Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2020 - 60

DEALER DISH

Blank Canvas

An expansive space becomes
a dream cabinetry showroom

AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS in business, owners
Mike Beck and Lee Allen relocated one of their
two St. Louis showrooms to a 9,000-sq.-ft. building with 25-ft.-high ceilings. The two-year-long
renovation needed to result in a friendly but open
space with at least 30 kitchen and bath displays,
each with a diverse mix of materials. It also had to
allow space for entertaining, industry events and
cooking demonstrations.

PROS & CONS OF SPACE ABUNDANCE

"While the square footage and ceiling height
were advantages in the new space, they also posed
unique challenges when we were considering the
size and scale of the displays," said Beck, whose
team used 2020 Design to complete this project.
"We wanted to create a showroom that would feel
welcoming and wide open all at once."
After replacing a central HVAC unit with several smaller units hidden behind false walls, the
showroom had enough open areas for building
the custom displays the owners wanted.The team
then set out to make the most of the high ceilings
and the abundance of natural light.
The resulting floor plan includes nine possible
meeting spaces for clients and designers throughout the showroom.These are scattered among the
displays, which are arranged by manufacturer for
a logical progression.
At the showroom's center, the team left an open
space to allow for the events they wanted to host at
a live kitchen display. Spanning more than 20 feet
in width and flanked by 11-ft.-tall wall cabinets,
the display includes a working sink and appliances,
including a 7-ft. Lacanche range.

ABOVE In the contemporary
kitchen display, additional
high-end elements include the
use of Legrabox drawers and
integrated ﬂoating shelves.

"My favorite part of the
project was the fact that there
were no constraints," said
Beck. "Other than columns,
the wide-open space was
a blank canvas. From the
ﬁrst moment I entered the
building, I had a vision of
what I wanted, and thanks to
my team and the generosity
of so many of our vendors,
the completed showroom is
exactly as I imagined."

custom walnut surround encases a pair of Sub-Zero refrigerators, and the
island includes a lowered live-edge wood countertop for the seating area.
The nearby bar is reminiscent of times past and includes barrel arches,
carved moldings and antique mirrors, in addition to subtle wearing and
distressing. Bottle storage was incorporated in stair-stepped shelves,
as well as in the angled rollouts behind sliding doors. Antiqued mirror
panels were custom cut and installed beneath the barrel arches to create
unique glass shelves.
"Carved moldings and corbels were finished to match surrounding cabinetry," added Beck. "We then incorporated chamfered columns in base
cabinets, and above, arched wainscot was topped with layer upon layer of
crown molding."

RIGHT Warmth was brought
into the bar through the mix of
brushed, understated metals
used in its knobs, pulls and
wire screens.

GATHERING PLACES

"The live kitchen display is the heart of our new
showroom, both visually and functionally speaking," said Beck. "It plays host to industry events
and celebrations, educational seminars and cooking demonstrations."
With this in mind, the team chose finishes
and door styles for this area based on their wide
appeal and timeless nature. The white wall cabinets contrast 6-ft. leaded-glass doors for a classic
touch, and the backsplash mixes brick-style and
diamond-shaped tile - both in a warm gray. A

60
60-61_KBB_0220_DealerDish.indd 60

By ERINN LOUCKS

/ FEB.-MARCH 2020 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)

2/12/20 4:53 PM

http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.NKBA.org http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2020