Last week I attended the opening events for the Matthew Rao Studio in Atlanta, a kitchen design studio that I designed earlier in the year. The space really came together, with great work by everybody involved. A view of the exterior before the event:
In the morning Matthew and Haskell Harris from Garden & Gun magazine conducted a discussion on the history of the modern kitchen. Afterwards we were treated to a lovely, southern-style lunch. A view of the informal discussion in the SieMatic Beaux Arts display:
Some views of the space courtesy Cablik Enterprises (the General Contractor) and Charles Quade Photography:
Another view of the Beaux Arts display:
The festivities continued in the evening with a cocktail party. I had a great time catching up with some old friends from the industry. Here is myself with David Sabo the installer and industry stalwart and old friend Phil Shepherd.
The entire showroom is wired and plumbed for full functionality. The following morning I dropped back in for some breakfast cooked with the Gaggenau tappan yaki and steam oven. Here Jane, Cindy and Matthew prepare a delicious frittata in the Beaux Arts kitchen at the rear of the space.
Matthew’s space is located in Midtown Atlanta, one block off Peachtree in the center of everything. In the morning before the events I took a quick run in Piedmont Park, and marveled at the lovely bungalow-style homes just a couple blocks from the new high-rise hotels and office towers. Before heading back to the airport I took a quick walk over to the new Museum of Design Atlanta and snapped a shot of the High Museum of Art, a rigorous design by Richard Meier. In all, it was a lovely two days and I wish the best of luck to Matthew and the staff in the new space.
