Maritime Kitchens Opening in Saint John
SAINT JOHN — There’s a new player in the kitchen renovation scene in the Port City. Maritime Kitchens, at 40 Loch Lomond Road, is hosting its grand opening on Saturday after its February soft launch.
“It’s pretty much the heart of the home I guess you could say,” says owner Harvey Jesso of the kitchen, which is the focal point of not only the family home, but also his latest venture.
And he would know. Jesso is also the owner of Maritime Carpentry, a contracting company that does new builds, additions, and renovations.
It was through his more than a decade of experience in that industry that he saw the need for a kitchen-focused, full-service shop in Saint John.
“My main focus was to have a kitchen shop where we could do the full remodels,” he says. “So when you come and see us, we could take care of your plumbing, your electrical, pretty much the whole project from start to finish.”
That includes design. Maritime Kitchens has a working relationship with Lsavage Design, an interior designer also based in Saint John, whose work includes Grannans’s Seafood and Grill, Churchill’s Pub and Steakhouse, and Sussex Ale Works.
“I guess it’s kind of like a one-stop shop,” Jesso says. “When you come to get a kitchen with us, I can answer every question you have about the whole project.”
Maritime Kitchens will be the main distributor of Shediac’s Glenwood Kitchens in the city proper, with other distributors in the Valley serving that region.
Jesso says it’s important to him to have customers not only see items in marketing materials but also touch samples in the store so they get a full understanding of the product.
He says this is important for people to be able to compare and contrast the differences so they can choose what’s best for their situation.
“This way, they get to see the construction of every line, and the finishes.. instead of relying on a pamphlet to tell them.”
In addition to the Glenwood cabinets, the business will carry high-end countertops, stone options like granite, quartz, and marble, as well as porcelain and other options. They also carry a variety of handles, knobs, soft close hinges, some sink and faucet options, as well as accessories for inside the cabinets like spice racks, plate holders, and recycling bins.
Jesso says the trend for 2023 kitchens is “bold.”
“People are getting a lot of dark colours. Black seems to be the new thing. We just ordered a kitchen and it was all black cabinets. Blacks and blues and floating shelves are starting to be a big thing now.”
Glam is making its way back to the kitchens as well, as people start to step away from the safety of light neutrals.
“People are a little more open to design now,” he says.
“Butcher block countertops are huge right now. People are going with the mosaic backsplash, the dark cabinets, the gold handles, or the big crown mouldings. The 42-inch upper cabinets instead of your usual 30- or 36-inch upper cabinets.”
Jesso says he’s looking forward to talking with new customers, or those who just want to check them out and talk about kitchens, at the official grand opening on Saturday.
“I feel like it’s the most important place in the house because that’s where I feel like the family usually always comes together.”
“From cooking dinner to baking with your kids, to just chatter when you’re entertaining. People always end up in the kitchen.”
Alex Graham is a Huddle reporter in Saint John. Send her your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].