Power in Partnership
How Cortina Kitchens and NIICO Millwork Group combine expertise and design innovation to create a one-stop destination for kitchens and high-end interiors.
By Eve Thomas | Photography by Larry Arnal
When Cortina Kitchens was launched in 1987 in Woodbridge, Ontario, 20,000 square feet was more than enough space for founders Tony Tommasino, Peter Tommasino, Paul Tommasino, and Gino Tersigni. The family-run factory housed only essential machinery and produced between five and 10 projects a week—primarily kitchens for new-build homes and residential retail clients.
Decades later, another Ontario company emerged: NIICO Millwork Group, founded in 2015 and known for its bespoke interiors. Around that same time, Joseph Marcantonio—who would go on to play a key role in shaping its future—was honing his craft. Raised and mentored by a father who owned one of the largest kitchen manufacturing companies in North America, Marcantonio went on to become president and owner of Irpinia Kitchens, transforming the brand into a household name while building decades of industry expertise and partnerships—experience that would later shape NIICO’s foundation.
When COVID-19 hit in 2020, demand for new homes, renovations, and custom kitchens surged, and the Cortina team began looking for opportunities to scale even further. Years of steady growth across the builder, retail, and dealer markets had already been pushing the company to expand, and by 2021, Cortina was operating out of 100,000 square feet. That momentum ultimately led to the acquisition of NIICO. The move expanded the company’s custom capabilities while reflecting a broader strategic vision shaped by Paul Tommasino and Joseph Marcantonio, whose extensive background in bespoke manufacturing and millwork design continues to inform NIICO’s evolution.
“When the opportunity to purchase NIICO arose, it made perfect sense to add 40 staff members and additional manufacturing capacity, as well as streamline both companies,” says CEO Paul Tommasino.
The strategy was straightforward: Cortina would remain focused on new-build homes, with Tersigni continuing to lead the company’s business-to-business relationships, while NIICO would take on the company’s retail and custom work.
Today, the ever-growing business occupies over 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space and employs more than 200 people, including craftspeople, engineers, project managers, and designers.
As planned, the two operations now run in tandem, each serving a distinct role. Cortina produces up to 125 kitchens per week, focusing primarily on business-to-business clients such as builders and developers. Meanwhile, NIICO offers a diverse range of high-end interior solutions for virtually every room in the home, including kitchen cabinetry, bedroom wardrobe systems, millwork, and more. The company is also expanding its dealer network across the United States and internationally, working with designers and partners in key markets such as Florida and New York, as well as abroad in the Caribbean Islands.
“We have become a one-stop shop for projects big and small, from under $10,000 to over $1 million for a single dwelling,” says Tommasino.
It’s an impressive trajectory for two Ontario companies. But what strengths and values helped bring them here and continue to drive their growth? For Tommasino, one key factor is the company’s commitment to in-house manufacturing. “One of our greatest achievements has been the ability to manufacture most of our products in-house, therefore giving us the ability to better control the products we produce,” he says. “We’ve got an overwhelming selection and quality of products that last many years beyond their warranties.”
Manufacturing most components internally allows the team to select top suppliers and materials from around the world while refining custom designs at every stage, from concept through installation. Each element that goes into a NIICO product is carefully curated—not only to reflect current design preferences, but to anticipate what will endure beyond passing trends—resulting in spaces that feel both timeless and thoughtfully refined. The approach also ensures consistency and provides valuable insight when servicing those projects years later.
Tommasino adds: “It’s about value—not ‘How much did you pay?’ but ‘What did you get for what you paid?’ Clients come to us for our ability to create and define space that is practical and usable for them within their budget.”
Marcantonio points to the relationship between the two companies as another key advantage. “What’s exciting is that there are two companies, and the synergy that it brings to the market is what makes this group of companies attractive,” he says. “That’s one-of-a-kind in the greater Toronto area.”
Of course, the journey has not been without challenges, from economic fluctuations and shifting supply chains to labour shortages and production pressures. Yet one factor that continues to strengthen both companies, according to Tommasino, is the team itself—a combination of strong staff retention and long-standing relationships with high-end global suppliers, an approach that closely reflects Marcantonio’s belief that exceptional results are driven by both the right partners and the right people.
“One of the biggest lessons we have learned is that you need great staff along with great industry partners to create a great product. You need to create a team that believes in the philosophies, goals, and visions of the company—values that are ultimately brought forward to our customers.”
Clients can experience NIICO’s philosophy firsthand through yet another expansion: a new 6,100-square-foot showroom in Toronto’s Castlefield design district. The space will showcase the latest in kitchens, appliances, fixtures, and more, along with a curated selection of high-end interior pieces—an approach that reflects what Marcantonio describes as “European engineering for American sensibility.”
Although Cortina and NIICO’s bespoke work is far from “by-the-numbers,” Tommasino offers one statistic that speaks to the company’s reputation: “Over the years, working with some of the best and biggest builders in the GTA, along with many notable designers, architects, contractors, and dealers, we have completed over 100,000 projects collectively.”