nkbco first floor showroom design proposal (live project)

Realisation Project

Design Of First Floor Showroom At Newcastle Kitchen And Bedroom Company

Josh Armstrong

Design Brief:

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Newcastle Kitchen and Bedroom Company has been trading for fourteen months. The unit that our company currently occupies has been partially renovated into a large showroom and workshop. The ground floor was completed upon opening of the showroom but the first floor is yet to be planned. The ground floor briefly comprises of four kitchens, three bedrooms a study and countless pieces of individual furniture.

For the first floor showroom I am looking to have three kitchens, one of which will be a full operational kitchen complete with boiling water tap. The remaining two kitchens will be smaller pieces each possessing individual styles and features. There will also be examples of bedrooms/dressing rooms and also a large living area. I would also like furniture to be strategically placed throughout the showroom and tie in with the style of the company.

The aim for the first floor showroom is to create a range of products that are less bespoke and more standard. This will lower production times and production costs, this will then lower the cost that the customer pays. It will allow the company to attract a larger target market that may have a lower budget than current customers.

The electrical and technology side of the business Evolve Systems will also play a large part in the planning of the showroom. Their products will need to be showcased and seamlessly integrated into the new space so they can demonstrate there functions and features to potential customers.

Where possible the any design should make use of the wide range of Karndean flooring that the company offers and each individual space will advertise a different style.

Specification:

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• Design One Large Kitchen with working appliances.

• Add a further two smaller kitchen examples to the space each possessing individual

style

• Two Bedroom examples should be included in the design proposal and at least one

double bed.

• Where possible add furniture and living room examples to showcase a range of

materials and components.

• Try and integrate existing Evolve Systems products into the design.

• Kardean Flooring is to be the only supplier used for the design of the first floor

showroom.

• Where possible try and keep any design concept simple and easy to manufacture.

Contemporary Kitchen

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Traditional Living room

Traditional Kitchen

Kitchen Research 1

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Kitchen Research 2

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Kitchen Research 3

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Bedroom Research 1

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Living Room research 1

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Living Room research 2

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Research Evaluation

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To gain a good insight into what my client wanted from my design proposal I asked him to source images that I could take inspiration from. Richard was then able to access images that he obtained on a recent trip to a large furniture exhibition he visited in Germany earlier in the year. This research was very thorough and as it was only in January of 2015, this shows that it is very up to date and trending. Top manufacturers such as Strasser, Hacker and Warendorf had large prototypes that they were ready to make available to customers during 2015. From these images I will be able to take parts of each design and create my own take on what I think the showroom should look like. From meetings with Richard, and from the client brief; I have a very accurate vision of what Richard needs in the proposal. I will also conduct other relevant research throughout the project. For example materials, components and finishes will also be researched when I have design concepts in place. What I have noticed during my placement with NKBCO is that there are many suppliers and many more products offered within the suppliers, so it would not be time efficient to look at these subjects until I have narrowed down specific designs.

Plan of entire space

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Initial Designs

Initial Designs: Bedroom 1

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This design proposal includes three single wardrobes, two bedside tables and a dressing table. The material used in this design is called Mali-Wenge. It is an Egger Laminate and comes in 2800– 2070mm size boards. This material is very strong, durable and can be used as a worktop for dressing tables as well as end panels to support wardrobes. In this design I have included features such as the curved cupboard to add a contemporary edge to design. Another feature is the large panel above the dressing table (also using the Mali-Wenge laminate) which will be set forward in front of a large glossy panel housing six glass shelves supported by triangular Chrome brackets. The Mali Wenge panel will be fully capable of supporting a large flat screen TV.


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Similar to the previous design, I have chosen the Egger laminate Mali-Wenge as the primary material. In total there are seven wardrobes and twelve draws. There is plenty storage and also room to fit a TV in the centre wardrobes. I have decided to use floating bedside tables that will be secured to the large headboard, this gives the interior a luxury hotel feel. This design is very minimalist and makes good use of the space with the maximum amount of storage without imposing on the rest of the room.


