NYKB Review

This morning NYKB was graced by a visit from the lovely Holly Eklund, Gringer & Sons resident sales diva.  As usual, Holly was friendly and informative about what’s hot in home appliances. Professionals in kitchen design need to keep informed on the appliance front.  Part of Holly’s job is to keep NYKB up on the latest and she’s always welcome here.

One product Holly raves about is the 24″ Bertazzoni Professional Series Gas Range. This appliance, as any NYKB designer can attest to, is hot in new New York City kitchens right now. A small high-performance range, the 24″ has all the craftsmanship of the larger models in the Bertazzoni Professional Series.  From Bertazzoni’s website: “[It has] four burners including a triple-ring high-efficiency burner and gas oven with gas broiler. The 15,000 BTU triple-ring high efficiency burner makes this model a top performer. A matching 24” professional range hood and backsplash are also available.”  Perfect for the space conscious Manhattan apartment dweller who loves to cook, isn’t it?   

These gas ranges come in a variety of colors. Holly tells us that stainless steel is very popular right now, but Bertazzoni did not forget those who prefer something bolder, such as strong blues, reds, or yellows. There are beautiful models on display in Gringer’s E. 2nd St. showroom.  A trip would be well worth checking out. Thanks Holly!

Not all good things last; there’s only one remaining unsold kitchen in NYKB’s Kitchen Display Sale.  Just one.  Five whole kitchens were snapped up in less than five weeks.  Why?  Well, not only are they all gorgeous and professionally designed, but they are priced at 25% of their retail price - in order to make room for a wholenew kitchen display.  Unreal.  Well, here are the specs on the final kitchen: 

Maistri White & Brown Lacquer Kitchen

- Maistri cabinetry display

- Gaggenau cooktop and hood

- Entire island includes L-shaped wenge dining counter, legs, and chairs

- White Silestone countertop (includes island)

- Franke double-bowl sink & faucet

Homeowners owe it to themselves to be forthright about why they are embarking upon such an important task, according to NYKB’s Perry Hiiman. It’s Perry’s experience that people renovate for all sorts of different reasons and circumstances, though most all are valid. However, having a clear idea of our goals through home renovation greatly in remodeling performance and planning.

Very often renovation is a financial decision. National studies have ranked the best performing home enhancements as per increasing resale value:
1. Remodeling kitchen/bathroom
2. Family room/bathroom addition
3. Master bedroom renovation

Part of selecting the right remodeling project is to be cognizant of the area in which you live.  Researching your immediate home sales market. If you live in a “hot” or “up and coming” neighborhood – well, the argument could be made that it is unwise to not undergo renovation. Tip: you can learn a lot by talking to local real estate agents.
But home value is not always the sole goal of home improvement. There is also the quality of life factor. People just love new floors or kitchens. I don’t think anyone reading these words doesn’t already know this. Maybe it’s just ripping out that old tub and installing a whirlpool. Or perhaps a brand new state of the art kitchen. No matter, knowing what you want improved in your home and then getting it is one of the most satisfying joys a homeowner can experience.

SOLD!  3 of the 6 NYKB display kitchens remain unsold in this amazing deal.  This was the “Maistri Oak Kitchen”. 

This kitchen was sold in whole, as per terms of the sale, for $21,250.  It’s pre-discount price would have been $85k, thus saving the fortunate customer $63,750!

And what did she get? 

* Custom Maistri oak cabinetry

* Wolf range and Sub Zero refrigerator

* Silestone quartz countertop

* Franke sink & faucet

* And more gorgeous accessories…

Come on over to our kitchen and bath showroom at 8 W. 25th St. and see the three remaining kitchens for yourself. 

1) Thoughtful design - There are three big components in a kitchen: the stove, the sink, and the refrigerator.  They should be arranged for ease of access for the primary cook, or cooks, of the kitchen.  Also, kitchens that serve bigger households should have “station” space; that is, room enough for more than one to prepare meals.  

