What started as a simple idea in a garage has grown into a thriving, design-driven business rooted in grit, creativity and heart.

The owner of Gal’s Garage Rachel Walker didn’t set out with a massive operation in mind – just a practical problem to solve.

“I had a bunch of friends that were paying such a ridiculous amount (for barn doors),” she said. “I thought, if we could just create barn doors on our own at a really reasonable price, that would be a win-win.”

So she started small – building a few barn doors in her garage. But what happened next was anything but small.

“Within the first week and a half, we did $17,000 in barn doors,” Walker said. “It just blew up overnight.” 

That rapid success meant immediate growing pains. Staff were hired within the first month, and the business quickly outgrew its original space.

One of the biggest early challenges was scaling without losing quality.

“I’m a perfectionist,” she said. “I wanted every single customer to have an extraordinary experience, but there’s only one of me.”

Learning how to train a team while maintaining that same level of care was a steep learning curve – but one that paid off. Today, that personalized, family-like approach remains a defining part of the business.

What sets Gal’s Garage apart, she says, is its strong focus on design – and the perspective that comes from being a woman-owned business.

Clients work directly with designers in the showroom to create spaces that are both functional and beautiful.

“To be able to sit down with a designer and think through the flow of a kitchen or workspace – that’s huge,” said Walker. “Cabinetry is a big investment, and you want to get it right.”

Her experience in a male-dominated field has also shaped her leadership.

“There have definitely been times I’ve been underestimated,” she said. “You just have to show people what you can do. Provide an amazing product – and ironically, they always come back.”

Behind the success, however, are long hours and difficult trade-offs – especially as a mother.

She started the business eight years ago with young children, often bringing them to work – even building them a treehouse in the shop. Still, balancing business and family hasn’t always been easy.

“In a hundred years, nobody will care about the cabinets we installed,” she said. “But my children will remember the time I spent with them.”

That perspective has shaped how she approaches both work and life.

“If I could go back, I would slow down,” Walker said. “We grew really fast. I would’ve told myself it’s OK to take fewer orders and keep your sanity.”

Through it all, one lesson stands out.

“You can do hard things,” she said. “You can grow in a field you know nothing about and become really good at it.”

For her, the reward isn’t just in what she builds – it’s in the ability to keep creating.

“If I’m not creating, I’m depressed,” she said. “This gives me the opportunity to make something beautiful every day.”

And while the business continues to grow, she hasn’t lost sight of what matters most.

“No matter how successful you are,” Walker said, “the most important work will always be within the walls of your own home.”

Gal’s Garage is located at 469 Market Street in Kaysville.