RAO Design Studio

After a 2-year hiatus, the Kitchen and Bath Industry show returned this week. It was great to reconnect in person with my colleagues and it confirms that in-person is so much better than Zoom! With Mick Ricereto, Rainer Müller and Murrad Sher of SieMatic at their stand. We did a little showroom redesign for the studio as well. Stay tuned for more details.

After a 2-year hiatus, the Kitchen and Bath Industry show returned this week. It was great to reconnect in person with my colleagues and it confirms that in-person is so much better than Zoom! With Mick Ricereto, Rainer Müller and Murrad Sher of SieMatic at their stand. We did a little showroom redesign for the studio as well. Stay tuned for more details.

Last night at our opening night awards dinner I had the pleasure of sitting with colleague and friend Peggy McGowen. Peggy is one of the people who built our industry and paved the way for kitchen and bath designers like me. She was also among the few women in a man’s world at the time, and like the other trailblazers of the day, paved the way for the professionalization of the industry and for women in business. Hats off to you, Peggy!

Last night at our opening night awards dinner I had the pleasure of sitting with colleague and friend Peggy McGowen. Peggy is one of the people who built our industry and paved the way for kitchen and bath designers like me. She was also among the few women in a man’s world at the time, and like the other trailblazers of the day, paved the way for the professionalization of the industry and for women in business. Hats off to you, Peggy!

Friday was an exciting day at the studio as we began installing new Gaggenau appliances! It was ovens and refrigeration yesterday and the crew from Beautiful Installations was thorough and skilled in getting everything in on time. Our appliances are all live at RDS and next week they will be put to the test as we start cooking demos again-with COVID safety precautions.

#BreakingNews SieMatic SLX Ceramic wins German Design Award 2022 https://www.siematic.com/inspir//german-design-award-2022/ SieMatic SLX Ceramic gewinnt Germa...n Design Award 2022 https://www.siematic.com//i/news/german-design-award-2022/ See more

Friday was an exciting day at the studio as we began installing new Gaggenau appliances! It was ovens and refrigeration yesterday and the crew from Beautiful Installations was thorough and skilled in getting everything in on time. Our appliances are all live at RDS and next week they will be put to the test as we start cooking demos again-with COVID safety precautions.

In smaller kitchens it’s little choices that make a huge difference. We are in the home stretch in this intown family-friendly kitchen. In less than a month this room will come to life as we intended. And of course in countless ways that only time will reveal. Integrated refrigeration and dishwashers are a no-brainer here because they keep the focus on the style and not on each appliance. Going with a narrower refrigerator got us a pantry and the refrigerator drawers for drink storage on the back of the island put people where they need to be and give a 2-cook household more function. Splitting the ovens and going with a hood that has glass around the canopy further lighten the visual impact and keep this kitchen looking and living large!

#BreakingNews SieMatic SLX Ceramic wins German Design Award 2022 https://www.siematic.com/inspir//german-design-award-2022/ SieMatic SLX Ceramic gewinnt Germa...n Design Award 2022 https://www.siematic.com//i/news/german-design-award-2022/ See more

There’s a point in every project where dreams become reality. And it’s all worth it. Second only to creating the design at the onset of the process, this part is a favorite.

In smaller kitchens it’s little choices that make a huge difference. We are in the home stretch in this intown family-friendly kitchen. In less than a month this room will come to life as we intended. And of course in countless ways that only time will reveal. Integrated refrigeration and dishwashers are a no-brainer here because they keep the focus on the style and not on each appliance. Going with a narrower refrigerator got us a pantry and the refrigerator drawers for drink storage on the back of the island put people where they need to be and give a 2-cook household more function. Splitting the ovens and going with a hood that has glass around the canopy further lighten the visual impact and keep this kitchen looking and living large!

There’s a point in every project where dreams become reality. And it’s all worth it. Second only to creating the design at the onset of the process, this part is a favorite.

Whether you have a smaller celebration or none, whether you find yourself traveling or not, this butternut squash bisque will warm your day and nourish your spirit. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at RAO Design Studio. https://mailchi.mp/e9d9cf399b6e/rds-2020-holiday-recipe

Whether you have a smaller celebration or none, whether you find yourself traveling or not, this butternut squash bisque will warm your day and nourish your spirit. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at RAO Design Studio. https://mailchi.mp/e9d9cf399b6e/rds-2020-holiday-recipe

Yesterday was the first time in almost two months that I met a client in the studio. With each of us donning masks, washing hands, maintaining 6’ + distance, we did together what is the most dynamic process, that of putting together a palette of materials for a kitchen. I set up everything I thought we needed to see ahead of time just inside the front door. But this kind of process is dynamic and has a life of its own. The final selections were not all foreseen. Something a little lighter, a little greyer, a little less contrasted to the black cabinet face was what we needed. The studio is the only place a meeting like this can occur.

