Trail Appliances received international recognition as a winner in theNational Kitchen & Bath Associations’ (NKBA) Innovative Showroom Awards competition in the Multi Location Retail Large category. This incredible achievement resulted as part of an award entry spearheaded by Sarah Gallop, Director of Design for the design & innovation of our Cloverdale Showroom display kitchens. We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this accomplishment.

Read more about Sarah's experiences designing the Cloverdale showroom, and what to expect once you step into the space, with over 32,000 sq. ft. of appliances and 17 display kitchens.

An appliance showroom hasn’t typically been a place one would think to visit for interior design inspirations, and certainly not where one might expect to find the high-end kitchen design experience that Sarah Gallop Design Inc. (SGDI) has created for Trail Appliances’ Cloverdale showroom.

Although Trail has always invested in beautiful showroom experiences at its locations, the Cloverdale showroom was set up to take that to the next level.

Trail wanted the experience of shopping for appliances to be something more, for it to be inspiring. They wanted people to see how these amazing appliance options, some that they may not have realized were even out there, could fit into their lives and into their kitchens. Our job was to make the customer experience relatable, to design the showroom in a way that anyone could walk in and visualize themselves in individual kitchen spaces, and fully experience the brand within that space without feeling overwhelmed. The appliances are functionally grouped, rather than a more traditional ala carte experience, within each manufacturer’s space.

This showroom is something special: it’s an immersive experience into designer kitchens of every style and aesthetic imaginable, and it shows the customer how the pieces can fit into a completed kitchen space. We accomplished fitting the better part of an entire appliance line into a medium to large kitchen styled individually for each brand. This allowed the customer to be toured through the store, knowing when they have seen all that a certain brand has on offer, as they will have entered another brand’s space differentiated by design. The critical part in all of this – was to ensure that there was flow and continuity from space to space even with different styles, materials and aesthetics. We needed to make sure that the showroom still worked as a whole. This was done very carefully with repetition of materials + finishes.

It would be impossible to leave this space thinking that you can’t have the type of appliance functionality that you desire, no matter your budget or the limitations of the size of your kitchen. There is something here for everyone!

Believe it or not, appliance selection is one of the very first things we ask of our clients when they start the process of working with SGDI. We really need to know what the homeowner is wanting because knowing appliance sizes, configurations, and how much wall space is required is necessary for space planning, and good space planning is what makes a functional home. Knowing for sure what size of appliances our clients want saves time in making revisions to floorplans, knowing their finishes saves time in material selections – this kind of efficient decisive planning then also saves money, money that can be put back towards those dream pieces that they really want!

Often our clients aren’t super enthused about going appliance shopping right out of the gate, they want to be inspired first... so, we thought why not have this necessary step be an inspiring one? If we could have our clients to visit a showroom that brought them into the kind of space that we would be creating for them, or at least get them excited about some key aspects as they start to see what they want and bring that back to us, we have provided a valuable source of design excitement and inspiration.

Inspiration can come from a multitude of sources, and it can start differently for everyone. The most common factor is the recognition of a need. Once you have recognized that you have a need, you begin to look for the thing that will fulfill that need, and in that search, you will encounter many different things that can inspire your design. Inspiration can come from completed spaces that you have seen in magazines, it can build off a single item that you desire, it can be in a colour, texture, metal tone or wood grain, you may find it in nature or in a piece of art. Wherever you find it, you will know when you have, it's that one thing that sticks and everything else builds off that.

Unique designer elements across the appliance showcases, to inspire visitors, include... flush appliance installs, waterfall islands, slab backsplashes, dramatic tile backsplashes, floating counter details, varying hood fan installation styles, floating and encased shelving, warm wood tones, decorative lighting, repeating materials and millwork details, a living wall feature, and multiple metal accents to polish and add warmth.

This showroom is different from any other, because there is simply so much here to inspire, and to suit all different tastes and aesthetics. It’s a wonderful place to get started... you might even discover your personal design style here!

Miele Display KitchenPeer thru the wood slatted wall of the boutique entrance to get a sneak peek of the Miele kitchen displays. The space features 2 islands created in mirror image of one another, with horizontal block detailed millwork and geometric quartz waterfalls supporting floating wood eating bar tops. The two sides of this kitchen vignette are divided by a partition made of see thru metal supports hanging wood shelving that both divides and connects the two differentiated areas of this display. A striking Magnum Marquina Polished porcelain slab backsplash runs throughout Miele’s dedicated area unifying the two areas of their own presentation, while differentiating the space from neighboring brands. The unique custom millwork features recessed cabinetry hardware on its wood doors and selective placement of metal doors as accent.

JennAir Display KitchenBalanced double islands within this large show space allows the symmetrical display of 2 lines of appliances from the JennAir family. The space divided and differentiated by the center island but held together to the eye by a consistency of materials throughout the dedicated area. A neutral tone selected for the 3” thick waterfall island tops keep the design approachable, while the marble slab backsplashes and flush appliance install encourages clients to elevate their design standards. Walnut and brass accents add warm reflections and a welcoming homey feeling of interest to its visitors.

KitchenAid Display KitchenThis unique display experience also functions as a live kitchen with a café space, featuring approx. 18 appliances. The space is appealing to the consumer with its open walnut shelving and raised eating bars, and cabinetry featuring glass doors with black caning accent. The kitchen is relatable; it is easy to imagine the appliances in ones' own home, and to build a wish list of pieces required to re-create the delicious dishes demonstrated! As the first impression upon entry to the store, this design sets the tone for the open showroom space yet stands out as a featured brand all on its own.

This project was a lot of fun, but it was also a great undertaking. The design had to flow with the overall concept for the entire showroom, while allowing each featured brand to shine within its dedicated space. We had to work within several strict parameters; specific to the showroom itself, every individual brand, and the footprints allocated to each provided by the architect. A concept that fit both the Appliance Brand and the Trail showroom brand, budget requirements of both parties, and defined elements of the space already fixed in place.

With all these qualifiers in place, to walk into this space, you quickly grasp just how special it is. The vast spread of luxurious kitchen amenities is a spectacle to behold, and one that warranted the showroom some National acclaim. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) has recently named this Trail Appliances showroom, designed by Sarah Gallop Design Inc, located in Surrey, BC Canada, as the Winner of Best Large Multi-Location, Multi-Brand, and Multi-Product Showroom Over 5,000 Sqft. The space dedicated to JennAir also won Best Showroom Display at the Provincial Level from NKBA-BC (the British Columbia Chapter of the Association).

These Honours are all the confirmation you need to know that a trip out to Cloverdale is worth the time to see this show space; whether you are currently in the market for new appliances, looking to get inspired by the kitchen designs for the interiors of your new home or home renovation, or even just to check it out!

Love the Look?

If you’re inspired by elements of our showroom display kitchens, here’s a list of partners that made it happen:

Kitchen Concepts & Design by Sarah Gallop Design IncKitchen Millwork & Installation by Kitchen Art DesignKitchen Countertops by Ceasarstone