2) Quality countertops - Durability matters.  The countertop will take the most beating (’cept for eggs) of anything in your kitchen.  Customers of NYKB rave about the gorgeous quartz Caesarstone countertops.  

3) Storage - Kitchens do not mind themselves and proper storage is essential.  If a homeowner isn’t careful, clutter will become an issue of domestic stress and organized cabinetry design can help nip clutter before it starts.  Good designers, the kind found at NYKB, know good cabinetry and employ ingenuity to maximize space in creating an orderly kitchen. 

4) Pleasing to the eye - Gone are the days when kitchens were rooms of function hidden behind closed doors.  Our households are more open today and kitchens are an extension of the living place.  Fortunately, kitchen design is accommodative to this trend and beautiful kitchens are yours for the taking.  Come into an NYKB showroom and see for yourself! 

The latest data from 2006 is in. Remodeling Magazine’s 2006 Cost Vs. Value report indicates a very healthy remodeling market. Sure, most customers want to live in new, renovated surroundings, but there is more: remodeling makes economical sense. Nationally, in 2006, the average bathroom is recouping nearly 85% of initial cost invested. Not bad.

Here is an article citing “6 Steps” to making a dream contemporary kitchen. We asked our owner and President, Perry Hiiman, his thoughts of its given criteria. Being that Mr. Hiiman is an expert on contemporary kitchens in his own right, he was requested to give one sentence answers to these one sentence steps and then a brief critique.  And here we go:

1) Just say “no” to clutter. I agree because clutter-free designs are easier to clean.

2) Minimize detail; play up consistency. This means to have a cleaner look - contemporary kitchens please the eye.

3) Make the details you have really count. It should go without saying that all details of a kitchen count very much! Who would settle for a half-hearted kitchen design? [Perry's emotional response overrode the "one sentence reply" rule.]

4) Use only quality materials. Quality materials last longer and, along with many other things in life, you get what you pay for.

5) Go for a few “big” elements instead of lots of small ones. “Lots” of small elements is the recipe for disaster in kitchen design.

6) Forget about fashion forward. That’s right, you’re kitchen is about you and your needs and not about “must have” accessories.

And how does Perry feel about these suggestions a whole?  “It’s a good start.”

Thanks, Perry.

NYKB’s downtown showroom is making room for six new kitchens, so existing models in pristine showroom shape are for sale at a remarkable discount.  We’re talking tens of thousands dollars saved on the hardware for high end kitchens.  So far two buyers have made out like bandits - and four kitchens remain!

A customer walked into the showroom unaware of the sale (unpublicized until now) and bought NYKB’s Wenge Veneer Kitchen (actual kitchen pictured above) with appliances by SubZero, Wolf, Asko, Best and Franke.  She saved herself $93,750! 

Four beautfully appointed kitchens remain unsold.  With appliances by Wolf, Miele, SubZero, Gaggenau, Franke, plus showroom craftsmanship these models won’t last long.  NYKB’s downtown showroom is located at 8 W 25th St.  Remember this offer doesn’t apply to bathroom displays or any displays at NYKB’s uptown store. (2nd Ave @ E 79th St)   See you soon!

On New York City’s HD4 New York (WNBC, Channel 4.) It’s NYKB designer, Ali Swidler, showing Open House NY host, George Oliphant, through NYKB’s Manhattan showroom. Enjoy!

Why does NYKB love a quartz countertop for customer kitchens? Well for one, besides diamonds (and good luck finding a diamond countertop!), quartz is the hardest material found in nature. This makes countertops made from quartz scratch and heat and stain-resistant.

A quality quartz surface producer, like the industry leader Caesarstone, can bring out the best of quartz’s mineral qualities. From a colorful, radiant countertop to something more of a subdued sparkle, quartz countertops can do it all. Quartz countertops have helped make countless NYKB customers happy.

Pictured below is Caesarstone’s high-end Concetto countertop, pictured in NYKB’s Upper East Side showroom, located at 1504 Second Avenue (@ E. 79th St) in Manhattan. It’s the only Concetto display in New York City.