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In this design I have chosen to use a shaker style door on the wardrobes and also the draws under the low window seat. I have chosen to create two examples of this design, one with a window and another without a window. Both design are very symmetrical and which gives the room a more balanced feel, also the storage space can be split evenly if the room was occupied by two people, a husband and wife for example. If a client was to have a window in the specified room, the window seat would be a perfect solution, it would create comfortable seating in the room and storage space for the client. This specific example has draws that are 300mm in height and 400mm in depth, this would be ideal space for storing shoes. The alternative option without the window is to have a chest of draws with a mirror above. The mirror will be manufactured in the shaker style to compliment the rest of the furniture and also reflect any light that is entering the room. This design can be manufactured in our in-house workshop and will need little specialist outsourcing, this will keep the production cost down for the client.


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This design includes a three double wardrobes, two floating bedside table and a dressing table. I have chosen to use a glossy white door through out the range of furniture, this will reflect any light that enters the room and make the room feel more spacious. I also chose to use long chrome finish handles on the wardrobe, again to give the design a more contemporary feel. The dressing table has storage space for items such as hairdryers, make-up and jewelry. The center draw is on a push latch runner and when opened reveals storage for items like nail varnish, jewelry and other small items.


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This design is actually already in use in the showroom downstairs at NKBCO, but I have included a glossy finish on this example and also added my own bedroom furniture to compliment the wardrobes. They also have a gloss mushroom colour finish.


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For this example I have created a small room that could be used as a dressing room/walk in wardrobe. I have used shaker style doors with a cream sprayed finish. There will be a stud wall to the left of the window which will include three shaker doors, two of which will be functioning doors that will allow access to the walk in wardrobe and the third will have a hinged mirror that will be able to opened like a door to change the angle. There will also be a small storage facility in the end panel of the shaker wardrobes, this will be on a push latch and will easily accommodate scarves, jewelry and other small accessories.

Initial Designs: Kitchen 1

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This kitchen will feature a cashmere colour glossy door with a Mali-Wenge Egger laminate. I have chosen to use a more contemporary style for this kitchen to mirror the existing style of the company. The use of the Egger boards will lower production time and meet my clients brief. The comma shaped island worktop is also making use of another Egger product, this is worktop grade laminate and comes in 1300mm wide sheets and is 38mm in thickness. This was taken into account when modeling the final shape for the worktop.


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For this design I have gone for a more traditional style. I have chosen to use a mixture of materials that will showcase many materials that are currently on offer at NKBCO. For example I have used Elephants breath paint as the finish for the frame work and doors. The worktop on the island is called star galaxy and is in price group two (£2000-£3500). The breakfast bar area could be either solid walnut which would inflate the cost dramatically or as an alterative the use of an Egger board would also be suitable as this is considerably cheaper and does not come with natural faults like knots.


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For this design I was looking more at the use of colour's and materials rather than the overall style of the kitchen. As you have seen with my style guide on pages 4 and 5 there is a very similar design already in the showroom. The use of grey and the driftwood style Egger board would allow a customer to see how different colour's go together even though they aren't the generic whites and creams they are used to seeing.


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In this example I used the Mali Wenge Egger laminate and white gloss doors. The reason I have used this combination is because many of the clients who we have dealt with in the past, have used this same mixture of materials. Having an example already manufactured and on display in the showroom would save a lot of development and decision making when it comes to planning a kitchen for them. This would also reduce the requirement of spending a large amount of money and not knowing what you are actually purchasing.


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Evaluation Of Initial Designs:

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In my initial ideas I have used Google sketch up to create concepts using possible materials such as Egger laminates and various granite worktops. I have been able to gain a very good understanding of which materials can be applied to different parts of the design. For example I have learned that the Mali Wenge laminate comes in two grades, one is the shelf grade or cabinet material, the second version is the worktop grade material. This means that the shelf grade is less durable and would be easily scratched and marked if it were used as a work surface. I have also improved my skills using the 3D software and rendering package SU Podium, I have been able to create new effects using the reflection of materials so they look more realistic. I will be able to look back through my initial designs and try to apply them to my developing designs leading through to the final design. Completing this phase of design has given me a deeper understanding of the products that we offer at NKBCO. I will now be able to complete research into the price bands of different materials including the Egger laminates.

