Inspiring Showrooms

When kitchen and bath designers create kitchens, bathrooms and other spaces for their clients, the end results are grounded in the homeowners’ preferences, visions and needs. Certainly, designers thrive within set boundaries of, for example, budgets and differing personal taste and functional requirements. However, when it comes to designing their showrooms, many also delight in the opportunity to design with fewer constraints. 

Admittedly, budgets still apply, and client preferences still matter because designers have to create spaces that apply to their markets. Yet, designing showroom displays can be a bit more ‘freeing,’ and, these spaces give pros an opportunity to showcase design elements and materials that can inspire their clients.

This month, Kitchen & Bath Design News asked designers to share their inspirational showrooms and what makes them special.

Bluebell Fine Cabinetry & Design

Wayne, PA

Originally opening its doors in 1989 as Bluebell Kitchens, the design firm, now known as Bluebell Fine Cabinetry & Design, first moved to suburban Philadelphia’s historic Main Line region in 2017 when Peter Cardamone and business partner Jake Taylor opened a 2,500-sq.-ft. showroom in Wayne. 

“Being a part of the Main Line business community has been great for us,” says Cardamone, creative director and founder. “Many of our clients are here, as are the architects, interior designers and other professionals we partner with most often on new build and renovation projects. Our location in their midst has proven to be very good for our business.” 

The move has indeed proven successful, with the design firm outgrowing its original showroom and opening a new one right next door in June 2023. The 5,000-sq.-ft. space, which includes four custom kitchens, a bar and a beverage pantry, can accommodate a full staff of designers and engineers, as well as host multiple client meetings in two conference rooms. 

Like its predecessor, the new showroom features full-size displays rather than small vignettes or a simple sink or range installation.

“When we take people through our complete showroom kitchens, we give them a chance to experience how a variety of design elements and products contribute to a whole purpose-driven space,” offers Cardamone. “Each display is a complete environment fully equipped with the most up-to-date appliances and kitchen technology, unique countertop and cabinetry materials and designs, and a range of custom lighting and storage solutions. So, when people stand in the space, they are fully immersed in the room. That can’t happen in partial kitchen ‘samples.’ Partial kitchens can also be overwhelming.”

As an example, a visitor’s first immersive experience is a contemporary kitchen display named ‘Gulfstream’ because the eucalyptus veneer that faces the Premier Custom Built cabinetry is the same veneer used by the aircraft manufacturer for its airplane interiors. Other highlights include a workstation sink from The Galley, a recessed breakfast bar/lifestyle center with interior lighting, a 36-bottle wine storage cabinet with a backlit honed Breccia Capraia marble accent wall and countless custom cabinetry storage amenities, which are a common theme throughout all the displays. 

Each display also includes at least one statement element, designed to spark conversation. In the case of ‘Gulfstream,’ it’s the 5’x15′ island, which features a cantilevered Peruvian walnut top sourced from Grothouse. 

“It’s a perfectly executed, dramatic statement piece meant to inspire,” he relates.

Another unique feature in this display is a concealed door that leads to the ‘Elephant’s Breath’ display, named after the Farrow & Ball paint color that sheaths the Bluebell private label cabinetry.

“We do concealed doors quite often in our designs, so this pays homage to that feature,” Cardamone indicates. 

Also on display is Bluebell’s attention to detail in everything from cabinetry to appliances to lighting.

A perfect example is the ‘Reeded’ kitchen display, aptly named for its reeded components, including the reeded rift white oak wall of cabinetry that conceals the refrigerator, ovens and ‘lifestyle center.’ Similarly, glass in the cabinetry that flanks the range boasts a fluted detail, while the Calacatta Paonazzo honed marble panel that faces the island features 90-degree, precision-cut slats.

“Reeding and fluting are having a moment right now, so this display gets a lot of attention,” he remarks.

As well, a favorite of Cardamone’s is the beverage pantry, which features Premier cabinetry painted with Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue complemented with flat-cut bleached walnut millwork. 

