Once there was a couple, who found a lake crystal clear;
They bought a big house near it; they had four baby girls to rear.

The house was nothing special, but the rooms were a good size;
They saved and saved their pennies, which proved to be very wise.

The young mother had a vision of what she wanted it to be;
The young father dreamt about granite and, of course, a big TV.
“I want my house to be rustic, like Snow White’s in the woods;
I bought bronze sinks and light fixtures and other sale goods.”

But when they shopped for a designer, they were often put in their place,
“Two dishwashers, mantle hood and a pass thru just won’t fit in your space.”
They found a Wood-Mode dealer who took the time to listen,
“I think I can,” said the woman, and the couples’ eyes began to glisten.

So the process then began, measuring more than twice;
Photos of rooms and cabinets, even of every spice.
“Let’s put together your wish list, and I’ll see what I can do
To give you the kitchen you dream of, I’ll give you a design or two.”

Archways, lockers and refrigerators, the list was very long;
It took a lot of drawings to get everything where it belonged.
Species of wood and finishes were selected one by one;
The project was not just the kitchen, but a variety of rooms to be done.

Lockers in the back entry were needed for storage for four;
Additional hooks and a refrigerator assisted the friends galore.
The floor needed to be attractive but also easy to clean,
Porcelain tiles in a color so the tracked-in dirt wouldn’t be seen.

A fireplace in the kitchen? “Hmm, now let me see;
I’ve worked with an excellent company that’s been around since ’43.”
The fireplace and its shelter were installed while the weather was good;
We even designed a fireplace mantle to mimic the cooktop hood.

A 250-pound bronze sink was really interesting to design around;
Combined with a wall-mount faucet, our installer should be crowned.
He is a solution person; perfection is his way;
He’s also a great personality, and always has something to say.

If a designer and their head installer get along and can relate,
There’s very few things that stump them, and, boy, can they create!
The project runs very smoothly; they make improvements day by day;
You “love” seeing the transition, instead of turning your hair to gray.

The decisions may seem overwhelming, with so much available today,
But with a good design and some attention, your worries go away.
Even if you don’t like shopping, the few things you find on your own
Simply add to the adventure and cause no reason to groan.

We take you to look for granite, “on hold” we put your slab;
It’s whisked to the fabricator, for no one else to grab.
You’re sent to look for pendants, if an island’s in your design;
You’ll know it when you see it, and shout, “That pendant’s mine!”

Yes, construction is an upheaval, there’s no denying that;
It requires a little creativity for a dinner or snack format.
Temporary quarters set up elsewhere in your home
Is one of the solutions versus food in Styrofoam.

“Why do I need a designer?” some people might ask themselves;
“I’m a do-it-yourselfer; I can hang cabinets and shelves.
“I know just how I want things; I think I know how it works;
I’ll just cut the cabinets if I run into any quirks.”

Homeowners do some big projects that cause a great deal of strife;
Why not go to an expert who chose design as a way of life?
The planning is essential; designers know how it fits;
Until the day that appliances and cabinets come in great big kits.

But what about the money; we don’t mean to overlook
That there’s no money tree in the yard that merely needs to be shook.
The money is important; life’s about the bottom line;
You just want a new kitchen, a simple place to dine.

We talk about the cost on your first visit to our store;
When we meet to show you the plan, we talk about it some more.
You can control the price at that time; make it go up or down;
We’re here to provide a service, not to make you frown.

If you just want to buy the cabinets, it’s perfectly all right;
We’ll give you a numbered plan and won’t put up a fight.
We’ll help you when you need it, until the construction’s done;
Building is our business, we like to make it fun.

You’ll find at Old Mill Kitchens we like to work in teams; T
hat way you’re part of our family, creating the rooms of your dreams.
Allind Construction is our reliable, hard-working crew,
But if you have your own builder, we can work that out with you.

If you have any questions, visit or call during business hours;
Weekdays 10 to 5, Saturday 10 to 2—we’re the building with big towers.
4105 W. Crystal Lake Road—the old flour mill,
You can’t help but see us; we’re at the bottom of the hill.

But, getting back to our little family, how did it all go?
We have a lot of pictures but only a few can we show.
“Befores” and “afters” tell the story of how the makeover took shape;
Are they all very happy? Their friends just stare and gape.

The girls each have a stool at their new, curved breakfast bar;
At night they sit on benches at a glass and bronze table not far.
Special drawers hold their snacks and dishes, lockers hold their coats,
Papers and shoes have destinations, even places for school notes!

The family room and front entrance were eventually remodeled too,
Changing a brick fireplace to stone proved an economical thing to do.
Tall mouldings at crown and base were added all around;
Yes, the family is ecstatic; No need to further expound.