Developing Designs

Developing Designs: Design 1

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These two images show a very rough layout for the large kitchen that will be the first interior that customers will see when walking up the stairs. I have chosen not to develop this design further, the reason being; I feel the design does not maximize the use of the space available; and does not have the “Wow” factor that my client is looking for. Another reason for not developing this any further is because the format of have two large cabinets with a raised workspace in the center has already be done on the ground floor and I feel repeating it would be wasteful, also the curved units and wall will increase the cost dramatically and this would not meet my clients brief. One feature that I may keep in the design will be the island unit, as I feel it is a clever use of space and very functional.


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This design I felt met my clients brief very well; the materials used are very easy to work with and don’t involve a great deal of cost. I chose to use mid height units to mirror the style seen in many of the research images used. However; this unfortunately does not fill the space well and seems very small and lost. The island is the main feature of the design, to the right hand side there is a 200mm frame created from the extension of the worktop. This would be a nice feature to draw customers upstairs. Unfortunately the Egger laminate that is of worktop grade comes only in sheets that have a width of 1300mm and are 38mm in thickness. I chose to ring the supplier (Egger), directly to ask if they have any alternative products which would be suitable to be used in this design. They informed me that a compact laminate would be suitable as it can be used for worktops, and comes in a thickness of 13mm and widths of 2500mm, the disadvantage of this product is that the center of the sheet or “the core” is white. I therefore chose not to develop this design any further because in order to achieve the desired effect for the worktop and island; we would have to laminate the worktop in our workshop, this is time consuming and adds £350 per square meter to the cost.


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To the left you can see the layout for the large bedroom design. it features two large wardrobes that are manufactured from a plain white egger board, the doors are supplied by a company called Integral. The style of door that I have chosen to use is called the Capri 2, it features a 300mm wide wood inlay. The advantage to using Integral for supplying the doors is that the cost is very low compared to manufacturing them ourselves and you can fully customize the finish applied to them. The finish I have chosen to use includes an ivory gloss paint with a walnut Tiepolo inlay. The headboard; I have designed is actually inspired by a design I proposed for a past client, the frame will be made of walnut Egger board and will be 300mm wide, the center of the headboard will be filled with padded upholstered, meter square panels to form a diamond shape. I have chosen not to develop this design any further because although I have met my objective of lowering production costs, I feel that the design looks visibly cheapened and does not posses the unique selling points required.


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To the left is a second design for the large kitchen at the top of the staircase. As you can see I have chosen to pull the wall forward by 600mm to create an illusion that the cabinets will be sunk into the wall. I have input a long row of nine cupboards with a small work surface to the left. I have also included the island from the previous design; as I felt it complemented the style that I have chosen to use in this design. After consulting with my client it was decided to redesign parts of this kitchen, mainly the far corner so the space can be more useful and balanced in order to compliment the rest of the design.

Evaluation Of Developing Designs:

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Though many of these designs appear to be unfulfilled, and do not give the impression that they are in a state of completion, I was able to gain a more focused perspective as to special awareness and functionality. After repeat visits to the actual space on offer; I was able to come to the balanced conclusion that the designs were not functional. I will take influence from these designs so there will be elements that will have been taken and inputted into the final designs. For example the Island of the first kitchen will be unchanged, although the materials will change in line with the overall style of the final design.

