About Us

At The Kitchen Specialist, we have been creating elegant kitchens for more than 25 years, using our expertise and creative vision to design countless kitchens and bring our clients' dreams to life.

Today, infinite choices are available to anyone who is thinking about building or re-designing a kitchen. However, there are few places where you can rely on the eye of a professional kitchen designer to help you make the right design and material choices. That is why The Kitchen Specialist is unique. Our design experts know that it takes planning, knowledge, and careful attention to the small details to help you create that special space that will enhance your lifestyle and give you pleasure for years to come.

Give us a call, or visit our kitchen design showroom, in Durham, NC, and let us create the kitchen you've always wanted.

Meet Our Team

Mary Liebhold, CKD

President and Founder

Mary Liebhold, CKD, has been designing livable kitchens, baths, and other related areas for over 30 years.  She founded The Kitchen Specialist, Inc. in 1989 after relocating to North Carolina from Los Angeles.  By carefully listening to her clients and offering unique solutions, she is able to meet individual budgets and needs to design the perfect kitchen.  Mary and her staff have earned a reputation for creating kitchens that are beautiful, functional and that are designed to match the clients' dreams and realities.

Mary has experience in traditional, European, and contemporary styling in both remodeling and new construction projects.  As President of The Kitchen Specialist, Inc., a full-service and custom cabinetry firm, located in Durham, NC, she is committed to providing superior craftsmanship, old-fashioned values and long-lasting service.  Mary is an award-winning designer, has been widely published. Most recently, she has been recognized as a top kitchen designer for the Carolinas and has been featured in the new Perspectives on Design, Carolinas book. She has taught numerous courses and has been a featured speaker on kitchen design.

Mary Kate Bedell, CKD

Mary Kate Bedell is a CKD and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Mary Kate joined the design team at The Kitchen Specialist, of Durham, NC, in 2004.  Her goal is to create functional as well as beautiful spaces that are designed to match the clients' dreams and enhance their quality of life.  Specializing in residential remodeling and new construction projects, Mary Kate offers fine design, ergonomic space planning, specification, and project management.

Mary Kate is dedicated to providing superior service, thoughtful design and excellent workmanship to the projects she partners to create with her clients.  Working with the highest quality custom materials and superior tradesmen, The Kitchen Specialist offers timeless design speaking to generations with visually appealing spaces and pragmatic values.

Jill Lane

Jill Lane is a graduate of Meredith College in Raleigh, NC with a degree in Interior Design.  She joined The Kitchen Specialist in 2001 and is invaluable as a design assistant and office manager.  She is involved in all aspects of the design and implementation of our kitchens.  From client relations, drafting, material selection, project management and final move-in, she is the person who helps make the projects run smoothly.