This month, KBDN asked several design firms to share showroom strategies that provide inspiration for today’s kitchens and baths.

Marvista Design + Build

Pittsburgh, PA

One of Michael Jacobs’ favorite spaces within the NKBA award-winning Pittsburgh, PA Marvista Design + Build showroom he opened in 2020 isn’t actually a display. Rather, it’s the finish selection room, where designers help clients pull together all of the elements for their new spaces.

One of the first observations visitors make is that the room is tidy and uncluttered, with samples neatly tucked behind doors or stored in drawers. The streamlined look is a concept that resonates throughout the entire 2,500-sq.-ft. showroom. 

“We didn’t want a showroom that was cluttered with spindles of samples,” says the president of the design/build firm. “When visitors come in, they see a clean palette of displays. Then, when they want to look at samples or paint chips, they can move to our finish room.

“We don’t want to overwhelm our clients,” he continues. “Instead, after getting to know them, our designers can curate a look for them, pulling samples they feel are necessary. People are busy. They don’t want to have to sort through a lot of samples.”

Another special feature of the room is its lighting, which is important for the entire showroom. In fact, it is so essential that Jacobs hired a Los Angeles-based lighting expert to create a comprehensive lighting plan. In the selection room, she included tunable lighting that gives designers the ability to adjust the color temperature of the lighting within the room to match that of a client’s home. That capability also eliminates the need for clients to take anything home.

“We don’t want people to take home samples because oftentimes we’re updating the lighting, too, so it just causes confusion,” he indicates. “Many people in the industry have gotten that panic call from a client who took home a sample that doesn’t match. We’ve taken that whole experience off of the table.”

In the inspiration area, the lighting plan takes into consideration the colors of the displays and their placement within the showroom. For example, the light that shines on the teal colored cabinetry in the mudroom/drop zone display in the front of the showroom is different than what illuminates the walnut, textured laminate and rift-cut oak cabinetry in the kitchen display towards the back.

“It may be a little nerdy,” he admits, “but with my background, which includes a previous career in the movie business, it was important for me to have a showroom that is organized and up to date. And lighting is a huge part of that.”

Another important part of designing the showroom was to establish a creative place where people can dream…with inspiration that is applicable for the Pittsburgh market, which often includes renovating 100-plus-year-old homes. As such, a white and gray kitchen display shows visitors how lighter colors can brighten an older home laden with dark wood. For those wanting a ‘wow’ design element, the live kitchen display with the custom backlit ‘gemstone’ backsplash can inspire. 

Likewise, the ‘Posh Prohibition’ bar features dry brushed cherry cabinetry that shows how updated cabinetry can fit into an older home. Other features include motorized shelves that move in and out of the cabinets, paneled appliances and accent lights with leather straps.

Jacobs also included a bathroom display, which serves as the public restroom. Its design vision relates to Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Fallingwater home, with elements that include a walnut vanity with walnut-accented faucets and backlit sconces and wall lights that combine with a ‘leather’ tiled half wall, ‘water’ tiled accent wall and ‘coal’ tiled floor. 

The Kitchen Bin

Winfield, NY

Debbie U. Pugh had worked as a CKBD in the kitchen and bath design industry for more than 14 years when, at the age of 59, she ventured out on her own and opened The Kitchen Bin in Winfield, NY last year. While she always dreamed of owning her own business, losing a dear friend to cancer gave her the nudge she needed to actually do it.

“I always thought ‘someday’,” she says. “But when my friend passed away, I realized that life is short, so I decided to go out on my own, chase my dream and invest in myself.”

Given her rural location, she chose to establish her business within a grain bin, which simultaneously blends in while standing out.

“I have people stop each day just to see what’s inside,” she says. “A grain bin evolving into a kitchen and bath showroom makes this a one-of-a-kind space where I think outside the box and design in a circle while giving clients a unique experience with one-stop shopping.”

While visitors may be lured in by the structure’s outward appearance, its 1,500-square-foot interior adds to the awe with soaring 30′-tall ceilings and a curved staircase that leads to a loft filled with flooring and tile samples. Further enticement comes from a full kitchen display with cabinetry that is shown in two paint colors and one stain with partial and full overlay doors, flat and raised paneled doors, glass doors with mullions, eight different hardware choices and a host of organizational accessories. She also included a pantry, bookcase, floating shelves, quartz countertop, dual-fuel range, refrigerator, paneled dishwasher and apron front sink. An adjacent espresso bar features a commercial espresso maker and grinder and a bar sink. 

“I tried to include as many options as possible while still looking coordinated and well designed,” Pugh indicates.

Passing through the barn doors leads visitors into the presentation room where she displays cabinetry door samples from four manufacturers, including a local custom cabinet maker. Several base cabinets feature clear acrylic tops so clients can view interior construction. Granite and quartz samples are presented in a custom-designed unit to minimize clutter. Pugh even custom designed her hardware selection boards to look like a cabinet, which also houses a wall bed. Barn doors in this room lead to a half bath and a full bath with a tiled shower and stackable washer and dryer. 

“I thought long and hard about my showroom,” she relates. “Everything is displayed in a home-like environment. Clients feel that coziness as they sit back in comfy chairs in front of the fireplace and watch their designs come alive on a large-screen TV…all while enjoying a cappuccino and a cookie. In fact, people often ask me if I live here!”

Given that her displays are fully operational, and that she included that bed behind her hardware display, living there is actually possible…and planned for.

“Fully working displays add value since clients can see, touch and envision products in their own spaces,” she explains. “But I also wanted to be able to use the showroom as a guest space, vacation rental or residence when I retire, or if the currently thriving kitchen and bath design industry tanks. Plus, my son and daughter-in-law can stay here when they visit. They even have their own ensuite!”

JM Kitchen & Bath Design

Arvada, CO

JM Kitchen & Bath Design is a company on the move. Backed by a 45-year history in the kitchen and bath design industry in the greater Denver, CO area, major changes came via new ownership in 2020. 

As part of the transition, the firm opened two new showrooms last year to complement existing locations in Denver and Castle Rock. A 2,300-sq.-ft. location in Colorado Springs was renovated within an existing building to include a plethora of new kitchen and bath displays tailored to support its relatively traditional market.

Simultaneously, about 80 miles north in Arvada, the design firm situated its 3,500-sq.-ft. showroom within a new building in a busy outdoor mall surrounded by a furniture store, a warehouse club, a tile/flooring showroom and a couple of big box home improvement stores.

“Starting from scratch gave us the ability to choose our location, which in this case is a gathering place for people looking to do home improvement,” says Jason Price, CEO. “Starting with a shell of a building, rather than one with existing walls and rooms, also gave us more flexibility in designing the displays, consultation rooms for client meetings and working spaces for our designers.”

Those displays include five kitchens, which showcase the company’s ability to help clients with everything from cabinetry and countertops to tile, lighting and plumbing. Most displays are full-sized and fully staged and equipped.

“We want visitors to see how different options look in an actual kitchen setting,” he relates. “And they do seem to like that idea. We get a lot of people telling us that our showroom looks like a magazine.”

Many of the displays feature working appliances as well, which means the company can host events for local organizations and businesses, customers, etc.

“We’ll invite a chef to come in and cook in the displays,” he explains. “People can kick back and really see how the kitchens function…in an intimate, no-pressure environment.”

Visitors also appreciate the diversity within the displays, in color and style as well as budgets. For example, the perimeter of the kitchen at the front of the showroom features quarter- sawn walnut cabinets mixed with metallic acrylic flat-panel cabinets. The island showcases a monotonic matte surface and quartzite, the latter of which is repeated as a full-height backsplash behind the Viking dual-fuel range and Best ventilation hood. Appliances, including a Sub-Zero refrigerator, freezer, wine refrigerator and Cove dishwasher, are all paneled. 

Mixed style and colored cabinetry is also showcased in a display with blue painted maple cabinets, high-gloss laminate cabinets and cerused quarter-sawn oak cabinets. A slab-style quartz backsplash is complemented with quartz countertops, including the island, which features a waterfall edge. 

Homeowners who prefer all wood cabinetry can peruse the display featuring natural rustic alder for the perimeter and a darker stained alder for the island. This display also showcases two styles of quartz and a mosaic tile backsplash.

“We work with our vendor partners to show a variety of options…not only what’s popular today, but what will be popular tomorrow,” Price relates. “We want to be forward thinking.”

With a relatively large footprint, the showroom also boasts a full-size bathroom display with a wet room concept and double vanity, two public restrooms, two consultation rooms and a laundry/mud room/office, the latter of which encourages visitors to dream beyond kitchens and bathrooms. 

One typical showroom item that visitors won’t find is spindles of product selections. 

“We want the showroom to be clutter free,” he stresses. “We are encouraging people to envision what their kitchen or bathroom might look like…and they don’t include vendor spindles.”

DesignCraft Kitchen & Bath

Brentwood, TN

Since 2018, DesignCraft Kitchen & Bath has assisted customers in the Tampa, FL area with their kitchen and bath updating and remodeling needs via its 1,700-sq.-ft. showroom. Now, with the grand opening of the company’s new showroom in Brentwood, TN in January, homeowners in the counties of Davidson and Williamson as well as the surrounding communities can experience the same full-scale transformation services.

Tracy Urso, CFO and interior designer, moved to the Nashville area a few years ago and saw the need for the all-
inclusive services her company provides.

“A lot of homes in this area were built about 15 to 20-plus years ago, so homeowners are now looking to renovate,” she says. “It’s a great market to break into.”

Visitors to the 1,900-sq.-ft. Brentwood showroom can peruse two kitchens that showcase two-tone cabinets, one in currently popular shades of white and navy and the other in more timeless neutral hues. Both kitchens also feature quartz countertops. 

Urso is especially proud of the showroom’s bath display, which features a full slab of quartz as an accent shower wall and as the countertop surface, which is set atop a floating vanity. The quartz’s high-contrast deep black veins, juxtaposed with more understated gold veins, shimmer with light. Matte Black plumbing fixtures and elongated black subway tile in the shower match the black veining while brass accents, including the framed mirror, cabinetry hardware and shower hinges/door handle, speak to the gold veins.

The showroom’s selection room complements the full displays and rounds out the firm’s cabinetry, hardware and tile selections. A large-screen television brings designs to life and gives clients the ability to see changes in real time. Additionally, Urso’s own office serves as a showpiece, giving clients the opportunity to envision built-in cabinetry in rooms other than a kitchen or bathroom.

“Our showroom functions as a design center,” she reports. “It showcases our inclusive, one-stop shop process where we take care of our clients’ projects from start to finish. We give our clients the ability to see everything, including cabinetry, countertops, tile, lighting and plumbing, all in one place so they can make selections without traveling to multiple stores. It makes the process easy for them.”

Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath

Easton, MD

Like Tracy Urso, Jennifer Gilmer opened a new showroom in response to fulfilling a need. For her, it’s a 750-sq.-ft. space in Easton, MD that serves as a satellite to her existing locations in Chevy Chase, MD and Ashburn, VA.

“I moved to the Easton area in 2019,” says the owner of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath. “The architect who built the house we bought had their office in Easton, in an excellent location. When they announced they were moving, I jumped at the chance to take over the space.

“I knew that Easton was lacking a good quality kitchen and bath design firm,” she continues, “and I wanted to be able to make excellent design available to clients on the Eastern Shore, many of whom have beautiful homes on the water. I also banked on the fact that there were a lot of potential clients who would appreciate our presence downtown. And I was right…we are getting a lot of business on a steady basis.” 

Gilmer’s satellite location is an ideal meld with her firm’s Chevy Chase location since several clients either live full time in the Washington, DC area or are moving from the Washington, DC area to Easton.

“We can meet with them in either showroom,” she says, “…whichever one suits them.”

With limited space, Gilmer focused on making the most of the relatively petite showroom. As such, she concentrated her attention on six kitchen displays. 

“I’ve found through the years that it really isn’t necessary to show bathroom displays since the cabinets in kitchens can also be considered for bathrooms,” she relates. “Sometimes, though, we do take a field trip to a plumbing supplier that has bath displays.”

Gilmer also wanted to showcase the unexpected and atypical. For example, the refrigerator, freezer drawers and coffee machine are built into tall cabinetry.

“Clients have no idea that the display houses these appliances, and every time we open the refrigerator or freezer drawers, they gasp!” she says. “Since these appliances are also live – along with the island sink, disposal and dishwasher – we can use them ourselves, as well as when we host events. Clients love it when we make them a cup of coffee.”

The designer/owner also incorporated authentic vintage lights, a beautiful reclaimed chestnut countertop on the island and solid wood live-edge shelves.

“These unique touches are impressive and make clients feel at ease with the fact that we can design uniquely beautiful kitchens,” Gilmer indicates. 

KDC Remodeling

Lacey, WA

KDC Remodeling celebrated a grand reopening in March when the Lacey, WA kitchen and bath remodeling firm officially unveiled several new displays and celebrated a more formal transition from its original name of Kitchen Design Center.  

“Our founder is taking a step back,” says Scott Allen. “After opening the showroom 32 years ago, he has decided to slow down and will transition into an advisory role.”

At just over 3,000 sq. ft., the showroom is home to about 15 kitchen and bath displays, some full size, others smaller 6′-8′ multi-cabinet segments that show snippets of several different design styles and cabinetry construction. 

“They are large enough so people can get a feel for the style yet it allows enough floor space to show everything,” he explains. “Most of our competitors only have a couple of displays…or even no displays, just catalogs or samples. We are really unique for this area. We’re about 50 miles south of Seattle, which does have a big design area, but the way the topography is in Puget Sound, we’re really quite far away so we’re probably the biggest showroom outside of the city.”

One of the newly unveiled displays is a much larger 15’x25′ bathroom that was once an office and library, both of which have found new homes.

“We now have a whole room dedicated to the bathroom,” Allen indicates. “It’s an important display for us since about 60 percent of our business is bathroom remodeling.”

It includes a single-sink vanity to illustrate options for smaller bathrooms and a nearly 80″ double vanity and tall cabinet for larger spaces. A freestanding slipper tub is accented with a Roman tub filler, and the focal-point walk-in shower features cultured marble and half-glass walls, niches and foot rests, a rainhead showerhead, an adjustable hand shower and valve controls mounted on the wall to show visitors that shower operation needn’t only be located within the shower.

“The shower is pretty luxurious, with the swirls of cultured marble, tile inset and brushed nickel fixtures,” he says. “People love that they can walk into it. It’s a focal point as soon as you enter the room.”

As an interior space, the display also showcases what can be achieved with lighting, especially LEDs, which are featured as an accent in the shower.

“We can dim the lights in the room to highlight just the shower, which is illuminated with a soft glow,” he explains. “It really feels like you’re going to the Hilton for a spa day.”

In addition to the larger displays, the showroom also includes samples of doors, countertop surfaces and cabinetry hardware.

“We have probably 50 different door samples, so visitors can see how something like alder compares to hickory and oak, or maple and cherry,” he explains. “Each takes stain differently, so we want to show them how different woods impact the design.

“People don’t know what they don’t know, so we incorporate a lot of different features to show them what’s possible,” he continues. “Sometimes it’s details like lighting or just the right cabinetry hardware that can inspire people. For us, the showroom is all about starting a conversation.”

The post Showroom Strategies appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Whatever the case, these shiny new and updated showrooms were prepared for the unexpected rush of clients who were suddenly eager to spend their extra dollars on creating home spaces that met their changing needs. Whether homeowners were interested in creating the kitchen of their dreams, a more functional home office or a bathroom oasis, updated showroom spaces provided wow factors through their room designs and product offerings. 

On these pages, Kitchen & Bath Design News visits with four showrooms that went through the process of reinventing and recharging during a challenging time.  

Epiphany Kitchens

Northville, MI

For Jay Towar, president and founder of Epiphany Kitchens in Northville, MI, a number of factors provided the push to update the company’s 4,000-sq.-ft showroom. The pandemic delivered more window shoppers when businesses were closed, and the new neighbor upstairs forced reconfigurations of areas during their own remodeling.

Focusing on increasing gross profit margins, it was also important that the showroom reflect the type of custom work the company is known for. “Our showroom was looking a little dog-eared,” Towar reports. “If you’re bringing someone in who is going to spend upwards of $100,000 on a kitchen, you need to put your money where your mouth is.” 

To entice the people who were walking by, peering into lit shop windows, the company wanted to deliver a wow factor. “Both kitchens up front now are show stoppers,” stresses Tony Bronzovich, designer for the firm. 

There is a modern kitchen that features a linear setup as opposed to a work triangle, where two cooks can work side-by-side. The space includes products from The Galley, including its dresser, as well as slab doors. “While we don’t sell this style as much here yet, it is starting to percolate and we’re starting to do more jobs with that linear look,” Bronzovich offers.

The other window area showcases a transitional kitchen, which is more in keeping with the market in the area. It displays painted white inset cabinets, frameless walnut cabinets, stainless steel doors and an island with a distressed warm gray wood. “I’m showing three different constructions and four different finishes in this display, and it all works together really well. It allows me to show all of those things without doing four vignettes,” Bronzovich explains. “It shows people how to do that in their homes.”

Jay Towar’s wife, Sherry, was also an instrumental part of the showroom’s update, which included brightening the space with whiter walls. To highlight the range of design elements available on the market, the showroom now includes items such as wainscoting, ceiling treatments, built-in banquettes, power-assist cabinet doors, in-drawer charging stations, integrated cabinet lighting and higher-end appliances. 

“All of the fixtures are brighter colors as well,” notes Bronzovich. “We’re showcasing soft, champagne bronze or brushed gold fixtures – just pushing the envelope. Our customers are starting to go there, and I think they would if they could see it, so we want to show it.”

In reconfiguring the back of the showroom, there is now an area where fixtures are placed on backlit stone, with wrought iron barn doors with frosted glass separating the space. Vignettes are still included, such as a coffee bar in a traditional space with applied molding doors. “The color is a little newer – an aqua green/gray tone – which is very popular right now,” Bronzovich continues. “We have another area with a traditional beaded inset with pillow wainscot up the wall and a built-in hutch. It’s much more of a traditional look, with heavy molding.”

In addition to the 2,000-sq.-ft. main floor, a similar-sized basement is set up like the basement in a house, adds Bronzovich. “We have a full working bar down there, an open theater room, and an office, as well as selections.”

Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio

Nashville, TN

Beauty can emerge from the most unusual spaces, and for Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio owners Matthew Quinn and Ric Parrish, that space was a former mop factory. For nearly a decade, the duo had a vision of opening a new showroom in Nashville, TN to join their successful venture in Atlanta, GA. 

The pair had a long history of working with both clients and design professionals in and around Nashville, and they recognized the significant growth and changes going on in the city. They were also aware of the difficulties Nashville’s design community faced by not having access to premier showrooms and products. 

Sitting at the top of a hill in Wedgewood-Houston, the mop factory was deemed the ideal spot for Nashville’s new design hub by the two. Today, the Nashville Design Collective houses 14 showrooms filled with luxury brands and talented design professionals. Richard T. Anuszkiewicz joined the Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio team in 2019 to lead in the design and opening of the new Nashville showroom. 

“Situated in a front corner space, it features beautiful external visibility directly into two of our eight extraordinary and inspiring vignettes,” notes Nicholas Vanderhovel, CMKBD, designer at the Nashville showroom, who works alongside Anuszkiewicz. The space focuses primarily on kitchens and closets.

“Our intention is always to be a step ahead of the curve when it comes to the needs of our clients, so making sure this showroom was functionally crafted, aesthetically unique and technologically sophisticated was our top priority,” notes Vanderhovel. “The entire showroom is run on a smart home system that controls different lighting moods throughout the day and is integrated with all our displays. While standing in one of our vignettes, we change the mood entirely by adjusting to different ambiances in the lighting and music without affecting another client’s experience in a different vignette.”

The space also includes top appliance brands for the company’s luxury clientele, many of which are functional for use during events. Others are in the prototype phase and not yet available to the broader market. 

“There were a few focus words for the overall design philosophy of the showroom: Intention, Sophistication and Environment,” continues Vanderhovel. “Each vignette boasts its own completely unique style. This diversity was intentional because we didn’t just want each of our displays to differentiate from each other, but from the mainstream industry as a whole. Our clientele wants to be shown something they have never seen before. They want something you can’t get anywhere else.”

The designer believes the main wow factor of the showroom lives in its finishes. “Fumed eucalyptus, animal hide, cerused walnut, high gloss lacquer – the entire tactile experience of the cabinetry sets the showroom apart,” he states.

Another big feature is the use of metal and hardware across the space. “Luxury spaces are defined by the many components involved, and the addition of unexpected metalworking plays into that idea and can either add a touch of refinement or utilitarianism,” he remarks.

To draw the community to the showroom, Design Galleria recently introduced a private dinner series in which specially invited guests are given an intimate showroom tour followed by a private chef demonstration showcasing the appliances. “These events are a great way for us to introduce ourselves, share our design philosophies and create new partnerships,” stresses Vanderhovel.

