5 Things You Might Not Know About the Cartright Family
Toni Cartright
Jul 30
3 min read
When people think of Cartright & Sons, they usually picture cabinets, countertops, and kids helping with installs. But behind the business is just a regular family with a story full of unexpected turns, big dreams, and a whole lot of teamwork. If you’ve ever wondered what life looks like behind the scenes, here are five things you might not know about us.
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1. We’ve Been Working Together Since Teenagers
Before we were married or running a business, we were just a couple of teenagers trying to make gas money. Jimmy was 17, already working at Rack Room Shoes in the mall. When I (Toni) turned 16, his boss offered me a job too. We worked the 5–9 p.m. shift after school, and Jimmy would drive us both to work until I got my own car. It was the first of many times we’d work side by side—and somehow, we've never gotten sick of each other.....well not sick enough of each other to stop working together at least 😂
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2. Only One of Our Kids Has Ever Gone to “Real” School
Logan, our oldest, went to Kindergarten at River Hall Elementary. We had an awesome experience and nothing but good things to say about it. But we were moving before first grade and didn’t know where we’d land next, so we decided to homeschool for a little while. That “little while” turned into a lifestyle. The other three kids have never stepped foot in a traditional classroom, and we’ve loved the freedom and flexibility it’s given our family (even when it’s chaotic).
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3. Cabinets Weren’t Always in the Cards
Jimmy started working with cabinets right after graduating high school in 2000, delivering them before learning how to reface and install. By 27, he was running the entire cabinet refacing division for Home Depot from Marco Island to St. Pete. But when the housing market crashed in 2009, he lost his job—and cabinet work dried up fast. He did what he had to do to keep our family afloat: got a job assembling bikes at Walmart, then moved into the Tire and Lube department. It was humbling, but it got us through until the cabinet world opened back up again. That season taught us a lot about grit, pride, and putting your family first.
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4. Toni’s Always Been a Stay-at-Home Mom—But Never Just That
I’ve always been home with the kids, but when Jimmy lost his job, I picked up a part-time position at the Walmart portrait studio. I loved photography and soaked up everything I could. By 2011, I started my own photography business, working mostly evenings and weekends. That small business paid for Christmas gifts, birthdays, and helped us make ends meet. When Cartright & Sons started to grow, I eventually set the camera down to be more present at home. Somewhere in between, I also shared essential oils and Plexus because I’m also passionate about natural health and helping people feel better. These days, I still juggle hats—just different ones.
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5. Our Kids Got Their Height (Definitely) From My Side
People always comment on how tall our boys are—and we get it. That height comes from my Norwegian heritage on my mom's side.
Logan is 6’3", Luke is 6’5" (and still growing), and Liam is already 5’10" at 14. Ledger, our youngest, is the only one who’s ever been considered “average” on a growth chart… but we’ve spent so long surrounded by giants that we sometimes forget what normal looks like. He’s quick to remind us that he’s not short—his brothers are just ridiculously tall.
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We’re proud of the business we’ve built, but more than that, we’re proud of the journey that brought us here. We’ve had highs and lows, side hustles and setbacks, but through it all, we’ve held onto faith, family, and a lot of laughter. Thanks for letting us share a little more of our story with you.
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