It used to be that you could look your supplier’s owner in the eye and on a gut level know if they had your best interests at heart. But that’s no longer the case. Most suppliers are too big for you to know their CEO, and their top priority today is their investors. I’m not saying this is bad, just that this is your reality. In the cabinet world, gargantuan corporations devour market share, enigmatic private equity companies acquire established brands and private/family-owned companies search for their cut. Sounds terrifying, right? Sure, change always is. But, no worries: We got this together. We just need to change how we determine who has your long-term best interests at heart. So, how...
I just read the Market Pulse article in the February 2020 issue of Kitchen & Bath Design News, “Designers Talk About Lessons Learned.” Before I respond, let me first explain my background in the construction and kitchen and bath industries. I graduated with an Architecture Drafting & Design & Estimating Technology degree in 1974 and worked in a lumber yard for a couple of years until I got a job as an Architectural Draftsman at a local development and construction company. I transitioned to a Construction Supervisor job for that company, and then for other companies over the span of 20+ more years. In one of the companies I worked for, we developed a system where we built 1,000-sq.-ft. homes...
Indeed, with the varied extremes in heights of ceilings and room dimensions today, the finish and details of the ceiling have been garnering more attention in the design process, creating new design opportunities. There are many times when a white eggshell paint will provide the look and maintenance desired for the ceiling, while tray and coffered ceilings offer beautiful if costly options. Today, there is so much more that can and sometimes needs to be incorporated to bring that extremely high ceiling to a more human scale, or to offer that small, tight space a greater sense of openness. This month’s column will look at what’s driving the increased interest in the ceiling and some of the ideas that are...
