Few remodeling contractors earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award, which means they’ve been independently rated Highest in Quality. Even fewer can also claim an owner who holds an engineering degree and can consequently perform engineering and planning work in addition to general construction services, but that’s exactly the case for Cullen Construction & Reconstruction. “I started my career in architecture, so I’m able to tweak plans without disrupting the overall intention of the project or incurring additional architectural consultation costs,” explains owner Jim Cullen. “We can handle everything from the design to the finishing touches, and our clients really appreciate that.”

Cullen Construction & Reconstruction has been providing remodeling and new construction services for residential clients throughout Marin County since 1990. In addition to creating custom kitchens and bathrooms, the company installs cabinets, windows, doors and insulation; builds decks, fences and retaining walls; handles rough and steel framing; offers general masonry services and more.

Unlike contracting firms that only have experience remodeling residential properties and have to limit their services as a result, Mr. Cullen utilizes his background as both an architect and a restaurant chef to offer professional consultation and construction services to restaurant owners and other commercial clients. “I know what it takes to create an efficient kitchen that makes proper use of traffic flow and usable space,” he says. “Having the ability to take on those types of projects has been an important part of this company’s success.”

Another distinguishing feature of Cullen Construction & Reconstruction is its ability to complete projects much quicker than most contracting firms, an approach made possible by the company’s large crew and Mr. Cullen’s participation on the Marin County Codes Advisory Board (MCCAB). “The board members know my work and are less scrutinizing when it comes to my plans and permits, which helps the entire process go much faster,” he explains. “Our clients know they’re going to get top-quality work that’s completed in a timely manner.”

When it comes to remodeling a kitchen, comfort and practicality are crucial. One of the most challenging aspects of residential remodeling is getting the kitchen right—even though people spend a lot of time in the room, they often don’t consider comfort and practicality to be significant factors until it’s too late. Jim Cullen, owner of Cullen Construction & Reconstruction in Corte Madera, says the most important part of a kitchen remodeling project is making sure there are working “triangles,” or areas that see a lot of back-and-forth movement. “One of the most common triangles is the refrigerator to the prep area to the stove. Another is the prep area to the sink to the dishwasher. You should be able to move between those three spots as efficiently as possible, especially if there’s more than one person in the kitchen.”
Mr. Cullen says equipment selection is also important, so make sure you choose a contractor who asks questions about the type of cooking you do. “If you like cooking with hot oil, you’ll need a good stove with a powerful hood fan to suck up the oily air. If you do a lot of cold prep like salads, you’ll want a cutting block area right next to the garbage disposal. Regardless of the type of cooking you do the most, make sure you have working space on both sides of the stove so you have places to put things.”
You should also consider where you store your dishes and eat your meals—the right kitchen design can ensure you’ll be able to efficiently move from the dishwasher to the dish storage area. When drawing up your plans for a kitchen remodel, don’t forget to include a place to unload your groceries (usually near the refrigerator) and a direct path from the garage to the kitchen.

Q: How long will my project take to complete? How much will it cost?

A: We use a spreadsheet program to estimate the schedule and cost of your project, and it has proven to be very reliable over the years. We can also provide you with an itemized list of line items and their costs if your bank needs that information for the loan paperwork.

Q: Can you make changes to my project design or do I have to go back to the architect?

A: We can usually handle most changes (closet placement, altering traffic flow, etc.) without bringing back the original architect.

Q: Do you remodel kitchens?

A: Yes, kitchens are one of our specialties. Our owner, Jim Cullen, used to work as a restaurant chef, so he knows what works in a kitchen and what doesn’t. We’re especially proud of our ability to build commercial kitchens for restaurant professionals.

Q: Can you provide advice on colors and other finishing design touches?

A: We’ll do our best to help, but we usually stay away from advising on color choices because it involves so much personal taste. We tend to limit our design advice to practical matters like traffic flow patterns.

Q: Can you help me choose the right products and materials for my remodeling project?

A: Absolutely. We can provide you with numerous brochures, books and catalogs that you can look through to get ideas. Then we’ll answer any questions you have and help you make an informed decision.