Peter Salerno
Peter Salerno Inc
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READ MORE ABOUT PETER
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Peter Salerno, CMKBD, has 33 years of kitchen and bath design experience enhanced by his personal life experiences. As a child, Peter spent his Saturdays and vacations in his father's cabinet shop. Being exposed to the manufacturing and sales process at a young age would have a lasting and invaluable effect. He attended The Citadel Military College of South Carolina and graduated as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy with a Business Degree. His Naval commitment gave him the ability to travel through most of Europe and Western Asia. Studying art and sketching have always been a form of relaxation for Peter; being stationed in Italy was the perfect opportunity to study the masters and old world architecture first hand.
After returning from the Navy and working in corporate America, Peter decided to return to his father's business and began to apply his artistic vision to the growing family business. In 1997, Peter opened his own custom cabinetry company, Peter Salerno, Inc., in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Combining his years of business and industry knowledge with his passion for art, architecture and personalization have made him one of the more sought-after designers in the industry. Creativity and personalization are key factors in Peter's design process. He feels the client should play an instrumental role in the creative process by sharing ideas to help realize their own unique design. With a dedication to artistic authenticity, Peter hand draws all renderings based on client need as well as careful period research.
Peter has been recognized with an unprecedented 30 national awards from the NKBA and other various associations. His designs have been published in numerous magazines including Design New Jersey, 201 Magazine, New Jersey Home and Style, Luxury Living, The Robb Report, Woman's Day, New York Spaces, Millionaire Magazine, 201 Magazine, K+BB, Profiles, Aspire, and Kitchen & Bath Design News as well as other numerous trade publications.
Not one to remain stagnant, Peter built a design center with the intention of creating a stress-free experience for his clients. Peter Salerno, Inc. tripled its showroom size and raised the bar for its competition with its innovative and cutting edge vignettes. A well respected and known appliance store and an avant-garde tile boutique round out the design center, creating a one-stop shopping destination for his clients. The opening of the new project happily coincided with Peter Salerno, Inc.'s 15 year anniversary in Wyckoff. Peter's philosophy is, if you can imagine it, we can build it. Art, married with functionality, has no limit.Q&A with Peter Salerno
Where do you find design inspiration?
I find inspiration from great artists such as Salvador Dali, Miro, Picasso, Michelangelo and Da Vinci. Inspiration is also in nature - flowers, trees, the mountains and amazing colors at sunset. Listening to Andrea Bocelli also can set a creative mood for me.How do you approach the design process?
I approach the design process with my focus on the client. The end result must be their total satisfaction with the function and aesthetic beauty of their dream kitchen. The key is to obtain all of the client's needs and desires at the first meeting. Then I begin to design the client's ultimate kitchen, incorporating solutions and requests into a magnificent work of art.How does your aesthetic stand out amongst other designers/architects?
I was interested in becoming an artist at an early age. My father was a furniture maker in Italy. I started learning about scale and proportion when I was nine years old. Today, understanding how scale affects the eye of the observer is monumental. It is all about pushing the envelope. I believe that a kitchen needs to make a statement. I use scale in my focal points; it needs to be more than just a stove and hood. I use the entire wall as my canvas.What is the greatest value you provide your client?
The greatest value I provide to my client is knowledge summed up by 34 years of experience. As a professional, I need to be familiar with appliances, cabinetry, counter tops, tile, wood flooring; basically all aspects of the kitchen industry. Because I am an artist, I can freehand a sketch in minutes to show the client my vision. These two elements combined help put the client at ease knowing they are working with a professional.What does the Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchen Design Contest mean to you?
The Sub-Zero-Wolf Kitchen Design Contest is a benchmark for the best designers in our industry. Before hearing my name being announced as regional winner, I looked around the room and was in awe of all the talented designers present. It is an honor to be a regional winner.Where do you see kitchen design going in the next 5 years?
The design direction for the next five years is simplicity. It will be a combination of painted white or gray, with stainless and wood elements to soften the cool colors. The use of tile on walls will become a major element in final look and feel of the kitchen.
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