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Feature: Nu Trend Kitchens

There is a lot behind the unassuming door at 535 – 34th St. There you will walk into a showroom filled with great displays, samples, and ideas. There you will see a state-of-the-art virtual tour of design possibilities. And there you will meet two of the most friendly and knowledgeable people around: the owners of Nu Trend Kitchens – Joyce and Mac Hofer.

We are looking at a spot hidden in plain sight in the strip mall complex at 34th and Victoria. You might have heard the location referred to as “the old vacuum place.” No problem. It is now the home of Nu Trend Kitchens. It is where you go if you are a homeowner or a contractor and you are planning a new kitchen, bathroom, and more.

Mac and Joyce Hofer exemplify the qualities that grow from sturdy Westman roots: friendly, practical, embracing innovation. Both Joyce and Mac grew up on a local Hutterite colony, grounded in an ethic of hard work, craftsmanship, and all-round resourcefulness.

The Hofers bring a variety of skills to their enterprise. They got their introduction to the home construction and renovation business when they managed another company. When they worked there, they made contacts and discovered a natural love for the business and for meeting the needs of their customers.

Two years ago, Mac and Joyce were ready to strike out on their own and they started Nu Trend Kitchens. The couple lives near Brandon and they delight in owning a small business, serving their customers, and building their own success story.

The vision for Nu Trend Kitchens is a three-fold offering: more options, high
quality of materials and construction, and customized design and build. They offer a total service to transform your ideas into reality. They do the design work. The cabinetry is custom-made right here in Westman. They will then do the installation, whether you are ordering a renovation or new construction.

To get to know Nu Trend Kitchens, stop in at their showroom at 535 – 34th St. Their hours are Monday to Friday 9 – 6:30 and Saturday 10 – 2. (Just drop in. Or feel free to make an appointment; their phone number is 204-717-9200.) You can visit them online at their new website nutrendkitchens.com or on their Facebook page. If you are attending the Brandon Home & Leisure Show, check out their booth. For both of the two years that they have been there, their display has won the award for “best in show.”

“We will listen to you,” Mac says about their guiding philosophy. Take it one step at a time. Start with the layout of your room. Decide what you want, where your appliances will be, the use of each cabinet. Later you can choose the colours and materials. And they mean it when they say “custom.” As Mac says, “If you feel you need one more inch somewhere, we can add one more inch.”

There is beauty in Nu Trend Kitchens. There is the beauty of good design, colour, and material. And there is also the beauty of good planning, efficiency, and organization. The cabinets will fit exactly to your situation and around your appliances; there are no fillers or spacers. Maximum quality, maximum style, maximum use of space.

The 1,400 sq. ft. Nu Trend Kitchens showroom brings these themes to life. Of course it is well designed and beautiful to behold. There is a range of options and prices for countertops and cabinets. Mac is keen to point out the quality built into each unit – they are all constructed of 5/8 inch material. And behind the doors and inside the drawers are many secrets to good organization: accessories for the storage of food, cutlery, dishes, garbage, recycling, and more.

“Not that long ago, there was just a drawer and a door,” Mac says about cabinetry. But today, there is so much more. Customers are often surprised at the great assortment of accessories that can make storage and cooking that much easier and that much more enjoyable. Go ahead and ask: you can get all your questions answered. Like how to make the most effective use of your corner units. Or what options are available for under-the-cabinet lighting. You can then see how all of this goes together by immersing yourself in their Vortek virtual 3D display. This is a huge (4 ft. by 8 ft.) visual presentation of your design. You can try out – virtually – different options and change them instantly to reveal how they would look with different colours and materials. Mac and Joyce proudly point out that theirs is one of only three of this type of technology in all of Canada.

Kitchens, of course, are at the heart of Nu Trend Kitchens. But if you are looking for something else – in either a new build or a renovation – Joyce and Mac are there for you. Think not only of the kitchen and bathrooms, but also stairs and railings, entry hall cubbyhole, closet organizers, bar, pantry, and entertainment centre. So take your time. The Hofers are happy to take the time with you. They recognize how important your home is to you. After all, as Joyce points out, “Most people will only get one chance at building their dream kitchen.”

With Joyce and Mac Hofer of Nu Trend Kitchens at your side, you can have anything you desire. They want to custom design and build for you. They want to offer more options to you. They want to bring a finished project to you that looks better, works better, and lasts longer. “If you can think of it,” Mac says, “then we can build it.” And Joyce adds, “And if you can’t think of it, then we can think of it.”

By David McConkey
Photos By: Kara Matthews – Sterling Images
Submitted by Nu Trend Kitchens

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