Designing a Showroom to Set Your Firm Apart

Since your showroom is the largest single capital investment in your business, it must represent substantial proof of your professionalism and value, while positioning your firm apart from the competition. Therefore, the best way to look at designing your showroom is to imagine it from a consumer’s perspective – and as if yours was one of several showrooms being visited that day.

In this two-part article, we’ll look at the best way to design a showroom that truly sets you apart from the competition, looking at the display areas (this month) and the conference area and educational aspects (in the October issue of KBDN).

Visibility & first impressions

There’s nothing more frustrating to would-be kitchen and bath buyers than having difficulty in locating a business when traffic is heavy and nerves may be on edge. But identifying a stand-alone building, clearly numbered, with great signage on a busy street within a mile of major highway makes it easy for you to find.

What’s more, you don’t have to fight for a parking space like at a typical shopping center. And through the showroom window, you can see one view of a kitchen display that is so inviting it quickly draws you to the entry.

As you enter, you see several couples perusing the displays, each accompanied by a professional-looking individual. Then you’re stopped dead in your tracks as you realize you’re standing in a Great Room kitchen that is gorgeous and appealing to all your senses.

You plunk yourself down in a comfortable armchair and drink in the ambiance. The kitchen is configured with an angled, corner double-bowl sink in front of a pair of casement windows. There’s a triangular plant well between the sink and the windows filled with colorful, sweet-smelling flowers.

To the right is a long counter space anchored by a large, built-in refrigerator. To the left is another long, lower counter space that ends with a pair of double ovens. Smack in the center is a multi-tiered, angled island that houses a down-draft cooktop, microwave oven and snack bar. Overhead is a pot rack with hanging copper pots and unusually shaped pendant lights. At the end of the island is a clever pet feeding space.

You notice the attractive interplay of materials and finishes. The main cabinetry is paneled and finished in a pale celadon green with a soft, light brown glaze. The tops are honed, speckled green-gold-black granite with matching backsplashes. Stainless steel appliances offer an appealing contrast. The island is done in a warm cherry finish that’s repeated in the family room cabinetry.

Pot Racks Artistically Keep Kitchen Tools Within Reach | Kitchen ...

Keep your kitchen tools within arm’s reach with an  pot rack. A pot rack above the stove or kitchen island offers useful storage and easy access while adding artistic charm and beauty to your kitchen.  There are many pot rack styles available on the market. The manufacturer featured here is Enclume (see video clip below). Enclume has manufactured premier pot racks for the home for more than 30 years. Made in the USA (Port Hadlock, Washington), each pot rack is hand wrought  using traditional French metal-forming techniques designed with quarter-inch high-carbon steel for strength and durability in a variety of finishes. Enclume also has three electroplated finishes over steel frame: copper, brass, and chrome. The copper and brass plates finishes are non-lacquered, and over time they will develop a patina, or they can remain bright with regular polishing using a non-abrasive cleaner. Several pot rack styles also are available in stainless steel with a uniform satin finish. The chrome and stainless steel finishes are relatively low maintenance.

When selecting a pot rack, consider the its actual weight and the weight of the cookware it will hold. It is important to mount the rack securely. Ceiling pot racks should be mounted from ceiling joists while wall racks should be mounted from wall studs. Mounting racks into brick masonry or metal require special mounting considerations and additional hardware specific for that purpose.

Below are several we found at 125 West . You can also purchase Enclume from Cooking.com and Stacks and Stacks .

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