Authentic Concepts

from Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles. Trinity Magazine. Vol. 16, Issue 10, October 2020

by Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles Magazine

Student-Athlete of the Month

Let Authentic Concepts Kitchen and Bath Design Bring Your Dreams to Life

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley

During the pandemic, many people stuck at home have discovered imperfections in their homes, especially where they spend most of their time – the kitchen and bathroom.

Owner and creator of Authentic Concepts Kitchen and Bath Design, Glenn Rumer, along with several skilled designers, have been busy making homeowner’s dreams come to life.

“(Customers) have been banging down our doors, and we’re doing our due diligence to make sure everyone is safe. We meet the requirements so that Anyone we bring into the customer’s house is masked and healthy, no fevers, and everyone checks out. We make sure

everyone is safe. It’s business as usual, just with a safe side.”

Founded in 2015, Glenn wanted to build a company that was a one-stop-shop for the consumer and the antithesis of other competitors that he’d worked. Glenn prides himself on not merely saying ‘the customer comes first,’ but proving it over and over, as noted by his 5-star reviews and over 2000 customers, nearly half from repeat work and referrals.

“My biggest thing is quality and service, standing behind what we say and what we do,” he explained. “I surround myself with products that I’ve researched in the last 20 years and have confidence in selling a product we stand behind. Our customers know that they are not going to have issues with the products we sell.”

Authentic Concepts sells seven different lines of cabinetry, which allows the company to be more diversified to meet its client’s individual needs as far as

style, construction, quality, and price point.

“This allows us to fit into what the customer’s budget might be.”

Whether a client seeks a

minor update or a floor-toceiling remodel, Authentic Concepts Kitchen and Bath Design makes the process as seamless as possible. Though remodeling can be a disruptor to your home life, Glenn makes sure all products are accounted for before beginning to ensure no slowing down due to missing products. A professional job is completed as quickly as possible to allow the client to return to his renovated dream space to enjoy for life.

Glenn said that now is the time to schedule remodels to prepare for Christmas or New Years. Each client, new or returning, receives the same gold star service. After a visit to the showroom or a telephone call to determine the client’s style and color palette, a socially-distanced in-home

consultation is scheduled to survey the home, get measurements, and brainstorm ideas.

“This allows our designers to pull together a palette that will complement their life and the space that we’re putting in.”

After the in-home visit, the design is recreated in a state-ofthe-art 3-D rendering computer program for the customer to review and see from different angles. Tile, countertop, cabinets, paint, fixtures, and lighting are brought together in a visual display in the showroom for the homeowner to get a feel for what their future space could look like.

Glenn said 2020 brought back the light to medium woods tones, while greys and white continues to be a client favorite in the kitchen. He recommends a home that the customer plans to live in for a long time, spending a little more on the frontend to benefit in the longterm.

“It’s not like you’re going to redo your kitchen again to get what you wanted. You’ve already spent the money, so you’re going to spend it all again? That doesn’t make sense. It’s important to make sure the decisions you make today are ones you can live with for the rest of your life.”

Glenn said that having real designers separates him from others who only have salespeople. Unlike some of his competition, his design staff consists of educated, degreed interior designers, ensuring the most satisfactory quality service when they are creating the clients’ dream spaces.

“Anyone can come out and sell you cabinets. We have true designers that can see the potential of the space, and we

can show that to people. We have that wow factor. We say what we mean, and we stand behind it, which is lost in most businesses today. We give our customers something to take pride in, from the day we finish ten to 20 years from now. Nearly half of our business is referral and repeat, and we strive to maintain that.”