Final Designs

Final Design: Kitchen 1

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Final Designs: Kitchen 1

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Final Design : Kitchen 1

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Component Material/Finish Supplier

Doors Natural Dijon Walnut Egger

Worktop Keon (Tech Collection) Dekton

Handles Stainless Steel Long Hafele

Small Fittings - Hafele

Plinth Stainless Steel TBC

The final design for kitchen one includes very much the same features as developing design 4 on page 36. The island is unchanged and will feature a large sink called a Rieber Water station, this costs roughly £2500 and will create a wow factor to any potential customers as it is very unusual. The main material used for the doors and large covering under the breakfast bar will be manufactured using Natural Dijon Walnut Egger board. This board comes in the standard size of 2800mm x 2070mm and at a cost of between £40 to £60 per sheet, this material is very durable and is wide enough to accommodate the long doors without needing to be joined together, which would weaken the structure. The long bank of cabinets will be sunk into the wall to achieve a lower ceiling and create more of a room interior rather than having a large gap from the top of the cabinets to the sloping ceiling. The worktop is supplied by a company called Dekton, this specific style is called Keon and is taken from the Tech Collection. This material is very strong as it is artificial rather than natural. In a conversation with Richard he stated that the materials used for the 1st floor showroom should show multiple examples of Dekton products, also the colour mixes very well with the dark browns of the Walnut. The main difference in this final design is the left hand side corner. I was able to extend the workspace around onto the long bank of cabinets to make the space more functional and balanced. The previous design looked unbalanced because the worktop did not line up correctly with the tall cabinets and therefore reduced the functionality of the corner cupboard. The new layout allows more worktop space, which in my opinion is needed due to the unique layout of the curved breakfast bar intruding on the island. The floor chosen for this interior, is called Atlantic Slate from the Opus range supplied by Karndean Flooring. The grey colour scheme is continued from the worktops onto the floor and keep the room balanced and complimented, for prices for the Karndean flooring please refer to page 58.


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Doors White Gloss/Driftwood Egger/Glacier

Worktop Aura Dekton

Handles Brushed Steel (400mm) Hafele



The available space for the second Kitchen display is significantly smaller than the previous example. After trying many different layouts I decided on this example, the design shows a long bank of cabinets sunk into the wall to minimize the gap from the top of the cabinets to the sloping ceiling. I have chosen to use 500mm wide cabinets so I could achieve an even number of cabinets in the design; so it would be symmetrical and balanced. The doors of the cabinets will be manufactured using two different materials. The wood veneer used above and below will be manufactured using the Egger laminate Driftwood, as this material comes in a standard size of 2800x 2070mm and costs between £40 and £60 per sheet. The white Gloss section of the door which is also used on the doors on the island unit will be supplied by a company called Glacier who specialize in this material. The worktop material used on the island is another Dekton example called Aura from the Natural collection, this has the aesthetic qualities similar to marble and is very effective on the island which features a bookend effect for a seamless join. I have taken influence from the images in my kitchen image research, the clean lines and simple form of the island is very trendy and is very simple for the customer to visualize in their own home. The position of the island is strategically positioned to look over from the mezzanine floor into the lower showroom and the front entrance. This allows the designer to present proposals to customers upstairs at the breakfast bar but also keep an eye on the rest of the showroom. The floor used in this kitchen is called Ashland Oak supplied by Karndean, this was a set requirement within the scope of the design brief, all flooring to be from the Karndean range. Overall the design is able to deliver a very informative example of this style of kitchen and possesses many different materials which will assist the designer when showing samples to a client.


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Doors Trento Beige grau Egger

Worktop Danae (Natural Collection) Dekton

Handles Chromed Thin (600mm) Hafele



This design format will allow customer to visualize this kitchen in their own homes, it posses everything needed for a kitchen with plenty storage space and all the appliances. I feel the space has been used to its full potential with the storage wall cabinets starting at floor level and rising up and along to end at the other side of the design. The stone effect panels are manufactured from an Egger board which comes in the standard size of 2800 x 2070mm and costs between £40 to £60. The stone effect is inspired by many of the images that Richard supplied and seems to be the most trending concept in 2015; this is my reason for including it in my design proposal. The clean and straight lines in the kitchen allow it to be very easy on the eye and the stone Egger board adds texture. I have also added a breakfast bar to the left of the design, the raised bar area again is a trend that is very popular amongst the design companies. This concept makes the bar look like a separate component and gives the design a quirky look. The worktop used In this design is another Dekton example called Danae, the plain finish on the worktop is needed because the busyness of the Egger board. The flooring in this design again is supplied by Karndean and is in keeping with the cream colour scheme.