KBF Gallery

Maitland, FL

It’s never too late to pursue a dream, and for Adam Vellequette and Ashley Sheaffer, that concept materialized in the form of a 4,500-sq.-ft showroom in Maitland, FL. After outgrowing their original space of 17 years, the brother-and-sister duo – principals of KBF Design Gallery – took on the light-filled building that was a blank canvas with which to create.

“KBF was founded on the belief that clients should have one place to find everything they need for their home remodel, and our new showroom offers comprehensive selections in everything necessary for our complete design-to-build service,” notes Vellequette.   

“In fact, part of the motivation for the move was to have room to display all the different options and choices available for our clients’ homes, so it was critical that we display the latest in tile, plumbing fixtures, countertops, cabinetry, flooring and all other materials and products that go into interior design,” adds Sheaffer. “We want our clients to be able to see and touch the materials before they are selected for their remodels and installed in their homes.”

Vellequette notes that the showroom was created to inspire clients to explore ideas beyond conventional design. “Our displays are designed to show clients how classic materials can be used in cutting-edge ways; for example, our bar display includes four sliding porcelain slabs that are book matched on all sides, so the bar is visually stunning whether the panels are opened or closed.”  

The company’s team approach to the design-build process, and the team members’ diverse and broad range of expertise, allows for a connection with people of all design preferences, notes the duo. “Whether a client’s taste leans toward classical, modern or transitional design, our showroom is designed to reflect our abilities in all styles,” notes Sheaffer.

The working kitchen is at the heart of the showroom. It was designed to demonstrate the latest appliances, storage solutions, cabinetry design, lighting and functionality.

“For example, The Galley workstation in the island is the ultimate culinary system, and includes two silent taps over a 60″ basin that can function in multiple ways for entertaining, cooking, prepping, serving and gathering,” he explains. “The finishes and applications – from the waterfall edge on the massive quartz-clad island to the striking metal range hood and the mix of warm wood and white cabinetry – all provide visual design inspiration. The cabinet interiors include pull-out shelving, built-in spice racks, and lighted, deep drawers with inserts, to present our clients with the latest innovations in cabinetry interiors.”

That working kitchen is the site for the showroom’s ‘Brunch Bites and Bubbly’ event every Saturday, where visitors can enjoy brunch items, coffee and mimosas while they browse the showroom or meet with the design team. “The showroom also serves as a shooting location for KBF’s informative YouTube videos, and it’s the perfect spot where we host lunch-and-learn events and after-hours cocktail parties for our local industry partners,” Vellequette reports. 

Forest & Field

Bloomsburg, PA

Building is the backbone of the lumber yard business, so the idea of building a showroom on-site to bring in customers would seem to be a logical and natural progression. Such was the thought of John Coates, owner of Tri-County Lumber & Truss, who wanted to expand the company’s showroom beyond the lumber yard’s original 500-sq.-ft. site that was hidden away upstairs. 

The result of Coates’ original idea is Forest & Field, a 10,000-sq.-ft. showroom housed in a building created by Roger Williams Architecture in Bloomsburg, PA, with a floor plan designed by MA+KE Architects of Hanover, NH.

“I wanted to build something that would not only enhance the customer experience, but give our designers the proper tools and space to work their craft,” he stresses.

Once the architects were done with their work on the Bloomsburg, PA showroom, Forest & Field’s lead designers – Kim Lupashunski and Danae Orlando – went about designing the space. “We wanted an atmosphere that fosters comfort and low pressure,” notes Coates. “When a new customer comes in, we encourage them to take their time and just walk around. 

“I wanted to build a space that inspired the customers and staff, a space that would help the customer feel more like they were in a home rather than a business,” he continues.

Most of the displays have working elements – a goal for the showroom. There is a large Demo kitchen, a working Board Room kitchen, an active beverage area and a lounge area with a large television built into a Wood-Mode bookcase with functioning fireplace.

“Our working Demo kitchen has a huge leather finished island and features Wolf, Sub-Zero and Cove appliances, and we often use it to cook during the day,” states Coates. “Our glass shower display has about 10 working showerheads that people can control with valves outside the shower. And, our lounge area is a beautiful space that we have already replicated for several customers.”

“I spent two years designing my office, and it has ended up being a destination for local business friends to meet,” he adds. “Customers often wander into my office and take pictures of the setup. It’s basically a 600-sq.-ft. extension of my home and my tastes.”

To attract customers, Forest & Field has held cooking classes in the Demo kitchen and has hosted fundraising events for a local hospital. Beginning in the fall, a local university will be offering baking classes using the Demo kitchen.

The Board Room kitchen is set up to be a high-end dining room/kitchen, and has been a popular space for private event catering. Wolf, Sub-Zero and Cove appliances grace that kitchen as well, including a 100-bottle Sub-Zero wine refrigerator. The furniture is from Restoration Hardware, and white Carrara marble and antique Persian rugs enhance the upscale feel.

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GOLD

Updated European Traditional Display

STEVEN COOPER

Cooper Pacific Kitchens, West Hollywood, CA

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Photos: Meghan Beierle-O’Brien

A fresh take on European traditional was the focus for the overhaul of the flagship display by Steven Cooper, who worked with Meredith Gullion, in the Cooper Pacific Kitchens Showroom in the Pacific Design Center. With the luxury traditional market underrepresented in Los Angeles, the decision was made to add this opulent kitchen display, which plays with the layering of texture, color and updated traditional elements while it highlights the talents of the artisans who partner with the firm.

The showroom itself does not have access to any natural light, so creating an atmosphere that wasn’t cave-like was top of mind. Lighting is key in bringing the space to life, and is included inside of cabinets, under the stone shelf at the cooking wall, as well as in fixtures.

The idea of layering brass and walnut and dark gloss cabinetry needed to be balanced with brightness, so white relief in the structure surrounds the range, while a bold Calacatta Viola marble with a white base on the islands offsets the dark tones of the custom cabinets. Black honed granite and Phantom Black quartzite are also used on the perimeter – which includes a 60″ Wolf Dual Fuel Range and custom barrel hood – along with backsplash tile from Artistic Tile. A Sub-Zero 36″ Column Refrigerator and 36″ Undercounter Refrigerator Drawer are tucked away. A Franke KBX sink pairs with a Gantry faucet from Waterstone Faucets in one of the islands, with integrated Cove dishwasher within reach.

SILVER

Coming Home

LAUREN TOLLES

Maison Birmingham with KSI Kitchen & Bath, Birmingham, MI

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Photos: Martin Vecchio, Martin Vecchio Photography LLC

A welcoming home was the design goal for Lauren Tolles and Maison Birmingham’s recent renovation of its entire 2,400-sq.-ft. showroom space, which was done to incorporate its acquisition of KSI Kitchen & Bath. Instead of a multitude of small vignettes, there are now larger displays that show more features and details.

Striking a balance of showing enough without showing too much was a key design challenge. The focus was on editing and organizing products in the selection center so that there were a lot of choices without being overwhelming. For example, hardware is displayed in drawers like jewelry and rail-mounted custom cabinet doors are painted various shades of white so clients can focus on door style rather than be influenced by color.

Custom offerings from Maison Birmingham were also blended with KSI’s more economical offerings within one space, so visitors can see that they can combine multiple product offerings and finishes in one space. It teaches customers that they can focus on one or two custom pieces and use semi-custom options in other areas of the room.

While the open environment was important in terms of flow, the presentation room was designed to be a space where private conversations with clients can take place. The inclusion of a frame-style television, disguised as artwork, enhances presentations and adds to the ‘wow’ factor since clients love to see their spaces come to life on screen. 

BRONZE

Showcasing the Details

CARLA PARKER & ERIN PARKER

Bay to Beach Builders, Millville, DE

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Photos: Rolfe Hokanson, Rolfe Hokanson Photography

A spa-like, tranquil environment was established in the Bay to Beach interactive Design Studio in Ocean View, DE, where the luxury home-buying and design experience could be fun and creative. Carla Parker and Erin Parker, working together with the entire Bay to Beach Builders Team, transformed the 3,370-sq.-ft. space into a custom home selection center with hundreds of products and innovative technologies where it’s all about the experience.

The center focuses on the company’s Amish, old-world hand craftsmanship combined with state-of-the-art technology. The attention to detail is within the hands of the company’s Amish trades, who crafted their talent in every corner.

The company also layers name-brand product displays with the latest trends that include a theater, fireplace vignettes and interactive kitchen and bath vignettes. The functionality and flow guide the firm’s target audiences – retirees, growing families and vacation homebuyers – by creating a seamless process for home selections. The center includes Kohler and Pelican sinks, Berenson hardware pieces, Moen faucets, Daltile backsplashes and Mannington floors, that range in styles including contemporary, farmhouse, traditional and luxury.

The post 2021 Best Showrooms appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

However, a new year brings new hope and enthusiasm. This month, KBDN asked several design firms to share what’s new and exciting about their showrooms and how they’ve tailor-made their spaces to meet client needs.

The Cabinetry showroom’s main kitchen display is complemented with smaller vignettes, such as this bright, kelly green kitchen vignette.

The Cabinetry

Norwell, MA

As a designer, Marlene Ketchen, owner/designer, has the ability to see potential, so when a circa 1799 building in a historic neighborhood became available, she stepped in. Ketchen knew she could transform the building’s garish black and purple exterior and chaotic retail Christmas shop interior into a beautiful new 2,500-square-foot showroom that better fit into the community and offered a place for inspiration and conversation.

During the 2019 renovation, Ketchen knew she wanted to maintain the best the building had to offer.

“It has such a warm, cozy feel, with elements that have been here for more than 200 years,” she says. “People in New England appreciate those historic details, such as the rustic, exposed beams, the multiple fireplaces, the storm windows that rattle and the steam heat that whistles and clunks. The original pine floors are dinged up with patches and repairs and they have slash marks left by workers as a way to keep track of their hours. There’s also a part of the wall in our entry that was charred from a fire 150 years ago, and we have boot scrapers on our front stoop. It’s a great building and a special place that people love.”

While portions of the past are preserved, the designer took the opportunity to showcase current kitchen and bath design in an environment that feels more like a home than a traditional showroom. For example, she has just one full kitchen display, which includes fully functional appliances, located in the main entry. This area also includes a welcome station where guests are greeted. It is complemented with smaller vignettes, such as a bright, Kelly green kitchen vignette in what used to be a glassed-in patio.

“I use it as a display case and light it at night,” she says. “It really catches people’s eye when they drive by.”

A functioning powder room with bold chevron wallpaper is joined by a bright coral vanity display with cheerful wallpaper as representatives for bathroom inspiration, while a mud room, dual meeting rooms that include several built-ins and workspaces that double as displays, offices and a product selection area round out the floor plan. A bit of additional unclaimed space gives her room to grow.

