and colors I wanted for my new kitchen. Chris really listened to my thoughts, ideas and wishes. He not only incorporated my wants into his design plan, he enhanced everything so that I now have a space which far exceeds what I had wished for, hoped for or anticipated. My favorite part of Chris's design is a beautiful cabinet incorporated between the kitchen eating area and the family room which is a different style and finish than the actual kitchen work area cabinets. This cabinet not only looks gorgeous, but I now have a large buffet as well as a significant amount of storage of my large array of table linens and serving dishes. This piece is an incredible enhancement to my entertaining lifestyle, all due to Chris's creativity. Needless to say, I absolutely LOVE my new kitchen space.

We hired Chris to help us 'see' what was possible for a kitchen & laundry remodel, plus the addition of a half bath in our 1974 ranch house. Since my husband and I had never remodeled, even the thought of it was overwhelming and seemed out of reach financially based on hearing what others had spent on their projects. So to have someone come in, present some ideas & discuss the pros and cons, plus the importance of ergonomics and the builders 'code'-- this was enlightening and empowering. With Chris as our sounding board, we could then 'get in the game' to apply those principles to what we wanted to create. The plans were tweaked several times and Chris knowingly suggested we 'sit' with them to ensure they felt right in the long run. The funny thing is, we ended up following Chris's initial advice to re-locate the laundry room to a large closet in the middle of the house where it made the most sense. (And here I thought it was weird that he inspected the whole house, not just the existing kitchen and laundry!!). Thank goodness for this "big picture" approach to solving problems!! So now we have a fully functioning, centrally located laundry and a spacious 1/2 bath off the kitchen, not a toilet and sink awkwardly sharing space with the washer and dryer. With new-found confidence, we are already looking forward to the larger kitchen remodel next year!!

Chris contacted me via Houzz after I posted needing help for a first time bathroom renovation after my contactor vanished on me. I had a couple of shockingly high estimates through other sites & was regretting i had started this much needed home improvement. Chris rode in on a white horse & reassured me what I wanted done was very doable and gave me a comforting realistic price guide. Chris helped guide me on steps i could start taking on my own while he was right there helping me. I think the greatest gift he gave me, was hope. I won't forget how freely he shared his experience and knowledge & how willing he was to fit me into his super busy schedule. Chris is one of the kindest people I have ever run across & consider him a friend. My renovation was so small that I felt I was unfairly taking up Chris' time that he had been very generous with although Chris never treated me or the job as anything less than a top priority. With all that in mind & armed with information Chris shared with me.... when my original contactor reappeared...we were able to work things out and I could let Chris get back to his paying clients. As for the renovation...its been slow but we are finally ready to tile so the end is in sight. Next project: Kitchen!! Guess who I will hire for that? lol. Chris Ely at Completely Personal Kitchens of course!! Thank you Chris for everything but mostly, thank you for just being you! Respectfully Pam, still Kellì's mom

Chris is amazing! The first thing we noticed was how responsive he is. Once I reached out to him, I received a call back in less than 2 hours, remarkable for a busy contractor! We are in the process of making a life transition (downsizing in a huge way) and overwhelmed with just how we needed to change/ layout our new significantly smaller space. He and his lovely wife (Anne) whom we may hire later for her services, came to our home to get a feel for how we live. Within a week he had created a beautiful plan for us to work in phases. Wow, he really listened to what was most important to us and he made those ideals a plan we can work! He was right, now we can see our home the way it will be and it's not nearly as daunting of a project. He is organized, very personable and it's clear he loves what he does. His joy and meticulous attention to detail permeated our entire experience with him. He has a gift for seeing a space and really listening .... rare! We're grateful to have found him. We've begun the process and we're very excited!

We purchased an un-renovated, 30 year old home which we felt had great potential. After moving in, the dated spaces started to wear on us and we really wanted to be more excited about coming home every night. We considered hiring a one stop shop, but we decided to hire an independent designer who we felt might better represent our interests and protect our investment. During our research, we were blown away by how many specialized fields were dedicated to home renovation. Challenge #1: We didn’t have a budget for a team of specialists, so we hoped to find an individual who we liked AND had a unique background that would span construction, architecture and design with some interior decorating abilities sprinkled in. Chris fit this profile for us beautifully. He has experience in the areas we needed (and more), is talented, an excellent listener/psychologist, and is a pleasure to work with. He puts thought into details that most people would miss and has the ability to ask really insightful questions that translate to criteria that will make you fall in love with your space. Challenge #2: Since we want to bring the whole house up to date, our goal is to ensure all the spaces being updated will “talk” to the house as a whole. We don’t want to end up with a set of renovated spaces that look out of place or would require unnecessary remodeling to force the newer parts to fit in with the rest of the house. Luckily Chris has experience as a custom builder and he completely understood our dilemma. He helped us focus and as a result, is designing our deck, mudroom, kitchen and den for the first wave of renovations, as these are the areas we’ll be spending the majority of our time and where most of the living will take place. Chris has been taking us through an iterative design process that goes from good, to better to WOW and we can’t wait to see the finished spaces. Although the renovations are just beginning, we already feel differently about our home based on the designs we have because we can imagine the space the way it’s going to look. I’m sure our challenges are nothing unique, but we feel Chris was tailored for us. As first time renovators, his trusty recommendations and referrals have been invaluable so far and what could be a really stressful process has been a lot of fun. Though there’s much to appreciate, our favorite aspect about working with Chris has been that he’s not just about getting handed a pretty picture on paper. His involvement and dedication makes us confident the finished product will be something we will both love and that he will be proud of. He really has been the trusted advisor he said he hoped he could be. We look forward to posting pictures of the finished spaces and will gladly answer any questions potential clients may have about our experience with Chris. -- John, Jeannie & Josie