Final Design: Dressing Room

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Wardrobes White Gloss XyloCleaf

Handles Flat Chrome Handles Hafele

Hanging Rails Chromed 40mm Rail Hafele

For the dressing room; I have created a stud wall which will separate it from the rest of the showroom. There will be a walnut panel door which will have the ability to slide into the wall, rather than opening out or into the dressing room. The purpose of splitting the two interiors is to give the customer a surprise as they are exploring the show room and give the dressing room the wow factor. As you can gather from the images I have used a gloss white XyloCleaf board for the main material that makes up the shelving and the open wardrobes and draws. I have used this colour simply because it is a small space with little light and I feel that a dark material would make the space feel cramped and crowded. I have also left the wardrobes open for this reason. The main feature in this room is the grid like shelving, I will have LED lighting in each section to illuminate each square and this will give the customer room to display any valuables such as designer shoes; or even jewelry. Another use for this part of the concept, is so the designer can show the customer this example and explain it can also be scaled down and be wall mounted so it can be used in a living room or dining room setting.

Final Design: Side Board

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This is my final design for the side board, which will be placed opposite Kitchen 3. I have taken influence from one of the images on page 11; taking inspiration from my living room research. The design parameters is to showcase the new XyloCleaf material, and also appeal to customers as a functional piece of furniture. The design features three long open cabinets with shelving for displaying ornament etc.. The center horizontal component adds a more functional use to the design as there is a large flat surface and also some storage draws that are on push latches. The design is also inspired by a piece of Hulster furniture which appears to have three storage spaces which are vertical; and then one horizontal component which should look completely separate to the rest of the design. The XyloCleaf materials used in this design includes the gloss white finish used on the vertical cabinets, Kaki Penelope used for the back panels; and finally the Sherwood board for the horizontal draws.

Final Design: Bedroom

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Doors/Plinth Cashmere Gloss Glacier

Back Panel Autumn Plum Egger

Bed Autumn Plum/Light Lakeland Acacia Egger

Headboard/Wardrobes Autumn Plum Egger

Handles Art Deco Handles TBC

For the bedroom design I was going for a luxury hotel feel. I have included two wardrobes, shelves, headboard, bed and a TV cabinet complete with TV lift. There is a considerable amount of storage space with the wardrobes and shelves. The whole design flows and every component compliments each other. After many layouts I decided on this design because I feel it makes use of the space very well without being overpowering. The left and right hand side walls are left mostly free fore future developments such as a dressing table or wall cabinets. As you can see there are many shelves, each one will have an LED light above to illuminate the objects below. The bedside table is similar to the shelves apart from there will be separate switches for the LED lights so there is no bedside lamp necessary. The platform bed flows through from the bedside table and down to the TV cabinet and creates a floating effect due to the change in materials. As you can see from the images there is two main materials being used, they are both Egger boards that are called Autumn Plum and Light Lakeland Oak. I chose to use two contrasting colour's to emphasize the change in material, this allows customers to see the definition between the the components and it also creates an eye catching effect at the same time. The doors and draws on the wardrobes will be manufactured from cashmere gloss and supplied by Glacier who specialize in bespoke doors. The TV cabinet will also be made using the Egger boards and the TV Lift will be supplied by Hafele, our components supplier, for more information on the TV lift please refer to page 61.


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Final Design: Living/ TV Room