“This room is like a jewelry box,” he explains. “With its intensely colored, high-gloss finishes and soft, low lighting, it feels intimate…and striking. Everyone seems to have a visceral reaction to the space.”

Once inspiration is achieved via the displays, designers can meet with clients in the design library, which is home to cabinetry, hardware and countertop samples. It also features adjustable lighting to demonstrate how materials will look under various lighting conditions.

“We curate everything so no samples are displayed in our kitchens, bars or pantries,” Cardamone explains. “Instead, everything is stored in drawers, or in the case of cabinetry samples, in racks that line the room. This is actually a beautiful space, too!”

Bakes & Kropp Fine Cabinetry

New York, NY

For Bob Bakes, there’s a certain thrill that comes from designing a kitchen in a three-story penthouse with a pool. Equally exhilarating is the delight experienced by creating cabinetry for a dressage center at a 35-acre equestrian ranch. However, nothing is quite like the joy of designing a showroom, such as the new Bakes & Kropp Fine Cabinetry showroom located on the fourth floor of New York City’s Architects & Designers (A&D) Building. 

“I love designing showrooms,” says Bakes, co-founder/head of design. “They require a few additional layers because they are designed with multiple components, for example, three or four kitchens in the same space. Each has to have its own unique interest, but all of them need to have a cohesive visual flow. One display can’t stand in isolation. Each has to relate to the rest of the displays and elements, while showing different design styles. It really becomes a work of art.” 

Opened in April, the new showroom serves as the company’s flagship showroom for the Northeast and joins five other locations in New York, Michigan and Florida. At 2,000 square feet, it is nearly twice as spacious as its predecessor located in the New York Design Center.

“We’ve been in New York for 10 years, and it’s such an important market for us,” he indicates. “As we’ve grown over the last decade, our transition to the A&D Building felt like a natural, synergistic move. It’s one of the most luxury, kitchen-
centric buildings in the world that houses many of our current partners, so we wanted to curate a new and inspiring experience for our clients.”

That experience is centered around eight displays, including three kitchens, a wine room, a butler’s pantry, a dressing area, a conference room/library concept and a master vanity, all of which offer a reflection of Bakes and Paul Kropp, co-founder/chief operations officer.

“We didn’t intend the showroom to necessarily set ourselves apart from other designers’ showrooms, or to mimic any trends,” he relates. “Instead, we wanted to showcase our work and our talents as a design house. All of the displays create a story that walks people through the story of Bakes and Kropp.” 

At the showroom’s entrance, the story begins with a bold ‘impact’ kitchen that highlights the brand’s soft modern aesthetic. It draws people in with a mix of white and steel blue/gray cabinetry and natural stone countertops.

“About six years ago we developed a design style we coined as ‘soft modern’,” he explains. “It is based on a modern/contemporary European style, but is completely unique.”

A circular flow of the showroom encourages visitors to navigate toward a second kitchen display that features a combination of hand-painted white and burled walnut cabinetry. 

“This display reflects what I was doing when I came to the States in the early 2000s,” Bakes relates, noting his move from London. “We’ve been doing this more traditional and classic design style for a long time, but its concept is just as relevant today as it has ever been.”

A third kitchen showcases a more transitional style, with Cinder-stained walnut cabinetry and Harbor Gray-painted cabinetry. A walnut waterfall countertop is complemented with a black quartz inset that surrounds a gas cooktop. Many of the appliances are ‘live,’ including double ovens, a refrigerator and freezer, dishwasher and sink. 

Peppered throughout the rest of the showroom are several ‘contributing players’ to support the Bakes and Kropp story. Of special reverence to Bakes is the wine room. 

“I do love all of the displays, but one of my favorites is the wine center,” Bakes admits. “We included it to present to the market that we are a complete player, that we can do more than just kitchens. It’s an incredibly special space that makes a statement in a thoughtful, elegant way.”

Rocpal Kitchen & Bath Studio

Oshawa, ON, Canada

Fernando Rocchetta has been involved in the kitchen and bath design industry his entire life, building upon the footsteps established by his master carpenter father. In fact, at just 16 years of age, the budding craftsman built his first kitchen in a 500-sq.-ft. basement.

