It may take a pass or two by the Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery to realize the average Joe homeowner and Do-It-Yourselfer can just walk right into the showroom and start to dream about your new kitchen, bath or lighting scheme.
“Some think it’s a private (showroom) that only builders can buy from and you need a membership,” said Ferguson Showroom Manager Laura Fornelli. “But anyone is welcome here for any project, any time.”
Located in the former Factory Direct Appliance location, 3401 NE Ralph Powell Road, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting has eight years under its belt in Lee’s Summit and is open to builders and remodelers alike.
Customers can browse the showroom for everything from updating a faucet and plumbing, tubs, toilets to vanities, chandelier to vanity lighting, outdoor lighting, hardware for vanities, kitchen cabinets, garbage disposals and all appliances, including dishwashers, ranges, microwaves and refrigerators.
“We can go from conservative to high end and customize the range picking everything down to the color of the doors and knobs,” Fornelli said.
Projects that start at Ferguson sometimes start from the very beginning, too.
“We have people that come in and say, ‘I’ve gutted my kitchen and now I need help,’” Fornelli said. “We love a good challenge, we like to wrap our arms around our customers to make their dreams come true, whether it’s a remodel, update or something new.”
Now trending, Fornelli says: stand-alone tubs and bidets installed in toilets - possibly in response to the toilet paper shortage during the height of the COVID pandemic.
Customers are also looking for a ‘throwback’ look to the 1950s and 60s, she said.
Mixed metals like black and gold are also popular.
“Don’t be afraid to have a black and gold or nickel, silver, I even have customers that want chrome and black,” she said.
Edison bulbs - those old-school ones where you can see the filaments inside - are certainly trendy right now, as are remodels that bring outdoor cooking projects into homes.
“We offer full outdoor kitchens from sinks to grilling needs, even pizza ovens and smokers,” Fornelli said.
The burst of single-family homes in Lee’s Summit over the years has been a boon for Ferguson, and those contractors trust Ferguson on the job, Fornelli said.
“There are a lot of builders in the community and many of them are our customers,” said Fornelli, who has been at the Lee’s Summit location since 2021 and with Ferguson for three years.
As with other industries, there have been supply-chain delays in some appliances, so plan ahead.
“Selections made may may not be in the day your contractor needs it, so ordering as far in advance as possible is helpful” Fornelli noted.
Ferguson employs more than a dozen in Lee’s Summit, with four salespeople on site at the Ralph Powell location. Two employees have been with Ferguson more than eight years and another has 25 years of experience in the industry.
Of all their services, Fornelli said the customer aspect is still the most crucial.
“I would brag about our world class customer service,” she said. “When you buy a faucet from the box store, the innards are plastic, but from us, they’re metal and they’re built to last. When you get something from Ferguson, there’s a reason it costs what it does - because it’s going to last.
“We’ve had people come in and say ‘I bought my kitchen from you years ago,’ and they’re back as repeat customers. We love to hear that.”
Ferguson’s showroom is open 9-5 Monday-Friday, Saturdays 10-5. All products and services can be found online at build.com.
