Manhattan’s design centers are buzzing with new and renovated showrooms rich with inspiration.
Wegner Fine Cabinetry
Christi Rogers and Jorge Castillo have had design on the mind—and industry experience—for 30 years. After founding a full-service firm in 2011, the couple eventually shifted their focus to bespoke kitchens and cabinetry. With a recent move to the 18th floor of the D&D Building, they rebranded the company as Wegner Fine Cabinetry. “We’re not a local mill shop and we’re not mass produced,“ says Rogers. “Instead, we blend design skills and luxe materials with an A-team of craftsmen and artisans.” The new space displays the details that set their kitchens apart, like a custom metal range hood with a hand-burnished effect, or metal doors made at their workshop in Michigan that combine beautifully with white oak cabinets. “We wanted to do something different from what’s on the market,” Rogers reflects. “We’re excited to partner with homeowners and industry professionals on projects.”
Forbes & Lomax
With a bigger, newly renovated space on the 12th floor of the D&D Building, Forbes & Lomax can now show off its complete product line of switch plates, sockets and dimmers. Along with the Invisible switch cover (featured here)—the design that launched the brand—unlacquered and brushed brass are also popular options. “There’s more attention being paid to every detail of a home,” says business development manager Noah Pelletier. “Homeowners are looking at the hardware they’re putting on the wall and they want everything to be cohesive and nice.” And while the visual simplicity of the classic toggle switch is responsible for the initial appeal of the Forbes & Lomax brand, modern technology isn’t forgotten. Pelletier notes that the company’s switches integrate into home automation systems, so its hardware works equally well in a Brooklyn brownstone as it does in a modern skyscraper.
Bilotta Kitchen & Home
While Bilotta Kitchen & Home has been in the A&D Building since 2002, it was time for a full refresh, says director of marketing and advertising Kristin Ohnmacht. “We’ve developed relationships with people from all over the building, which makes for strong collaborations,” she says. The renovated showroom features the newest private label collection designed by architect Sarah Witkin, founder of Bilotta Architecture and daughter of Bilotta Kitchen & Home owner Regina Bilotta. The collection (above) pays homage to her family’s roots in Southern Italy and is called La Dolce Estate. From its stainless steel to the warm oak to the vibrant green marble, it’s inspired by Italy’s postmodern era and is a welcoming invitation to the rest of the showroom’s collections.