“I wanted to show different applications, not just a lot of kitchens,” says Ketchen. “I feel like, today, we have the ability to help people visualize with what is available on the internet. My goal with the showroom is to have a place where people can feel relaxed and comfortable so they can enjoy the design process without feeling overwhelmed.”

To that end, her selection room is curated with a sampling of the most popular door and countertop samples displayed on shelves. Select hardware is also featured on boards on the wall.

“I have chosen not to display every single door and countertop available,” she says. “Instead, we curate. We do have additional samples upstairs that we can access, but we only display those we see people use the most. Our old showroom was filled with spinners and boards and they overwhelmed people. I wanted to avoid that in my new showroom.”

The new live kitchen in the Creative Kitchens’ showroom in Huntington integrates three levels of cabinetry within one display, complemented with a custom hood and shelving, a wood island insert, and quartzite countertops.
Photos: Thorney Lieberman

Creative Kitchens

Huntington, WV

In February 2020, Rob Stepp, president, and his business partner/sister Nancy Rigney were enjoying the success of opening their 1,800-square-foot Teays Valley showroom the previous year, and they were getting ready to embark on a renovation of the firm’s headquarters/showroom/warehouse/fabrication shop in Huntington. However, just a few short weeks later, the pandemic changed its course.

“Initially we were only going to update our live kitchen, pantry and bar,” says Stepp. “However, we ended up doing about three times more than that.”

Renovations extended to include several additional displays, the granite ‘gallery,’ door/hardware sample room and design studio, and updates were made to the lighting throughout the 3,900-square-foot showroom. They also took the opportunity to incorporate several features that are not only useful now, but will also be valuable post-pandemic, such as glass partitions in the presentation areas, a transition to on-screen presentations and open spaces that are well-suited to social distancing.

Taking a leap of faith, as well as inspiration from the new Teays Valley showroom, Stepp also focused on maintaining what makes each Creative Kitchens showroom special, in particular their completeness of displays that allows clients to visualize what a new kitchen or bath will do for their home and lifestyle.

“We’re in a market where we can’t be specialists,” says Stepp. “We have to be all things to all people, so we have a range of price points from low-cost options to completely custom.”

For example, the new live kitchen integrates three levels of Crystal Cabinet Works cabinetry within one display, complemented with a custom hood and shelving, a Grothouse Lumber wood island insert, quartzite countertops and live appliances including a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf range, Cove dishwasher, U-Line bottle chiller and ice machine, Sharp microwave drawer and working Lenova faucet and Hafele integrated lighting… “everything a client can experience upon purchasing from us,” notes Stepp. This display also includes a bar, hidden pantry and small sitting area, which is reflective of a living room to replicate a home setting.

“Families can come in, sit and relax and really feel the environment in 360-degrees,” adds Gina Chapman, design professional/marketing and branding professional. “We pride ourselves in offering a showroom where people can feel, touch and experience…since design is really all about the senses.”

Other areas where the senses are spotlighted include the design center, door/hardware sample room and granite ‘gallery’ where visitors can take an active role in the design process from conception to completion.

“We view each item as a vital aspect to the big picture, so clients can touch and match samples with other aspects of their room to achieve their own unique design,” says Chapman.

For instance, the design center features a generously sized workspace with 32″ monitors, lighting and hard surfaces as well as displays of evolving design themes selected to inspire clients. The door/hardware sample room – also referred to as the ‘dressing’ room – includes virtually every door style from every manufacturer the company offers, cataloged neatly within bookcase-style cabinetry, which thereby eliminates traditional factory displays and vignettes….“sometimes it’s more about what is absent,” notes Stepp. Hardware, considered to be the jewel of the kitchen, is displayed as such in velvet-lined drawers with soft-close hardware.

“Everything we do is customer centric,” Chapman continues. “We want our showrooms to be fun and interesting places to visit, places where we can guide our clients towards their goals while meeting their budget requirements.”

Lauren Tolles blended custom and semi-custom cabinetry in this new kitchen display at the Maison Birmingham showroom as a way to show customers they can combine multiple products and finishes.
Photos: Martin Vecchio Photography

Maison Birmingham

Birmingham, MI

Since opening Maison Birmingham in 2016, Lauren Tolles, founder, expanded her business in 2019 by purchasing KSI Kitchen & Bath, which added eight locations to her firm. As part of that growth, last summer she renovated portions of her original 2,400-square-foot showroom in Birmingham to highlight both brands.

For example, a new kitchen display in the front of her showroom blends custom Maison cabinetry with semi-custom Dura Supreme cabinetry offered by KSI Kitchen & Bath.

“It’s a great opportunity to show customers they can combine multiple product offerings and finishes in one space,” she says, adding that the 200-square-foot space also features a custom baking center that illustrates how clients can include a ‘morning bar’ with coffee makers, toasters, etc. “They don’t necessarily have to do custom cabinetry throughout the entire kitchen. Instead, they can focus on one special custom piece, such as an island or paneled refrigerator armoire, and use less expensive cabinetry in the rest of the kitchen to optimize their budget and still meet functional needs.”

The designer also included a focal-point display with subway tile, marble ‘framing’ and artwork – highlighted with a picture light – above the sink to show clients how they can personalize their space.

“People aren’t always able to put a sink under a window, so I wanted to show how we can still create a focal point,” she says. “We also have a lot of clients who have great art collections, so I like to integrate them whenever I can. By showing them how to include some pieces in the kitchen, we can make it feel more like a living space rather than just a utilitarian place to cook.”

Another new area within the showroom is a presentation room, which is an idea that grew from the purchase of KSI Kitchen & Bath.

“I believe that an open environment, in terms of showroom floors and workspaces, breeds collaboration and creativity, but I love that the presentation room is one room where we can close a door and talk with clients privately or have a small group meeting,” she says.

The inclusion of a frame-style television, disguised as artwork, enhances presentations and adds to the ‘wow’ factor since clients love to see their spaces come to life on screen. The room’s library vibe also doubles as display space.

“We try to maximize what we’re showcasing in a limited footprint so every space becomes a display,” she says. “Workspaces become displays, the presentation room becomes a display…we want all of those spaces to look beautiful while also being practical.”

To that end, Tolles focuses on edited selections.

“When designing the showroom I thought a lot about how to showcase products without showcasing everything,” she says. “We don’t have a lot of doors hung all over the walls. Instead, I focus on curation, on showcasing the things that fit our market and our level of design. There is a lot available in our selection center, but it’s edited and beautifully organized so clients understand there are a lot of choices, but it isn’t overwhelming.”

For example, hardware is displayed in drawers like jewelry and rail-mounted custom doors – reverently coined the ‘wall of white’ – are painted various shades of the ‘blank’ color so clients can focus on a door style rather than be influenced by a door style painted in their favorite color.

“I wanted to create a showroom that feels like you’re walking into the entryway of a home with different rooms,” she explains. “Instead of small vignettes, we have larger displays that show more features and detail. I love it when people say they feel at home here…like they could live here!”

In his new, larger showroom, Rob Belville showcases several product lines he carries in full displays, including this kitchen, which features inset Shiloh cabinetry that combines flush inset and beaded inset cabinetry in two different door styles in both paint and stain finishes.
Photos: Visible Style, Leslie Brown

Brentwood Cabinets

Franklin, TN

When Rob Belville, owner, decided to relocate and open a new, larger showroom and warehouse just south of Nashville in 2019, one of his goals was to provide enough product and samples of cabinetry for his customers to feel confident about the product selections they make for their projects.

To that end, he showcases several product lines he carries in full displays, including Shiloh and Eclipse by W.W. Wood Products, Kith and Eudora by Kith Kitchens, and Mouser Custom Cabinetry. Each highlights a different design style within the 2,000-square-foot showroom, which also includes a selection room with additional door styles, finishes, hardware and countertop selections.

For example, the largest display, which features inset Shiloh cabinetry complemented with a graphic backsplash and quartz countertops in two contrasting colorways, embodies a modern farmhouse vibe that combines flush inset and beaded inset cabinetry in two different door styles in both paint and stain finishes.

“When you initially see it, it looks like a white painted/stained cabinetry display,” he remarks. “But when you analyze it closer, there is a lot more going on.”

That theme of disguised complexity is common within his displays, where he typically includes two different finishes – usually one painted and one stained – which reflects the two-tone trend he currently sees from customers.

“It can be difficult to make a display look attractive with so many different options,” he notes. “But we have designed the showroom so the displays don’t look mismatched with a dizzying array of colors and doors.”

Belville also wanted to include fresh and trending products that resonate with his clientele.

“We often have customers come in, point to a display and say, ‘that’s exactly what I am looking for,’” he says.

One display that often generates this response shows a trending color palette of dark blue, white and wood reflected in Kith Kitchens cabinets painted Midnight and Bright White and a Stanisci Design custom hood with a Kith Kitchens’ Ash stain color.

“White is still the most popular color for cabinetry,” he says. “But, in the past year, we’ve seen an increased desire for more blues and greens. Custom hoods are trending, too, because people like to be able to customize it as a focal point for the room.”

Directly across from this display is an example that features a frameless box construction by Eudora with bases painted in Iron and uppers stained in Storm with a vintage glaze. Cabinetry is complemented with a marble-look quartz countertop with a waterfall edge and floating shelves, both of which are common requests.

Belville has also seen increased interest in contemporary designs, such as those reflected in the Eclipse cabinetry display. It includes frameless, thermally fused laminate doors with Blum Aventos hinges that provide a vertical lift. Lighting, both within the upper cabinets and in the toe kick, generates interest.

“We decided to include the lighting as a last-minute addition to finish the displays,” he says. “It’s a lot of work to incorporate it, but people love seeing it.”

Several kitchen vignettes were updated as part of a recent renovation at Granite State Cabinetry, including this one that features a mix of different colors, styles and textures.
Photos: Alison Payne Bellaud Photography

Granite State Cabinetry

Bedford, NH

Early last year, Frank Morris, Jr. was anticipating a celebration. He had just finished renovating several areas of the 6,000-
square-foot showroom when COVID shut down the party. While he and his team couldn’t officially celebrate at that time, visitors have returned and are now finding inspiration again as they peruse the 20-plus kitchen and bath displays and vignettes.

For many people, the showroom is a destination since it is one of the largest in the area representing the latest in a full range of design styles, colors and products.

“I hear from a lot of visitors who drive over an hour to get here,” he says, noting his location about an hour north of Boston and an hour from the Atlantic seacoast.

Morris makes them feel welcome with a casual, comfortable, high-end feel with a quintessential New Hampshire vibe.

“We don’t want visitors to feel intimidated or that we are ‘pushy’,” he says. “Although we show high-end products and we cater to the high end, we don’t want to look expensive…like people can’t afford to come here.”

