Designer & Trade Collaboration Series – Part Five
Customers often ask us if we’re willing to work with their architect or interior designer. The answer is always, “Of course!” Collaboration is the name of our game. For this five-part blog series, we conclude by highlighting some of the more spectacular collaborations between Bilotta designers and other design professionals.
(Go back and read part one, part two, part three, and part four of the series.)
KITCHEN DESIGN COLLABORATIONS WITH SENIOR DESIGNER
Senior Designer Tom Vecchio has collaborated successfully with many NYC interior designers and architects, but two projects stand out as examples of challenging conditions that benefitted from the relationship between professionals.
BILOTTA KITCHEN & HOME and ALIVE + KICKING
Lauren Stanley (Alive + Kicking) visited the NYC showroom and met Tom. She subsequently brought the client in.
Lauren designed most of the apartment, and Tom was delegated the kitchen, which formerly looked like this:
NYC apartments are notorious for challenging kitchen layouts, and this one was no different. The closed in U-shaped kitchen appeared to offer few options, since the opposite wall contained two below-counter windows that couldn’t be altered. Undeterred, Tom suggested removing the peninsula and instead placing an island against the two low windows.
He first had to convince Lauren of the idea’s validity; then they both worked to get the client’s approval, since both sides of the island would overlap the windows. But that one change proved to be a huge win. The island now houses the sink and dishwasher, and even included additional storage under the seating overhang.
The newly configured space now offers direct access to the apartment’s entrance. And without the circuitous route around the peninsula, the space feels larger and connects directly with the open dining area.
The customer did not want stark white, so both Lauren and Tom showed them a number of alternatives. They finally settled on “Balboa Mist”, a pale gray / off-white.
BILOTTA KITCHEN & HOME and PATRICK JAMES HAMILTON DESIGNS
Another successful collaboration was with Patrick Hamilton (Patrick James Hamilton Designs). Tom and Patrick met at one of Bilotta’s “Art of the Table” events and they hit it off. Patrick led the way, but let Tom design and lay out the kitchen.
One of their first collaborations was a renovation of a kitchen that originally looked like this:
Tom and Patrick got together are rethought the entire space and Tom laid it out in 3D to guide them. Finishes were selected by Patrick and then approved by the client. There are actually three different colors here, all shades of pale to dark gray. The nondescript 60’s co-op was transformed into a pre-war era gem by adding architectural details like paneling, coffers, and moldings.
The closed-off galley kitchen was opened up to the rest of the apartment by widening the room’s opening. But the open vista was not initially a strong enough incentive to ease the homeowner’s fears of losing cabinet space to the shortened wall.
There was also the obstacle of the building’s rules against moving the gas line and the sink. Patrick was the hand-holder with the client, and because she was a special customer, he handled her with kid gloves. Patrick assured her that Tom would compensate for the shorter wall by adding an abundance of options to optimize storage: pullouts, dividers and specialized organizers in every cabinet.
Even the “dead end” under the window was utilized by continuing cabinetry and countertop materials around the room. Countertop wall cabinets create a “hutch” in full view of the dining room, and upper glass sections of wall cabinets display pottery and serving pieces. The big game changer, though, was extending the footprint of the kitchen into the hallway with two tall cabinets.
One was divided for cleaning supplies, bulk items, recycling, and the vacuum. The other conceals a built-in wine rack; glassware and bar items; a docking drawer for charging devices; and a Pendaflex rack for files. Quartz countertops feature dramatic “lightning bolt” veining for pattern.
Tom maintains that when you get along with your design partners, it makes it easier to work together with the client and the job goes much more smoothly. Communication is the key – with the collaborators, the trades, the vendors and, of course with the client. When there is constant back and forth, any glitches in the job are easily resolved.
Tom’s favorite suppliers include Cosentino for stone, Top Knobs for decorative hardware; Artistic Tile for backsplashes, and Miele for appliances. Sub-Zero, Wolf, & Cove are also very popular, but have longer lead times. Many times though, customers are willing to wait.
So if you were wondering if we’ll work with your architect or designer, you now know how much of an advantage it will give you!
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This post was written by Paulette Gambacorta. Paulette designed kitchens with Bilotta for over 28 years.
