Test drive your new kitchen – before you order it

Choosing a new kitchen for your home is very exciting – and if you’re an old hand and have done it before, you probably feel confident about the process. However, while some of us can naturally look at a set of plans and visualise the finished result, others don’t have quite such good spatial awareness.

You're likely to work with an architect or kitchen designer to sort out precisely what you want for your new space – the design, cabinetry, hardware, materials and finishes.

But can you be sure from looking at the plans exactly how the space will work for you? There’s a good chance you’ll be spending quite a bit on your new kitchen, so you'll want it to be functional and last for a fair few years.

So, the ability to see a full-scale version of your future kitchen mocked up could make all the difference to your confidence in signing off the new plans proposed by your architect or designer.

Innovative kitchen hardware specialist Blum has earned a reputation for the high quality and practicality of its range of sophisticated cabinetry and drawer systems and hinges, and the development of its new showroom makes it even easier for its customers to find exactly what they need. The Austrian-based company, which has been manufacturing kitchen hardware for almost 70 years, has recently set up its new Christchurch showroom to include a space where homeowners can test drive their proposed kitchen.

Managing director Mike Hawkins says the company now has a beautiful, new showroom in Wigram, where the friendly team share their vast knowledge of Blum products, displayed so customers can see how they work, and you can charge your EV from a rooftop solar installation. “This new showroom is a unique concept; it’s all about providing inspiration,” he says. “Blum is the first in the world to develop this test drive space.

“The building has created a lot of interest and our foot traffic has increased substantially. In the old building we didn’t have a dedicated person on hand to help visitors, but we are now busy enough to have one full-time staff member and we’re about to take on a second. Our timing has been fortuitous – with a lot of people staying home and, instead of travelling, looking to make changes to their homes.

"Customers bring their plans into the showroom, and our consultants set up a kitchen using modular cabinetry that’s on wheels. These units can be moved around and located to accurately reflect the size and measurements of the customer’s kitchen, following their plans, to show what the finished kitchen will look like.”

Mike says this is particularly helpful for showing the actual size and space in a kitchen, such as a galley shape, where people often find it challenging to visualise the gap between the cabinetry on each side.

“We set the kitchen up and leave the customers to go in, try things out, like opening cupboards, drawers and the dishwasher, allowing them to see exactly how everything will work and whether or not there is enough space for the way they want to use the space. Recently, a retired couple came in, and when we laid out their kitchen, they were horrified at how big it was. The island was enormous, and they decided the whole kitchen was far too big to be comfortable or convenient to work in. Far better to find this out before the kitchen is installed in your home.”

The new showroom also has areas set up as actual rooms in a home – bathroom, laundry, scullery, home office – and showing its products as they are likely to be used in your home. There’s even a landscaped garden with an outdoor kitchen and barbecue set up with Blum’s Stainless Steel finish LEGRABOX range.

Architects, designers and homeowners are all welcome to visit the new showroom to check out Blum’s product range, see the options, what is most appropriate for their needs, and enjoy a coffee while they look around. “If they want a test kitchen set up, we do advise that they make an appointment,” says Mike.

“We have meeting rooms where architects can spread out their plans, sit down with their clients, and discuss them together. Our consultants are on hand to offer advice and assistance where required – and it’s really important to stress that they are not salespeople. We do not sell our hardware directly, there’s no pressure, and our consultants are highly trained and knowledgeable. The aim of the showroom is purely to improve people’s understanding of what is available and how Blum products work,” he says.

The showroom is also an opportunity for Blum to launch new and innovative products as they come onto the market. The latest is the Space Step – a drawer integrated into the base of kitchen cabinets that produces a step when pulled out to provide access to higher wall cabinetry, lets children lend a hand, and creates extra storage behind toe kicks.

“A key pillar of Blum's strength is the value it places on customer benefits – and for Blum, there are four customers who must be considered equally: the manufacturer, the seller, the installer and the final user. Our products are designed to be simple to make and install, appeal aesthetically and are easy to use. All these groups must have a good experience with every product. That's why we can offer a lifetime guarantee on our hardware.

“Because Blum specialises in a very narrow part of the market – drawer systems and hinges – it can confidently ensure everything it manufactures is of the highest quality and functionality,” says Mike.

Visit the Blum showroom at 16 Avenger Crescent, Wigram, Christchurch, to see the company’s range of products, or make an appointment to come in and test drive your kitchen.