Chris Plummer founded CLP Design in late 2006 after being commissioned to design and build two separate range hoods by clients who were unsatisfied with what they found available on the market. From the beginning, the company's focus was on customizability, durability, and elegance. Teaming up with entrepreneur Sheldon Gruber and designer Nathaniel Taintor, the company went public with our line of custom handcrafted range hoods at the 2007 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. In contrast to the rest of the industry, where 12 week lead times, minimal customization choices, and stagnant design were standard, we offered a fresh product with millions of possible options, for a standard pricing structure and six-week turnaround. As stainless steel fell from grace in the design community, we helped push the trend toward rich color and customization.

By the end of the year, we were already expanding our focus beyond ventilation systems. We began developing sheet zinc and pewter countertops, and a design for enamelled steel cabinetry, all of which met with great enthusiam. And while our sister company Valley Tin Works continued its work with restoration and replication of pressed tin ceilings, we worked our vision into all of those projects. Projects that began as simple consultations on restoring damaged copper façades turned into major exterior metalwork projects. And conversations with appliance manufacturers to get specs for products we were trying to work into our designs turned into productive working relationships.

Our display at the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, featuring the most expensive range hood ever produced, turned heads and got amazed write-ups throughout the kitchen press.

In 2008, we also began developing a Production Series of range hoods. We took the simplest and most popular design from our custom work and figured out a way to standardize it and cut the retail price almost in half. These hoods, built using the same materials as our custom hoods, remain a popular item.

Continuing our exponential growth, 2008 saw us tripling our workforce and taking on numerous massive projects - such as the recreation of a 1912 French cooker (which a number of top-quality French range manufacturers were afraid to touch), custom zinc and bronze work throughout New York and Washington, D.C., and much more. Of particular note is our signature style of "slip-casting" soft metals, which allows us to produce pewter and zinc counters and other custom specialty items that would be nearly impossible to build otherwise.

CLP Design continues to take on new challenges. Look for exciting new styles for 2009 and beyond!