Courtesy of Zobel & Co.
By Christine Graf
For Arthur Zobel, owner of Zobel & Co. Kitchens in Glens Falls, designing kitchens is in his blood. His father was a kitchen designer, and Zobel starting working for him when he was a teenager. After his father retired, Zobel spent 32 years working as a kitchen designer in the New York City area. In 2018, he opened his boutique design shop and showroom at 11 Broad Street in Glens Falls.
“The majority of our business is kitchen remodels, and another portion of that is new builds,” said Ginny Brandreth, marketing director and office manager at Zobel & Co. Kitchens. “For us, it tends to be the second home market. We work with a more upscale market because our kitchen designs and cabinetry are custom.”
In recent years, the company has seen an uptick in demand for outdoor kitchens. The demand has been so strong that the Zobel & Co. has dedicated part of its showroom to outdoor kitchens. Outdoor cabinetry differs in that it is made from materials that withstand extreme temperatures, and doors and drawers are gasketed to keep out snow and rain.
“Before the pandemic, it was hard to sell an outdoor kitchen because people were only spending a couple weeks at their homes on the lake. But now that people are working remotely, they are up there for months,” said Brandreth. “They are wanting to make their outdoor living space an extension of their indoor space.”
Although the company’s focus is on kitchens, they will do bathroom remodels when they are part of a much larger project. They also provide cabinetry for bedrooms, offices, and other rooms in the home. Many of their larger cabinetry projects are for homes that are under construction.
When designing custom cabinetry, Brandreth said the focus is on accessibility.
“It’s about making your cabinets a lot easier to work with. We do a lot with in-cabinet lighting, roll out drawers, and swing out shelving. We love for people to come in and see the showroom to help them understand what the possibilities are as well as for us to understand what their vision is.”
During a visit to the showroom, clients meet with Zobel who educates them on how cabinets are made and how they function.
“He walks people through what he calls Arthur’s Kitchen School,” said Brandreth. “Whether they are buying from us or someone else, they need to understand how the whole project goes together.”
The design process begins after Zobel goes to a client’s home to take measurements. For those who don’t have a preferred contractor for construction, Zobel & Co. has a list of trusted contractors that they have worked with over the years.
According to Brandreth, current kitchen design trends include the use of more natural wood.
“There’s always an evolving trend line of different things that are important to people. White kitchens will always be popular. We do a lot of white kitchens, but we are seeing a lot more blending of multiple colors. There was awhile there where everything was painted, but we’re seeing a lot more wood tones in kitchens.”
For counter tops, sintered materials have become more popular. Fabricated under extreme heat and pressure, they are extremely durable, making them ideal for outdoor kitchens. Available in both thin and thick profiles, sintered counter tops are also an option for indoor kitchens.
“It’s a very contemporary look, and that plays well with a minimalist style, but quartz is by far the most popular for indoor kitchens,” said Brandreth. “There is an enormous selection of quartz with many, many vendors and so many colors. There’s an option for everyone.”
When it comes to a kitchen remodeling project, Zobel & Co. advises prospective clients to expect the entire process to take almost one year. The design process and product selection typically takes one to two months, and the lead time on cabinetry is currently 13-16 weeks. Contractors are also very busy, often needing to be booked many months ahead of time.
Although the project is lengthy, Brandreth said they try to make it as painless as possible.
“It’s a process that’s worth going through because in the end, you are going to transform your house. You are going to transform the way you live.”
For more information, visit www.Zobelandco.com