Kitchen Ideas founder Roger Shollmier, together with his lifelong friend, Rodney Turchi, moved with their young families from their hometown in Arkansas to embark on a new adventure together in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The year was 1976. Neither brought with them much money, but both had ambitions and dreams they believed would be fulfilled in a new city of opportunity. They pooled what they had and rented a space in a shopping center in what was then South Tulsa.
It wasn’t long before Roger’s talents as a kitchen designer became apparent, and business started coming in. He discovered a knack for understanding how to make a kitchen function for his clients, and the rest was easy.
Within four years, Roger had so much of his own business coming in that he bought out his friend’s share of the business and formed his own LLC. It wasn’t long before many of Tulsa’s ‘who’s who’ had commissioned Roger to design their kitchens and national magazines were featuring his work.
Throughout the years, Roger and the team at KI have shared an enthusiastic passion for what they do. Breathing function and style into every home is a must no matter the size of the project. While other designers may focus solely on the look, every designer at KI loves to cook and believes
the kitchen must function as the heart of the home. The designs are tailored to meet each client’s lifestyle and are viewed as a reflection of each home with an element of beauty to create that wow factor. Many years after creating Tulsa’s most successful kitchen design firm, Roger had an epiphany. What if there was one place in the kitchen where all the prep, cooking and serving could be done in one place? He sketched what looked like a large sink, but with tiers on the inside that housed cutting boards, platforms with colanders and bowls, and a drain rack, ready to be put to use. It looked like it could work, so Roger had it fabricated locally.
It was beautiful! He installed it in his own kitchen, but couldn’t keep it to himself. He brought friends and clients over to see it, many of which asked him to build one for their own kitchens. Finally it dawned on Roger that this might be something that could be marketed and sold. That’s how The Galley Workstation began, and Roger’s innovation began to reinvent how people now, all across North America, use their kitchens.
Today, Kitchen Ideas continues to think “outside the box” with each and every design. With the design team of Michael Thorp (Owner and Designer) and Roger’s daughter, Lesley Shollmier (Designer), and a strong team of project management, design assistants and tradesmen
to take a kitchen from paper to reality, Kitchen Ideas is now stronger than ever. Roger’s philosophy of combining function with good taste is a winning combination that has created happy clients for 40 plus years and counting.
Roger grew Kitchen Ideas through a passion for making the kitchen the most important room in the home. With over 3,000 successful jobs and hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for charitable causes, Roger’s life’s calling was evident. Almost every nationally-known home magazine has featured his work, and Roger’s own cooking and entertaining talents were the very platform for many of his ingenious creations, one of which was the Galley Workstation and what we could call today his crowning achievement. Roger said his creation of the original Galley Workstation “completed” his view of the perfect kitchen design, one that brings families and friends together around a central “hub” focal point in the kitchen.
Roger is survived by his 8th-grade sweetheart and wife of 49 years, Pat, three children and three grandchildren.
The design team at Kitchen Ideas Tulsa. Our company is staffed by a small group of individuals, all of whom are distinguished by their passion for creating beautiful cooking and entertaining environments that improve the quality of life.
Owner and designer Michael Thorp carries Kitchen Ideas’ projects from the drawing board to completion. He is involved in the day-to-day components that make each job run as smoothly as possible.
MICHAEL@KITCHENDESIGN.COM
After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2001, designer Lesley Shollmier spent her next few successive years living abroad and putting together a successful business. After returning to Tulsa, she continued her far-flung pursuits by heading an international division of a successful firm. However, her affection for all things design, not to mention the constant petitioning of her father, Roger Shollmier, at long last brought her home to the family-run kitchen design business. It is at Kitchen Ideas that she is finally able to capitalize on her love for creativity, design, food, cooking, and her passion for enriching the lives of those around her with these fine ingredients.
LESLEY@KITCHENDESIGN.COM
Designer Kelly Thorp joined the Kitchen Ideas team in 2003 after graduating from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Interior Design. She is passionate about functional design that improves the way people use and live in their homes on a daily basis.
KELLY@KITCHENDESIGN.COM
Designer Janae Dixon graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2014 with a degree in Interior Design. Since graduating, she has worked in several areas within the field with a focus on residential design. These varied work experiences and her passion for home design help her to always bring a fresh view to any design project.
JANAE.DIXON@KITCHENDESIGN.COM
Design assistant Kelsey Smith graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Interior Design in 2010. Her eye for design and love of problem-solving makes her a great addition to the Kitchen Ideas team.
KELSEY.SMITH@KITCHENDESIGN.COM
With over 25 years of residential, commercial and industrial construction experience, construction project manager Marc Wells brings a wealth of knowledge and resources to Kitchen Ideas.
MARC.WELLS@KITCHENDESIGN.COM
Digital marketing manager Drew Shollmier graduated from the Art Institute of Dallas with a degree in Computer Animation in 1998. Having been in the graphic design, digital marketing, website development and information technology industries for many years, Drew has a firm understanding of how to produce positive results for Kitchen Ideas’ marketing needs.
DREW@KITCHENDESIGN.COM
Kitchen Ideas founder Roger Shollmier, together with his lifelong friend, Rodney Turchi, moved with their young families from their hometown in Arkansas to embark on a new adventure together in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The year was 1976. Neither brought with them much money, but both had ambitions and dreams they believed would be fulfilled in a new city of opportunity. They pooled what they had and rented a space in a shopping center in what was then South Tulsa.
