Parallel Millworks

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Parallel Millworks Parallel Millworks - a place where expert craftsmanship meets high-level design.

Every project we take on is about more than just millwork-it's about bringing your vision to life with professionalism, integrity, and precision.

07/22/2026

Let’s get into the folds of this laundry remodel!

This client wanted more for their laundry than their semi-custom builder could offer. The single cabinet above the washer and dryer wasn’t making the cut. Here’s the features they opted for:

- Profiled shaker doors
- Quartz countertops
- Decorative toe-kick
- Tongue-and-groove backsplash
- Hamper pull-out

And of course, inset doors with soft close hinges are always standard for us.

Stay posted to see the final product.

07/04/2026

Not all custom cabinetry shops are created equal, and here’s the main reason why.

Custom doesn’t always equal designed.

A lot of carpentry projects start the same way: They come in, you tell them what you want, and they start building.

The final product is…good. It’s sort of what you envisioned, but not exactly. The crew didn’t do a bad job, the problem was that too many decisions were made without a preview of the end result.

Unfortunately, this has become the standard for custom millwork everywhere. Not because it’s the best process, but because it’s the easiest path for the carpenter.

At Parallel, we believe that homeowners shouldn’t have to take a leap of faith. Before installation begins, we design your whole project in CAD, create detailed renderings, and walk through every meaningful decision with you—from proportions and molding styles to storage, materials, and hardware—all so you don’t have to imagine what your millwork might look like.

07/01/2026

It doesn’t take much to set your cabinets apart from the pre-fab cabinetry in most homes.

1. Your cabinet doors need a change
There’s nothing wrong with shaker doors, but there’s room to try something that stands out. Micro-shakers or beaded slab doors are great when you want a balance between design and budget.

2. You opted out of inset doors/drawers
Carpenters usually upcharge for this (we include it in our base pricing), but it’s the number one way to make your cabinets look luxury and timeless.

3. You got talked into veneer wood
If you chose a veneer finish for your cabinets, odds are you didn’t shop enough to find the right carpenter. There are so many newer carpenters that will compete with pre-built cabinetry prices, and they’ll use real-wood plywood instead of veneered wood.

4. Your counters are too low
36” is the industry standard, but it’s an outdated standard. One or two extra inches might seem unnoticeable, but the brain notices it.

06/25/2026

1. 1/2” Overlay Cabinets
This is the main thing I lead every client away from. It makes any cabinetry immediately read as ‘builder grade’. A better choice would be full overlay or inset cabinetry to give your kitchen a truly custom look. If you have to explain either of those to your carpenter, use someone else.

2. Traditional Toe-Kicks
There’s very little functionality to a toe kick to begin with. It’s really just an optional element that feels mandatory. Do one of these instead—either eliminate it entirely and opt for a cool baseboard profile, or do a ‘broken toe kick’ where the face frame stiles go to the ground like legs. Add a serif to the corner profile of the latter to make it a ‘decorative toe kick’.

3. Stopping Uppers Short of the Ceiling
This one is a bit subjective because there are certain scenarios where I’d discourage going to the ceiling with cabinetry. But for most homeowners with 8, 9, or 10’ ceilings, building cabinets all the way to the ceiling is the best way to visually maximize your space while being luxury. If cost is an issue, opt for panels instead of additional doors or do a larger crown profile depending on your available space.

4. Lowers and Uppers Throughout
Kitchens shouldn’t be beholden to any kind of cookie-cutter formula. I see so many kitchens that underutilize opportunities for creative storage that could bring so much more visual interest to the space. Break up lower and upper portions of cabinets with full-height cabinetry, open shelving, and appliance garages. Don’t be afraid to leave areas of wall blank and punctuate with corner tower cabinets. Mix in stain-grade accents to your painted kitchen. Stop being trad.

5. Bad Finishes
There will always be people that just need their kitchen to be white, and that’s okay. The rest of us will be over here expressing ourselves with some color. There are so many great shades of white, beige, brown, and green out there that will add so much more character to your kitchen than Alabaster. Also, keep the yellow and red pigment out of your stains… that’s a one way ticket back to 1990, and you can’t unring that bell.

06/22/2026

The RTA vs. custom question is good to answer before taking on your next home renovation project, because it will strongly define the overall direction of your project. It’s important to remember there’s pros and cons to both.

RTA cabinets can be installed by professional crews or done as a DYI project by the homeowner. They’re more cost-effective, ship to your door, and often come pre-finished. You can typically see exactly what will be installed (or a similar configuration) online before you purchase. Your overall design is constrained to what that manufacturer offers and you run the risk of your cabinets looking cookie-cutter, traditional, or builder grade. Although there are several ‘hacks’ online, RTA cabinets aren’t the best solution for built-ins. In my opinion, if you’re going to opt for RTA, you should plan on installing yourself—using a crew to install any sort of precut cabinetry will still incur cost with little in the way of customization.

Custom cabinetry comes with few constraints by way of adaptability to your design style, functionality, and finishes. Its main benefit is that you can install anything you can envision. It’s the best option for inset or full overlay cabinetry because it allows for the best cabinetry fitment within your space. Depending on the carpenter you use, design is more integrated into the process. The cost of design, labor, and materials is typically more expensive, depending on the selections and quality of the build. If you’re opting for the custom route, the cabinet maker you choose to use is pivotal to the success of the project—the term ‘buy once, cry once’ applies well here.

Both RTA and custom cabinets can have great results, and both have their pitfalls. For more questions, give us a call.

Built-ins FAQsQ. What’s your average timeline from start to finish? A. 4 days or less.Q. What are your cabinets made of?...
05/12/2026

Built-ins FAQs

Q. What’s your average timeline from start to finish?
A. 4 days or less.

Q. What are your cabinets made of?
A. All wood construction—poplar and maple.

Q. Do you install inset or overlay cabinets?
A. Both, and we don’t upcharge for inset.

Q. Are your hinges and slides soft close?
A. Always.

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05/01/2026

Coming in hot with possibly our coolest butler’s pantry to date, courtesy of .builders

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04/21/2026

We’re BEAMING, and you can be too! Especially when you get to work alongside

This ceiling is a true 12/12 pitch with a 30’ peak, which makes for a labor-intensive install but a beautiful result.

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Address

Franklin, TN
37064, 37065, 37067, 37068, 37069

Telephone

+16155136614

Website

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