KML and Sozo Design Innovation Continues
The creative collaboration between Sozo Studio, a San Francisco-based modern cabinetry manufacturer, and KML continues to spur imagination, innovative and contemporary design. Sozo Studio teamed up with Kaleidoscope Design recently to design the club house of an upscale Bay Area apartment project using panels in KML’s Latte Mocha thermo-fused melamine (TFM) panels to give a luxurious, rich wood-like feeling to the space. The panels are so well-crafted it led one concierge to ask what type of wood was used. Sozo Design has primarily used KML’s TFM on interior surfaces for high-end single family and multi-unit condominium projects. The partnership continues to flourish with each project that uses KML’s TFM as an option to other veneers. Learn more about Sozo Studio at www.sozostudio.com.
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Imagination. That’s the Japanese definition of “sozo” and the common link between San Francisco based Sozo Studio and KML. Founded in 2007 by Cynthia Miyashita, Sozo Studio’s mission is to design esthetically pleasing kitchens that are ergonomic, optimize use of space, incorporate innovative finishes and are manufactured in the U.S. at a competitive price.
In researching modern kitchen architecture to meet her goals, Cynthia found inspiration in Italian and German styles, function and materials. She uses engineered plywood as a substrate for her projects and was drawn to European manufactured textured surfaces. Sourcing U.S. engineered plywood wasn’t a problem. Locating a company that could thermofused melamine to plywood wasn’t quite as easy, especially since that company needed to match the imagination and innovation of Sozo. Cynthia says she found her match in KML, “Their products are creative as well as the way they manage their business. They don’t just sell commodities. KML is a true business partner.”
How is the partnership working? Right now Sozo Design and KML are collaborating on the development of new textured finishes. Says Cynthia, “This kind of collaboration is rare and exciting. KML has created an opportunity that all designers should know about.”
To date, Sozo Design has primarily used KML’s TFM on interior surfaces for high end single family and multi-unit condominium projects. The future holds much more. Learn more about Sozo Studio at www.sozostudio.com
