When a Calgary homeowner posts a photo of their kitchen on Houzz and mentions perfect panel matching, two names keep showing up: Pete Wayne and Scott. The same pair of names recurs in reviews for Empire Kitchen & Bath—a shop that has spent three decades becoming the exclusive Calgary dealer for Downsview Kitchens.

Location: Calgary, AB · Experience: 30 Years · Showroom Size: 18,000 sq ft · Service Area: Western Canada · Specialty: Custom Cabinetry

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact founding date or independent business registration date
  • Formal licensing or insurance verification from Alberta registries
  • Relationship to Empire Fabricators or other Empire-named businesses
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Verify current showroom hours directly before visiting
  • Request itemized quotes for comparison with other Calgary cabinet makers
  • Review full Houzz project gallery before signing any contract

The key facts table below consolidates business fundamentals sourced from multiple verification tiers.

Label Value
Founded Over 30 years ago
Headquarters 5539 1st Street SE, Calgary, AB T2H 1H9, Canada
Showroom 18,000 sq ft, open access
Specialties Custom cabinetry, countertops
Coverage Western Canada and beyond

Empire Kitchen & Bath Reviews

When weighing any custom cabinetry shop, rating volume matters as much as the score itself. Empire Kitchen & Bath holds a 4.99 out of 5 rating on ProvenExpert based on 131 reviews—a notably high volume for a specialty shop. The same business registers 4.1 stars from 13 reviews on Birdeye, a smaller sample that may reflect fewer recent responses on that platform. The gap between those two samples suggests readers should check both directories rather than relying on a single number.

Client Testimonials

  • “The panel was a perfect match and the care and attention to detail was exceptional. I would highly recommend Pete Wayne and Scott for their outstanding service.” — Houzz reviewer
  • “I have worked with Empire Kitchen & Bath several times and I have always had exceptional service and workmanship. They have always stood behind their values.” — Empire Kitchen & Bath Official

“Empire Kitchen & Bath proudly offers exceptional custom cabinetry, including over 30 years of partnership with the renowned Downsview Kitchens.” — Empire Kitchen & Bath Official

“Treats every project like it’s their own.” — Empire Kitchen & Bath Official

Common Feedback Themes

Across the verified reviews, three themes recur: craftsmanship detail, responsive communication, and fair pricing for the premium tier. The Houzz platform hosts project photos tied to these reviews, giving prospective clients a visual reference point. Notably, the Better Business Bureau lists Empire Kitchen & Bath Ltd as a registered home improvement business in Calgary but shows no formal accreditation, which is common for specialty trade shops but worth noting for buyers who prioritize BBB seals.

What to watch

The ProvenExpert sample (131 reviews) is significantly larger than the Birdeye sample (13 reviews). A prospective buyer should cross-reference both platforms and look for reviews that match their project type—full kitchen versus single bathroom vanity—to gauge relevance.

The pattern across review platforms reinforces that volume and platform age both shape the star picture a buyer sees.

Empire Kitchen & Bath Cabinets

The core product is custom cabinetry built to order. Empire designs, builds, and installs cabinets for kitchens, bathrooms, and specialty areas throughout the home. All cabinetry is manufactured by Downsview Kitchens, a Canadian manufacturer with decades of production expertise, and Empire holds the exclusive dealership for Calgary. That exclusive status means clients are not buying from a general inventory—they are commissioning pieces built to their specific dimensions and finish preferences.

Custom Cabinetry Options

  • Kitchen cabinets and pantry units
  • Bathroom vanities and linen storage
  • Custom closets and wardrobes
  • Built-in shelving and media units
  • Specialty cabinets for mudrooms, laundries, and home offices

Kitchen Cabinet Features

Project photos on Houzz show Downsview-manufactured cabinets in custom colors and high gloss lacquer finishes, with installations documented as early as March 7, 2015. The service list on Houzz confirms Empire also offers 3D rendering, bifold doors, custom built-ins, and full installation. Beyond the cabinet boxes themselves, the shop supplies complementary items including tile, plumbing fixtures, hardware, and lighting—a one-stop coordination point for clients who want finish consistency across their remodel.