I'm currently doing my first ever remodel of my kitchen. I had no idea how to get started, how involved the project would be or how much it would cost me and was feeling pretty overwhelmed. I found Chris on the Houzz app and he was able to meet with me just a couple of days later. He quickly got on board with what I was envisioning for the kitchen and began to guide me. He has been invaluable in helping tease out what I want and why I want it throughout the process. As a result I feel really great about how the project is going to turn out and love what I've picked out so far. Chris has gone above and beyond with helping me not only with the design but guiding me on places to go to shop for materials and appliances, budget considerations, who to use for the construction aspect of the project, etc. He has done an excellent job thus far and I know that my kitchen is going to turn out beautiful and just the way I wanted it once it's done next month.

We tripped on Cabinets by Design in Charlotte when searching out cabinets for our new home we’re building in Southport, NC.. So, I called over there and a fellow named Chris Ely picked up the phone. It was the best call I made while building this house. Chris was incredibly knowledgeable on all their offerings, we settled on Mouser cabinetry. Chris was so meticulous about every detail, you would think he was building a ship to go to Mars. In my day to day job, I work in the data center as a systems engineer. There are no loose ends there, everything fits and if it doesn’t, there is a reason why and it gets corrected. That’s the same approach Chris takes, he is an over communicator which proved to be a great asset as we moved through the process. After our initial meeting, I forwarded Chris all the house plans so he could start developing our vision. He provided several drawings, more like petabytes, as we moved to a final layout. We spent most of our time on the phone with little need for office visits which worked perfectly for us. The main visit was to pick out what style doors, draws and stain and after that, we were on our way. The website allowed us to go into the meetings with strong ideas and Chris gave us guidance on the kind of elegance we were trying to achieve. Chris made the three and a half hour trip from Charlotte to finalize all the details, dimensions and placement for all cabinets. The trip proved to be so valuable when it came time for the installation, there was not one single issue. The end result was a complete success story, the look we were going for was 10 fold of what we anticipated when we first went in. Chris is truly a master craftsmen and I will say the best person we’ve dealt with in the entire process of our house build. Beyond excellence!!!! Thank you Chris…………..MAM

We loved working with Chris and Cabinets by Design; They are very professional! Remodeling a kitchen is a very stressful task, but Chris was always ready to answer immediately our emails, text messages, or calls. Chris not only guided us on every step of the process, but also recommended us the professionals needed for the job. We LOVE our kitchen... Thank you Chris!!!!!

I was looking for a redesign/remodel for my kitchen. I knew from the moment that Chris walked into my house that he was the designer for me. He asked all of the right questions and I felt very listened to. Chris's suggestions fit my lifestyle and personality. After the work was completed I was more than pleased and continue to be. The flow in my house was totally opened and it has been a truly beneficial experience!!! I highly recommend Chris!!!

We hired Chris to design our kitchen and master bath. We are very pleased with the outcome. He listened and was very patient with our wants and needs. I got my "wow" factor!!

My wife and I were extremely pleased with working with Christopher Ely. His knowledge and foresight about kitchen and bathroom design really helped us to create what we fill is a remarkable design. He is highly recommended.

Chris is very thorough and very professional. He follows up quickly and is easy to work with. He has a lot of great ideas from his many years of construction experience. Kitchen remodels are his forte and you can tell he loves a challenge. My kitchen was a challenge! I really loved the 3D online walk through link he provided throughout our process. I'm extremely pleased with Chris's professionalism, his promptness and his experience. I would refer Chris to you to use as he won't disappoint!

Chris helped us design and implement our kitchen remodel about 15 years ago. Great ideas, consideration for what type of cooking would be done (a lot or a 'show' kitchen), easy access to frequently items, type of cabinets to fit these items, etc. Years later, I wouldn't change a thing. I cook a lot, have guests often, and still love the layout and quality of cabinetry.

