Milad Salameh, director and lead designer/creative vision of Kitchen Art Sydney, is creative, innovative and, above all, passionate about his work. We sat down with him to chat about all things kitchens, design and inspiration.
KBQ: Tell us about the path that led you to the world of design.
MS: My entry into the design phase of my career began when I was younger, when I spent time fabricating kitchens for other designers. I saw there were many opportunities being missed regarding design, and I became passionate about joinery solutions and creating not only beautiful spaces, but highly functional and clever ones too.
KBQ: Give us some insight into your family history and how it influenced your career.
MS: My family has always had construction, fabrication and design in their blood. I worked alongside family members in their many different roles over the years before deciding my passion lay in design. Kitchen Art had operated successfully for years, purely from word of mouth and recommendations, before I felt the time was right to create a showroom and bring clients to meet with our team to see examples of our work. We have had our Castle Hill showroom for six years now.
KBQ: What are the joys and difficulties that come with being a designer?
MS: As a designer, I feel the most joy when the client sees the completed project for the first time. Most people are very visual and need to have the complete package before them, which makes the designing phase a challenge. As a business owner, I love having a great week with my team and kicking some goals, having productive site visits and completing the installs. I think all business owners will agree that the biggest challenge is taking a day off.
KBQ: Describe yourself in three words.
MS: Passionate, energetic, driven.
KBQ: How would you describe your style? How varied are your designs?
MS: I think I am quite a chameleon; I am happy designing anything from French Provincial to New York Industrial. My designs are as varied as my clients allow them to be. I believe that as kitchen styles are trending, there is an increased demand for the same look over and over. I love to be challenged by a client who is willing to think outside the box.
KBQ: From where do you draw your inspiration?
MS: My inspiration comes from many avenues. I really enjoy design trends from overseas and the way they use certain materials. It would be remiss of me to say I’m not across what is happening on Instagram and other online media as far as design goes.
KBQ: What does Australian design look like to you?
MS: I think we are a little behind the rest of the world regarding hardware. Our clients often turn to resources like Pinterest for inspiration, which is great; however, some of the designs used in Europe and America take advantage of a lot more advanced hardware components and systems. This affects being able to come up with a creative yet functional and cost-effective solution. We’re getting there, but there is still some ground to be broken.
KBQ: What is your philosophy on design and life?
MS: I believe that although there are always problems to be solved, there are always answers to be found.
KBQ: Tell us a bit about some of your designs and what you love about them. What’s your favourite and why?
MS: The most popular design at the moment is sleek, dark cabinetry with wood touches and elements of concrete. I would say it’s more like a sleek industrial style. I am loving the clients who are taking risks with curved surfaces and cladding entire islands with marble — it’s a real showstopper.
KBQ: What are your design dreams?
MS: My design dream is to keep meeting clients who are willing to experiment with different finishes and textures in their space.
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