Conversations with Omar Aguilar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Omar Aguilar.

Hi Omar, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up surrounded by tools, sawdust, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from building something with your hands. My father started Master Custom Cabinets in 2010 with a simple philosophy: do honest work, respect the craft, and never compromise on quality. What began as his personal vision quickly became the foundation of a family business built on dedication, teamwork, and pride.

Watching my father work had a lasting impact on me. As a kid, I was fascinated by the process. How raw pieces of wood could be transformed into something precise, functional, and beautiful. I spent countless hours learning from him, experimenting with his tools, and absorbing the values he believed defined true craftsmanship.
Those early experiences taught me far more than woodworking. They taught me patience, discipline, and the importance of solving problems proactively. Just as important, they showed me the value of building a strong team. I’ve always believed that great work comes from people who not only work well together but genuinely enjoy working alongside one another. We spend so much of our lives working, and when a team respects and supports each other, everything improves.

Today, I’m proud to lead Master Custom Cabinets and continue the legacy my father started. My goal has always been to respect the traditional craftsmanship I grew up with while embracing modern tools and technology that allow us to deliver even greater precision and design possibilities.
Based in Los Angeles, my team and I create custom cabinetry for both residential and commercial spaces. Every project is different, and that’s what keeps the work exciting. Whether it’s a modern kitchen, custom built-ins, or detailed architectural cabinetry, we approach every job with the same commitment to quality and attention to detail.

For me, cabinetry is more than just building furniture. It’s about creating pieces that become part of someone’s everyday life, something that’s both functional and beautiful. That’s the standard my father believed in when he started this company, and it’s the standard I continue to uphold with every project we take on.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
After my father passed away, I faced several major challenges. One of the biggest was that not everyone on the team believed I was ready to run the business on my own. I had to earn their respect and prove that I could lead. At the same time, I was implementing changes to improve the company, and not everyone agreed with that direction. Ultimately, I had to make some difficult decisions and let a few people go, which created another challenge. Rebuilding the team.

I actually took an unconventional approach to hiring. I played soccer in college, and that experience shaped how I think about building a team. Instead of hiring the traditional way, I recruited talented people from other cabinet shops. I focused on finding individuals who believed in what we were building and who wanted to grow with the company in a more supportive and less stressful work environment.

Once I had the right team in place, the next challenge was creating systems that would allow us to work more efficiently and stay organized. We needed a process for designing and building cabinets that was seamless, clear for everyone to understand, and improved our overall workflow. Developing those systems was essential because it allowed us to meet deadlines, increase productivity, and maintain the level of craftsmanship and quality that our company is known for. Throughout all of it, I’ve tried to stay true to the values my father built the business on.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Master Custom Cabinets, we design and build fully custom cabinetry for both residential and commercial projects. When the company first started, we primarily focused on residential work, kitchens, vanities, and built-ins. Over time, our work naturally expanded into commercial projects, and each year we began taking on more of them. Today we still value our residential work, it’s really the foundation of what we do but we’ve become increasingly known for our commercial millwork as well.

There are two moments I’m especially proud of since taking over the business after my father passed away. The first was a personal commitment I made early on. I asked my wife, Maira, to support me fully for five years while I worked to grow the company. I told her that if after five years things weren’t moving in the right direction, I would close the shop and move on. That was six years ago, and today not only is the business still here, but we’re growing and expanding. That’s something I’m incredibly proud of.

The second moment was the Gucci 100th Anniversary celebration in 2021. At that time, it was the biggest project we had ever taken on. We built a large custom display booth, approximately 40 by 50 feet, which was shipped to Chicago. In addition, we installed displays at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and inside the Gucci store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It was a complex project with a lot of pressure, but our team delivered. The client was very happy with the result, and it proved to be a major milestone for our company.

Over time, I’ve learned an important lesson: you can’t take every project that comes your way. To maintain the level of quality we expect from ourselves, we must be selective and ensure that every project receives the attention it deserves. That level of focus and personal attention is what I believe truly sets us apart from many other millwork shops. We prioritize building strong relationships with our clients while delivering work that reflects genuine craftsmanship and care.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up in Los Angeles in the 1990s wasn’t always easy. In East Los Angeles, there were a lot of challenges, especially with gang activity in the area. Because of that, my mother was very protective and kept me on a strict routine. My days were simple: go to school, come home, do my chores, finish my homework, and stay focused.
On weekends I worked with my dad on Saturdays, which is where I first started learning about carpentry and working with my hands. Sundays were my favorite day of the week because that was when I played soccer. Since I didn’t spend much time out in the streets, I focused my energy on two things: school and sports.

I later attended California State University, Los Angeles, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in literature. At the time, I thought I wanted to become a teacher. But after some time, I realized teaching wasn’t the right path for me. I ended up returning to something that had always been a part of my life — carpentry.

I worked at a cabinet shop for a few years before my father made what turned out to be one of the best decisions of our lives: starting Master Custom Cabinets. Once the company began, I focused on it completely. Since 2010, my life has changed in many ways. I married the love of my life and my partner in everything, and we now have two kids, who I like to joke I’m already training to take over the business one day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mastercustomcabinetsla.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastercustomcabinets/?hl=en