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Doors Black Gloss Glacier

Back Panel Kaki FA44 Penelope XyloCleaf

Worktop Danae Natural Collection Dekton

Frame Dark Cordoba Olive Egger

For this design I wanted to make use of the facilities that Evolve had already invested in. This included the speaker system were the cinema screen would have been. I have designed a large TV cabinet that will be fitted from wall to wall, there will be a 100mm wrap around frame that will be manufactured using Dark Cordoba Olive, this is an Egger board that comes in the standard size of 2800 x 2070mm and costs between £40 to £60 per sheet. The gloss black doors will be supplied by a company called Glacier, who specialize in manufacturing bespoke and standard size doors. There will be glass panels at middle height which reveal display cabinets which will each have spot lights inside to illuminate ornaments ect, they will also be hinged so you can gain access to the display cabinets. All the doors and draws on this design will be on push latches and therefore don’t require handles. In the center of the TV unit there is room for an 85” TV which will be mounted onto a back panel. The back panel is manufactured from a XyloCleaf Board which is similar to Egger, but has a more textured finish applied to it. The boards come in a standard size of 2800 x 2070mm and cost between £60 to £100 per sheet. This specific example is called Kaki Penelope and has a grey crosshatch effect. Xylocleaf is another product that Richard is keen to show off throughout the showroom as it is brand new onto the market, for more information on this material please refer to page 60.

Final Design: Coffee Tables

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These coffee tables are to be manufactured using Autumn Plum walnut laminates supplied by Egger. They will be placed in the TV/Living room interior to create a more homely feel to the space. Both designs are very simple to manufacture and can be made using our in house workshop with the exception of the glass panel which will be ordered directly from our glass supplier. The raised flat surfaces reveal two hidden storage compartments. The orange colour stripe on the second example will be made using either sheet metal or a stone effect Egger laminate. I feel both designs posses the same qualities which Richard is trying to engrave into every product that we produce, which is simple, effective and original in form.

1:20 Scale Drawings

Flooring

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Walkway Style: White Washed OakRange: Van GoghCost (PSM): £37.99

Kitchen 1Style: Atlantic SlateRange: Opus (Special)Cost (PSM): £52.99

Kitchen 2Style: Ashland OakRange: Loose LayCost (PSM): NA

Kitchen 3Style: TerraRange: OpusCost (PSM): £33.99

Dressing Room/BedroomStyle: Summer OakRange: Art SelectCost (PSM): £48.99

TV/Living RoomStyle: Pale Limed OakRange: Knight TileCost (PSM): £26.99

Materials:

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The innovative and highly textured range of premium, Thermo Structured Surface (TSS) decors - XyloCleaf - which offers a variety of wood grains, linens and other unique materials. Unlike anything else on the UK market, XyloCleaf is a highly original and exclusive range of decors which are created using a unique process of thermal fusing in which decorative papers are treated with melamine resins, that under heat and pressure become part of the panel itself, hence the term Thermo Structured Surface. This process provides not only a stunning end result, but also a product that is strong, durable and highly scratch and chemical resistant, meaning that as well as looking great, it will stand up to the toughest of challenges when used in high traffic areas.

A manufacturer of wood based panels: Chipboard, MDF, OSB, Laminates, MFC, and worktops. EGGER LAMINATE - Scratch resistance - Heat resistance - Chemical resistance - Abrasion resistance - Stain resistance to all kinds of household stains - High-quality EGGER laminates are suitable for a wide range of different applications.

The revolutionary product Dekton imagines a new concept in the world of design and architecture. Made by sophisticated raw materials used in the glass, porcelanic and quartz surfaces production, Dekton is a material with unique characteristics and infinite application possibilities such as countertops, flooring, cladding, facades for both inside and outdoors. Dekton employs exclusive Sinterized Particle Technology, a high tech process which represents an accelerated version of the metamorphic change that natural stone undergoes when subjected to high temperatures and pressure over thousands of years. Sinterized particle technology synthesizes truly innovative procedures from the most advanced technology industries. This evolution represents a technological and industrial leap capable of generating a new process, a revolutionary material and a leading product.

Components:

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Push Latch:

• With extra long throws• For overlay door, gives 3 mm gap between door and cabinet frame for pushing space.• Fixing screws included• Catch: ABS plastic• Counter piece: Yellow galvanized steel

TV Lift: • 3 section telescopic lift for compact installation height• 5-100 kg maximum lift capacity• 5-65 kg minimum and maximum lift capacity in standard installation• 5-29 kg minimum and maximum lift capacity for lift mounted in the upside down position• Input power: 110-240 VAC/ 50-60 Hz• UK AC plug• Remote controlled with RF and manual switch• Adjustable stoke• Automatic reverse function for improved safety• Lid lifter and TV mounting brackets included• Veas fixing: 600 x 400, 600 x 200, 600 x 100, 400 x 400, 400 x 200, 400 x 100, 300 x 300, 200 x 200, 200 x 100• Upsidedown use possible

