We recently met up with Anthony Cheng; co-partner at recently opened kitchen design firm, KI Atelier, to welcome him to the neighbourhood and have a quick chat.
Here’s how it went down.
What do you do and where are you from?
My background is in design architecture. I was born here in Vancouver but have lived in Los Angeles for most of my life.
How did you end up in Gastown?
Gastown is an epicenter of high-end interior design and home décor in Vancouver. The opportunity presented itself when the space on Water Street became available. At one time home to Aveda, we knew this location was ideal for a showroom, and it’s certainly big enough to house the kind of kitchens that sell. Our old location was small and out of the way. We got real lucky and we’re very happy to be here.
What kind of kitchens do you sell?
We are a design firm representing two kitchen manufacturers: Poggenpohl (Germany) & Aran (Italy). Poggenpohl is high-end, whereas Aran is mid to high end, with a price point comparative to Ikea and Home Depot.
Is it appointment only?
Just temporarily. Soon we will be open to the public, offering usual business hours.
What does it feel like to now be a business owner in Gastown?
This is an exciting move for us. There is a lot more traffic here, and those that have come to our new showroom are amazed at the transformation from where we were a year ago.
Anything interesting happening at KI Atelier this year?
We host a different art show every month, featuring local artists. Soon we will hold cooking classes, which will be lots of fun.
KI Atelier is located at 101 Water Street Water Street in Gastown.
