WHAT’S
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By Eileen Loh
CULTURE Owner Bin Hang says the showroom at BC Kitchen and Bath gives her customers creative remodeling ideas. PHOTO By CHEryL GErBEr
constantly — granite, quartz, marble, in both 2 and 3 centimeters,” Hang says. Hang carries product lines to fit every budget, and the most popular is the instore brand, BC Cabinetry. “Our brand is medium-priced but very high quality,” she says. “It wouldn’t carry our name if the quality wasn’t there.” Because the store has so many styles, BC Kitchen doesn’t have a “typical” client. “We have a lot of clients in downtown New Orleans who want the more modern, Shaker style that looks good with high ceilings and contemporary interiors,” Hang says. “Then we have customers in Kenner and Metairie who want more classic styles.” The store provides special rates to customers in LaPlace who are rebuilding due to Hurricane Isaac. Though contractors are a major part of her client base, Hang spends much of her time making sure individual customers are happy. That includes quick installations — an average of two days, no matter the project size — to curb the inconvenience of lengthy home renovations. “We take our projects very seriously; I treat customers like family,” she says. “This is a huge investment for them, and we want them to feel good and satisfied with their investment. After the installation we keep in touch, and we won’t leave the customers until they are completely satisfied with everything.”
Reservations only. Make them online or call now! open as usual for dinner 5-9:30pm
SHopping NEWS WEiNSTEiNS (4011 Magazine St., 504895-6278; www.weinsteinsinc.com) hosts a trunk show of Ginja Moseley’s alligator tooth jewelry and home accessories through Wednesday, Jan. 2. The pieces include earrings, letter openers, cocktail serving pieces and more.
Bakery and coffee shop MaNHaTTaNjaCK (4930 Prytania St., 732-768-6561;
www.manhattanjack.com) celebrates its grand opening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, when there will be free pastry samples, cocktails and Champagne.
HiKE fOR KaTREENa (www.hikeforka-
treena.org) holds its Big TrEEsy Giveaway from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday,
by Missy Wilkinson
Jan. 5 at jOE BROWN PaRK (10900 Lake Forest Blvd.). One thousand trees will be given to New Orleans residents, and there will be a seminar on tree planting and care by the City of New Orleans Department of Parks and Parkways. This is the fourth of five tree giveaways, which are funded by a grant from the Apache Foundation. faSHiON WEEK NEW ORLEaNS
(www.fashionweeknola.com) holds a model casting call for women 5-foot-7 and taller and men 5-foot-11 and taller for its March 2013 runway shows from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 at EiffEL SOCiETy (2040 St. Charles Ave., 504525-2951; www.eiffelsociety.com). Wear black fitted clothing and heels.
Gambit > bestofneworleans.com > january 1 > 2013
alking around the showroom of BC Kitchen and Bath (3939 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 504-338-6227; www.bckitchenbath.com), it’s tough to resist the urge to gut your entire kitchen and start from scratch. With displays varying from classic to contemporary to creative, the shop has a range of real-world examples that fit every taste. Owner Bin Hang says the thoughtfully planned showroom — styled by her business partner, designer Meng Sun — is one of the store’s main selling points. “People come in here even when they’re not remodeling, because they want to gather ideas,” she says. “Even if customers don’t purchase from us, we work with them and make recommendations.” Displays feature stone countertops with solid wood cabinetry and sink fixtures, as well as stylish touches like cabinet lighting and tile backsplashes. A wine bar display featuring a wine chiller, mahogany bottle racks and a built-in stemware hanger over a bar sink is a tempting option for oenophiles. For large-scale projects that can’t fit into the showroom, there is a photo album featuring completed installations including outdoor kitchens. A native of Shanghai, Hang moved to the U.S. 11 years ago and attended the University of New Orleans. In 2007, she opened an American extension of the cabinetmaking business her family owns in China. “I grew up in the business, so I took that knowledge and built on it,” she says. Hang enlisted Sun to provide interior design services free to all customers. She uses her family’s business connections to procure quality imports at low prices. “We have new styles imported from China
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