Much has happened along the way since then for the owner and president of Rocpal Kitchen & Bath Studio, including the grand opening of a new 12,000-sq.-ft. showroom in Oshawa, ON, Canada last fall.

“Previously, we had a smaller showroom that was attached to our manufacturing facility where we make our custom cabinets,” says Dawn Kotsopoulos, showroom manager. “It worked out well for many years, but Fernando’s long-time dream has been to build a dynamic, interactive and sophisticated showroom that gives homeowners a one-stop shop where they can find anything from an update to their bathroom vanity or kitchen cabinets to a full-home renovation.

“He always wanted a place where people – including industry professionals – could be inspired, and be able to imagine, plan and design their dream homes,” she continues. “If they are looking for tile, lighting, plumbing, countertops, hardware and of course, millwork, it’s all here in a welcoming space where clients get the white-glove treatment, along with a true understanding of what their dream space can become.”

For inspiration, people can peruse five full kitchen displays, eight vanity displays, an ensuite, a mudroom, laundry room, walk-in closet, wine room, outdoor kitchen and more. The showroom’s lower level offers retail products such as sinks, faucets, tile and a full garage setup for the perfect man cave. Additionally, Rocpal offers the expertise of interior design professionals, K. Mitchell Design Co., who have office space onsite. 

“With meticulously designed displays, we offer a visual feast of functionality and aesthetic appeal,” she indicates. “Special touches and a diverse range of innovative accessories create a memorable and engaging experience for visitors who often express a unanimous ‘wow’ upon entering. We are often told how uniquely beautiful our showroom is, and we even have many clients who make the trip from Toronto, its surrounding areas and even ‘cottage country.’”

Several displays include live features, such as the GE Monogram pizza oven, Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, Cove dishwasher, Invisacook induction cooktop, The Galley workstation sink, several fireplaces and a tabl’eau filtered water system.

“The pizza oven is a staff favorite,” says Kotsopoulos. “It is well-used, and well-loved, for staff events, as well for cooking lessons for the design community and homeowners. An invisible induction cooktop, installed beneath a porcelain countertop, is ready for homeowners to see, or not see, the unique appliance in action.” 

One of Kotsopoulos’ favorite displays is the walk-in closet and ensuite. 

“The soft colors are a calming sight to begin and end the day,” she explains. “The organization is second to none and it features Salice accessories to showcase and store favorite pieces and everyday necessities.”

“I also love our loft kitchen display, which showcases a Tulip Cooking gas cooktop seamlessly integrated into a porcelain countertop,” she continues. “It’s a fabulous system for clients who want a clean, modern look that is different. It definitely isn’t the same-old, same-old!”

As an accompaniment to the displays, the Rocpal showroom also includes two presentation rooms and a boardroom where designers hold meet and greets and conduct design reviews. Designers also use these spaces to help clients pull together color palettes via an extensive array of countertop, tile and cabinetry samples. Walls of decorative hardware are displayed just outside the rooms.

Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design

Johns Creek, GA

When April Haggard returned to her kitchen/bath design and interior design business after taking a brief hiatus to work in the corporate world and design part-time, she opened a small showroom for Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design in Norcross, GA.

“It was very modest, just a few cabinet vignettes,” she says. “I had only planned for it to be myself and one other person. But, pretty soon, I had nine employees and we were busting at the seams. I had added cabinetry lines so I need more space to show them, and I had no place to display tile samples. Plus, I didn’t have enough places to meet with clients. I decided I needed to find a larger showroom because the smaller one just wasn’t working for me anymore.”

Haggard spent a year searching for the right location and finally found the perfect space in Johns Creek, a suburb of Atlanta. The 5,400-sq.-ft. space offers triple the space of her previous location.

Because she and her team do kitchen/bath design as well as interior design, her showroom is a reflection of both services. 

“We are really unique for the area,” the interior designer relates. “We have a lot of cabinet shops that specialize in only cabinetry, and our area is also super saturated with interior designers. We offer both, so our showroom is set up to show that.”

