We all know if you’re not in the spec, you’re not in the build. But getting the products you carry specified in residential construction is increasingly difficult. Homeowners have access to more design inspiration today, from magazines and TV to Pinterest and Houzz, than ever before. They know what they want, and they’re not afraid to ask for it.
Dealers looking to reach demanding homeowners do best when they’re partnered with reputable local designers. These designers can take a few screenshots or Pinterest boards and turn them into a dream home. If you’re set up as a trusted supplier, designers will come back to you, again and again, to help make each project a success.
We reached out to Rosemary Cappellano, Owner of DLUX Design & Co., an interior design and design-build firm in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to talk to her about design trends, materials that really help a home stand out, and what she looks for in both manufacturer and dealer partners.
A Moulding Product for Every Project
DLUX’s services run the full spectrum from simple powder room updates to full-home renovations and new builds. They look for products ranging from affordable moulding and door kits to more elaborate finishes. Homeowners these days are looking for modern farmhouse aesthetics, feature walls using shiplap and modern crown moulding profiles.
And while clean lines and contemporary details are popular, Cappellano and the DLUX team are also ready to help clients preserve the unique characteristics and look of some of Winnipeg’s older homes.
“For those projects, we are able to use lots of Metrie wall application details and crown moulding. We’ll pair it with traditional baseboard and door profiles,” she says.
From Vision to Reality
Cappellano acknowledges that the prevalence of online design resources means many clients come to her with a preliminary map of their vision. However, where they rely on her is to help them identify all the details in an image that combine to create the aesthetic they’re hoping to capture.
Many times, homeowners are able to identify individual features, like a bedspread or lighting fixture, that they really love, but they aren’t always able to articulate what about the entire room catches their eye. That’s where Cappellano and her team come into play, helping clients understand how moulding and trim are vital to creating a cohesive style within a space.
And they get help from Metrie as well. Not only does Metrie offer resources such as regional catalogs on their website to help Cappellano’s team work with clients to narrow down their style, but their sales reps are invaluable as well. Metrie’s reps not only help communicate the moulding and door trends they are seeing in the region, but they also share product knowledge, recommendations and installation techniques to ensure designers, builders and contractors have all the information they need to help their clients.
The next step is ordering samples. “We have an amazing Metrie rep, Marc Duprat. He understands that when we want to see something, we want to see it quickly. He gets us tangible samples so we can do mock-ups for our clients.”
These mockups are critical in helping a homeowner visualize what the room will look like when it’s done. “We want to sell the story to the client so they have the look and feel of what the wall would look like. Having the samples and resources to create the picture for the client is critical in rolling out our vision.”
Bringing Value
When it comes to adding to where a client sees value in a design, Cappellano says trim and moulding are underutilized interior finishings. “So often, when we’re looking to increase value and elevate a room or full house, it is really distinguished by creating more of a picture or story. Using Metrie’s products really do that.”
She says DLUX clients love the variety of options available. “Metrie has such a great range of contemporary and traditional profiles, and mixing those aesthetics creates a great experience for our clients. It elevates a room significantly and the cost is actually quite minimal for the impact.”
Keeping Designs Up-to-Date
Along with adding value, trim and moulding can help update the look of a room or the entire home, too. Cappellano and her team love the shift to more modern profiles, as well as the opportunity to combine classic and contemporary looks.
“Ten years ago, trim installation really fell under the more traditional vibe. However, over the last ten years, the ability to use this material in modern options has expanded. It’s transcending design aesthetics, and we can use the Metrie product irrespective of the design aesthetic. What we’re finding is there’s a really good collection of products.”
As aesthetics change, the opportunity to use trim and moulding in more creative ways has evolved too. Cappellano is a big fan of new modern door designs, as well as combining trim outside of traditional baseboard and crown applications.
“DLUX owns a cabinetry company, and we’re mindful of how to integrate both products. For a recent home office project, we used a lot of trim and crown moulding. It’s not just a product you use around walls and doors. We were able to incorporate it into our cabinetry too [pictured above], and it was a really good fit and accomplished the look we were really looking for.”
Cappellano’s favorite line of Metrie moulding is the Very Square Collection. “It offers simplicity but we can also do applied trim. We like the building blocks the line offers.”
Get in the Spec
DLUX has trusted dealer partners who supply all the materials needed for each project. For Cappellano and the designers on her team, finding a dealer they’ll come back to is about three things:
- Service
- Knowledge
- Stock
She wants to work with someone who is accountable for their materials and delivery, knows the complete product selection so they can work to find the right pieces, and has enough product in stock to keep her projects running on time and on budget.
“By the time we get to the dealer, the design is planned and we’ve got the samples. It’s a matter of executing the order and meeting the lead times.”
And for the DLUX Design team, quality and harmony of the final finished product is everything. “We usually do more than just baseboards and casings, and Metrie allows us to keep all the products under one house.”
DLUX values the relationships they builds with their dealers. “We have a good appreciation of what they’ve done to get us the products we need. If we’re paying a little more for service and relationships, there’s value to us in that.”
For design inspiration to share with your designer and homeowner clients, visit Metrie.com and @dluxdesignandco on Instagram.
