Detail Oriented

Today’s kitchen and bath designers are well aware of the current trend away from heavy ornamentation toward a more streamlined look. In most American homes, however, consumers don’t want stark, but rather a more streamlined space with a warm, uncluttered aesthetic.

To achieve this look, designers are turning to a wide range of decorative options, including mouldings, appliqués and corbels, to provide a custom look.

While decorative details made of wood, resin and other materials may not appear to fit in with a trend toward simpler designs, the reality is that many product manufacturers in this category are experiencing unprecedented growth. Improvements in the way cabinet manufacturers now work with these companies, as well as the extensive array of products and price points that have been introduced, have made this option much more attractive to designers than in years past.

According to Jamie Gibbs, principal, Jamie Gibbs and Associates, in New York, NY, several years ago, people were looking to add as many bells and whistles as they could to their kitchens. Unfortunately, the end result was often less than satisfying because these add-on products were not produced with the same finishing process as the cabinetry. “The materials used to make those bells and whistles were not particularly kitchen friendly,” he explains. As a result, cleaners that were used to remove grease from cabinets took the finish right off of some of the embellishments, leaving cabinet companies to field complaints from unhappy customers.

Gibbs adds that “real cooks,” as opposed to people who just wanted beautiful kitchens, were often put off by this. But now that cabinet and detail product manufacturers are working together, these items have garnered wider appeal.

“It’s one of the reasons why manufacturers of ornamental details have seen a surge in business in the past few years,” he explains. “They now supply a product that is not only user friendly, but is also, to a certain extent, cost effective.”

And price was often an issue with millwork, as each added detail raised the overall cost of the room.

“Price drives a lot of things,” comments Sherry Mitchell, IIDA, owner, Sherry H. Mitchell, in Jamestown, NC. “The more embellishment, the higher the price. All of those bells and whistles cost.”

It’s why many designers shop different companies so they can incorporate details even in designs that are lower in budget.

“While a client may only have a budget for stock cabinetry, I can order a set of corbels and have them installed underneath the stock hood, and all of a sudden it’s a much more custom look,” comments Mary Brennan, ASID, owner, M. Brennan Design Associates, in West Milford, NJ. “It’s a very small investment that makes a really big impact.”

Gibbs adds, “Everything comes with a sticker price, and I don’t just mean the cost of the labor and the materials themselves. Sometimes, it’s also the follow-up maintenance that adds to the cost factor.”

Because of this, Gibbs stresses the importance of choosing a design and details that are in sync with the lifestyle of the customer.

“The fancy detail edges that the client just couldn’t live without – the ones that look so beautiful in magazines – may not function with her lifestyle,” Gibbs asserts.

“People show us photos from shelter magazines and say, ‘this is what I want.’ And this is where the kitchen and bath dealer gets into trouble,” adds Gibbs. “When that kitchen or bath just doesn’t hold up or doesn’t function the way the person wants it to, they tell everyone that it is a bad design. But all the designer did was give the customer what she wanted.”

Of course, some clients aren’t as interested in function as they are in having an attractive design. Marc Rothenberg, owner, Westhampton Woodworks, in Westhampton, NY, who designs in a high-end area that acts as a weekend getaway spot, finds his clients don’t want functional.