Kitchen & Bath Business May/June 2024 - 37

a more traditional, inset style. The sink is fabricated out of white quartzite
and offers a rail to accommodate cutting boards and other accessories.
* Butternut. This display references a locally sourced wood Bluebell
uses often, also known as white walnut. Butternut is seen on the island
and inside the pantry, which is enclosed behind glass and steel doors. The
design is a rustic Italian look with an Officine Gullo range and a working
pizza oven from Monogram.
* Inchyra Blue. According to Cardamone, this beverage pantry is
the most well received of all the displays. It features pale French walnut
and highlights the company's extensive millwork ability. Inchyra Blue
is another Farrow & Ball color, and the display features a built-in wine
dispenser with temperature control, as well as a built-in coffee machine
with storage underneath.
* Excelsior. This bar space is named after the Excelsior Hotel in Florence,
Italy, and is located in the middle of the gallery, which is a gathering
space that separates the showroom from the staff offices. It features a
working coffee bar, refrigerator drawers and plenty of wine storage.
INTELLIGENT ADVANCEMENTS
Innovative features abound in the new showroom in the form of storage
and technology. The cabinetry features such features as push-to-open
technology, bi-folding doors and automated lift systems.
In terms of technology, Cardamone incorporated app-controlled
locks for liquor and wine storage, phone chargers and induction burners
integrated into the countertops and adjustable lighting. The conference
rooms offer AutoCAD and Sketchup so designers
can share renderings with clients.
SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES
According to Cardamone, the existing space had
structural elements around which the design team
had to work, including steel beams. He also said
it was a challenge to create looks with lasting impressions.
" It
was an incredible opportunity, but it was also
a little nerve-wracking because we invested a lot in
these designs and want them to be well received, "
he added. " Tastes in our industry change rapidly,
and we are hoping to get at least five years of shelf
life out of this new showroom. "
Cardamone and his team need not worry, as
they have gotten amazing feedback. One vendor
even coveted the showroom for a national sales
event, which hosted 145 designers from all over
the country.
" We did a lot of traveling and research and visited
many showrooms, and there are not a lot out
there like ours, " said Cardamone. " People's minds
are blown when they visit, and they tell us we are on
a different level than what they are used to seeing. "
BELOW The cabinet veneer
in this display is regularly
used by Gulfstream for its
jet interiors. The 15-foot
Grothouse island was made
of a single piece of Peruvian
walnut and had to be carried
into the new showroom by
15 people.
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