The home of kitchen inspiration in Christchurch

Blum don’t design kitchens, and they don’t build or sell them.

But this Austrian manufacturer of kitchen hardware and storage systems has created one of the most useful – and inspiring – spaces for South Islanders looking to create the kitchen of their dreams.

To find out what that means in practice, we talked to Showroom Consultant Alexis Webster. Alexis spends a large part of her working day talking to kitchen designers, trade partners and homeowners who are visiting Blum’s new facility at 16 Avenger Crescent in Wigram.

Alexis, how do homeowners find the showroom?

“A lot of them have been sent by Architects or Kitchen Designers when they’re in the middle of a major building or renovation project. It can be an exhausting process, and they’re being asked to make decisions all the time. Some of them have hit the wall – they’re confused or swamped. They say, ‘We just don’t know what’s possible.’

“That’s the cue for the designer to send them in for a visit. It’s a no-pressure situation, because we’re simply there to answer the end users’ questions and show how our products work. They can handle the product and compare different options for hardware systems and cabinet applications. I’ll be on hand to answer any questions and provide material they can take away, like brochures or printouts.

“We also get walk-ins. They might be people who have read a story in a magazine, checked out our Instagram account or seen some Blum kitchen hardware in a friend’s house. They’re always welcome to come in. And if they like, we can refer them to one of our trade partners or one of the kitchen design firms we know in their area.”

How do designers benefit from your service?

“Many designers like to bring their clients to Blum for a consultation. They can book one of our meeting rooms free of charge. We’ll supply the coffee and provide a space where they can work through some aspects of the design.

“It’s a smart way to work, because the designer can take the client through to our showroom and demonstrate different storage options and hardware systems. For instance, if they’re considering a handleless design for kitchen cabinetry, they can compare Blum’s mechanical or powered options.

“Brochures and websites are fine, but there’s nothing like experiencing the real thing.”

What if they want to see a mock-up of the proposed kitchen layout?

“We can help with that. I will get the designer to send through the plan, and then I’ll make it up in our kitchen test-drive facility.

“This involves setting up dummy benches, cabinetry and appliances that fit the dimensions on the plan, so the user can walk around it and understand the spatial design in three dimensions.”

How does this help?

“It gives them the chance to see the relationship between appliances, work surfaces and storage in a lifelike scenario. There’s a world of difference between viewing a flat plan and finding that your most frequently used cupboards, for instance, have been placed in a less than ideal location.

“A kitchen test drive can also help designers and end users resolve issues when there’s uncertainty about an aspect of the design.

“We had one example recently where a homeowner really wanted a scullery in his renovation, but space was restricted. The designer asked us to set up the layout the client wanted, and then walked the client through it. It was too tight! Once the client saw how it worked in practice, they were happy to make some changes.”

Do you have trade partners coming in as well?

“Yes, we get regular visits from cabinetmakers, kitchen manufacturers and designers. They like to check out the latest Blum ranges and understand how they work. We have everything set up and can answer their technical questions too.

“The other thing to remember is that it’s not just about kitchens. We have room sets that show how Blum can help them innovate with storage in other areas for the house, such as bathrooms, living rooms, laundries and bedrooms.”

What else do people do when they come into the showroom?

“It’s a stunning space, with natural light from double-height windows that showcase the beautiful views out to the Port Hills. We get people who walk in the entrance, and then just stop and take in the view.

“That’s always a highlight. Because it’s such a beautiful, architecturally designed space, everyone who comes in to work through a design or make decisions about hardware finds it an enjoyable process.”