Everyone is busy, and life is complicated. That’s why Turan Designs focuses on creating kitchens and bathrooms that offer practical functionality and long-lasting beauty. From initial concept through completion, owners Teri and Mikail Turan have earned a stellar reputation for creating fresh, elegant, and affordable kitchen and bath designs for clients in Fayette County and surrounding communities.
“More clients are looking to simplify their lives, which includes simplifying design,” Teri said. “I think we're having a real Bauhaus moment where form is following function—most important is that everything functions.
Gone are elaborate designs such as Tuscan-style kitchens. “No more corbels and travertine that you have to dig dirt out of the holes,” Teri said. “People say the same thing all the time, ‘Teri, I don’t want to clean.’” It’s about clean lines, simple design, and durable materials. Easy to function in, easy to keep clean with a warm, comforting, color palette.”
Teri, who likes to create designs that won’t be out of style in a few years, said most people are choosing simple shaker-style cabinet doors in soft tones and wood, which is making a comeback. For fixtures, champagne bronze and brushed pewter are among Teri’s favorites, while she tries to steer clients away from oiled-rubbed bronze. “Fifteen years of this (oiled-rubbed bronze). I’m over it,” she said.
When clients have specific ideas that may not align with her own, Teri provides her honest opinions. “I'm from New England, so if you want me to be honest and blunt, you came to the right person,” she said. With a background in fine art and art history, she is also confident in her ability to make her clients’ vision work, even if it differs from her own.
Hurricanes in Florida drove the Turans from Florida to Georgia 20 years ago. Being an avid traveler and living and designing in several places across the country, including Southern California and New York City, has given Teri an added perspective for creative possibilities in her designs. Although each area presents unique challenges, such as Georgia’s humidity, Teri tackles them while avoiding cookie-cutter designs. “My job is to work through those challenges with more of a global outlook than just a local or regional outlook,” she said. “You're cutting off so much of what's available out there in the world—it's not giving people all the possibilities that they could enjoy if they're introduced to it.”
As a small design studio, Turan Designs prioritizes American-made products and personal service. After an appointment is made, the all-inclusive, full kitchen and bath renovations begin with a visit to the client’s home to assess the space and to discuss budget and needs. “We have a nice chat about what they're looking to do and what my ideas might be for the space,” Teri said. Next, clients come to the Turan Designs studio in Tyrone to review drawings and to choose from the extensive selection of cabinetry, door styles, and hardware.
“It’s a hand-holding process,” Teri said, adding that she expects her clients to stay engaged as she guides them through everything from picking paint colors to selecting flooring. Teri also shops with clients for the items that Turan Designs doesn’t sell. Partnering with several local businesses, she gets better pricing, which she passes along to clients. Working with the best local contractors, most projects are completed within six to twelve weeks.
Turan Designs is renowned for craftsmanship and attention to detail. Some local real estate agents even tout kitchens and baths by Turan Designs in their listings. Teri said it’s not unusual for quality kitchen and bath remodels to reap an 80 to 100 percent return on investment. “People go crazy for a brand-new kitchen,” she said. “Kitchens and bathrooms sell the house.”
In addition to full remodels, Turan Designs also sells cabinets for new construction and to clients who hire their own contractors. But only the Turan Designs meticulous installation team installs Turan Designs cabinets. “We don’t sell cabinets that we don’t install. There are a lot of guys out there who say they can install cabinets, but there's a real finesse to working with finished material.”
“They're incredible craftsmen,” Mikail agreed. “They’re amazing.”
With roots that run deep in the cabinet industry, Teri understands the importance of quality materials and meticulous installation. “My family has been in cabinet manufacturing in Los Angeles since the 1920s,” she said. “It’s not like all this fast-made stuff today.”
Like many husband-wife business teams, Teri and Mikail each play an important role in the company’s successful process, which has taken years to develop from scratch. Mikail handles project management, day-to-day operations, and assists with builder sales and logistics, while Teri focuses on design and customer service. Despite their experience, Teri said they still learn new things every day. But most importantly, she said, “We have a good time together.”
Visit www.turandesigns.com for more information about Turan Designs.