Kay Nolan
“The idea was to convert an iconic building into a luxury go-to mecca, not only for homeowners seeking Ciot’s expert advice, but also for real estate developers, interiors designers, architects, contractors, and stone fabricators, who can meet with their clients to make selections in an inspiring atmosphere, where a world of design awaits.”
#WomenWhoBuild meet Kay Nolan,
Kay is the Vice President of Ciot New York, a luxury showroom and slab gallery where real estate developers, interiors designers, architects, contractors, and stone fabricators, can meet with their clients to make selections from the wide collection of Natural & Engineered Stone Slabs, Ceramic Tiles, and Artistic Mosaics that Ciot has to offer. Kay sat down with ArchNative to discuss the design process for the space, her own background and what led her to her position as Vice President, and Ciot's collaboration with Moss & Lam on the artwork which sits center stage in the showroom.
Tell us a little bit about your background and what led you to the position of Vice President of Ciot New York?
I lead all Ciot’s New York operations and I am responsible for the company’s ongoing business expansion efforts in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Delaware and Rhode Island. During my 18-year run at Ciot, I have been building a focused and successful A&D sales team, while simultaneously increasing the company’s sales and development expansion efforts into the high growth emerging market of New York City. I also created key business relationships by providing natural stone to some of the most exclusive projects and design masterpieces which shape the Manhattan skyline today. Some exclusive projects include The Four Seasons Hotel, The Park Hyatt Hotel, One 57 (Residential Complex), Central Park Tower, Nobu restaurant, Legacy records, The Times Square Edition Hotel, The International Gem Tower, and 1010 Park Avenue, just to name a few.
The CIOT space in Brooklyn is a new addition to the Ciot portfolio. Can you tell us a little bit about the process of picking the space? What led you to Brooklyn?
Located at 5302 2nd Avenue, our space was a former machine manufacturing company established by E.W. Bliss in the mid 1800s. The idea was to convert an iconic building into a luxury go-to mecca, not only for homeowners seeking Ciot’s expert advice, but also for real estate developers, interiors designers, architects, contractors, and stone fabricators, who can meet with their clients to make selections in an inspiring atmosphere, where a world of design awaits. We knew from the beginning that this location would perfectly serve our purpose. The total square footage is 35,000 sf. Our sky-lit, 18,000 sf galleria, hosts a rich inventory of engineered slabs, marbles, granites, porcelains and quartzites. As for the neighborhood, we chose Brooklyn because it’s a very up-and-coming area and home to many vibrant, talented artists, who we are planning to collaborate with in the future.
What was the vision for the space throughout the design process? What was the inspiration behind the vision and has that vision been actualized?
The complex was completely transformed by New York multi-disciplinary interior design studio BxSM from a raw industrial space to a modern museum-like design destination, where our natural stones, engineered slabs, mosaics and tiles are showcased like works of art. Leveraging the appeal of the building’s retro industrial style, every detail was reinterpreted accordingly, beginning with the materials. Grey marble covers the length of the floors, ebony-stained red oak storage systems are paired with large bamboo tables, while natural stone, ceramics and porcelains hang on the walls like tapestries. Exhibited as works of art to be admired inside mobile displays, the tapestries flow on interactive floor rails which can be moved to compare different surfaces.
Ultimately, the interior design aims to soften the industrial side of the original structure and highlight that of an art gallery rather than a showroom.
How is the space currently utilized for clients?
The showroom aims to inspire and exceed the demands of those who are looking to find the best in natural stone and engineered slabs, mosaics, tiles, and hardwood for their upcoming residential or commercial projects. Clients can truly find any materials they are looking for while our design and sales team assists them every step of the way. Our creative hub also offers unique services such as Ciot Studio – a collaborative workshop where clients can commission highly trained mosaic maestros to create one-of-a-kind, custom masterpieces.
The space features several unique pieces of art, in particular one from Moss and Lam, that greets visitors as they walk in. What was this collaboration like? How did this piece get manufactured and created for the space?
As a Canadian company, we always admired Moss and Lam’s exquisite custom art. Their headquarters are located nearby our Toronto branch. We were looking forward to partnering with them for some time. The opening of the New York showroom was the perfect opportunity, as we wanted a statement art piece to welcome our guests when they enter the space. Designed by Moss and Lam in close collaboration with BxSM, the gigantic rock - aptly named ‘Étranger’ -highlights a raw aesthetic in contrast with the pristine space, while hanging from the 15-foot ceiling. A testament to nature, the monolithic shaped sculpture of a primordial rock is an ode to the raw marble quarried from the earth. A perfect symbol welcoming our visitors to the magical world of Ciot New York.
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