Adding value in kitchen design – at no cost

Since it opened in August 2020, hundreds of design professionals and their customers have visited the inspirational showroom created by Blum on a greenfield site in Wigram.

As well as showcasing Blum’s range of cabinetry hardware and home storage solutions, the facility has been conceived as a shared space for designers, trade partners and homeowners to use free of charge.

It's worth taking a closer look at how these various users are making the most of the space.

The Kitchen Designer’s friend.

Kitchen and interior designers have seized the opportunity to engage with their clients at Blum’s site – and at no cost. Blum provides a range of spaces to facilitate collaboration, from formal meeting rooms to breakout spaces near the product ranges. Designers can bring along plans and give clients the opportunity to provide feedback when they see their putative design set up at full scale in Blum’s unique kitchen test drive.

This is a separate area in the showroom where Blum will make up your kitchen design at 1:1 scale using dummy units on castors. This enables end users to experience the impact of spatial design decisions before committing to the result. And because the test-drive is positioned next to Blum’s displays of hardware systems and cabinet applications, the end user can explore alternatives based on touch and feel.

Award-winning designer Kirsty Davis of KD Kitchen Design is one regular user. She says the Blum showroom has proved invaluable to her business.

“Being able to book the boardroom to sit down and have my client consultations in a modern, quiet and private space works so well. Then to be able to show my clients through the showroom and look at the types of hardware I have specified, and view all of the different options, is so vital in the design process.

“Often I head back again with my clients to look at all the drawer accessories to make sure every element of the design is covered before the manufacture process. The Blum team are always on hand to help with any of the technical elements and offer their advice as well, which is so useful.”

The Architect’s ally.

Architects also enjoy the ability to send clients into Blum’s showroom when it’s time to specify storage hardware systems. The end user can get an accurate impression of the solution their architect is recommending, as well as comparing different options at a range of budget levels.

As with other spatial designers, architects benefit from getting client buy-in at a critical stage. This reduces the risk of a less-than-happy client and time-consuming changes further down the track.

Blum also makes life easier for busy architects by helping them specify their plans. Once the client has chosen his or her desired products, the architect simply sends the design to Blum’s team at the showroom, who compile a full spec. Once again, this service is provided free of charge.

The Cabinetmaker’s professional supporter.

Cabinetmakers and joiners are another group making the most of Blum’s shared space. As well as hosting their industry group meetings free of charge, Blum provides a fully equipped workshop for training and demonstration purposes. As with the other spaces in the facility, this is complimentary.

Many cabinetmakers also send their customers into Blum to view the hardware they’re recommending. Feedback suggests that a showroom with a ‘wow factor’ reflects well on the manufacturer’s professionalism, and provides assurance that the client will benefit from top quality products in his or her new kitchen.

At the same time, Blum removes stress from the process by taking out the element of sales. There’s no pressure to ‘close the sale’ because Blum does not sell directly to the public. End users and design professionals feel free to explore what’s possible and ask questions without feeling pushed to buy. This creates a relaxed and collaborative mindset that leads to more satisfying outcomes for all concerned.

Kitchen Designer Kirsty Davis sums it up best: “The Blum showroom is a beautiful facility where everything you need as a designer is in one place.”