As part of this objective, the front lobby and reception area were included in the recent renovation. Black walnut cabinetry and quartz countertops at the reception desk match the cabinetry and countertop featured in the adjacent refreshment area. Morris contrasted the dark wood with white painted, glide-by doors accented with wire mesh. A built-in coffee maker, beverage refrigerator, instant hot water tap and chilled/filtered water tap are available for guest use. Just beyond is a private closing room where clients can meet confidentially when the showroom is busy.

To encourage imagination, Morris divided the showroom into two general areas, one for displays and vignettes and a separate selection center with tile, faucets, sinks, countertops and hardware.

“We’ve created a focal point in the front with beautiful kitchen displays and a work area towards the back where people can make selections,” he says.

Several of these kitchen vignettes as well as the guest bathrooms, which are available for customer use, were part of the renovation. One of the new vignettes features a mix of cabinetry in black walnut with both natural finish and stained finishes juxtaposed with white painted cabinets and a gray island.

Another new vignette includes a grouping of four kitchen displays in an array of styles that always seems to attract attention.

“People love the mix of finishes we’ve included here,” he says, noting representations of textured laminate doors in different colors, styles and textures, quarter-sawn white oak cabinetry and a focal-point live-edge/waterfall black walnut countertop. “And, of course, they also love the blue island!”

The post Time to Shine appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Consumers value being able to see what they’re potentially going to buy. Remodeling a home is stressful, so being able to see – in detail – what a redesigned kitchen or bath will look like before a homeowner signs a purchase contract is vital. Words alone cannot adequately describe what visuals can – that is, if they’re done in a complete and high-quality format.

Your market area and client base can establish the minimal standard regarding how elaborate and detailed drawings need to be in order to successfully compete. However, even if you don’t have a great deal of competition, producing professionally detailed drawings will make a difference in your presentations, and will likely increase your opportunity to quickly close a higher-priced sale. Indeed, if you don’t create quality visuals to sell your projects, you could risk losing the sale entirely. Customers in those instances will pick your brain and take your valuable time but will be less likely to commit to a significant investment because they lack confidence in what’s presented.

I’m not saying that drawings are the only things that contribute to a sale. I am saying, however, that visualization does matter. Throughout my career, when selling ideas and programs to those who control funding, a visual, far more than a written description, invariably won clients over.

Visualization Matters

While traveling across the country, I’ve collected input from designers who produce professional presentations that feature quality drawings. 

Most use a computer program (versus hand-drawing) that also allows them to generate a cabinet order and price. It just makes business sense, provides for accuracy and ensures that potential revisions are manageable. Providing inspiring presentations to sell your designs will also increase the value of your showroom’s services and elevate your business overall. Consumers will either seek out a showroom that produces drawings or will be inspired to seek out your showroom, through a referral, by seeing one of your client’s drawings when they’re ready to embark on a remodeling project.

Kitchen and bath consumers want great ideas; they also want inspiration for making a purchase. Remodeling is a major decision that impacts people both financially and in terms of their living arrangements. Not having a detailed enough visual could break a sales opportunity. If a homeowner is not inspired, they most likely won’t execute the purchase. Impressing prospects leads to both sales and referrals. Homeowners will remain loyal if you connect personally and convey your ideas well.

Often, at least two people make a final purchase decision. Providing quality drawings that illustrate solved problems and eliminate pain points can become a bridge to get people on the same page with a designer. Well-understood visuals are vital to transforming dreams into an executable plan and a closed sale.

With great visuals, potential products can be considered with confidence. For example, showing a serving area or wet bar might not be within the scope of what a prospect had imagined or requested. But visually depicting a plan can increase the opportunity to win a sale or add profit to a potential project.

I also find that many designers remain unaware of the importance of detailed drawings. Homeowners, for example, might choose a designer over a contractor who provides an attractive price but does not dig into the use of the space and show it to prospects visually.

Our industry, unfortunately, has been slow to adopt new technology. By putting in a little more effort, designers can differentiate themselves and succeed by using their drawings as selling tools. Pre-designed computer resources, such as 2020 Design Cloud Decorative Items, also help in working smarter and more effectively.

Most designers report that, when shopping, consumers will provide a sketch or a simple drawing, possibly from another shopping source. Often, in this case, they’re shopping price. However, they’re also likely suggesting that they want more than they were previously shown. With just a bit of work, you can create a better looking, more detailed, more inspiring visual that wins a sale, while validating your qualifications and professionalism.

Designers who pride themselves on quality drawings work to deliver high-resolution jpeg renderings. These higher-quality looking drawings still retain their appeal on a large conference room television monitor. Customers should also be permitted, after a sale is locked in, to save high-resolution perspective images on their computers and cell phones so that they can share your visuals with others.

Visuals & Your Showroom

The presentation setup in your showroom is essential to this process. Where should you sit? How should you present what you want to show?

A tiny laptop screen is not the way to present your ideas to a client or prospect. It’s far too small for multiple people to see details on the same screen. Instead, try to get your visual projected on a second monitor for a more significant impression – or, even better, use a large TV monitor in a defined space such as a conference area or a room with some privacy. Curious, unrelated people will be less likely to interrupt, and you and your client can be more focused.

Producing and sharing quality, well-detailed drawings brings it all together during a meeting. Designers can better utilize their showrooms by integrating the physical showroom with design drawings, combining drawings with displays to achieve a higher closing and more-effective engagement with designers.

A designer’s success with visuals starts with the business owner; they set the standard. I recommend that owners consider allowing time for designers to hone their technical skills along with their product knowledge and selling skills. Establish a professional drawing style that you want as a standard for your business. It’s acceptable to set guidelines for drawing time applied to a project, but don’t cut it too short, as it could eventually affect your bottom line. You could also run the risk of losing a reliable and influential designer who doesn’t get to advance their skills, as we all know employee turnover can be costly to the sustainability of a business.

Consider how showroom presentations should be created, your showroom’s drawings style, and your presentation process for a more successful client engagement. It takes some time, but ideally, it’s time well spent in terms of results.

The post Let Your Visuals ‘Sell’ Your Showroom appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

In this column, I’ll answer a few questions I’ve recently received in light of the changes in our businesses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and our need for social distancing. Change for our industry is occurring, and you should consider some ways to embrace this change (see related Barometers & Editorial, Pages 10 & 7, respectively).   

1. What is the future of kitchen and bath showrooms since we have learned to work virtually, and clients have more experience with online shopping?

I believe the physical kitchen and bath showroom will continue for at least seven more years – and ideally for many years to come beyond that. However, the shape, format and purpose of the showroom will likely evolve. We’ll continue to have more and better technology tools for businesses, kitchen and bath professionals and their customers. Technology supports are empowering all of us to work more effectively and efficiently, needing less to do more.

Technology will undoubtedly support our industry’s business processes to a greater degree, while allowing our consumers to take a stronger role in their design projects. Plus, all ages of homeowners are getting increasingly comfortable with online shopping – which is undoubtedly here to stay and will only continue to grow in users and product advancements. In addition, with homes increasingly being viewed as not just a haven but a safe refuge, the conveniences of online makes staying at home easier than shopping outside our homes. Consumers will gravitate to that ease of purchase.

New and remodeled kitchens and baths have a lot of moving parts. Shopping and purchasing products for these major projects requires coordination and accuracy if decisions are to work together successfully. The process is not easily learned; mistakes can be costly on many fronts. Because of those factors alone, I believe that the physical showroom will continue as a place for kitchen and bath consumers to discover, learn, meet, validate and understand.

The physical showroom will also continue to provide a space for both the consumer and the design professional to establish the kind of relationship needed for the project to be properly executed. Now, that is not to say showroom sizes, shapes and experiences won’t change. Showrooms are expensive to design and maintain. They represent considerable overhead. Because of this, a showroom’s plan and financial outlay will still need to be measured and balanced.

We are fortunate as an industry that our shopping category is for numerous small- to large-sized products needed to create a bigger total project. Fortunately, product needs are very individual to kitchen and bath clients – often two of whom, with different needs and viewpoints, are involved in the purchase decision. Adding to the complexities is their budget, project scale and style interests.

The showroom will remain to a connecting point and experience center. However, I do believe more and more of the upfront planning process will occur outside of a physical showroom space. I also can see that more meetings and longer time spent at the client’s home will potentially lessen the requirements of the showroom we know today.

Still, it will require business owners to change – and they will only when the shopping consumer changes first. It always comes down to what the consumer will do. What they will do will drive the showroom value to longevity importance.

2. With virtual meetings and online shopping growing, will we still need physical product samples in the future?

Assuming your business involves project-based sales, as opposed to cash-and-carry, your showroom is where clients – many of whom have gotten inspiration online – can see, touch and feel the real thing. The showroom is also where clients confirm that your business and its people are where they want to invest time and money.

Most homeowners still want to touch and see what they’re buying, especially when it comes to home-related fashion and products of color, sheen and texture. When you’re redesigning an entire room – from fixtures to cabinetry, painting and flooring – there’s a greater risk regarding how the products will meld. Computer terminals, tablets and smartphones do not provide the same level of color accuracy as viewing a product in person, and with the natural light that affects colors multiple times in a day.

Examining products in person is always best to ensure no regrets at the time of installation, or after the installation is complete. Showroom designs and displays have been improving over the past five years, making showroom selections easier and more accurate. If you have creative, illuminating displays in your showroom, consider marketing that as a reason for clients and prospects to visit.

In light of coronavirus-related shelter-at-home mandates, I was pleased to discover that designers were getting creative in navigating this potential roadblock. Some found ways to get product samples for homeowners to review by dropping the samples at their door and, later, hosting a virtual meeting to talk through all that was delivered in a contactless, safer way.

We, as an industry, have been pushed to be creative – to think and act differently than the standard way of operating. Will we return to the old ways of doing business? Or will we adapt and evolve to a mix of both old and new? That’s an individual choice that showroom owners will need to make.

3. What are some other physical aspects of the showroom essential to invest in?

I believe that having cordial, professionally-trained sales and design associates working in the showroom is more critical than any other factor. After all, they are the experts who serve by listening to clients and collaborating with them in making the appropriate decisions and product selections.

However, in the coming years, as we become more and more virtual, connecting face-to-face on screen and engaging clients through productive hand gestures and eye contact will become increasingly important. Being more like a natural, comfortable public speaker while presenting virtually will be essential for design associates to master, in an effort to keep online meetings productive and exciting for short-attention-span clients. A level of personal delivery, including high quality of the visuals, will become a new standard to achieve for designers seeking to make profitable sales connections online.

