european
excitement
Cucine Ricci's Naples
showroom is the very first stop anyone building a new kitchen,
or undertaking a kitchen remodel, should make before beginning
their design project. Clean lines, built-in convenience
and the ultimate utilization of space are all on display
in the showroom, which features products from three of the
top Italian kitchen design firms:
Cucine Lubé,
is Europe’s largest kitchen manufacturer, with production
of more than 360 complete kitchens per day. In addition
Cucine Lubé continually focuses on research and development
in order to stay on the cutting-edge of design innovations.
Cucine Arredo3
is an exciting manufacturer from the Venice region with
a unique product line and Cucine Miton is one of Italy’s
newest and most technologically advanced manufacturers,
offering extremely fine design innovation.
According to Cucine
Ricci’s co-owner, Werner Venter, “With these
three manufacturers, we are able to offer more than 200
different door styles and finish combinations for kitchens,
bathrooms and closets.
Our styles range
from classical through soft contemporary/transitional to
cutting-edge contemporary, creating an excellent aesthetic
result that will be an asset to any home in the Naples.”
Whereas American
kitchen manufacturers tend to focus on competing with each
other as far as price points are concerned, European manufacturers
instead focus their competition on the quality and life
expectancy of their products, resulting in their being able
to offer lifetime warranties on such integral components
as hinges and drawer runners.
Cucine Ricci differs
from the purely American market in that their kitchens strive
to be a marriage between American needs and European styling.
In addition to being designed to maximize space, cabinets
are installed with adjustable plastic legs and removable
toe kicks. Not only does this keep the cabinets dry, but
they are easily reachable during cleaning and pest control.
The under sink cabinets are also lined with aluminum plates,
making them waterproof. All cabinet doors feature hydraulic
door bumpers so that they won’t slam and the Blum
Motion drawers have soft closing runners. All shelves are
fitted with anti-tip mechanisms and available built-in drawer
accessories include knife racks, silverware drawers and
plate racks.
In addition, kitchens
can be designed to include Magic Corners - an excellent
solution for utilizing dead corner space. Magic Corners
features a pull-out swivel action which utilizes space more
efficiently than a Lazy Susan. Revolving pantries, swing-out
dining tables and built-in cutting boards are other design
innovations, as are the overhead cabinets designed to open
horizontally. The cabinet doors can then be slid closed
and placed out of the way so that the cabinet contents can
be easily accessed during food preparation.
The Cucine Ricci
design team believes that the kitchen is the core of the
house; the room where family and friends congregate most.
That’s why the designers and staff insist that a great
kitchen should be user-friendly, unique, exciting and fun.
It must be practical and functional, yet serve the household
for which it was designed, which is why the staff sits down
with every client in order to discuss their lifestyle and
tailor every kitchen design to individual preference and
needs. At the same time, Cucine Ricci believes that a well-designed
European kitchen should cost no more than a typical local
kitchen design.
“A perception
seems to exist that European kitchens are only available
to the very wealthy and that contemporary kitchens are not
competitive price-wise,” explains Venter. “This
perception exists because many of our competitors purchase
through middlemen, adding substantially to their prices.
We import directly from the Italian manufacturers, enabling
us to offer 40 to 50 percent savings to our clients over
comparable German and Italian brands.”
European kitchens
also tend to be priced better when function and longevity
are both taken into account. To test this claim, Cucine
Ricci offers their comprehensive design service and provides
quotes at no charge.
“You are
invited to visit our 2,700 square foot showroom and to browse
all of our exciting displays," says Venter. "While
you are here, sit down, have a cup of coffee and explore
your vision for your kitchen design with one of our knowledgeable
staff. Give us the opportunity to bid on your kitchen. It
will only take one hour of your time and we’ll do
the design at our own risk. There’s a good chance
that you’ll walk out of the showroom with a European
kitchen. In the worst case scenario, you’ll leave
with many ideas and an education in kitchen design.”
Cucine Ricci's
sister company, Ekhaya, which is Zulu for `At Home’,
are general contractors who are able to do turnkey projects
for clients, as well as both small and large remodels. Cucine
Ricci is also a proud member of the National Kitchen and
Bath Association.
Cucine Ricci
3084 Tamiami Trail North
Naples FL 34103
239 434-8560
www.cucinericci.com
Written by Helena
Wellesley
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