Customers walking into the new G&R Design and Construction Group showroom in Fort Myers will notice a fully furnished kitchen and two bathrooms. Both display a variety of quartz countertops, wood paneling and cabinetry.
Almost everything inside has been imported, but from a country that might not be a first guess.
Most of it comes from Brazil.
“For a very long time, Brazil was only known for the Carnival in Rio and music,” said Giselle Rattis, who grew up in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and has been in Fort Myers for more than a decade. “But there’s a lot more to Brazil than just Carnival and music. Our wood is beautiful. Our home decor. So, there’s a lot. Our culture is so rich. Our food is amazing.
“It’s a very unique experience. And that is the same experience we wanted when we decided to create a showroom that is connected to our heritage.”
Giselle and Ricardo Rattis started the company with the goal of furnishing homes, building them from scratch or both.
The showroom at 4110 Center Pointe Drive, Unit 111, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or by appointment Saturdays.
In addition to showcasing decor from Brazil, Rattis also wanted to create a one-stop shop for interior design.
“When you walk into a flooring store, that’s all you see,” she said. “You see tile. When you walk into a countertop store, all you see is countertops. It’s very rare to walk into a showroom and feel like you’re at home.
“The idea of putting together this showroom was to give our clients a different experience.”
G&R will either sell the products, install them or both.
“We want to work with designers,” Rattis said. “Contractors. General Contractors. Builders. We don’t have to install anything. We can provide the material and not provide the labor. Or we can do it all.
“The main goal is to exceed all expectations. It’s to give all our clients everything they need, so it’s a one-stop shop.”
Everything can be custom made, she said.
“This is not what you’re going to see in a typical bathroom,” Rattis said. “What we’re trying to achieve is to really give our clients a customized experience. I’m going to design your space with your needs.”
