The Ultimate Floor Show

Nestled in a quiet, unassuming plaza just outside the hustle and bustle of Palmetto Dunes, longtime island staple, KPM Flooring, has found its new home. The long-awaited reveal of the modern showroom is fast approaching, and the lucky few who have received sneak peeks can’t help but marvel at its decisive, strikingly executed design. Even the entry, with its stylish chandelier, tall ceilings, and custom, still-in-progress front desk seem to have more in common with the lobby of a boutique hotel than most flooring stores. And yet, less than a year ago, the building was little more than a gutted shell.

Those who saw the original iteration of KPM Flooring at its former location on North Main—a showroom bursting with samples showcasing beautiful and innovative designs— have already discovered that owner Kathleen Mayers’ vision for flooring is vastly different from the norm. For well over three decades, she’s traveled the country attending every flooring trade show available, slowing down only temporarily during the COVID years. That sort of dedication ensures KPM is consistently representing the most up-to-date products in both quality and aesthetic.

Ever the innovator, Mayers has never been content to stake her showroom’s reputation on mainstream products. For years, she has mused about ways to improve the consumer experience, reimagining product displays and sample organization to streamline and simplify the buying process. Several of her concepts were implemented in the former showroom, but she lacked the space to fully execute her vision; that’s why, when the opportunity to buy a building in Plantation Center arose at the end of 2021, she acted decisively.

“For a number of years, I had a vision of what I wanted my ideal showroom to be, but was limited,” she said. “Then finally, the timing was right. My lease was ending, and this building went on the market. It just felt like the stars aligned.”

After the closing, she immediately went to work on plans with architect Tim Probst of Parker Design Group, though between permitting and revisions, the demolition and rebuild couldn’t start until June of last year.

To most, the task would have been daunting. The nearly 10,000-square-foot property was in desperate need of a complete remodel, but Mayers tackled the project with her usual gusto, and the new face of KPM slowly began to emerge.

Still, life—and construction—rarely move forward in a straight line. Between supply chain breakdowns and labor shortages, the project was hit with multiple setbacks along the way. Instead of celebrating a triumphant grand opening when KPM officially changed locations last fall, what ensued was a mild panic regarding the uncompleted space, followed by a fervent push by dedicated contractor Billy Perigo, owner of WP Construction, to finish a portion of the showroom so the KPM team could continue business as usual.

For months, clients would pull up to a building partially clad in plywood—commercial doors and windows, like so many other things, on painfully long backorders. With hammers ringing and saws buzzing in the background, they would walk—sometimes trepidatiously—to a side door reminiscent of a clandestine speakeasy portal instead of the planned grand entrance to the somewhat newly completed showroom.

Once inside, however, it was easy to admire the resilience and adaptability, not only of Mayers and her staff, but of the building itself. The interior was welcoming, functional, and miraculously holding the lion’s share of KPM’s samples, even if they weren’t yet in their permanent homes. The items that didn’t fit in the space were stored in Pods located in the parking lot, and the knowledgeable staff never hesitated to open one in search of the perfect sample when needed. While the KPM team continued forward, what was happening in the rest of the design became very hushhush. If ever asked what was behind the literal curtain separating the functional showroom from the construction site, Mayers and her staff often responded with smirks or shrugs, their knowing smiles piquing curiosity of what was to come. And although it’s still somewhat shrouded, the new space is sure to spark excitement.

Arriving in the parking lot, it’s impossible to not be struck by the dramatic transformation of the exterior. Huge glass windows give peak-a-boo glimpses of the treasures inside, while a gracious paver walkway, which will soon be surrounded by lush, planned landscaping, sets the tone for a shopping experience that can only be described as sleek and serene.

Once inside the main entrance, your eye is immediately drawn to the right, where row upon row of wood samples, organized by color and all equally sized, are as elegantly displayed as crudites on a platter. The custom racks were designed by Kathleen, her keen attention to detail creating a space that minimizes visual pollution, meaning patrons can fully absorb the vast selection of materials without feeling overwhelmed.

The larger of the two showrooms houses two customdesigned workstations, each well-lit by a pair of modern, silverleaf pendants so designers and customers have ample space to curate their samples. Even when the stations are not in use, the pendants add to the beauty of the room. A row of clerestory windows runs the full length of the showroom, allowing an abundance of natural light to pour in. Meanwhile, the parking lot side of the building boasts multiple large windows plus a glass garage door that, along with the exposed beam ceiling, lends an industrial-cool sensibility to the space.

Even with an abundance of space, displaying numerous tile boards presented a challenge. To overcome this, Mayers is turning the back wall into a design feature that can only be described as an art gallery for tile, complete with a library ladder for access. The rest of the samples will find their home in a smaller, open-concept room just below the clerestory windows where vertical partitions are used to hang over a thousand tile samples in a neat, organized fashion.

One of the things the new KPM showroom does exceedingly well is create zones within the building to showcase different types of products. Though the larger showroom featuring wood flooring and all types of tiles is impressive, the slightly smaller secondary showroom devoted to soft goods packs an equal punch, with an entire section devoted to one of the most impressive displays of area rugs on the island.

