Design Firm Puts Cooking Back in the Kitchen

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ORANGE, CA—
Imagine that you’re a client, wanting a brand new, state-of-the-art kitchen – except you don’t have a clue how to cook fine cuisine. Then, imagine your kitchen and cooking problems solved, all by visiting one showroom.

This is the unique concept behind Le Gourmet Kitchen, Ltd., a firm that designs clients’ dream kitchens, and then hooks them up with an on-sight cooking school so they can fully appreciate that investment.

Talk about your one-stop shopping.

“Our clients can come in and see the latest design trends and fashions,” says Bruce Colucci, the co-owner of Le Gourmet Kitchen. “But we’re not only cutting edge in design, flooring, top-of-the-line appliances and lighting, we’ll even teach them how to cook.”

The company has been in business since 1992, specializing in luxury kitchen and bath design.

The showroom, located in the historic district of Old Town Orange, not only shows off a variety of kitchens ranging in style from Tuscan to Asian, but also now allows clients to sign up with a gourmet cooking school, located conveniently right on premises.

“Most of our clients are Baby Boomers who like to entertain and like to spend time in their homes,” says Colucci. “Most have taken the time to do their research and are educated about what they want. They want [to hire] someone with sophisticated taste, a good design concept and creativity, as well as someone who will take the project from beginning to end.”

Colucci, a CKD, has loved cooking himself for more than two decades, and sees the kitchen as a sort of studio: “A kitchen is like a painting. I’m the artist; the kitchen to be designed a blank canvas. With the ideal blend of client collaboration, creative inspiration and a balance of elements, a functional art piece can be created.”

“Form and function must work together like the spices in a fine pasta sauce,” he says, “smooth and pleasing, with just the right hint of boldness.”

Diverse Experience

The two principals at Le Gourmet Kitchen bring a wealth – and a wide diversity – of experience to the business. This helps to give them a unique creative vision while focusing heavily on real-life use – something too many kitchen designers forget.

Colucci first studied architecture in New York, worked on design projects in Europe and spent several years at the renowned Pacific Design Center and as the manager of the Poggenpohl Beverly Hills showroom. He also served the National Kitchen & Bath Association as a v.p. of programs for the Southern California Chapter. And, of course, he is a home chef who teaches weekly cooking classes to teenagers in his free time.

His partner, Jonathan Salmon, CKD, CBD, CID, brings more than 20 years’ experience of kitchen design and extensive world travel to his work. The cultures, geographies and design elements from other countries he’s experienced offer a rich resource of ideas, according to Salmon, who is a native of South Africa.

“I want to ensure that a kitchen fits the clients’ very personal lifestyle, and reflects their personality,” says Salmon. “The most important design aspect is how the kitchen works for the homeowner.”

The business partners consider their technical expertise to be as important as their cooking skills. Colucci has been involved in cabinet making and woodshop arts for years; Salmon worked with metal and lathes before he attended architecture school.

Clearly, the affluent communities of Orange County are a driving force behind their business. The design team works routinely in homes ranging from $500,000 to $1 million or more, performing everything from small kitchen remodels to larger-scale construction projects.