By Charlotte Bushnell-Boates
Photography by Simon Tanebaum and Lauren Miller
Premium quality, exceptional design and meticulous customization come together at NIICO Millwork. Known for handcrafting premium kitchens, wardrobes, vanities and millwork for the whole home, the Ontario company has evolved and strengthened following an acquisition by leading kitchen designer and manufacturer Cortina Kitchens.
Beginning with a complete rejuvenation of the brand, the acquisition has bolstered NIICO’s capabilities and expertise across the design market. With new management, a new facility, and skilled artisans and staff, NIICO is perfectly positioned to offer customized and high-quality cabinetry and kitchens for projects of all kinds. Already known for exceptional design and partnerships with top designers, both in the GTA and internationally, NIICO can now expand its offerings even further.
“We’re building upon a combination of 40 years of experience,” says Cortina Kitchens CEO Paul Tommasino, who works alongside partners Gino Tersigni, the company’s COO, and Joseph Marcantonio. “With the strengths of Cortina, now NIICO has evolved to not only manufacture at a very high level but to fulfill the needs of a range of products and sizes. With all the resources of Cortina, NIICO is equipped to take on projects of any size and scope.”
As an extension of the reimagining of NIICO, the brand will also open a showroom in Toronto’s Castlefield Design District. At around 6,000 square feet, the showroom—expected to open this summer—will carry the latest in kitchens, appliances, surfaces, fixtures and more. Visitors will be able to experience a wide range of products to inspire their home-design journey. Along with the new showroom, NIICO will launch a new collection of high-end interior items, featuring exciting and contemporary colours, finishes, drawer systems, and more. The new collection will offer an array of premium products that focus on quality and good design.
For both NIICO and Cortina, keeping manufacturing in Toronto is important, and the former has expanded to a new 89,000-square-foot factory with state-of-the-art machinery. Together, the two companies have 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space, allowing for many possibilities for expanding their network of kitchen and residential millwork firms.
Beyond a luxurious look, NIICO—alongside Cortina—also prioritizes high-quality results, another reason the company continues manufacturing locally. “Between Cortina Kitchens and NIICO, we have the strength to build anything and everything from scratch. There’s no outsourcing—we make everything in-house, outside of our hardware,” Marcantonio says. “Since we’re actually purchasing the raw materials and fabricating from that, we’re able to offer high levels of consistency and quality in our products. We know what we’re making and where it came from and can stand behind that.”
Using the best materials from around the world but crafting directly in Ontario is a finely tuned equation that allows NIICO to offer a range of design options while producing dependably high-quality products. Beyond consistency, manufacturing in Ontario allows NIICO more control over the process itself, helping ensure deadlines are met. For its imported materials, NIICO carefully selects high-end international partners, which provide products ranging from luxury woods to European finishes.
Every step and component is crucial when bringing to life well-constructed millwork, and NIICO strives for perfection with each. “What does it take to make a quality kitchen? It’s about quality materials, but also equipment, talented employees, and so much more,” Marcantonio says. “Our strength is that we’ve been doing this for years—our parents were in the business, and we followed in their footsteps. We have the knowledge and confidence that allows us to delegate directly here in the Ontario market rather than depending on other people’s expertise.”
With a team of experts in kitchen, bath and custom millwork design, NIICO also offers exceptional service—from a dedicated kitchen and millwork designer and project manager on each project to skilled craftspeople who focus on quality and the in-house installers who ensure the final result is up to snuff.
Leveraging the latest technology and time-honoured tradition of craftsmanship, NIICO delivers custom, design-forward kitchens, cabinets, and much more. A bespoke company from start to finish, NIICO stands above by providing not just exceptional products but meaningful services—creating luxury to complement your lifestyle.