July 31, 2025

Wesley James to open custom cabinetry showroom in Burien

Photos courtesy of Che Public Relations [enlarge]

Wesley James founded Brave Element in 2019. He specializes in cabinetry installation, handling both IKEA and custom projects.

It's been an unexpected and rewarding road to a career in custom cabinetry design and installation for carpenter Wesley James.

James, who is based in Seattle, has made a name for himself transforming flatpack IKEA cabinetry into bespoke pieces using second party doors and finishes. He founded his company Brave Element, which designs and installs custom furniture, in 2019.

On Aug. 2, James will open a new showroom at 620 S.W. 150th St. in Burien, where he will also launch The Wesley James Collection, a designer line of faux-wood cabinet doors designed to fit IKEA systems, crafted in collaboration with LA's Modern Twig (Modern Twig designs and manufactures custom doors for IKEA cabinetry).

In addition to James' collection, the showroom will display custom doors and finishes from a host of brands including Modern Twig, Nieu, Bokea, Semihandmade, Embolden, and Kokeena. Guests can drop in to experience Brave Element's expertise first-hand: IKEA plus custom door installation and design and consultation services.

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Each cabinet design is named after a Seattle neighborhood— Queen Anne, Seahurst, and Georgetown.

The Wesley James Collection will also launch next month at Modern Twig's showroom in Los Angeles.

The openings mark an exciting milestone in James' career, which has its roots in childhood.

James' father used to run a cabinetry business out of the garage of the family home in Southern California and taught his son cabinet installation at a young age. James' early teenage weekends and summers were spent either in his dad's shop or out in the field.

“At first, learning the craft was just a great way to spend time with my dad and then as I got older, I realized that cabinetry installation was also a great way for me to make some extra money,” James told the DJC. He would later go on to work for his dad full-time before leaving the business to pursue his dream of being a touring rock star.

Between touring dates with his metal band, James would occasionally take side jobs installing cabinetry, never thinking that he'd go back to a full-time career in the industry. But when the rockstar dream didn't realize quite as he hoped — “I was terrible at being in a band,” James joked — he took a full-time job with IKEA as a cabinet installer in San Diego.

That decision would rekindle his love for the craft.

In 2017, IKEA asked James if he would relocate to Seattle where demand for cabinetry installation was especially high. He said yes.

It was during his time with IKEA that James began thinking more creatively about the possibility of custom and bespoke cabinets using the firm's flatpacks, and he decided to leave the company to found Brave Element in 2019 (notably the Burien showroom is opening on the sixth anniversary of Brave Element's founding).

James says Brave Element is based on the principles he learned from his time working with his father: the importance of consistency, attention to detail, and most of all, constantly improving.

“When I founded Brave Element there were a few existing companies making custom doors for IKEA flatpacks, notably Semihandmade, and I began using their doors in my practice,” James said.

Through word of mouth and social media the business began to take off, and James expanded to work with other door brands. “Somehow I became the premiere IKEA plus custom installer in the area,” he said.

Fast forward to today and business is booming. James says he is typically booked out three to six months ahead. “I think the success reflects a growing demand for affordable, personalized design in a world of mass production,” he reflected, noting that customers can save on average between 30% and 45% of what they would pay if they went to a traditional custom cabinet company.

In a heartwarming full circle moment, James' father is now an employee of Brave Element.

“I'm very excited to open the new Burien showroom and launch the Wesley James Collection,” James said.

Each of the custom door companies featured in the showroom will have a dedicated display. They offer a diversity of door styles including mid-century modern, craftsman, and Scandinavian.

James describes his three-piece collection as “industrial modern.” Each cabinet design is named after one of his favorite neighborhoods in Seattle — Queen Anne, Seahurst, and Georgetown. The doors are made with textured melamine, an affordable material that mimics wood.

Brave Element cabinets can be fitted in kitchens, bathrooms, closets, offices, garages, living rooms or anywhere else in the home.

The Burien showroom will be open from 11 a.m. till 7 p.m. on opening day. A ribbon cutting is planned for noon with Discover Burien.

Next on the agenda for James is the reboot of his “The Flat Packed Podcast,” where he discusses his work and business and talks with guests in the IKEA plus custom industry.

“I am very passionate about my job and am excited to restart the podcast,” James concluded.