Retail Observer

SEPTEMBER 2020 RETAILOBSERVER.COM 33 A ccording to three of the winners of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) 2020 Innovative Showroom Awards, designing an award-winning showroom isn't just about displays and product assortment. The recipe for a successful showroom is to forge relationships through meaningful experiences. "Make it more about the experience than the product," says Nar Bustamante, president and principal designer of Nar Design Group and overall showroom winner of the 2020 Awards. "I want my clients to have an experience that is not like an ordinary showroom. I am looking for them to really be able to come into my showroom and realize it was more about them and the conversation, rather than the products we have to offer." Sabrina DaLomba, director of showrooms for Kohler Signature Store by Supply New England, agrees. "It's tempting to try to get everything in that you can, but make sure to include some space so your displays can shine without the clutter." Incorporating architectural and decorative details to create the "wow" factor, as well as a sense of community, were also key to this award-winning design. "We worked with Jeff Soderbergh, a reclaimed materials artist who specializes in materials with histori- cal significance, to create a ceiling treatment called 'The Wave' using reclaimed wood from a 19th century wharf in Boston Harbor," she adds. "We also collaborated on a wall treatment created with ballast stone recovered from the harbor that had been offloaded from 18th and 19th century ships." Especially when designing kitchen and bath showrooms, creating an immersive experience can make all the difference. "Today's Technicurean consumers are a new generation of forward- thinking home cooks, combining their passion for food with their appreciation for innovation," says Zach Elkin, general manager of Signature Kitchen Suite/LG Builder. "At our [Napa Valley] design center, we intend to deepen their understanding of food, and specifically how it is farmed, fished, cooked, prepared and ultimately enjoyed." The design center's live demonstration kitchen is the centerpiece of the space and always a favorite for guests as they cook alongside product experts and onsite executive chefs. The same is true when considering how to engage guests about bathroom design. An active performance shower display with 27 "live" showerheads in the Supply New England design center provides a complete sensory experience for the customer. The design details not often seen are just as important to consider during the planning process. The SKS Experience & Design Center is fully powered by renewable energy and carbon-neutral certified. Bustamante agrees that adding natural elements like plants and good lighting to resemble more of a natural home environment should be considered. This month, the National Kitchen & Bath Association is accepting entries for its Innovative Showroom Awards which honor showrooms in five categories. New for 2021 is the addition of the Unique Showroom Application category which recognizes the best pop-up, mobile or virtual showroom designs of the year. CATEGORIES INCLUDE: • Kitchen & Bath Design Centers Small: under 2,500 square feet Medium: 2,500 – 5,000 square feet Large: 5,000+ square feet • Traditional Independent Multi-brand/Multi-Product Showroom Small: under 2,500 square feet Medium: 2,500 – 5,000 square feet Large: 5,000+ square feet • Multi-Location Multi-Brand/Multi-Product Showroom Medium: 2,500 – 5,000 square feet Large: 5,000+ square feet • Brand Specific Non-selling Experience Centers • Unique Showroom Application (pop up, mobile, virtual) The entry period for the 2021 NKBA Innovative Showroom Awards is from Sept. 21 to Nov. 9. Winners are announced in mid-December and honored on the eve of KBIS 2021, on Feb. 8 in Orlando, FL. KBIS runs Feb. 9 to 11. To submit your showroom for consideration, visit www.nkba.org/info/innovative-showroom-awards. A good showroom design is never really over, and like a home, being able to future-proof the space may save time, money and headaches down the road. "My advice is to be always looking ahead," says Elkin. "Our facility was built with the future in mind, with flexibility for regular updates and designed with space for expansion when addi- tional product and training areas are needed." At the very least, DaLomba says, "It pays to plan, plan, and over-plan. It really helps in the execution of the build. The attention to detail can set you apart." RO

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