Designers have not had to incorporate these kinds of skills in the past, but they will now and going forward. Hint: Buy an add-on, higher-quality video camera for your computer and, if possible, turn on the “Touch Up My Appearance” feature to improve your online presentations. Most importantly, don’t forget to utilize optimal lighting, so you offer the best opportunity for clients and prospects to see what you’re delivering.

4. How do you think online and physical showrooms relate to each other?

We need to consider marketing and showroom design in relationship to the current and anticipated growth in online shopping. We also need to learn more about how consumers prepare for working with us.

Most of the showrooms I’ve visited need improved integration with their website and social media initiatives. They need to own their online showroom experience more than simply providing information about who they are and what they have to offer.

Business owners should not be afraid to show their showroom online, allowing prospects to pre-engage and become informed. For example, consider including a floor plan walkthrough with easy-to-understand references that are not visually disruptive. Your potential clients should not be surprised or disappointed by the difference between what they see online and then experience at your showroom. These two spaces – the physical and the digital – reflect the same company and should have the same marketing and brand relationships. Both should be developed with a seamless, frictionless view, as seen through the eyes of our clients and prospects.

5. What have I learned from the COVID-19 disruption?

I feel like I’ve seen it all now – although, of course, something will occur that I wasn’t planning or haven’t experienced. We, and our industry, are resilient. We’ll navigate the current market challenges, but it’s essential to be nimble and lean toward being prepared for the unexpected. We always need to have our sneakers on, and be ready to run with change. That’s easier said than done. But the key is to continue to learn, evolve, shift and adapt.

That will get us through this – together.

The post Adapt Your Showroom for Online Shopping appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

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GOLD

Bespoke Luxury

Ann von Kreuter, House and Home, Glencoe, IL

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In order to create a space that would shine among the other displays at ABT Electronics while effectively showcasing BlueStar’s range of products, designer Ann von Kreuter turned to European cafés and bistros for inspiration – spaces that encourage lingering and conversation. Being influenced by such gathering places, von Kreuter was able to transform a small space into an experiential microcosm of bespoke luxury.

A luxe café-style seating area boasts deep blue walls, chandeliers, over-sized mirrors and banquette seating, inviting guests to sit and stay a while, perhaps while enjoying gourmet food from the focal point of the display, the Café kitchen.

The Café, located on the far wall from the atrium, invites guests to explore the chef-inspired features of BlueStar products through hands-on experience and professional demonstrations. The café features an array of BlueStar products, including a 60″ Platinum Gas Range with an interchangeable griddle and charbroiler, shown in deep blue, as well as a 36″ built-in refrigerator, shown in matte black with stainless trim. Next Level Cabinetry and Caesarstone engineered quartz countertops in muted, neutral shades allow the appliances to take command, while The Galley Sink and Faucet provide function for entertaining. Painted porcelain floor tiles bring a high-end, artistic feel to the kitchen area. The kitchen serves as an interactive space where the retailer can entertain and educate groups through cooking demonstrations and other events.

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Photos: Art Department, St. Charles New York

Photos: Art Department, St. Charles New York

Photos: Art Department, St. Charles New York

Photos: Art Department, St. Charles New York

Photos: Art Department, St. Charles New York

Photos: Art Department, St. Charles New York

Photos: Art Department, St. Charles New York

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SILVER

Threefold Showcase

Karen Williams, St. Charles New York, New York, NY

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For the release of its first line of kitchen cabinet designs in its 85-year history, St. Charles New York required a top-notch showroom to spotlight the range of styles and finishes available in the collection.

In order to showcase the three distinctive styles available – STC No. 1, STC No. 2 and STC No. 3 – as well as the range of accessories, three dedicated displays were designed, as well as an accompanying seating area in order to deliver a comfortable kitchen experience. An eye-catching array of colors and finishes are showcased in the space, ranging from the rich dark finish in the STC No. 2 display to the mix of wood and white paint finish in the STC No. 1 display.

Additional selections such as Calacatta gold marble and quartzite countertops, Native Trails sinks, Fantini faucets and Sub-Zero appliances lend a luxe feel to the space, while drawers outfitted with optional organizational upgrades provide a hands-on experience for designers and clients.

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Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

Photos: Courtesy of ITALKRAFT

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BRONZE

European Style

ITALKRAFT, New York, NY

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The need for a brick-and-mortar ITALKRAFT presence in New York City became apparent after the company contributed product to notable developments including The Dutch at 118 Fulton Street and the Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards. After settling on the Flatiron neighborhood as the right location for the new showroom, ITALKRAFT set out to create a space that would showcase the company’s European custom kitchen offerings and old-world craftsmanship while catering to the tastes and identity of New York City.

The showroom includes five model kitchens, as well as an interactive workspace and conference room. A full range of samples of ITALKRAFT products are present in the space so customers can experience the products firsthand and begin the design process in the workspace.

In order to draw potential customers and designers in, the company created a towering 13.5′ kitchen featuring book-matched wood at the entrance to the showroom. The custom kitchen was created by rescaling previous kitchen models and sourcing materials on a greater scale, requiring the collaboration of a team of ITALKRAFT designers. A variety of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances complement the sleek, modern European kitchen vignettes.

See all of the winning projects:

2020 Best Kitchens Over $225,000

2020 Best Kitchens $150,000–$225,000

2020 Best Kitchens $75,000–$150,000

2020 Best Kitchens Under $75,000

2020 Best Master Bathrooms Over $100,000

2020 Best Master Bathrooms $50,000–$100,000

2020 Best Master Bathrooms Under $50,000

2020 Best Powder Rooms

2020 Best Specialty Projects

The post 2020 Best Showrooms appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

It’s almost certain that the showroom you return to will not operate as the showroom you left. Showroom owners will need to navigate the reopening process and determine how their showroom will operate. They’ll also need to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer attitudes and behavior.

Opening does not necessarily guarantee that clients and customers will automatically return. A Morning Consult study in early April 2020 found, for example, that 24% of consumers would not feel comfortable shopping in a mall for at least six months and only 16% said they’d feel comfortable going to a mall by mid-summer.

The plan to reopen your showroom needs to account for the fear and skepticism that many of your clients and team members may have. Assuming the primary reason consumers visit showrooms is to see, touch and feel products and experience displays, how comfortable do you believe your clientele will be doing so? How willing will customers be to use touchscreens and keypads to view videos or operate working displays?

Showroom owners will doubtless have to develop and effectively communicate protocols to earn the trust of a leery clientele. As Peg Steep wrote in Psychology Today: “Trust is the foundation of all human connections, from chance encounters to friendships and intimate relationships.”

Consumers need to believe that they’re safe when they walk into a showroom. Showrooms will need to account for new social-distancing norms, and may need to establish guidelines for the customers and staff that may enter the space at any one time.

Showrooms will also need to control traffic flow with measures that may include one-way aisles and floor markings, as well as signage that encourages customers to remain six feet apart. Showrooms may also use infrared thermometers, provide hand-sanitizing stations at entrances and exits, and create safe spaces between customers and designers and other team members. Showrooms will also have to implement disinfecting protocols for high-touch surfaces such as pulls and handles on displays, doors and other areas.

CHANGING SHOWROOM DESIGN

Showroom design and layout is also responding to the changing retail dynamic.

Stephan Roy, president of The SH Group, explains: “We are focusing on making customers feel safe and comfortable when designing showrooms for our clients. To do this, we create a safe traffic flow and wider aisles, employing natural directional signage that expedites decision making with less staff involvement.

“Natural lighting and eliminating unpleasant odors, improving air quality and ventilation, and providing consistent thermal comfort all will enhance the showroom experience. It’s all about creating a great first impression and making people feel safe in the showroom, focusing their energy on purchasing.”

At its four New York-area showrooms, Best Plumbing Tile and Stone rearranged the sales associate stations to allow for social distancing by marking a six-foot radius on the floor around each desk. The showrooms will also offer a sanitizing station at the entrance and will require the use of face masks by associates and visitors alike.

“A big change will be making our showrooms appointment only, at least for now, in an effort to control traffic,” stated company President Jonas Weiner. An appointment-only model will help showroom owners control the number of people in the space at any one time and anticipate the staff required.

Showrooms will be well served to supply masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment to employees and expect customers to wear or expect them as well. Jerry Payner at Litt’s Plumbing K&B Gallery, outside of Cleveland, OH, sells masks to customers visiting the showroom for $2 and donates the proceeds to local first responders.

Guidelines for the number of customers and staff that can safely navigate the retail space at any one time will need to be established by showrooms. The guidelines should be based on square footage and social-distancing requirements.

The “new normal” will almost certainly also require new staffing schedules and protocols. Avoid mixing different workers on different shifts to prevent having to shut down your entire operation if one of your team members tests positive. Train your team to engage customers while wearing a mask and gloves and avoid asking questions such as what they are looking for. Instead, encourage customers to explore different displays and samples on their own to identify designs that strike positive chords.

REOPENING CONSIDERATIONS

Other reopening considerations may include the following:

• Appointment-only, so you can control the number of people in your showroom at any one time, including the staff required.
• Reduced operating hours. For example, the KB Studio in Boulder, CO requires every customer to sign a guest health screening declaration before entering the showroom. The declaration asks visitors to confirm that they have not returned from international travel in the last 14 days, have not had close contact or cared for anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, experienced flu- or cold-like symptoms in the last 14 days or cared for or was in close contact with someone who experienced cold or flu-like symptoms in the last 14 days. The declaration demonstrates that the showroom takes the safety of its customers and team members seriously, allows for contact tracing if needed, and reduces risk of exposure to team members.

As consumers have the opportunity to emerge from home confinement, their mindsets are more than likely to have changed. There inevitably will be a group of people who’ve been financially hurt by either a furlough, layoff or salary reduction, and that group is likely to stick to the basic necessities. Then there’s a group who have been stuck in their homes for a couple of months and have noticed that their baths, kitchens and other spaces are not what they would like them to be. They may want to reward themselves and their families for the hardships that they’ve endured.

Consumers have also been forced to shop online during sheltering-in-place mandates, even if they had not previously been much of an online shopper. As Derek Thompson recently pointed out in The Atlantic, “Online shopping has gone from a regular habit for a minority of consumers to a crucial part of America’s recreational infrastructure. One-third of Americans bought groceries online in the past month (April) and tens of millions of them did it for the first time.”

Thompson notes that shopping’s share of total online retail sales has been increasing at approximately one percentage point per year, but a recent UBS analysis predicted that COVID-19 will immediately increase that share from 15% to 25% – in other words, a decade of change concentrated in several months.

As more consumers become increasingly comfortable with online purchasing, online experiences will need to be more robust. Showrooms should learn from the mistakes department stores have made. Iconic brands such JCPenney, Neiman Marcus, J. Crew and others have declared bankruptcy or are on the verge of doing so. Their downfall is attributable in large measure to failing to respond to changing trends, modernize their stores, invest in their sales teams and adapt quickly enough to e-commerce and social media.

