Innovation and craftsmanship combine to create a unique showroom kitchen

When the leading rug company in Australasia decided to create a modern design showroom in Grey Lynn that would attract the best of Auckland’s design sector, they realised they needed a space that was out of the ordinary.

DBJ Furniture (DBJ) was asked to collaborate with Designer Rugs to create a luxurious design and co-lab area that would be an inviting atmosphere where core products could easily be viewed, as well as a community hub in which to host events for architects, designers and specifiers.

The permanent kitchen that DBJ has created in Designer Rugs’ showroom is something special, suggests Dan Timmer, head of design and project management at DBJ. “It was a truly unique project from start to finish,” he says. “It has all been completely custom built with a lot of innovation and thought put into it.”

The design process took approximately two and a half months, and the manufacture and installation of the kitchen another three. Functional requirements included working Gaggenau ovens and hobs to allow the space to host live chef-led events and workshops, a large interior table for business and design meetings, and the ability to use the serving area for large events while also having storage space for glasses.

Timmer is the mastermind behind the creation and installation of several unique features, including the beautiful antique brass handle details on the drawers. He says, “The drawers can be a vulnerable area in the kitchen – if knives or anything sharp drops onto the leading edge of the drawer, it can chip and be water damaged, so this is a beautiful solution with great form and function.”

As part of the kitchen’s design, DBJ has used planked American white oak veneer for the cabinetry. This is a relatively new veneer that is designed to look like planks of solid timber, with all the knots and discrepancies that you would normally see in timber.

Timmer says, “One innovation we came up was the finish of the

planked oak veneer. We put a natural oil on the black undercoat, then wiped on a stain that had a little bit of metallic flake in it. This was soaked into the grain and then wiped off again, which has given it a slightly metallic charcoal highlight. It looks amazing.”

DBJ worked closely with metal fabricator Spec Fabrication to develop a lacquer finish for blackened steel that is anti-fingerprint and low gloss. The wine rack, side bench panels and barn door have all been finished with this process.

The custom brass wine racks and antique brass mirror have also all been measured and made to size by Timmer and are back lit with LED lighting. A fully integrated Gaggenau wine fridge with a solid oak frame rounds out the design of this part of the kitchen.

Another unique aspect of this project is a large barn door made of blackened steel with a matt finish, which complements the kitchen. “The door was too big to have one piece of steel without any joins so, instead, we created a criss-cross pattern to accentuate the join with a lovely detail,” explains Timmer. The striking door also has a non-fingerprint specialised coating with soft-close fittings.

As with any project, there are always challenges and because the showroom is located in a new building, they could not drill into the floor. However, DBJ was able to successfully work around this to create a spectacular kitchen that is a functional, inspirational space for hosting industry-specific events in the future.

Timmer says, “DBJ’s use of innovative cabinetry finishes and details means that this space really stands out and creates a talking point in the new Designer Rugs showroom. This was a unique, special project that we all really enjoyed working on. We are very proud of the end result.”

DBJ’s outstanding craftsmanship in this project has not gone unnoticed, with Dan Timmer gaining several accolades at this year’s National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA) Excellence in Design Awards for his work.

To find out more about custom cabinetry solutions for any space, visit DBJ Furniture on ArchiPro or visit their website.