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Holland Kitchens & Baths: Shaping Living Spaces with a Lifelong Love of Building and Design

By Irene O’Connor, Linked Media

For more than four decades, Holland Kitchens & Baths has been a fixture in the home-remodeling landscape of Greater Hartford. But for owner Jim Corthouts, the story starts long before showrooms, cabinetry lines, or design consultations. It begins with a Dutch family making a journey to the United States – his grandmother coming from Holland – and continues through a West Hartford childhood that shaped a lifelong passion.

Jim grew up in West Hartford, he is the youngest of eight, with seven older sisters. He attended Kingswood Oxford School, but it wasn’t until he was 17 that he discovered what truly energized him. A friend’s father in Farmington suggested that Jim and his friend try finishing off a carriage house attached to a 1700s property. Once he started working with wood and tools,  something clicked. “I loved the hands-on work,” he says – the satisfaction of seeing a physical result emerge from nothing more than raw material and a plan.

Holland Kitchens and Bath hanging lights. Courtesy photo

That spark turned into a career path. Jim worked as a carpenter’s apprentice, learning the trade job by job. By the time he was 21 or 22, friends and family were calling him directly for projects, and he began taking on work independently. Carpentry, remodeling, design – it all grew naturally from that early love of creating something you can stand back and admire.

In 1984, Jim opened his first business in Avon with a partner. After the two eventually went their separate ways, Jim opened his own showroom in Bishop’s Corner in West Hartford, where he operated for 11 years. In 2005, he moved to the company’s current home on at 590 New Park Avenue in the heart of West Hartford’s Design District – a location that reflects exactly what Holland Kitchens & Bath has become known for: thoughtful design, exceptional craftsmanship, and a full-service approach that takes homeowners from an idea to a beautiful finished project.

Today, Holland Kitchens & Bath is a team of four, supported by a tight-knit, long-trusted network of local subcontractors – many of whom Jim has worked with for decades. The company specializes in luxury kitchens and baths, offering a full remodeling experience that includes design, project management, cabinetry, countertops, sinks, faucets, flooring, and all the details that make a space truly livable. They handle every element of the renovation, coordinating builders and trades through a dedicated production manager.

The showroom features top cabinetry lines, including the high-end Wood-Mode and Brookhaven, as well as Glenwood and Fabuwood for semi-custom projects. Flooring options include wood and tile, with tile sourced through Tile America and other trusted distributors.

While the craftsmanship is meticulous, Jim is equally proud the relationships built along the way. With kitchen and bath remodels going from design to installation, clients become more than customers – they become partners in a creative process. “You end up forming great relationships.”

Kitchen by Holland Kitchens and Bath. Courtesy photo

Holland Kitchens & Baths serves homeowners across Hartford County, often transforming 40-year-old kitchens into bright, modern, functional spaces that reflect the way people live today. Whether it’s a historic home in West Hartford, a contemporary space in Avon, or a classic colonial in Simsbury, the team approaches every project with the same philosophy Jim discovered at 17 the work should feel meaningful and the design should feel personal.

Decades after first picking up a hammer, Jim still loves what he does. And in the Design District of West Hartford, Holland Kitchens & Baths continues to bring that passion – and those relationships – to every project they touch.

Courtesy image

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