Mark Lohan is a perfectionist. A 'tasty' craftsman, as they would say in these parts, and it shows in the excellence of his creations. The North Galway man had a strong interest in art as a youngster and when combined with cabinet making, he was set on a journey that has seen him create what are perhaps the best kitchen design showrooms in the country.
His showroom in Ballybane is truly remarkable. Combining two floors of the most exquisite of kitchen designs, patrons can browse the latest and most aesthetically-pleasing creations in space and comfort. With generous private consultation suites where you can liaise with your personal designer who, when given your measurements, wish list and understands your lifestyle and vision for your home, be it a new build or renovation, creates a design to change the shape of your home and perhaps your life.
MLK’s showrooms in Galway and Roscommon are meticulously curated, offering an unparalleled kitchen showroom experience. The Galway showroom, located opposite McDonagh’s Hardware spans two floors, showcasing some 35 full-sized kitchens, bootility, and wardrobe displays, providing a glimpse into MLK’s craftsmanship, design prowess and commitment to quality.
Mark proudly explains "I designed the Galway showroom from scratch. We found a great premises, very accessible from all roads," he said when I spoke to him on site last week. "I drew it out, display by display, room by room. In school, I had studied art and went on to qualify as a cabinet maker, honing my skills alongside my farther who was in construction, I like working with my hands creating spaces and cabinetry. I have an eye for detail, which also helps!" he said.
Before he came to Galway last summer, Mark did his research, visiting showrooms not just across the west, but across Ireland and the UK, this helped him identify what was needed to create an exceptional showroom experience. He also leaned into his experience and knowledge from his flagship Roscommon showroom to create a truly unique showroom experience for the people of Galway and surrounding areas.
Natural choice
He feels Galway was the natural choice when it came to opening the company's second showroom.
“We have very close ties to Galway and in particular ATU Connemara, our operations manager and a large number of our highly skilled carpenters are graduates of the college,” he said. Such are the ties, MLK partakes in the college's annual industry day, which allows the company to share industry best practice and to engage with students regarding work placement and recruitment. MLK reciprocates with open days for ATU students at its Roscommon showroom and manufacturing facilities.
80% of Mark’s business to date has been from Galway, with customers travelling to their Roscommon showroom over the years for a bespoke MLK kitchen. Mark believes Galway offers homeowners from around the country a hub for all things home and interiors, making it the natural choice for their impressive second Galway showroom.
Mark trusts what sets MLK apart is their heritage, expertise, a genuine passion and commitment to their craft, with the key to all of this is the customer experience. MLK are an award winning Irish company, with over 21 years in business, employing highly skilled cabinet markers and expert designers to create bespoke designs to suit customers lifestyle, home and importantly budget.
Mark continues we can’t stress enough the importance of being an Irish company, we craft all our designs in our manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Roscommon Town. This allows us to create truly unique one-of-a-kind designs for our customers. Having our operations local, along with a team of dedicated staff we work tirelessly to ensure customers have an enjoyable and stress free experience from the very first phone call or visit to our showroom to installation.
"It is satisfying to see a kitchen completed and to know it will play a key part of someone's life. With people spending more and more time in their homes, and the rise in popularity of open plan living, people want a kitchen than exceeds their needs, both functionally and aesthetically. Gone are the days of the kitchen hidden away at the back of the house, the kitchen is very much the beating heart of the home and as such deserves a kitchen design that anchors and accentuates the space”.
Sinead Fannon, Marketing Manager at MLK believes social media plays a big part in the level of knowledge and the expectations customers have when they visit an MLK showroom.Customers deserve a space and expertise that warrants their time and investment. Investing in a new kitchen is an important decision, our showrooms with full-sized kitchen displays bring customers vision to life, with expert designers offering a wealth of knowledge and design expertise to guide customers seamlessly through the kitchen design process.
The experience
"It all goes back to the customer experience, which is as important to us as the kitchen that is being created, added Sinead. " We genuinely care and want our customers to love every minute of their kitchen journey, and that starts with the attention we give to each person that visits our showrooms and in all our dealings with them. We take great pride in creating kitchens for different generations of the same family, extended family, friends and colleagues, our repeat and referral customers are a testament to the care and attention all our customers receive when they chose MLK”.
Mark continues “our designs are unique to MLK and to each customer, there are no two kitchens alike, we attend kitchen design shows and events across Europe, to stay abreast of the latest design trends, and styles, ensuring our customers are getting the very best in terms of design combined with the extra Mark Lohan flair” he said.
At MLK, the emphasis is on ensuring your journey from concept to installation is not only stress-free but genuinely enjoyable. While showroom walk-ins are welcome, MLK encourages potential customers to elevate their experience by booking a complimentary design consultation.To book your appointment, simply call the showroom on Galway 091 392882, Roscommon 090 6627449, or conveniently schedule online at www.mlk.ie
The Mark Lohan New Year Kitchen SALE is now on, customers can save 10% on a bespoke MLK kitchen for a limited time. To get a quote we ask potential customers to book a complimentary design consultation in one of our showrooms. The sale ends 02/03/2024. Terms & Conditions Apply. To learn more visit www.mlk.ie/sale The Galway showroom is located in Ballybane Industrial Estate, H91 Y9FV (opposite McDonagh’s Hardware ), with the Roscommon showroom located on the Golf Links Road, Roscommon town, F42 YF90. Showrooms are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm, and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays – your dream kitchen journey awaits.