Why this matters

The typical job cost listed on Houzz ranges from CAD $100 to over CAD $1,000,000, reflecting both small accessory purchases and full-scale custom builds. A client scoping a budget should clarify whether their project is a feature piece or a whole-room renovation before the first showroom visit.

The price range signals that prospective clients must establish their project scope upfront to avoid misaligned expectations.

Upsides

  • 30+ years of documented Downsview partnership
  • Exclusive Calgary access to Downsview’s full customization options
  • 4.99/5 ProvenExpert rating with 131 client reviews
  • 18,000 sq ft showroom for in-person finish selection
  • Full-service design, build, and install under one roof

Downsides

  • No BBB accreditation—informal complaints process
  • Not a high-volume builder; longer lead times likely for custom orders
  • Birdeye rating (4.1/5) significantly lower than ProvenExpert
  • Premium tier means pricing sits above big-box alternatives

Empire Kitchen & Bath in Calgary

The showroom sits at 5539 1st Street SE, Calgary, AB T2H 1H9, Canada, and the business claims no appointment is needed to browse the 18,000 square foot space. The phone number on file is (403) 252-2458, with fax at (403) 252-3818. Service coverage extends beyond Calgary proper to all of western Canada, though travel distance and logistics for remote installations will affect final pricing.

Showroom Details

The 18,000 sq ft space is larger than most Calgary renovation showrooms, giving clients room to view full-scale cabinet configurations, hardware samples, and finish options in person rather than from a catalog swatch. Houzz lists project photos taken inside the showroom as well as in client homes, though the most recent uploads visible in public profiles appear to date from 2015 onward. Buyers seeking current installation photos should request a portfolio walkthrough during their visit.

Service Coverage

Downsview Kitchens’ own site confirms Empire as their exclusive Calgary dealer, with service extending to surrounding Alberta regions and western Canada broadly. The Empire Custom Homes profile on Houzz references Empire Kitchen & Bath for cabinet supply in completed construction projects, providing third-party validation of installation capability.

Bottom line: Empire Kitchen & Bath offers Calgary homeowners access to a 30-year-old manufacturing partnership and a large showroom for in-person selection. The high ProvenExpert score and exclusive Downsview status are concrete advantages—but the absence of BBB accreditation and the gap versus the Birdeye rating warrant direct verification before signing a contract.

Empire Kitchen & Bath Photos

Visual verification matters in custom cabinetry. Clients want to see panel joints, edge banding, and hardware alignment before committing to a five-figure purchase. Empire’s Houzz profile hosts a gallery of completed projects ranging from high gloss lacquer kitchens to custom wardrobes in matte finishes. The Empire Custom Homes profile adds a secondary photo set showing Downsview cabinets installed in full home builds, cross-referenced with the same manufacturer lineage.

Project Galleries

The Houzz galleries are organized by project type—kitchens, bathrooms, and specialty rooms—and include before-and-after sequences for select remodels. One documented installation from March 7, 2015 shows a high gloss lacquer finish in a custom color, with close-up shots of panel matching and hardware placement. For a prospective client, these images serve as a proxy for build quality—showing how finished pieces align, how hardware is sourced, and how the shop handles edge cases like irregular wall dimensions.

Showroom Images

Beyond in-home installations, the showroom photos display material samples, hardware displays, and full-scale mockups that help clients understand scale before their own project begins. The official website offers a product gallery with cabinet-only imagery for clients who want to evaluate construction independently. Houzz and Instagram serve as supplementary platforms for recent uploads, though the most current portfolio activity appears on the business website itself.

The catch

The publicly visible Houzz portfolio contains projects dating to 2015 and earlier. A buyer investing in a full kitchen remodel should ask Empire directly for photos of projects completed in the past 12–24 months to confirm that current production quality matches the documented historical standard.

The gap between historical documentation and recent project evidence means a buyer must proactively request current work samples.

Empire Custom Kitchens and Outdoor Kitchens

The design philosophy at Empire centers on built-to-last custom solutions for every room in the house—not just the kitchen. That said, full kitchen remodels represent the highest-commitment category for most clients, and the shop’s interior design services extend from initial space planning through 3D rendering and final installation. Outdoor kitchen solutions appear in the service context but lack dedicated case studies in the current public record—the gap between marketing language and verified project evidence is notable here.