It wasn’t long before Roger’s talents as a kitchen designer became apparent, and business started coming in. He discovered a knack for understanding how to make a kitchen function for his clients, and the rest was easy.
Within four years, Roger had so much of his own business coming in that he bought out his friend’s share of the business and formed his own LLC. It wasn’t long before many of Tulsa’s ‘who’s who’ had commissioned Roger to design their kitchens and national magazines were featuring his work.
Throughout the years, Roger and the team at KI have shared an enthusiastic passion for what they do. Breathing function and style into every home is a must no matter the size of the project. While other designers may focus solely on the look, every designer at KI loves to cook and believes the kitchen must function as the heart of the home. The designs are tailored to meet each client’s lifestyle and are viewed as a reflection of each home with an element of beauty to create that wow factor. Many years after creating Tulsa’s most successful kitchen design firm, Roger had an epiphany. What if there was one place in the kitchen where all the prep, cooking and serving could be done in one place? He sketched what looked like a large sink, but with tiers on the inside that housed cutting boards, platforms with colanders and bowls, and a drain rack, ready to be put to use. It looked like it could work, so Roger had it fabricated locally.
It was beautiful! He installed it in his own kitchen, but couldn’t keep it to himself. He brought friends and clients over to see it, many of which asked him to build one for their own kitchens. Finally it dawned on Roger that this might be something that could be marketed and sold. That’s how The Galley Workstation began, and Roger’s innovation began to reinvent how people now, all across North America, use their kitchens.
Today, Kitchen Ideas continues to think “outside the box” with each and every design. With the design team of Michael Thorp (Owner and Designer) and Roger’s daughter, Lesley Shollmier (Designer), and a strong team of project management, design assistants and tradesmen to take a kitchen from paper to reality, Kitchen Ideas is now stronger than ever. Roger’s philosophy of combining function with good taste is a winning combination that has created happy clients for 40 plus years and counting.
Roger grew Kitchen Ideas through a passion for making the kitchen the most important room in the home. With over 3,000 successful jobs and hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for charitable causes, Roger’s life’s calling was evident. Almost every nationally-known home magazine has featured his work, and Roger’s own cooking and entertaining talents were the very platform for many of his ingenious creations, one of which was the Galley Workstation and what we could call today his crowning achievement. Roger said his creation of the original Galley Workstation “completed” his view of the perfect kitchen design, one that brings families and friends together around a central “hub” focal point in the kitchen.
Roger is survived by his 8th-grade sweetheart and wife of 49 years, Pat, three children and three grandchildren.
The design team at Kitchen Ideas Tulsa. Our company is staffed by a small group of individuals, all of whom are distinguished by their passion for creating beautiful cooking and entertaining environments that improve the quality of life.
After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2001, designer Lesley Shollmier spent her next few successive years living abroad and putting together a successful business. After returning to Tulsa, she continued her far-flung pursuits by heading an international division of a successful firm. However, her affection for all things design, not to mention the constant petitioning of her father, Roger Shollmier, at long last brought her home to the family-run kitchen design business. It is at Kitchen Ideas that she is finally able to capitalize on her love for creativity, design, food, cooking, and her passion for enriching the lives of those around her with these fine ingredients.
Designer Janae Dixon graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2014 with a degree in Interior Design. Since graduating, she has worked in several areas within the field with a focus on residential design. These varied work experiences and her passion for home design help her to always bring a fresh view to any design project.
Digital marketing manager Drew Shollmier graduated from the Art Institute of Dallas with a degree in Computer Animation in 1998. Having been in the graphic design, digital marketing, website development and information technology industries for many years, Drew has a firm understanding of how to produce positive results for Kitchen Ideas’ marketing needs.
Tulsa, Oklahoma based kitchen designer and remodeler Kitchen Ideas continues to think “outside the box” with each and every design. Kitchen Ideas is stronger than ever with our experienced and professional team of designers, project managers, design assistants and tradesmen, who will take any kitchen from paper to reality. Founder Roger Shollmier’s philosophy of combining function with good taste is a winning combination that has created happy clients for 40 years and counting.
PROUD AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR
NAVIGATION
SOCIAL
Kitchen Ideas Design Center Inside Metro Appliances & More
5313 S. Mingo Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone 918.494.0621
Fax 918.622.2061
Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday: By appointment only
Sunday: Closed
©2023 KITCHEN IDEAS, LLC
Tulsa, Oklahoma based kitchen designer and remodeler Kitchen Ideas continues to think “outside the box” with each and every design. Kitchen Ideas is stronger than ever with our experienced and professional team of designers, project managers, design assistants and tradesmen, who will take any kitchen from paper to reality. Founder Roger Shollmier’s philosophy of combining function with good taste is a winning combination that has created happy clients for 40 years and counting.
PROUD AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR
NAVIGATION
SOCIAL
Kitchen Ideas Design Center Inside Metro Appliances & More
5313 S. Mingo Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone 918.494.0621
Fax 918.622.2061
Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday: By appointment only
Sunday: Closed
©2023 KITCHEN IDEAS, LLC