CRAIG BALYEAT
Design & Sales Professional
616-771-0529
cbalyeat@thewilliamsstudio.com
I have been working in the kitchen and bath industry for almost five years. Prior to this, I was a project manager overseeing the construction and phasing of operating rooms across the nation and Canada. During this time I was also working towards my Master’s Degree in Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship. After earning my Master’s in 2013, I continued working in the medical field, but soon realized this career path was a bit too button down for me. As a creative person by nature, I wanted something that would feed my creative side.
After my daughter was born, I decided I needed to change career paths to something that required less travel. It was the perfect time to seek opportunities that would provide the creative outlet that I was craving. I was introduced to the kitchen and bath industry when I started working with a friend who was a home remodeler. I quickly learned this was the industry for me. I enjoy building something beautiful in people homes that they will love every day. I tell every client that my main goal is to make sure that they love the final result every day and that they are confident that they have made the best choices. I spend a great deal of time going over the smallest details with my clients because it is crucial to me that they know exactly what is coming into their home. What makes me passionate about my job are the people I get to work with, to see the awe that comes with showing them how I envision what their space could become. Inspiration comes from lots of areas, I follow designers from across the country on social media, monitoring furniture trends, plus West Michigan has so many incredibly talented builders and designers to learn from and be inspired by.
I LISTEN! This is the first and most important step when I begin working with a client. I want to know what their pain points are in their current kitchen. Not enough drawer space, cabinets with impossible to reach areas, sticky glides, we all have areas in our kitchens and baths that don’t quite function how we want them to. My first goal is eliminating those issues. Next, walk me through your “If I could have any kitchen I want it would be this” dream kitchen. Most people are only going to do a remodel or build a home once or twice in their life, let’s seize this opportunity and see how close we can get to making that dream space a reality. Finally, what drives most projects is the budget. The unfortunate part of my job is that I frequently meet with customers who are remodeling their kitchen or bath because they have no choice, things like water damage or fires. Those customers come to me stressed, and rightfully so, these are not small investments. Fortunately, Williams has a vast selection of items that allow me to create a beautiful, functional space, for almost any budget. I feel good knowing that when those customers come to me, not because they WANT to, but because they HAVE to, that I can help put them at ease when they realize they are not going to have to eat into their life savings to complete the project.
I am fortunate to have the Williams team on my side. We all have our own individual goals, inspirations and work styles, but we also love to work together and share our knowledge and creativity. I love that I am a part of this incredible team and that together we can provide our customers with a remarkable experience as we create a space in their home that they will love for years to come.