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Industry Profle By Janice Anne Costa Award-Winning 'Concierge' Firm Offers A to Z Service According to company President Steve St. Onge, "Our firm handles every detail of a renovation project with a high touch customer service. From our creative designers to our detail-oriented project managers to our talented installation crews, we have a fantastic team." Of course listening to clients is also an essential part of providing top-quality service and, to that end, St. Onge states, "Our designers work closely with our customers, listening and learning how their space is used on a day-to-day basis. This allows us to design a space that has the perfect balance between form and function. With craftspeople skilled in all areas – including carpentry, plumbing, electrical, lighting and fooring – the RIKB team works together to make the renovation process as smooth and enjoyable as possible." He continues, "Our special services are really defned by the breadth and scope of the services we ofer. We like to consider our company as a concierge service to the kitchen and bath business. From our detailed, creative designs, to the level of product research we do, to the attention to detail during the installation, the customer is our focus every step of the way." He adds that it's the details that make all the diference, noting, "We are the only kitchen and bath remodeling company in the area to ofer a full fve-year workmanship warranty." AWARD-WINNING APPEAL Photo: Jamie Harrington, Image Ten Photography Warwick, RI — You can learn a lot in 25 years in business – but in the end, it always comes back to service. That's a lesson the award-winning design-build frm R.I. Kitchen & Bath learned early on, and one that continues to be a critical factor in the frm's long-term success. Helping clients throughout Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut with their kitchen and bathroom projects since 1989, the company has come to understand that providing a fullservice experience is one of the most valuable things it can ofer. Of course many design frms claim to be "full service." But at R.I. Kitchen & Bath, full service means true, A-toZ help with everything from lighting to fooring to carpentry to electrical. The frm even has several Certifed Aging-in-Place Specialists on staf to help with projects for those looking to age gracefully at home, or prepare their home for older parents who may be coming to live with them. Late last year, R.I. Kitchen & Bath was honored with three Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards, which has stirred up quite a bit of excitement at the showroom. St. Onge states, "In addition to having our work praised by our clients…it is truly an honor to receive this recognition from our peers in the remodeling industry." He notes, "We are particularly proud of a recent project that won a CotY Award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). RIKB transformed a cluttered, uninviting kitchen space into a beautiful, open area where the clients can comfortably work, relax and enjoy family gatherings. Our team redesigned the space by raising the ceiling in the kitchen, opening up the walls of the living room, adding all new storage, windows and appliances, and extending the outdoor deck to wrap around the dining area. The end result is an impressive, yet comfortable living space." While designing a wonderful project that pleases the client is certainly rewarding in its own right, St. Onge admits that awards like these, as well as awards from local organizations such as the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, are benefcial because they further enhance the frm's credibility in the industry. As he states, "These allow us to stand out •R.I. Kitchen & Bath's location allows the frm the opportunity to work on many projects that incorporate scenic outdoor views, as seen in this CotY Awardwinning kitchen. amongst our peers in the industry. We proudly display the awards in our showroom. Our clients take note of these awards and know we are true professionals." This is particularly important because the frm's clients tend to be highly discerning. According to St. Onge, "Our clients are generally those who take pride in their homes and want to create an environment and lifestyle that is pleasurable and aesthetically pleasing. They appreciate quality craftsmanship and respect the process." For that reason, he notes, "We strive to always be on the cutting edge of the latest design options and ofer new styles that inspire our customers." Along those lines, the frm also understands the importance of employing a staf with cutting-edge skills and design expertise. Accordingly, R.I. Kitchen & Bath's director of design, Prudence Stoddard, holds the Certifed Kitchen Designer designation, is a Certifed Aging-in-Place Specialist and is a member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association. St. Onge adds, "She earned her certifcate in interior design from the Rhode Island School of Design and she continues to teach undergraduate courses in kitchen and bath design. A teacher at heart, she loves to educate her students, clients and the RIKB design staf. She creates a collaborative environment where the entire RIKB design team can work collectively to create elegant design solutions for their clients." St. Onge himself, also a Certifed •One of R.I. Kitchen & Bath's three CotY Award winning designs for 2013, this bath took the Gold award in the Residential Bath Over $60,000 category. •This bath vanity display illustrates the trend toward using wall-mount faucets and mixing open and closed storage for maximum design appeal. •This butler's pantry display speaks to the classic elegance that is a hallmark of the frm's design aesthetics. 40 | Kitchen & Bath Design News January 2014