Visions of a New Kitchen? Let Leicht Light The Way

Last week, I visited with the Allie Beth Urban team at the Claridge’s newly listed $4.9 million 19-A Penthouse. As we strolled around the 7,298-square-foot manse, we got to talking about kitchens and what was in style these days.

My response was that if I saw another Shaker cabinet I’d blow my brains out. I then recalled the decisions I’d made on the Penthouse Plunge flip I’d sold a year ago and a floor below.  After seeing Hall Arts’ model units, I decided I wanted modern cabinetry without handles — as non-fussy and clean as I could get. A style typified these days by German manufacturers.

And remember, there is “modern” that is actually kind of classic and then there’s “ultra-modern” that’s five-minutes-ago five minutes after it’s installed. Adding fuel to that thought was the kitchen in 19-A. Just like the Penthouse Plunge, it was a German kitchen in exactly the same style I’d just installed, albeit in black instead of white – and it was decades old.

Timeless German Design

Helping me on that journey was Nicholas Skyles from the German Kitchen Center who represent Team7, Stosa Cucine, Charles Yorke, Pianca, and the German Leicht that I purchased. By pure coincidence, my former neighbor at the Athena had also used Leicht in her remodel – I’d loved her kitchen but didn’t know it was Leicht until later.

What won me over to Leicht was the quality and the cost. I looked at all the more known names (in Dallas) like Siematic, Poggenpohl, and Bulthaup. Even though they’ve been around since 1928, one of the reasons you may not have heard of Leicht is because they export less – only about 60 percent. But that’s been changing with German Kitchen Centers in 10 states.

Showrooms Offer Three-Dimensional Experience

What I like about exploring new design styles are the pictures. It’s one thing to see things scattered across magazines and Pinterest. It’s another to see what’s in actual showrooms and what customers are actually installing now.  And unlike most of Pinterest, you know exactly where everything came from.

For example, the project above you can see how a triple island looks (and the amount of space it takes). You can see how wood is beginning to make a return as white/white begins to change. Nothing beats showrooms where you can move around a space instead of “liking” a flat picture.

Before you think it’s all white and dark wood, here’s an example of a lighter wood with a horizontal grain pattern (rift cut). But there’s also a stealable idea in this picture.  Look at the white upper cabinets – they’re the standard depth. Now look above them. The uppermost cabinets are the same depth as the lower cabinets (typically 24 inches).  No one is going to bump their head that high up and you get extra storage space for larger, but infrequently-used items. For those with extra tall ceilings, it’s a cool look that also creates a nice contrasting niche.

Exploring projects and showrooms also gives you ideas of how to handle architectural issues.  For example, in the picture above you can see that the upper cabinets appear almost recessed next to a structural element. But the designer of this kitchen was able to keep the continuous line of lower cabinets while working with that shallow area to create a focal point. You can also see that keeping with linear cabinets and drawer pulls makes the change of material seamless.

There is a preponderance of wood with white cabinet styles but the kitchen above adds a little glamour.  Under the countertop you can see a lit recess that also doubles as the cabinet handle. That’s one thing that is different – LED lighting. Sure, this style of cabinet is not necessarily new, but it’s been updated with lighting. In addition to the edge strip, you can have lit cabinet interiors in addition to the expected under-cabinet lighting.

A Place For Everything

When I toured the German Kitchen Center showroom pre-pandemic, I really enjoyed seeing all the lighting as well as all the drawer dividers.

These days, there is literally a slot for everything. Kitchen manufacturers’ catalogs have pages and pages of add-on drawer dividers and cubbies. While I skipped them in my flip (how do I know what someone wans?), I’m pretty sure once I have the pennies saved, I’ll be kitting out my drawers – so to speak.

More than Kitchens

In open-concept homes, carrying the kitchen design into an adjacent living area created a cohesive look. Just as using the same flooring throughout connects and expands spaces, creating a media wall to match kitchen cabinetry does the same thing.

Of course you can also carry your design over into the bathrooms (as I also did in the Penthouse Plunge). You can certainly use the same cabinetry but I’d change the color to mix things up.

As you see to the left you could choose a floating vanity or a more traditional one that rests on the floor (giving you an extra drawer of storage space). They’ll also design your closet, too!

More to a Kitchen Than The Kitchen

Certainly, a big part of the process for a new kitchen is deciding what cabinets, counters, and appliances you want. But the behind-the-scenes stuff is just as important — installation, fixing screw-ups (and there will be a few), and ongoing service. 

For those who read the Penthouse Plunge series, you will know that it was not a seamless kitchen experience.

There was a measurement mess-up that required a new cabinet and end panels to be ordered – in the middle of a pandemic. And once everything was installed, a trim piece was a mismatched color and is currently on order.

Stuff (always) happens. It’s how a business responds that matters. In each case, there was no battle to get things resolved. People came over, measured, looked at colors and it was just ordered.

Now, the time to get shipments was an annoyance, but with a global pandemic impacting every facet of life, shipping slowed to a crawl where it remains today. Hardly something Leicht or German Kitchen Centers could solve. But what they could do is fly my replacement parts via air freight – not inexpensive compared with a ship – which they did without hesitation. It explains in part why they won a Best of Houzz award for their service in 2018-2019.

Renovations Hit High-Gear

Between the pandemic and the recent freeze damaging so many homes, a lot of people are looking at renovating.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most expensive rooms in the home. You have to ensure you not only get what you want, but use a supplier that can help you along the way and fix the issues that arise.  German Kitchen Center has great cabinets and the experience to ensure you’re happy with the process.