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ORANGE, CA—
Imagine that you’re a client, wanting a brand new, state-of-the-art kitchen – except you don’t have a clue how to cook fine cuisine. Then, imagine your kitchen and cooking problems solved, all by visiting one showroom.

This is the unique concept behind Le Gourmet Kitchen, Ltd., a firm that designs clients’ dream kitchens, and then hooks them up with an on-sight cooking school so they can fully appreciate that investment.

Talk about your one-stop shopping.

“Our clients can come in and see the latest design trends and fashions,” says Bruce Colucci, the co-owner of Le Gourmet Kitchen. “But we’re not only cutting edge in design, flooring, top-of-the-line appliances and lighting, we’ll even teach them how to cook.”

The company has been in business since 1992, specializing in luxury kitchen and bath design.

The showroom, located in the historic district of Old Town Orange, not only shows off a variety of kitchens ranging in style from Tuscan to Asian, but also now allows clients to sign up with a gourmet cooking school, located conveniently right on premises.

“Most of our clients are Baby Boomers who like to entertain and like to spend time in their homes,” says Colucci. “Most have taken the time to do their research and are educated about what they want. They want [to hire] someone with sophisticated taste, a good design concept and creativity, as well as someone who will take the project from beginning to end.”

Colucci, a CKD, has loved cooking himself for more than two decades, and sees the kitchen as a sort of studio: “A kitchen is like a painting. I’m the artist; the kitchen to be designed a blank canvas. With the ideal blend of client collaboration, creative inspiration and a balance of elements, a functional art piece can be created.”

“Form and function must work together like the spices in a fine pasta sauce,” he says, “smooth and pleasing, with just the right hint of boldness.”

Diverse Experience

The two principals at Le Gourmet Kitchen bring a wealth – and a wide diversity – of experience to the business. This helps to give them a unique creative vision while focusing heavily on real-life use – something too many kitchen designers forget.