As Chicago design veteran Rama Dandamudi, MD celebrates the 30th anniversary of 210 Design House (210designhouse.com), he shares his insights on how far the company has come, tips on creating the kitchen of your dreams and more.
210 Design House’s River North showroom features a series of curated vignettes of some of the most luxurious brands in cabinetry and home furnishings.
How has 210 Design House changed over the years? It started as a small kitchen and bath store in a retail strip mall in Lincoln Park, working with homeowners on kitchens and a few small brands. In 1999, we incorporated Snaidero at the Merchandise Mart, opening a 1,200-square-foot showroom on the 13th floor focusing on high-end kitchens. We evolved to a larger presence on the ground floor and began working in multi-housing nearly 20 years ago. Today, we operate from a 10,000-square-foot standalone building (210 Design House) featuring Snaidero, Plain & Fancy, MisuraEmme closets, Milldue bathrooms, Glas Italia sliding doors and Arflex furniture. We also offer custom wood lines from Italy and Concerto, our newest multi-housing brand. We grew from one kitchen and two vanities in Lincoln Park during our first year to 13,000 projects, expanding our reach from Chicago to New York, Miami, Sarasota, Palm Beach, Montana, Nashville, California, Arizona, Wyoming, the British Virgin Islands, Turks and St. Thomas.
What have been some of your proudest moments? Building a team with the ability to complete such radically different projects like Robert A.M. Stern’s One Bennett Park and Jeanne Gang’s residences at the St. Regis, which are considered two of the best residential towers in Chicago. Additionally, we successfully executed a Martyn Lawrence Bullard-designed penthouse at the Four Seasons in Nashville, a single-family home in Montana, villas in Turks & Caicos, and 2,000 apartments in New York City, including 25 Water, the largest office-to-apartments conversion ever in the U.S.
What advice do you have for homeowners looking to create their dream kitchen? Start with a professional kitchen designer and work with kitchen showrooms that have a proven track record. It’s also important to choose reputable contractors who come with solid references. Additionally, be realistic about your budget, and take your time to ensure you get exactly what you want.
Photography by: TONY SOLURI PHOTOGRAPHY