Yesterday was the first time in almost two months that I met a client in the studio. With each of us donning masks, washing hands, maintaining 6’ + distance, we did together what is the most dynamic process, that of putting together a palette of materials for a kitchen. I set up everything I thought we needed to see ahead of time just inside the front door. But this kind of process is dynamic and has a life of its own. The final selections were not all foreseen. Something a little lighter, a little greyer, a little less contrasted to the black cabinet face was what we needed. The studio is the only place a meeting like this can occur.

I'd like to share with you a special simple meal you can make yourself. We all have more time at home today, and how to eat well is something that we are all thinking about. https://mailchi.mp/fc1b45/rds-2020-recipe-of-month-04-2020

I'd like to share with you a special simple meal you can make yourself. We all have more time at home today, and how to eat well is something that we are all thinking about. https://mailchi.mp/fc1b45/rds-2020-recipe-of-month-04-2020

We stay connected with our weekly Staff Meeting by Skype. Our life of kitchens and bathrooms continues on even in this altered world. I think that mostly, our clients and we remain hopeful for the future.

We stay connected with our weekly Staff Meeting by Skype. Our life of kitchens and bathrooms continues on even in this altered world. I think that mostly, our clients and we remain hopeful for the future.

There’s a point in every project where dreams become reality. And it’s all worth it. Second only to creating the design at the onset of the process, this part is a favorite.

Whether you have a smaller celebration or none, whether you find yourself traveling or not, this butternut squash bisque will warm your day and nourish your spirit. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at RAO Design Studio. https://mailchi.mp/e9d9cf399b6e/rds-2020-holiday-recipe

Yesterday was the first time in almost two months that I met a client in the studio. With each of us donning masks, washing hands, maintaining 6’ + distance, we did together what is the most dynamic process, that of putting together a palette of materials for a kitchen. I set up everything I thought we needed to see ahead of time just inside the front door. But this kind of process is dynamic and has a life of its own. The final selections were not all foreseen. Something a little lighter, a little greyer, a little less contrasted to the black cabinet face was what we needed. The studio is the only place a meeting like this can occur.

I'd like to share with you a special simple meal you can make yourself. We all have more time at home today, and how to eat well is something that we are all thinking about. https://mailchi.mp/fc1b45/rds-2020-recipe-of-month-04-2020

We stay connected with our weekly Staff Meeting by Skype. Our life of kitchens and bathrooms continues on even in this altered world. I think that mostly, our clients and we remain hopeful for the future.

I think of what we do as helping our clients make an investment in their future. A future that puts life at home front and center. An investment in their own happiness. https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-rPB4eo69R/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pzub1pAeU/?igshid=aw72g1l5y67k

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7reiKvpwFt/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7pE1nMJvj7/?igshid=eoeh82oll6me

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7or6n6J0DE/?igshid=62olg7r75za2

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7mnrIfJPEs/

Things are getting close here at the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s new 380,000 s.f. facility in East Point, near Atlanta’s airport. With the support our partners SieMatic, Sub-Zero Wolf, Caesarstone, and Franke, I was able to design the Learning Kitchen in this new home for the ACFB. The Learning Kitchen is a place where the clients of the food bank will learn about the basics of cooking and how to prepare nutritious meals for their families from the constituent base ingr...edients they get from the food bank. I’ve found that education is the key to so many things, and we can give back here with the design and provision of a kitchen where people will acquire life-long skills they’ll never forget.

At our final Gaggenau Cooking Demonstration of 2019, we had an intimate group and a first: audience participation! Chef Kurt von Kahle never disappoints and led the group in making artichoke crostini, Veal Oscar Escoffier, real french fries, chocolate chip popovers, and more. What a way for our group tonight to head into the holidays.

Thanks to our industry trade publication Kitchen & Bath Design News for naming Matthew one of the Top 50 Innovators in the kitchen industry in North America. https://www.kitchenbathdesign.com/the-innovators-2019/

One World. 25 Countries. 300 entries. 8 judges. 4 winners.... Congratulations to RAO Design Studio and to founder and designer Matthew Rao for being one of the 4 with his winning Best Classic Kitchen. https://www.siematic.com//press-/siematic-id-contest-2019