Kitchen & Bath Business May/June 2021 - 17

For kuxury in the kitchen, marble countertops,
steam ovens and fireclay sinks are in demand, and
in the bathroom, smart steam showers, bidet toilets and customized vanity storage are trending.
Most of all, clients at both ends of the budget
range are looking for high-end pieces that feel -
or are - custom made for them.These range from
one-of-a-kind backsplash patterns to hand-blown
light fixtures and beautiful finishes. Daniella Hoffer of Springfield, N.J.-based Daniella Hoffer
Interiors recommends after investing in the foundational pieces - like a tub or range - looking to
places like Etsy and Instagram for interesting
pieces from lesser-known craftsmen and artists
to get that curated look.
" Art is another area where we see our luxury clients investing, and we work to educate our clients
on new artists, " she added.
CREATING THE WHITE-GLOVE EXPERIENCE

Part of catering to the luxury client is being flexible
and able to adjust to their preferred methods of
communication. However, all clients want their
designer's undivided attention and time from the
first day until the project is completed.
" Being available for site visits or attending
showroom appointments will show that you
are in this with them, " said Mandy Carbia of
Crosby Design Group. " It strengthens their
trust in you and your capability to give them
their dream home. "
According to Teich, the typical luxury client
is not interested in - nor has time for - shopping around or being on hand for every install
or delivery. Instead, they simply want quality selections, timeless style and an effortless
- though curated - look and experience from
start to finish.
" It's all about thoroughly knowing the client
and their world so we can build trust, anticipate
needs and design accordingly, " said Teich. " We
both want the same thing - a beautifully designed
project that runs as smoothly as possible. "
During the pandemic, everyone was looking
to upgrade their spaces but at first attempted to
do it on their own.They shopped for luxury items
online, but then discovered how difficult it is to put
a kitchen or bath together without professional
help. Now they are looking to designers to not
only deliver the spaces they want but also for an
easy and fun experience.
" You treat them like they are the only person in
the world, and you drop everything for them, " said
Scott Dresner of Chicago-based Dresner Design.
" Excellent service is everything. It's important to
see your clients, understand who they are and treat
them accordingly. 'No' is not a good word to use
and is frowned upon. "

RIGHT THOR KITCHEN's new

series of professional range
hoods is available in 30-, 36and 48-in. sizes and heights
of either 16 or 11.5 inches for
a designer look without the
price. The fan's noise level
tops out at a maximum 67
decibels for quiet operation.
A large commercial-style,
430-grade, stainless-steel
baffle filter maximizes air flow
and grease filtering while the
hood is in operation. Prices
start at $799. thorkitchen.com

BLUESTAR BY DESIGN is
a process that allows its refrigerators and ranges to be
turned into a unique work
of art, using any inspired
graphic, from a backsplash
tile to an upholstery fabric
to a favorite photo. This
custom capability involves
a heated overlay with an
easy-to-clean satin finish,
and the estimated price for
the range shown is $13,410.
bluestarcooking.com

BELOW With its seamless

flush-mount placement,

BLANCO's new Vintera Apron

allows designers to fit an
apron-front sink into standard
cabinetry without customizing
the cabinetry, which saves
time and money. The 30-in.
single apron is $1,399, and the
33-in. double apron is listed for
$1,649. blanco.com

FORMICA CORP. has released 13 new metal visuals
to its DecoMetal Metal Laminate Collection. These patterns include brushed brass
(shown here), copper, light
gold and black for a total of
37 metal laminate designs
for an affordable but unique
appeal. They are lightweight,
easy to install and suitable
for vertical applications in
a variety of interior environments. Material costs range
from $5-$15 per square foot.
formica.com
RIGHT VINOTEMP's 24-in.

Panel-Ready Dual Zone
Wine Cooler features 14
gliding ouzo racks with black
wooden lips, a black cabinet
and a dual-pane glass door
with panel-ready frame. In its
dual-zone environment, the
cooler has an approximate
bottle capacity of 126. MSRP
is $3,999. vinotemp.com

VERONA introduces the
Designer Cooktop Collection
to its line of cooktops. The
collection ranges from 12 to
36 inches and offers luxury
cooking options such as the
highest-quality stainlesssteel surface, continuous
cast-iron grates, triple-ring
brass burners and soft-touch
rubberized round knobs. All
cooktops are made in Italy,
and prices start at $599.
veronaappliances.com

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5/11/21 8:04 PM

http://www.thorkitchen.com http://www.bluestarcooking.com http://www.blanco.com http://www.formica.com http://www.vinotemp.com http://www.veronaappliances.com

Kitchen & Bath Business May/June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business May/June 2021