As president and principal designer of Conceptual Kitchens & Millwork, Carmel, IN, Rob Klein not only brings a strong level of detail to his projects, he delivers an extensive and practical background in the building industry. Klein’s father was a custom home builder and developer, and he grew up working in all the trades.
“Because I’m classically trained, I bring a clear understanding of proportion and balance to my designs for clients,” Klein says. “Our kitchens are about more than fine hardware and beautifully carved and finished cabinet doors; they are about design.” He received a degree in fine arts from Kenyon College in 1994.
After graduating from college but before starting his own firm, Klein drew and drafted all of the homes and interiors for his father’s firm. Having the ability to take his designs off the drafting table and implement them in the field accelerated his learning curve, he reports.
Klein says he spends a great deal of time making sure the design is perfect for each space. The only way to do that is to not be afraid to scrap a design and start over, he adds.
He is particularly proud of being published nationally and being a regional winner of the Sub-Zero/Wolf Kitchen Design Contest, and of building a brand and successful business.
