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About Shop Dog Studios
Shop Dog Studios is a construction company in Buffalo, NY focused on custom homes. Applying backgrounds in fine arts, we provide home remodeling and custom cabinetry in Western New York with unmatched results. Customization is at the core of everything we do and our priority is providing a stress-free experience from start to finish. We pride ourselves on using the best materials available and being attuned to the finest details to deliver breathtaking results. Our team of talented craftsmen and women are professional, courteous, and dedicated to making your dream home a reality.
Meet the Pack
Kyle Fricke
Kyle is the founder and owner of Shop Dog Studios. His passion for design and building started when completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Alfred University. Originally from Long Island, Kyle relocated to Western New York after college, where he opened Shop Dog Studios. What began as a custom furniture company, quickly evolved into a high-end interior renovation team, complete with a custom cabinetry shop. Over the past four years, Kyle has formed an elite team with the creativity and craftsmanship required to bring any custom project a client can imagine to life. During the few hours a week that Kyle isn’t drawing up designs or crafting custom cabinets, he enjoys spending time with his dogs Gixxer and Olive.
Jake Emler
Jake is the Project Manager at Shop Dog Studios. Born in Rochester, NY, Jake moved to Buffalo in 2006. After spending some time at Buffalo State College pursuing an engineering degree, he left to start a home remodeling business. Quickly realizing transforming people’s homes was much more enjoyable than the day-to-day aspects of running a business, Jake made the switch and joined Shop Dog Studios. Here, he works alongside the team to oversee renovation projects from the design phase through to the final touchups. Jake loves convincing his coworkers to go out to lunch, his wife, and their Cairn Terriers, Toby and Daisy Mei.
Matt Nowak
Matt is the Lead Finisher at Shop Dog Studios. He grew up in Lancaster, NY where he attended Lancaster High School as well as the Harkness Career Center for Building Trades. Since starting with Shop Dog Studios, Matt has honed his skills in the finishing realm. As Lead Finisher, he handles primarily all the finish elements for our projects; everything from spraying cabinets to painting walls. When he’s not researching the latest products and techniques to ensure that clients get the best finish possible, Matt enjoys gardening with his dog Bentley, a Yellow Lab.
Gixxer & Olive
Gixxer and Olive are the resident "shop dogs" at Shop Dog Studios. When they're not chasing tennis balls or chewing on sticks around the shop, they can be found helping Kyle with designs in the office.
Chelsea Hilliard
Chelsea is co-owner of Shop Dog Studios. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Chelsea graduated from Canisius College. After college, she took on a woodworking apprenticeship under a local Buffalo furniture maker. There, she honed her skills before deciding to make the jump into the field as a carpenter for a home renovation company. Over the next two years, Chelsea learned the basics of construction but realized woodworking was her still main passion. That brought her to Shop Dog Studios, where she enjoys working in the cabinet shop and on site to bring clients’ custom projects to life. On the weekends, Chelsea enjoys long walks with her wife, daughter, and Cooper, their German Shepard.
Our Process
How We Make Your Dream Home a Reality
Pre-Construction
We will meet and get to know you. We will discuss your goals, lifestyle, schedule, and budget. If we both feel like we're a good fit, we will continue working together to finalize design choices and come up with an estimate.
Build
Communication is at the center of everything we do. We maintain constant communication throughout the build process to ensure that you always know what is going on and have the opportunity to provide input . And, we treat your home respectfully, ensuring that we clean up after ourselves every day.
Post-Construction
We craft projects that we are proud to put our name on and we stand by our work. All of our projects come with a 2 year warranty on all craftsmanship.