There is no better time than the present for showrooms to create omnichannel platforms that allow customers to purchase online or in-showroom. Showrooms moving forward will need to eliminate friction not only from the purchasing process, but also for the entire buying and renovating experience. Don’t be surprised if there is an increasing number of traditional showrooms that offer installation services.

The pain and hardship inflicted on retail and showrooms that resulted in mandates to close operations and shelter in place also has created, and will continue to create, unique opportunities in the industry. Showrooms are learning how to present products, designs and proposals remotely. Businesses are using more creative marketing tools.

As one example, Frank Morris, a principal of Granite State Cabinetry in Bedford, NH, is hosting a weekly webinar to explain to homeowners the benefits and processes of renovating kitchens and baths. In the first three sessions, more than 20 unique homeowners participated and, after each session, Granite State received at least four follow-up calls requesting more information.

Showrooms also can take a page from the real estate industry and offer virtual showroom tours to customers who may be uncomfortable visiting in person.

Whatever the “new normal” looks like, it will be vastly different than the “old normal.” There remain many unknowns. That’s why the first steps in a reopening strategy should focus on the physical aspects of your showroom and changes that will make your customers, prospects and team members feel safe to enter virtually or in-person.

Thomas B. Cohn is founder and president of Cohn Communications, Inc., a multi-dimensional group purchasing, marketing and association management firm. He also serves as the executive v.p. of the Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association and as executive v.p. of the Bath & Kitchen Buying Group. 

The post Adapting to Today’s ‘New Normal’ appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

This month, KBDN asked designers to share their showrooms and what makes them special.

Giving back to the community is important to Bill Feinberg, and he often hosts charity events in his own showroom as well at the Fuse Speciality Appliances showroom, pictured here. This fully functioning kitchen has dual islands and can accommodate multiple chefs.
Photos: Darryl Nobles, DreamFocus Photography

Allied Kitchen & Bath

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Although his showroom has gone through several changes, Bill Feinberg has had an Allied Kitchen & Bath showroom at the same location in Fort Lauderdale since 1984. Its most recent transformation occurred in 2009 when Feinberg built a 15,000-sq.-ft., two-story structure for the family business he operates with his three brothers. Home to about 10 full kitchen and 10 full bathroom displays as well as several vignettes, closets, bars and entertainment centers, it also boasts an entire second floor dedicated to decorative hardware, plumbing and lighting fixtures to make it a one-stop shopping venue.

“We designed the showroom as a turnkey experience so people wouldn’t have to leave to shop elsewhere,” says the president, noting that it not only serves as inspiration for homeowners but also for interior designers and other tradespeople involved in the industry. “They can select everything for their project all under one roof.”

The showroom’s newest display combines it all into a modern setting with integrated Sub-Zero/Wolf appliances and three different UltraCraft Cabinetry cabinet door styles. The island showcases unique quartz-clad drawers, from Austria’s Strasser, featuring touch-to-open functionality.

“Visitors see this display as soon as they walk in the door,” he says. “There is a lot going on, but it flows nicely and it gets a lot of attention.”

Also designed by Allied Kitchen & Bath is the 7,000-sq.-ft. Fuse Specialty Appliances showroom, located in Fort Lauderdale, which Feinberg has used as a venue for hosting charities and small business groups.

“Giving back to the community is a big part of who we are,” he explains.

The showroom has several fully functioning kitchens ideal for cooking events, including ‘competitive’ cook-offs.

“We’ve had events with five chefs, all cooking at the same time in different areas,” he says.

One of the most dramatic displays features white, high-gloss Omega Cabinetry cabinets and side-by-side, 12′-long islands with Dekton countertops featuring dramatic waterfall edges. The same material is used as countertop-to-ceiling backsplashes.

“We used eight slabs between the islands and backsplashes…all book-matched to show off the veining,” he notes.

Showcasing the material in this display as well as in several other displays throughout the showroom illustrates the company’s experience with designing exterior cooking spaces.

“We’re doing a lot more outdoor kitchens,” he says, noting an entire section of the showroom is dedicated to these spaces and features stainless steel Danver and Brown Jordon cabinetry that looks like wood.

Another attention-grabbing display showcases bright red UltraCraft Cabinetry cabinets.

“We don’t often do kitchens with cabinetry this bold,” he admits. “But this display shows people that we have the ability to create kitchens with unique colors and products. Not everyone may buy it, but everyone looks at it!”

Visitors to DDK Kitchen Design Group’s Wilmette showroom are often drawn to this display, which includes a flush inset refrigerator and cooktop, the latter of which is accented with a custom stainless steel ventilation hood. Another special element is a
44″-wide scullery-style sink with accessories such as a drain board, colander and cutting board. This display also showcases three cabinet finishes ranging from very light to very dark gray.
Photos: DDK Kitchen Design Group

DDK Kitchen Design Group

Wilmette and Glenview, IL

With two showrooms open every day of the week, DDK Kitchen Design Group makes it convenient for visitors to find inspiration for their next kitchen or bathroom.

“Being open seven days a week provides more opportunities for all of the decision makers to come to the showrooms together,” says Dan Thompson, who co-owns the company with his wife, Jean.

Each location – one in Wilmette and the other in Glenview – offers about 20 kitchen and bathroom displays, along with TV wall units. Both of the 2,500-sq.-ft. spaces are fully accessorized and show the most current finishes and door styles representing three cabinet manufacturers (Dutch Made, Cabico and Decora) with three price points.

“This allows our customers to choose cabinetry based on their budget,” he says, noting that a popular display in the Glenview showroom is designed around the company’s most modestly priced cabinet line. “This display is special because it shows people they don’t have to spend a fortune on their new kitchen. There is a lot we can do to make a space beautiful with economical, straightforward cabinets.”

The design firm has also partnered with Sub-Zero and Wolf to showcase their line of appliances.

“We benefit from the partnership because they do a great job of keeping our displays updated with the latest appliances, and in turn, they benefit because they get two beautiful places to showcase their appliances in integrated settings that are open seven days a week in two high-end Chicago suburbs,” he says.

For example, a popular display in the Wilmette location includes a flush inset Sub-Zero refrigerator and 36″ Wolf cooktop. A Modern Aire stainless steel ventilation hood features a matte jitterbug finish contrasted with polished aluminum trim that highlights a trend toward mixing metals.

This display in DDK Design Group’s Glenview showroom features a 2.5″-thick quartzite countertop with a brushed finish. Dan Thompson indicates that virtually everyone who comes into the showroom gravitates to this display and can’t keep their hands off the countertop. Additional elements include upper cabinets with polished stainless steel framing and matching stainless steel floating shelves.

Another special element is a 44″-wide scullery-style sink with accessories such as a drain board, colander and cutting board.

“Sinks have become work stations,” he says. “They are no longer just a place where water drains.”

This display also showcases three cabinet finishes. On one wall, the cabinets are very light gray with the addition of polished chrome mesh inserts in the upper cabinet doors and a quartzite countertop with ceramic tile backsplash. Thompson contrasted them with a darker gray island, which features a brushed glaze and marble-look quartz countertop with a built-up edge. A bank of cabinets in a very dark gray provides further contrast.

“It’s a very striking, show-stopping display,” he says. “People often stop at it and say they found their kitchen!”

Another attention-grabbing display in the Glenview showroom features a 2.5″-thick quartzite countertop with a brushed finish. “Virtually everyone who comes into the showroom gravitates to this display,” he says. “They can’t keep their hands off the countertops!”

In this kitchen display, Angela Otten hid a ‘pop-up’ bar in the center of the island in the empty space between the sink and seating sides. Other special features of the display include a copper sink and cabinetry hardware, ‘X’ detailing on the island end panels and an array of pantry organization accessories.
Photos: Carrie Hebert/The International Design Collection

Inspire Kitchen Design Studio

Denver, CO

When Angela Otten decided to move her Inspire Kitchen Design Studio company from her home base and into a brick and mortar location in May of 2019, she chose to become part of the International Design Collection (IDC) building near downtown Denver. The multi-floor center provides a turnkey experience with luxury design showrooms dedicated to plumbing, cabinetry hardware, lighting, carpeting/rugs, hardwood flooring, concrete flooring, closets and fireplaces/mantles. As the center’s only kitchen design firm, Otten focuses on cabinetry, countertops – including exotic natural stones – and appliances, such as those from Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove as well as Asko, Raw Urth and BEST.

“It’s a one-stop shop,” she says. “If someone is looking to match some flooring, I can go downstairs and grab a sample. Or, if they’re looking for hardware or a sink, I can point them in the right direction so they can select everything they need.”

Designed to flow freely from one showroom to the next, Otten likens a visitor’s experience to that of a department store where shoppers can wander from handbags to shoes to clothing to linens, etc.

“There are no doors between businesses so no one feels the need to knock before coming in,” she says. “It’s a very open concept.”

Otten replicated that atmosphere within her 3,800-sq.-ft. portion of the 60,000-sq.-ft. building where she has 14 displays that represent a variety of design styles, including several kitchens, beverage centers and a butler’s pantry.

“Our main kitchen also has a banquette and entertainment center,” she says. “It flows into the conference room, which looks like a dining room, which subsequently flows into the butler’s pantry. It’s like a little piece of a house where everything comes together.”

Several of the displays are live, including the main kitchen, which has a 36″ range, dishwasher, two sinks and a microwave. The butler’s pantry features two refrigerators, a microwave, steam oven and dishwasher while the beverage center has a wine refrigerator and built-in coffee maker.

Another highlight for visitors is the ‘pop-up’ bar that Otten hid in the center of the island of one of her kitchen displays.

Angela Otten designed and supplied cabinetry for the two fully functioning kitchens in the IDC building’s Event Center, a common space that can be used for meetings, classes, parties and fundraising events. The display/working kitchen in the front includes a 48″ range and ventilation hood, 7′ The Galley sink, ice maker, beer tap and induction cooktop. The second kitchen, a catering kitchen that sits directly behind the display kitchen, has four warming drawers, two refrigerators, two dishwashers and a microwave.

“We had some empty space between the sink and seating sides of the island, so we created a bar in the middle that rises out of the countertop,” she explains. “It’s like a TV lift. People can also use it for small appliances, but we made it into a bar.”

Otten also designed and supplied cabinetry for beverage centers throughout the building as well as for the two fully functioning kitchens in the Event Center, a common space that can be used for meetings, classes, parties and fundraising events. The display/working kitchen includes a 48″ range and ventilation hood, 7′ The Galley sink, ice maker, beer tap and induction cooktop. The second kitchen, a catering kitchen that sits directly behind the display kitchen, has four warming drawers, two refrigerators, two dishwashers and a microwave.

