Creative Cabinetry: A Foundation of Family, Community, and Enduring Design

In 2007, David Preaus took over Creative Cabinetry in Breckenridge, Colorado—a leap of faith inspired by family. A serious car accident involving his wife and oldest son led him to leave his hospitality career as a resort operations director and reflect on what mattered most. After time with family, he returned to Breckenridge ready to build a business that allowed deeper local roots and more time at home.

David’s love for kitchens stems from childhood memories in his mother and grandmother’s New Orleans kitchen, once featured in the January 1983 issue of Better Homes & Gardens. “I knew a lot about what I wanted in a kitchen,” he says. When he learned Creative Cabinetry—a recognized local name—was for sale, he bought it with a partner who had studied architecture. “We learned through initiation by fire,” David remembers. From the start, they prioritized trust and relationships over pricing and volume.

Today, Creative Cabinetry is a full-service design center serving Summit County, specializing in cabinetry and countertops for residential remodels, new builds, and multi-unit housing projects. About 65% of their business comes from builders, interior designers, referrals, and walk-in clients, while the remaining third is focused on multi-family new construction within the community.

A Love of Community

Creative Cabinetry’s story is intertwined with Breckenridge. “We are very community driven,” David emphasizes. “We hire locally, promote from within, and actively volunteer. And while we might not technically be a family business, we are a family.”

His philosophy stems from gratitude for the community’s support after his family’s accident. “I’ll never be able to repay what this community did for my family. But I try to give back in every way I can.”

A standout example: Creative Cabinetry recently donated $75,000 worth of cabinetry through Bridgewood Cabinetry for a new center offering a food bank, thrift shop, and mental health resources. David also serves as the incoming Board President of the Summit Foundation. This dedication earned Creative Cabinetry the 2024 Medium Business of the Year Award from the Summit Chamber of Commerce.

The Cambria Connection

Creative Cabinetry’s relationship with Cambria began with a remote designer from Minnesota, Cambria’s home state. “She introduced us, and we toured their facility,” David says. “It was amazing—what they do is like magic.”

That nationwide recognition is especially valuable to a firm serving second-home owners. And Cambria’s Denver showroom,  just 90 minutes away, gives clients a chance to view full quartz slabs in person.

“Our Cambria rep has been wonderful,” says Melanie Greenberg, Director of Sales & Marketing. “We’ve hosted events, opening our design center to local professionals without showrooms, inviting them to bring clients to experience Cambria firsthand. The support from Cambria has elevated our role in the design community.”

Projects Featuring Cambria Quartz Surfaces

Moonstone Home: Working with longtime collaborator Shelden Custom Homes, Creative Cabinetry helped design this luxe spec home. Originally envisioned as a primary residence for the construction company’s founder, the home showcases timeless elegance.

Cambria’s Everleigh™ appears on kitchen counters and the waterfall island, as well as in the primary bath. “Everleigh is consistent, clean, and beautifully accented,” says designer Hannah Sippel. “It lets the kitchen’s amazing views shine and complements the glass brick backsplash and bespoke white oak cabinetry.”

The Granshaw Residence: A remodel for a local family with two dogs, the project focused on durability and standout style. The client chose Cambria’s Brittanicca™ for the kitchen counters, waterfall island, and backsplash behind the stove, as a clean contrast to the distinctive vintage tile backsplashes in both spaces.

Inspiration and Innovation

Most clients begin with cabinetry, but some are inspired by a Cambria design and build around it. To provide more inspiration, Creative Cabinetry recently updated its design center with Cambria designs on two countertops: Inverness Swansea™ and Lakedale™ in Cambria Matte® finish.

And Cambria’s innovations—like 1cm slabs—have made installations easier. “The investment in innovation really sets them apart,” David notes.

Looking Ahead

With potential expansion into neighboring communities, David remains committed to Creative Cabinetry’s high standard of service. And the future may include a next generation: “I’ve got a 22-year-old, a 20-year-old, and a 16-year-old. They’ve all carried cabinets. I’ll put it that way,” he says with a smile.