Custom Kitchen Designs

Client testimonials reference whole-kitchen projects multiple times. One repeat customer states they have worked with Empire “several times” and consistently received “exceptional service and workmanship”. The Houzz project photos corroborate full-kitchen installations with custom color matching and high gloss lacquer finishes, though current-era kitchen photos are less visible in the public gallery than design intent statements on the website.

Outdoor Kitchen Solutions

The long-tail keyword “Empire outdoor Kitchens” appears in search data, suggesting demand interest. However, the verified project evidence for outdoor installations is thin—limited to service list mentions rather than documented installations with photos and dates. A client specifically seeking an outdoor kitchen should request a portfolio of completed outdoor projects before the first consultation, as the current public record does not support a confident claim about recent outdoor cabinetry work.

Bottom line: Custom kitchens are clearly a documented strength. Outdoor kitchen solutions are listed as a service but lack the project photo evidence that defines the shop’s kitchen and bathroom track record.

Related reading: Simple Oven Baked Chicken Breast Recipe · How to Cook Chicken Breast

Additional sources

reviews.birdeye.com, empirekitchenandbath.com, bbb.org, empire2kitchens.ca

While Empire Kitchen & Bath excels in Calgary custom cabinets, nearby options like Splashes Bath and Kitchen reviews highlight strong customer feedback for similar remodel projects across BC.

Frequently asked questions

Is Empire Kitchen & Bath reliable for custom projects?

The ProvenExpert rating of 4.99 out of 5 from 131 reviews and repeat-client testimonials point to reliability for custom cabinetry. The absence of BBB accreditation means formal complaint resolution relies on the shop’s own processes, so clients should request references and visit the showroom before committing.

What makes Empire Kitchen & Bath cabinets high quality?

The cabinets are manufactured by Downsview Kitchens, with Empire holding the exclusive Calgary dealership. Project photos show custom color matching and high gloss lacquer finishes, and Houzz reviews specifically praise panel alignment and hardware detail.

How to visit Empire Kitchen & Bath showroom?

The showroom is at 5539 1st Street SE, Calgary, AB T2H 1H9, Canada. The shop lists standard hours with no appointment required for browsing, though calling ahead at (403) 252-2458 is advisable before a long drive from outside Calgary.

Does Empire Kitchen & Bath handle full kitchen remodels?

Yes. Services include design, 3D rendering, custom cabinetry, and installation. The shop also supplies complementary finishes including tile, plumbing fixtures, hardware, and lighting, allowing a client to coordinate an entire kitchen through one contractor.

What appliances does Empire Kitchen & Bath recommend?

Empire does not publish a preferred appliance brand list. The shop’s role is cabinetry and interior design—appliance selection is typically coordinated with the client during the design phase. Clients should confirm appliance preferences early in the design process to ensure cabinet cutouts and clearance dimensions align with their chosen models.

Are Empire Kitchen & Bath services worth the investment?

For clients prioritizing custom sizing, Downsview manufacturing quality, and a full-service design-to-install process, the pricing aligns with the premium tier. The typical job cost range on Houzz spans CAD $100 to CAD $1,000,000+, so worth is project-specific. Clients comparing against big-box semi-custom options should request itemized quotes to make a direct cost comparison.

How does Empire Kitchen & Bath compare to competitors?

Empire competes in the premium custom tier, distinct from Empire2 Kitchens—which claims 15+ years in custom cabinets but operates from a different domain and location. The exclusive Downsview partnership and 30-year track record set Empire apart from general Calgary cabinet shops, though clients should gather at least two additional quotes for any project above CAD $20,000.

For a Calgary homeowner planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel, the Empire Kitchen & Bath profile presents a credible option backed by a strong review volume and a long-standing manufacturing partnership. The verified facts—address, phone, exclusive dealer status, and ProvenExpert rating—hold up across multiple sources. The areas where evidence thins out, notably outdoor kitchen documentation and current-era project photography, should prompt a direct question during the first showroom visit rather than assumptions based on service listings. The move that separates a smart hire from a regret is simple: ask to see the most recent kitchen completed in your price range, then verify that the cabinet construction on site matches what the Houzz gallery promised.