“The idea comes from Scandinavia,” Kobe begins his story. He is the manager of the new Antwerp branch of Firmax, which is located in the Fierensblok area. “There have been several providers in the far north that personalize existing kitchen systems, especially from IKEA. There was no one in Belgium offering such a service yet. There is an abundance of kitchens, ranging from exclusive designs to more budget-oriented options. But we aim for people who want to put together a kitchen for a fair price.”
“We are not the typical showroom on the Steenweg, where you can view dozens of kitchens and then have to choose between model 5 or 17”
Kobe Nimmegeers
Manager at Firmax
But how exactly does that work? “The process is simple,” Kobe explains. “Customers design their new kitchen with the help of an architect or directly in the ‘IKEA online kitchen planner’. In this way the foundation has been laid. With this plan we can start working with the customer to personalize the finish and look. We have different colors and materials from which you can choose to furnish the kitchen as best as possible according to your own taste. In the final phase, you create the final layout for your kitchen together with a professional IKEA kitchen advisor and order the kitchen without fronts but with hinges. Customers can then do the installation themselves or have the work done by our installation service.”
“So we are not the typical kitchen showroom on the Steenweg, where you can view dozens of kitchens and then have to choose between model 5 or 17. With us, every project is different. That’s why our showroom is designed as a creative space where customers can experiment and bring their ideas to life, supported by our team. We therefore mainly work by appointment.”
Kobe Nimmegeers and his colleague Julia Kruger work together in the Antwerp branch of Firmax. — © Patrick De Roo
Firmax was founded in 2020. Barely a year later, the company opened its first showroom in Brussels. “We noticed that we were receiving a lot of Antwerp customers. Moreover, it is a city where many people live who have good taste and who are looking for a beautiful kitchen for a fair budget. We want to be able to serve those people locally. That is why we did not hesitate for long to open an Antwerp branch.”
Fierensbloks
The store is located in the newly renovated Fierensbloks. “In Brussels we also work from a historic building in the heart of the commercial area that is now furnished as a cohousing space. The Fierensbloks have the same architectural elements as that building. And coincidentally, they also match our materials perfectly.”
In the future, the company plans to expand to other Belgian cities. “We also have many customers who come from Ghent and Leuven, for example. So if there is an opportunity to be present there locally, we would certainly like to do so. But first we’ll see how things work here. Step by step,” Kobe smiles.
Firmax is located in the Fierensbloks at Nationalestraat 164 in Antwerp. They are open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, between 10am and 5pm. More information can be found at firmax.be.
© Firmax
© Firmax
© Firmax
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