Customer Service and Public Relations: Quite Excellent
Very helpful associate who answered all of my questions thoroughly and spent a significant amount of time explaining the products and services of Boffi in detail.
Unfortunately I did not have a notebook to write down some of the information. I would think a showroom of this caliber would have had the courtesy to provide a sheet of paper, as I did have a pen in my briefcase. I suppose it was my mistake not to have asked for a sheet of paper or have brought my own notebook to begin with. About half an hour to forty-five minutes spent while standing: I would think there would have been a place to sit and discuss the parameters of the design. Perhaps a showroom is identical to an art gallery space: to walk around and view pieces. Or perhaps a sit-down meeting would be feasible through an appointment as a second phase of the design process.
While I did have a detailed list of my objectives on an iPad with me, the iPad was running a bit slowly and I just didn't think of taking notes on it, because I suppose my information and images were a priority.
Space and Products: So-so
While the products appeared quite impressive and aesthetically cutting edge, the overall lighting and the showroom itself seemed slightly outdated, as I think the showroom was designed roughly two decades ago. Not that there is anything wrong with something that's outdated, as most designs seem to become somewhat obsolete in one way or another, sooner or later.
Also, once the interior details of the kitchen cabinetry are seen, one is faced with MDF and/or compressed wood, which do not appeal to me at all. While the superstructure of the design is superb, its infrastructure seems to be questionable in terms of quality. I thought a product from Boffi would be on par with Cassina or Knoll furniture--quite superb beginning with the infrastructure. That did not seem to be the case with Boffi kitchen cabinetry. Perhaps I'm altogether wrong, but that was my impression. For some reason, I was hoping Boffi kitchen cabinetry would be comparable to a Donald Judd sculpture made of brushed aluminum and Plexiglas, thoroughly defined with incomparable materials.
Verdict: Personal
Highly courteous and extremely pleasant initial consultation overall. I would highly recommend Boffi as a point of departure. The ultimate decision to use Boffi products and services is obviously a personal one, based on a client's knowledge and preference of materials and aesthetic direction. Their materials did not seem to thoroughly meet my expectations, although their minimalist aesthetic is what I was precisely heading toward. read more