Chris did an excellent job helping me out with my renovation of a finished room above the garage. He took an inferior plan and turned it into something useful and great to look at. He gave me just the right amount of nudging to get the project done on time and always looked for options that saved me money but did not compromise quality or style. Chris was always a pleasure to work with and accommodated my very busy schedule. He knows client service and has a superb eye for color.

Our master bath was a disaster. We needed a plan. We searched multiple websites and finally found Houzz. It’s great for searching for ideas and experts. It’s ultimately where we found Completely Personal Kitchens and Chris Ely. Yes, I know the name of the company says kitchens and we had a bath to remodel, but Chris is a great designer with lots of knowledge on varied areas. He has been so helpful on all aspects of the design process. He could see things about our space that we just could not see. The design is perfect. In addition to the plans, Chris provided us with a 3-D rendering of our entire space, so I could “see” the flow of the bedroom and bathroom as if I were walking through it. We cannot wait to see the finished product and finally have the master bath of our dreams. Thank you, Chris, for your attention to detail and for all your help in our first major renovation. Mary and Wayne

Absolutely Incredible! - Outstanding Company and a level of detail and insight into the world of my remodel that I never would have imagined existed. You would be very fortunate to have Chris and his company help you with any project! Getting your space to "feel" the way you envision it turns out to be more difficult than it looks. Chris and his company were the "magic" or - secret sauce if you will that made my project turn out better than my wildest expectations. I feel very lucky to have found him. I am very grateful because I know my space would have never turned out to be this beautiful without him! I will try and do my best to elaborate however I must say that no words can describe how awesome the experience was working with them. It is a rare gift to find a company that is so gifted in what they do. Chris is without question a most visionary and gifted designer! We gave him a nickname "the Magician" lol! I have high standards and look for excellence in every detail which makes remodeling even more frustrating sometimes. When I started my project I was going to be my own contractor - I had a clear idea of what I wanted and it seemed like it would be a straight forward endeavor making that happen. As I started refining items like layout, Cabinet Style, Color etc. I felt like my clear idea for the space was getting clouded by the choices coming together in ways I didn't anticipate. It's very difficult to describe the remodel process in words. If you have done it before you know what I'm talking about ;-) It all starts with great ideas and excellent intentions but it can quickly spiral out of control and turn into a hodgepodge where nothing really flows together. This is where I was when I realized I needed help and was very fortunate to have found Chris through a referral from a friend who happens to also own a granite business. When I met with Chris I gave him an overview of what I was thinking for the project including some layout and color ideas. Thats when the project went from my cool kitchen idea to something that is worthy of a TV special ;-) Its the little things I would have never - EVER- Considered that made all the difference. Side note - I brought Chris in For the Kitchen but he worked wonders for the entire Remodel. As he was looking at the space for the Kitchen he somehow saw the outside at the same time as the inside. This may sound obvious but it was very far from that. He suggested that when we do the new trim around the Windows that we include a lower detail hat helps "draw the outside in". What we ended up with was a stepped ledge of sorts at the base of the window that changed the whole feel of the room. Such a seemingly minor detail transformed what looked like a wall with a window to a more encompassing view where your eyes could see past the plane of the wall somehow. He helped us get the exact detail on the ledge through some trial and error with some random pieces we had being used for other areas. Again small detail but a world of difference! Needless to say the Kitchen is one of the highlights of the house and people are always blown away by it. Again very hard to describe in words how his details add awesomeness they just do somehow. In the Master Bath we had spent months finding the Marble slabs - 3 Different types that we loved. We had no idea how to bring the rest of the room together with such earthy tones. Within minutes he suggested a color scheme that seemed like it would work in theory. It was a deep chocolate venetian plaster with some tan and silver highlights. I would never have considered something like that for the walls. Given his track record of incredible we decided just to trust him. When it was done it was a show piece that wows people every time they see it! Something again I could have never envisioned that looks like it should be in a magazine! The master closet was the also amazing - it was a perfect blend of aesthetics and function. A white washed off white color complimented the adjoining bath perfectly adding a subtle touch. His attention to the whole space ( and outside) again made the difference. 45 Degree cabinets in the corners eliminated the box effect and has your perception flow out two huge windows. His ability to understand how one visually perceives a space, how the eye follows objects and thus how that makes the space feel on an intangible level makes him quite an artist. It is a rare gift that someone can see something so uniquely clear in their minds eye when starting with such rough canvas. I consider myself very fortunate to have met Chris and he helped make our House a work of art that we would have never achieved without him! I wish I had more houses to have him help me design :-) lol ....hmmm note to self ;-)

