When building or remodeling a residence, unforeseen details can arise at any point in the design process—often placing stress on homeowners, architects, builders, and others involved. Since 1968, Williams Kitchen & Bath in Grand Rapids, Michigan has positioned itself as a locally-owned kitchen and bath design and consultation company assisting homeowners in smoothing out the many details involved in realizing their dream space.
With the added creative expertise of its talented professionals at Williams Studio, a sister company of Williams Kitchen & Bath located in Kentwood, Michigan, the company can partner with clients from the beginning of a project and guide it to completion while serving as a resource for kitchen and bath products.
Daniella Harris, design and sales consultant at Williams Studio, said the process starts with an objective approach from designers, allowing homeowners to contribute every inspiration for the design. Once initial inspirations, wants, and needs are pulled together, then color tones, cabinet brands, and countertops are layered into design software renderings to give clients an initial look at their new space.
Throughout each stage in the process, Williams Studio designers take care to craft each design to clients’ exact specifications, scheduling in-home visits to ensure precise measurement and overall satisfaction. Among the team of designers and consultants, Harris said relationship building differentiates her style from others.
“My style differs, because I like to really get to know my client, how they work, and how they want their kitchen or bath so that I can include in their dreams the things that they do every day,” Harris said. “I like to pull the whole project together so they can visually see everything. I then like to add their flooring and color patterns on the side so they don’t just have to see it through the computer—there really is a color difference.”
For Harris, part of customizing each design is creating compromise between the details clients initially desire and those that fit their budget and lifestyle needs. Customized porcelain tiles can be used in place of marble or the hue of walnut wood can be replicated using a combination of other species that hold similar shades. From her cultivated design and industry experience, Harris strives to continually develop her own tonal and textural preferences.
“I’ll try to add light colors with warm colors—so walnut, brown, or [taupe]. I’ve been favoring a warm walnut island,” Harris said. “Another thing I always favor is subway tile. I love creating different patterns and doing different things with it. I automatically lean toward subway tiles for backsplashes or shower tiles.”
To offer clients the right materials for their needs and budget, Williams Kitchen & Bath keeps an extensive inventory of in-stock products such as kitchen and bath cabinetry, hardware, plumbing accessories and fixtures, and countertops. Brands like Woodland Cabinetry and Hickory Hardware provide stylish storage option combinations while quartz, granite, solid surface, or wood countertops and plumbing fixtures provide luxurious accents that can be functional, yet bold. The company also offers custom styles and non-stock collections to further diversify options.
Since its establishment more than five decades ago, Williams Kitchen & Bath has grown to comprise showrooms in Grand Rapids, Holland, Lansing, and Mecosta, as well as its sister store at the Williams Studio in Kentwood.
Text: R. Collins | GLBD Staff Writer
Photography: 87 Orange Photography