For years, Mayers, a regular at rug market, has been diligently curating a selection of rugs that includes everything from affordable, indoor-outdoor synthetic blends to high-end, hand-knotted wool rugs. The walls are lined with custom ladders displaying rug samples in a wide variety of colors and brands, while the nearly ceiling-height racks, holding rugs up to 10x14 feet, draw your eye to the open-air loft above where the carpet selections are found.

The new KPM Flooring showroom may still be a work in progress, but a stunning end is in sight. As the exciting future of the new KPM unfolds, one thing remains the same: Mayers’ passion for her over 15-year business is unwavering, and the unique experience she’s about to unveil will certainly continue to be a leading source for beautiful, quality flooring for many more years to come. 

Learn more at kpmflooring.com.

Article by Amy Bartlett . Photography by 2Lights, 1Stand

Family-owned destination upping its game once again

Ithink we should start a family business,” said a young Taylor Whitehead, son of Rocky and Ginny Whitehead, owner/operators of Rockfish Seafood & Steaks at Bomboras on Hilton Head Island.

It might seem an unusual statement for a kid, but not so for this family. “We’ve always been entrepreneurs at heart— all of us,” said mom, Ginny, of the inimitable crew behind a few different family endeavors, not the least of which is a south island hotspot that’s upping its game once again.

Already a family built on building businesses (the Whiteheads still maintain additional businesses as family partners like Excel Rx), they were pulled to Hilton Head Island by golf (what else?) when their kids became involved in the sport nearly 20 years ago. Opening Bomboras Grille in 2011 (thank you, Taylor!) and changing the name to Rockfish in 2017, their colors have run true from day one (orange and black, to be clear).

Known equally as a “chill bar” on Coligny beach, “Hilton Head’s seafood destination for friends, family, and fun,” and “Cincinnati South,” for which owner Rocky Whitehead has been named makeshift mayor, Rockfish is gaining another 10 yards as it fine tunes one of its many identities, growing from straight-up Bengals Bar to one-stop, top-shelf sports bar for a wider range of Ohio teams—still geared toward family but with more eclectic sports gear walking through the door. Bring on the Bearcats, Ohio State games, golf tourney events (watch this space during Heritage), March Madness, and more.

As any Bengals fan likely knows, Rockfish is already standing room only every Bengals game. But it’s not the game itself that packs the bench; it’s the camaraderie. “We’ve heard people say over and over how they’d rather sit next to a friend in Hilton Head than next to a stranger in the stadium,” Rocky said, and that’s what they’ve grown over the years. People have come for the games and built rapport with the locals.

That fact goes beyond the Bengals and played a bit of a role in the ever-burgeoning feel of the foodie-favorite locale. “We were getting a lot of PGA pros in when they were in town for a tournament. Ernie Els would be in with his wife and caddie and would become a dear friend. We noticed we were becoming a Bengals Bar and a golf place,” Rocky said. So, they figured why not set out the shingle for whatever your sport to pull up a chair and be a part of this unique local fare.

Speaking of fare, that’s another feather in the cap that makes Rockfish stand out in the crowd: the oh-so-Ohio brands on the bar menu. Skyline Chili features shoulder to shoulder with Cheese Coneys (Skyline Chili being more than just “Cincinnati-style” chili, but a Cincinnati-based restaurant chain and its product line of Cincy food faves).

Not in the mood for local seafood? Get your back-home fix and say “Who Dey” to a rack of ribs from the world-famous Montgomery Inn of Cincinnati. Not just inventory, this is a partnership with ribs shipped straight to Rockfish from the inn and marketed by Montgomery back home, telling locals to find their ribs at Rockfish when they’re visiting Hilton Head Island. (We all know what Ohio marketing has done to build the local economy.)

Top off your bag of Queen City favorites with some Graeter’s ice cream, but also keep an eye on new incoming dishes as they perfect and broaden their image as Coligny’s upscale sports bar.

As their events and focuses grow, so does the caliber of menu with which they’re raising the bar. Not to be pigeonholed, remember, with all of that, we’ve only scratched the scorecard and high-fives side of the joint. The Rockfish at Bomboras restaurant-proper side is best described as “high-end beach” and has a menu for which the term “to die for” features heavily on Tripadvisor reviews. Popular dishes include locally famous house-made crab cakes, spicy calamari, Steak de Rocky (named after the one and only) which is an eight-ounce blackened filet mignon served with bleu cheese mashed potatoes (and other sides), finished with a veal demi-glace.

There’s still one more hidden gem that is exclusive to the Rockfish family of attributes, and it’s just up a single flight of stairs: The Art Café paint-your-own-pottery studio is not only the brainchild of “Mrs. Rocky” Ginny Whitehead, but it’s part of an integral relationship with the restaurant downstairs that features date-night partnerships. (You can send the kids upstairs to play and paint and make merry while the grownups dine downstairs.) It’s not just a kids-aside babysitter; it’s a rich and unique opportunity for kids to have a great outing of their own, occupied not just with painting, dinner, and games, but meeting other kids of different backgrounds from all around the country and the world.

The Whiteheads have kept their family-owned business family-friendly in every corner of their Lagoon Road location, where even the locals feel like they are on vacation. Your options are endless as you can partake of the high-end cuisine, enjoy the upscale bar menu, and/or join in the paint-your-own party that is the stacked deck of experiences at Rockfish Seafood and Steaks at Bomboras. 

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN . PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2LIGHTS, 1STAND