I have worked with Chris Ely as his Installer for many years, I forget maybe 8.Known him forever, worked on and off with him before that. He nicknamed me " the Cabinetologist ". His design ideas will make you want to rebuild your house not just your kitchen. But kitchens are where we live, so that is where we should spend our money. He inspired me to advance my career, teaching me design and sales, mostly by just observing, some by true teaching. You can not go wrong hiring Chris as your home designer, he is an artist in his own right. Winthrope A Ewbank Designer, sales, install, service WoodWorking Wonders, Denver Colo

We built our home in Dillon, Colorado in 2001. Chris Ely and his work are still our favorite "we loved building" stories. We were happy with our initial design and were working with Chris on cabinets for our home. Little did we know we were getting a magic wand in Chris...not just good advice on cabinets! Our over all kitchen design was greatly enhanced with Chris' suggestions. Then, there were several other small adjustment throughout the house that changed it from a good home design to a great one! We wouldn't consider a home building adventure without Chris.

Chris is more than the next kitchen cabinet man. He has a true creative eye to make the most of your space. He gave me ideas I hadn't thought of before. He also listens well to my style of living and using my space. When my general contractor told me we couldn't move a wall to expand my kitchen, Chris went to work. We figured out a way, and wala...it was done. Chris has excellent work ethic and kept to his deadlines. He has a soft demeneor that works well with other contractors, but don't worry, he is very much in control of things. Chris only works with A+ materials and employees. He personally walked me through granite choices at the yard and picking out every detail from knobs to tile and flooring. It has been 7 years since my kitchen remodel and I am still happy every time I walk into my kitchen. If you're scared about picking a contractor, your worries will disappear the first time you talk with Chris. He's the best!

Thanks to a fortuitous opportunity, we were introduced and I loved your design philosophy. I immediately knew that you would be a valuable asset on my team of resources, with your building background and varied design expertise. The very first project you created was for a home with an extra-large Kitchen, a professional chef and 9 children, it was a huge hit with my clients. They think their new Kitchen is ‘Amazing’, and so do I! In addition, I've seen your creative talents on several amazing existing Kitchen transformations. You know how to see the bigger picture, to unite the gathering spaces, along with the Kitchen, into one unified living space that people love to be in.

I have had the pleasure of working directly with Chris Ely for many years. Chris is a reliable and trustworthy professional gentleman with an extradinary sense of style for designing the project of your dreams.

I had been struggling to make my 22 year old dark, traditional kitchen work for me. I had thought about painting, moving cabinets, trying something, anything, to make it feel like I wanted to welcome guests there. But that was a scary thought for me. What if I didn't like it afterwards? The money would be spent but I'd still not be happy with it? That's when we had the good fortune of meeting Chris. He talked to us about what we wanted, observed how we felt and acted while in the old kitchen. Within an hour of visiting us, he had sketched out a design. He instinctively knew what we were looking for - better flow, better lighting, more storage, better organization, more inviting, and he helped us pull it all together with our living room as well. We loved the design! Chris also used his construction expertise to show us how we could implement the changes without disrupting the rest of our home. Chris guided us though all aspects of the project, including product selections, lighting, paint colors, finishes and construction management. He even helped us redesign our old, tired fireplace and mantle - a real bonus! He provided us with a realistic 3D video that allowed us to visually walk through the new rooms before we began construction. At that point we felt we would realize the vision we were hoping for. Now that construction is complete and the dust is gone, we LOVE our new kitchen and sitting room. It has that bright, happy, welcoming feeling I was looking for, and I am so happy each and every time I walk into my beautiful new kitchen!

CPK helped me to completely renovate my kitchen in an old 1920s bungalow. The unusually long narrow rooms, offset entries, and unconventional traffic flow of my house presented no shortage of unique challenges. As an average homeowner, I did not understand any of this until I hired Chris. I also did not understand the relationship of my kitchen to the rest of the house, nor did I even really understand the relationship of me to my kitchen. It was merely a pit of dysfunctional despair, and I had no vision to understand the possibility. Chris and Completely Personal Kitchens helped me to create a vision, how I would connect to my guests, move about the kitchen in efficient traffic patterns, and create increasing degrees of personal intimacy with clever layout. The end result was stunning. Most importantly, it gave me joy, comfort, and a place I felt was truly my home. The design process and working with Chris left a lasting impact on my life. He forms energetic and personal relationships with each of his clients, spreading his contagious enthusiasm like no other designer I know.

When we bought our forever home, we knew the kitchen was lacking the love the rest of the home and property had. We didn’t know how to begin to make this our space…how do we do this? How much will it cost? What does our space look like anyway? Then, with a phone call and recommendation, we were sent to Chris. Best decision EVER! He was so patient with us and helped us find out just what would make us happy in our space. And he was right! His guidance and suggestions made this project tolerable, his caring about others and loving what he does helped make our new kitchen be the warm gathering place we dreamed it to be.