• Black painted steel Draw Runner:

• For right and left hand use• For drawer widths up to 1000 mm• Can be disengaged using release lever• For screw fixing to cabinet, drawer or shelf, side or base mounted• Load carrying capacity up to 160 kg (see individual runner capacity)• Galvanized steel• Please note: Weight limit per pair based on length, weight limits reduce by 75% if base mounted

I have chosen a selection of key components that will be used on the relevant designs. All of these components are supplied by Hafele who exclusively supply all of our components. Included along with the illustrations are some technical details about tolerances and functions.

Final Plan of First Floor Showroom:

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Evaluation

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In my clients design brief it stated that the 1st floors show room should have new concepts and each design should posses there own individual style. I feel throughout the initial design, developing design and final design stages I have filtered down to original functional designs that fit in well with the theme of the business. What I have noticed during my time with NKBCO is that the development stage is much shorter than I expected, there is very little time to develop more than two designs for a client as there are many projects running parallel to one another. Throughout my education the development stage was much longer so students could develop the theory behind the designs, this does not happen within the industry.

I am now eight months into my placement with NKBCO and I am now starting to think about my future with the company and whether there will be a position for me at the end of my placement. A few weeks ago I spoke to Richard about this subject and he was unable to offer me any guarantees. What he did say was he was very pleased with what I had brought to the business and he felt I had made a genuine difference with the use of computer 3D modeling. He also mentioned he was looking for another sales designer that was more experienced in the sales role and more knowledgeable about materials. I left the meeting full of determination to prove to Richard that I was capable of improving this side of my skill set. I have spent the last two months going through samples and asking questions when it was necessary. I even developed a showroom logbook that I could fill in and study, it included materials and finishes that we currently offer.

This project has helped me become comfortable making decisions on suitable materials and components. For example the TV lift was one component that needed proper research. First I used the Hafele book to look up what I felt was a suitable product, then I rang Hafele direct to get a professional opinion and further details so I could make an informed decision. I repeated this process many times on other projects and I have become very comfortable calling suppliers because of this.

New materials such as the Dekton and XyloCleaf ranges have only recently been introduced to NKBCO and Richard requested for them to be incorporated into most of the first floor showroom products. This gave me the opportunity to make myself more knowledgeable about how they can be applied to different pieces of furniture.

Evaluation

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I even rang up Lathems the supplier of XyloCleaf to ask a question, the phone call was regarding wether or not the material was of work top grade, the answer was no. But as you can see in this portfolio the new materials have been applied to many of the designs and therefore fulfilled my clients brief.

All my designs are inspired by reliable sources such as the design exhibition in Germany that Richard visited in January 2015 and other sources such as Pinterest and Hulster. The research is therefore up to date and trending throughout the industry. I was able to use my research as inspiration and take different features to create my own unique styles and concepts throughout the showroom.

The scale drawings that I have included in the portfolio are of industry standard and are used in our own work shop to manufacture every order that is placed with the company. The drawings are in scale 1:20 and use the same format that the lead designer taught me to use. Therefore my designs, if they are approved could realistically go straight into the workshop and be manufactured without any input from a senior figure. The purpose of the 3D images is purely a visual aid for the client to gain an understanding of what they are purchasing. Throughout this project my understanding of the rendering software SU Podium has improved greatly and I have even been able to add lighting effects to my final designs. This will help any reader to understand the concepts and give a much more realistic experience.

In summary I feel the whole project has helped develop my skills as a designer and as a salesman. I also feel that all of the specification points have been met during the project and I can comfortably approach my client with the proposal. I feel much more confident as I am more knowable about materials and processes than before and I feel capable of answering any questions Richard may have about my proposal.

nkbco first floor showroom design proposal (live project)

Design

kitchen research

large kitchen

floor showroom

large showroom

newcastle kitchen

bedroom research

contemporary kitchen

operational kitchen