Verified record
Custom cabinetry and millwork are the center of Dean W Richards Custom Woodworking Inc., an Essex shop serving homeowners and architects on the North Shore. The company says Dean Richards learned woodworking from his father, started the shop in 1988, and runs it with family members; Houzz lists custom cabinets, built-ins, closets, pantries and bathroom vanities among its offerings. The written customer history is thin and dated: one Google review from April 2020 praises Dean’s craftsmanship and design in cabinetry and standalone pieces, and describes his work reproducing pieces for historic places. Google shows 3 stars from four ratings, so the detailed praise is only one part of a small overall picture. The Massachusetts registry lists the company’s Home Improvement Contractor registration, #105288, as expired. If your project involves work covered by that registration, ask Dean about its current status and what registration applies before signing. For custom cabinetry, built-ins or furniture, ask to see recent examples and confirm the design, fabrication and installation scope. The shop’s stated history and focused woodworking services make it a fit to explore for custom work, with the registration status worth resolving first.
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Dean W Richards Custom Woodworking Inc. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
A typical single-level deck is 12×16 — about 200 sq ft.
Estimated range
$7,750 – $14,500
Typical carpentry project around $11,100
“Woodworking Contractor Dean W. Richards Custom Woodworking 17 Winthrop St. Essex, MA 01929”
Dean's craftsmanship & design is top notch, whether cabinetry or stand alone pieces. He is also superb at creating reproductions for historic places of note. He runs an excellent shop & his knowledge of different woods is extraordinary.
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Certified attributes are verified against the public registry. Others are the business's own statement.
2 changes recorded — last scanned Jul 31, 2026.
Permit coordination3.9
9 permitted projects across Essex County3.4
Gut renovations down to the studs4.9