“Since it’s adjacent to our showroom, it’s like an extension of us,” she says. “The idea of two kitchens that work in conjunction with each other is a concept that some of my clients have also incorporated into their own homes, where they have a ‘hidden’ kitchen that can be used by caterers.”

This kitchen display in Lakeville Kitchen & Bath’s new showroom features a mix of white, wood and painted cabinetry accented with a striking blue glass tile backsplash.
Photos: Ryan Rosenberg

Lakeville Kitchen & Bath

Farmingdale and Smithtown, NY

Selecting products and materials for a new space can be an overwhelming experience for those outside of the design world, so when designers at Lakeville Kitchen & Bath created their new showroom in Farmingdale, they took into consideration how to minimize stress for visitors.

“We want people to be comfortable spending time in the showroom,” says Bruce Wechsler, v.p. of operations. “They can interact with designers…or not. We love it when people browse!”

To ensure a relaxing visit, they included plenty of quiet places to ponder. For example, the front and rear foyers are fully decorated and furnished with couches, club chairs and smart TVs to replicate a living room environment. In addition, designers included planned seating within many of the displays, such as at islands or on window benches. And when it comes time to fully plan a client’s new kitchen or bath, each designer has a quiet, private work station where he or she can show their space rendered in 3D.

The new showroom – which opened in September 2019 as a complement to the company’s showroom in Smithtown – also includes a Bistro Café where visitors can relax with a cup of coffee, tea or water and grab a snack to eat.

“It’s a place for conversation with a designer or for people to get away from the commotion of the showroom to think a bit,” adds Richard Sirlin, president.

While ample consideration was given to the creation and development of social/relaxation space, designers didn’t overlook the reason people come to the showroom…to see the latest and greatest in kitchen and bath design.

Lakeville Kitchen & Bath’s new showroom includes a Bistro Café where visitors can grab a snack or relax with a cup of coffee, tea or water.

With about 18,000 square feet of space – 10,000 of which is dedicated to displays representing five different cabinetry manufacturers with the remaining square footage reserved for offices – visitors can browse about 40 intimate, boutique-style kitchens and baths and bath vanity displays.

The design firm intentionally moved away from the idea of small display vignettes in favor of full, creatively designed spaces that showcase the most on-trend cabinetry along with the latest technologies in appliances, the newest countertop materials and some of the most popular lighting fixtures. Displays are also staged with accessories so clients can fully envision themselves in the space.

“Our goal was to create the most unique and comprehensive showroom in the tri-state area,” says Kathleen Fredrich, designer. “We put a lot of thought and consideration into each display and how they flow together.”

As such, visitors are initially welcomed into the showroom via the main entrance, to which no staff has direct sight lines.

“The absence of a ‘forced engagement’ is encouragement to engage,” says Sirlin, reiterating the desire to keep initial visits low-key.

Once inside, visitors can select from five different directions. For example, heading through one passageway leads to a stunning kitchen display with bold, black cabinetry contrasted with white subway tile and a stainless steel ventilation hood. Heading in a different direction initially showcases an all-white kitchen before passing by an on-trend navy blue cabinetry display, then ending in a kitchen highlighting a mix of white, wood and painted cabinetry accented with a striking blue glass tile backsplash.

“Each direction offers its own unique design style and features,” states Fredrich. “A person’s individual style and interests will guide and lead them in a particular path.”

The new Baths of America showroom is all about experiencing products live, such as in these bathroom displays where toilets, sinks and showers are all fully functional.
Photo: Baths of America

Baths of America

Houston and Sugar Land, TX

Baths of America’s newest showroom, which recently celebrated its grand opening in Houston’s Galleria Area, is all about experiencing products live.

“We built this showroom with the vision of providing our customers with as much of a realistic and life-like experience as possible,” says Ali Sultanali who co-owns the business with his brother Zeeshan Sultanali. “That is why we took extra care in fashioning live displays for every single category of our products.”

As such, the new 8,600-sq.-ft. space, which showcases kitchen appliances, cabinet hardware, luxury fixtures, plumbing supplies, countertops and cabinetry, features more than 200 working products, including the appliances in two live kitchens that complement an additional three throughout the showroom.

“The working kitchens allow us to not only display features, but also to host luncheons and cooking events,” says Zeeshan.

The company also prides itself in its expansive display of workstation sinks, which are becoming more frequently requested by homeowners who love to cook because they come with so many accessories such as cutting boards, colanders, etc.

The Baths of America showroom is designed to ‘wow’ visitors, especially with displays such as this one where they can peruse plumbing fixtures for showers, tubs and sinks. A large offering of vessel sinks, in everything from glass to porcelain to stone, is also on display, with additional selections viewable via pull-out drawers.

In regards to bathrooms, a dozen displays showcase faucets, luxury fixtures, bidets and bathtubs, the latter of which include many live models such as TOTO’s zero-gravity floatation tub, which is a big draw for the showroom. Additionally, it includes several unique shower setups and a custom Mr. Steam sauna that entices visitors with a relaxing aromatherapy experience. Most impressive, however, is the live showerhead wall that customers can bring to life with the push of a button.

“The live features facilitate the selection process and allow our customers to visualize more accurately how a product will look inside their own homes,” Ali reiterates.

Founded in 2004, the business was built on a principle of creating a one-stop shopping environment.

“Whether you are a designer looking for inspiration, a builder ready to finalize choices or a homeowner diving through a home renovation/building process, our showroom provides an exhaustive amount of options to build the home of your dreams,” Zeeshan notes. “Our philosophy from the beginning has always been to assist customers with the least amount of stress possible. We know that building/renovating can be a tedious chore and the process can get overwhelming pretty quickly.”

“With that in mind, we created the Houston showroom, which complements our Sugar Land showroom, as a top-notch, one-stop shop for kitchen and bath products,” Ali adds. “One of the best compliments we get from customers when they come into our showroom is them saying they feel like they’ve entered kitchen and bath heaven!”

The post Showrooms Show Off appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

YESTERDAY’S SHOWROOMS

Years ago, showrooms were generally either a place to buy kitchen cabinets or a boutique kitchen showroom. Displays for boutique kitchen showrooms were just big enough to focus on kitchen features and benefits. They were well-appointed with leading faucets, countertops and layouts that fit homes of the era.

Showrooms were well-lit, with an inviting feel. It was common to have the showroom lead with remodeling, using higher-priced, well-made, branded products rather than the lower-priced imports we see today. Back then, lower-priced products were sold quietly out the back door as needed for business diversification instead of being intermingled with the better offerings. Homeowners valued seeing a full kitchen with beautiful selections. Layout and display features were equally important in their final decisions and the quality of the products meant as much as the style they selected. Sound familiar?

TODAY’S SHOWROOMS

These days, homeowners shop and buy kitchens instead of just buying some cabinets to fill a wall. Kitchens are still valuable to homeowners, even if not as much as before the Recession. Kitchens and baths still make a home sell, and sell for more. However, remodeling can greatly hurt the value of the home if not done well enough or in a relatable style to prospective buyers.

Today’s showrooms tend to display a much wider range of price points. This makes selling and closing a project harder for a designer with too many product lines to master – especially if they are newer to our industry or still learning.

At the same time, today’s showrooms are getting smaller by design. There are many reasons for this, including the following:

• Higher Priced Retail Locations — In the past, many showrooms were tucked away in industrial areas. When showrooms are located near where shoppers live and shop, the rent is potentially higher.
• Internet Access to Anything and Everything — Internet access to social media ideas, visuals, manufacturers’ websites, designers’ projects and Pinterest all come together to educate prospects more fully than we could do years ago just using magazines.
• Project Installation Labor Sources Are Scarce to Fragmented — Many of today’s showrooms are offering installation services to differentiate their firms. Many experienced designers are retiring, and their replacements are new to the industry or don’t have the breadth of experience their predecessors had.

TOMORROW’S SHOWROOMS

In the future, kitchen and bath showrooms will likely have smaller, more open and more flexible footprints. Displays will be smaller to simplify and speed up refreshing and updating. Samples will still be needed and plentiful.

Designers who reflect millennials’ shopping tastes will ensure the sustainability of our industry because people buy from those whom they like and relate to. Even with increasing online sales, kitchen and bath showrooms will remain relevant – if the showroom services are meaningful and relate to homeowners’ needs.

The appearance and upkeep of showrooms cannot be ignored. There are far too many showrooms with out-of-date product offerings that are poorly lighted and make it difficult to make product selections.

Displays that are not current or that showcase products that are no longer available take up valuable floor space and lessen the amount of square footage available to productively drive sales. However, in the last five years, many businesses improved their showrooms at just the right time, while many design-minded millennials also started and will continue forming households. These consumers expect showrooms to be visually related to what they see, watch on TV and find online. Out-of-date offerings will not inspire or drive these design-minded shoppers to purchase from you, unless the price is very attractive.

All showrooms will need to be updated faster with full display change-outs of refreshed colors and styles. Showrooms need to relate to what shopping homeowners see and tag online. Designers also openly share that businesses that lag behind with technology tools and equipment are unappealing to work for. It affects their image as designers when they want to be seen as on-trend, aware and competitive in the market.

Designers may grow less loyal to showrooms that are not a reflection of how they see themselves. Younger people may be driven to open their own showrooms. They might first become free agents, driving their own business by using the showroom as an on-call need, rather than working within the showroom.

A professional I know has predicted that the designer’s role will evolve to become more independent from a showroom – consider the “free agency” of sports carrying over to designer talent. And, when millennial designers need more flexibility with their family time, they may want to be free agents in order to work independently.

Could this separation of employee and employer work well for our industry? The showroom person on the floor would be more of a guide without needing to know product details. Creating the design and compiling the order could be driven off site by more highly skilled designers who work under flexible conditions. Could this work with operational models in place today?

Showrooms with large, full display vignettes will be less important. For example, instead of eight full vignettes, there might be one larger leading full kitchen, even a working display, and several satellite sections to explain style and function simultaneously. These satellite sections could be updated, sold off and/or refreshed more easily, more quickly and at lower expense.

Showroom marketing will need to evolve because the consumer is doing more preparation online. By using social media – Houzz, Pinterest, Facebook, etc. – potential customers can become engaged with the business and showroom before walking into the building. Additionally, hardworking, feature-rich displays will encourage your customers to use your business to partner with their ideas and make their dreams become a reality!

It’s an exciting time right now in our industry. Established kitchen and bath pros are making way for younger people to drive the future in an industry that has been slow to change. There are many steps involved in selling, designing and managing a kitchen and bath project. Find your place in the industry by making sure your showroom is designed for flexibility and easy updating.

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