Von Löwen Designs

So after giving it some thought, I’ve decided to start my product profiling here locally in the San Francisco Bay Area. Richmond to be exact, just north of my old stompin’ grounds in Oakland.

Vetrazzo was born in 1996, ‘back when green was just a colour,’ in Berkeley, CA and is considered the original recycled glass surface.

85% of Vetrazzo’s final product comes from curbside recycling and other resources, such as decommissioned traffic lights, post industrial usage, and automotive windshields to name a few. And, if that’s not cool enough, check this out. They actually track the glass throughout the production process and provide the end user with a ‘Certificate of Transformation,’ that explains the origin of the glass and it’s story of metamorphosis.

Vetrazzo can withstand temperatures up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit and is available in an ever growing array of high gloss finishes.

Obviously, Vetrazzo is very serious and committed to the environment and sustainability, being members of the United States Green Building Council and Green Chamber of Commerce, in addition to being a Certified Bay Area Green Business.

Vetrazzo is unique not only in their approach and manufacturing, but in their final product as well. Have a look, maybe it will be the right choice for your next project requiring a quality engineered, maintenance free, long lasting countertop.

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so before you leave be sure to visit Von Löwen Designs to view an assortment of refreshing examples in kitchen and bath design concepts, refined palette and interior finishes, and sustainable yet chic, green remodeling ideas that may encourage and inspire your next remodel or home improvement project.

I remember when I first started in this field I felt a strong need to demonstrate my expertise upon meeting a prospective client, thinking my only role was to provide all the answers to any given query. After all, this is a professional business relationship, not a personal one.

Obviously, answering questions and doing great analysis holds some validity, but with time I’ve learned to relax and enjoy developing client rapport that is broader, concise and more meaningful. To collaborate rather than control. To listen rather than tell. And to provide fresh perspectives to their challenges and concerns.

What I began to realize was enlightening. Out of my simple curiosity and inquisitiveness, while focusing the discussion on the most critical and relevant issues, actually enabled my clients to arrive at their own solutions. Imagine that? It was my inquires and fact finding that allowed our bonding to flourish and mature to the point of knowing my client on a much more intelligible level. This gave me the ability to provide insight, rather than just meaningless information or generic recommendations. The cooperation that evolved by listening to and learning from my client’s experience, knowledge, and desires, combined with my own, established chemistry, trust, and communication to cultivate solutions together. Rather than driving down that one way street and presenting just an ear full of irrelevant facts.

In this age of the information economy, when everything is moving at internet speed and all that you need just seems like a mouse click away, expertise is becoming automated, being reduced to a commodity and simply losing value.

My suggestion: take a deep breath, slow it down and take the time to promote a long lasting purposeful relationship with your client.

Make it a great day!

lars-

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so before you leave be sure to visit Von Löwen Designs to view an assortment of refreshing examples in kitchen and bath design concepts, refined palette and interior finishes, and sustainable yet chic, green remodeling ideas that may encourage and inspire your next remodel or home improvement project.