As such, kitchens line the showroom’s perimeter and furniture fills the middle. Adding a few interior walls gives her a place for smaller vignettes, such as a laundry room, primary bathroom and a closet. Cabinetry displays throughout the showroom also represent a progression of good/better/best to address a variety of clients’ budgets.

“A lot of people tell us our showroom feels like a home…it’s very cozy,” Haggard notes. “People walk in and they see kitchens and baths, but they also see sofas and chairs, lamps and artwork. They can sit down on a couch and have a conversation with us, which helps to build relationships.”

One element they won’t see is appliances.

“My motto is that an item gets real estate in my showroom if it’s something I can sell and make money on,” she explains. “I just can’t do that with appliances, or with lighting and plumbing. However, I do show tile, countertops, flooring and, of course, cabinetry.”

Haggard also made sure to allocate more space for offices and for meeting with clients so she has two design centers, one dedicated for cabinetry and one for interior design. Both include an island where she can sit with clients and a television onto which she can project final designs. The former has countertop and cabinetry samples while the latter has custom upholstery fabrics, rug samples, wallpaper and pillows. A separate conference room can also be used for meetings.

“It was difficult to determine how much room to dedicate for meeting spaces, which aren’t used all the time,” she acknowledges. “So, we decided to incorporate some displays into them too, as a way to make them more functional. For example, in the conference room we repurposed a white kitchen display from the old showroom. In fact, it is the only entirely white kitchen we have. Instead, we wanted to showcase more unique design elements, such as pink tile and wallpaper on the backs of cabinets. I love to use color and texture and we wanted to show that in the new showroom, which I feel has a hint of whimsy and fun, too.”

A.T.C. Design Center

Fremont, CA

For more than a decade, designers at A.T.C. Design Center had been creating dream interior and exterior spaces for their clients from a relatively small 1,000-sq.-ft. showroom in a residential neighborhood in Fremont, CA. But when a tenant that shared space in the same building moved out, it gave Avi T. and Brianda B., owners of the firm, an opportunity to expand their showroom by incorporating the now-empty warehouse into their existing business. Officially opened in November 2023, the new 5,000-sq.-ft. showroom boasts six kitchens and three bathrooms, along with extensive space dedicated to displaying samples of countertops, tile and flooring.  

“The extra space really let us open up the showroom,” says Brianda. “Now visitors can flow more freely between our kitchen and bathroom displays and material sample displays without feeling cramped.”

At the heart of the showroom, literally, is an oversized workbench/multi-use island crafted from five different Neolith slabs. 

“It’s a great way to show our clients a lot of different patterns and textures in a material that is very unique,” she explains, noting that the sintered stone’s prominent inclusion helps set the showroom apart from others in the area by showing the business’s expertise with the material. “Plus, it’s large enough that we can use it for hosting networking events as well as using it as a workstation. We have it set up with a couple of computers so we can pull up designs for clients to review. And, there is enough countertop space where they can easily set material selections they are considering for their dream spaces.”

Another highlight of the showroom is a kitchen display that showcases multiple design styles grounded by a central island.

“We wanted to split the space, yet keep it cohesive,” Brianda indicates. “One side of the display is modern with glossy white slab-style cabinetry. The other side features more traditional shaker-style cabinetry in a green hue, which is great because color is a big thing right now. 

“In between them is a large centerpiece island that utilizes multiple slabs of Raphael Stone quartz as a countertop with a waterfall edge and as an extended backsplash,” she continues. “We specialize in cabinetry and surfaces, such as tile and countertops, and this display is a great way to show one of our favorites on a large scale.”

Avi and Brianda also paid special attention to how they displayed countertop and tile samples. For example, porcelain selections are given prominence by extending them along an entire wall of the showroom. They are displayed in such a way to be visually distinctive yet easily removed for closer inspection. The opposite wall offers a sampling of quartz, which is also displayed as nearly full-sized slabs on multiple walls in the presentation room.

“Sometimes it can be difficult for clients to understand the size of an entire slab of quartz,” she says. “With this display, they can easily visualize what that looks like.”