Creating A Space Within A Space

The ICFF show in NYC over the weekend offered a wide variety of  innovative creations from a  global array of manufacturers.  I talked to several company representatives from the Scandinavian countries as well as from Italy and Spain who were exhibiting at the show for the first time.

There were many beautiful and highly functional products presented this year, but what struck me the most was the attention given to creating a space within a space.  Whether the design was meant as a workspace strategy or as a way to create just the right space for you in your home, the variety of materials on display designed to achieve a sense of well being was staggering.  The key concept of creating appealing spaces within the main space with materials other than 2 x 4 studs was manifested  throughout the event.

Softwall Divider -  Molo

What you looking at is a wall made form layers of paper.  That's right and what gives it strength is the flexible honeycomb geometry that can expand to create a structure about 100 times stronger than its compressed form. Components are made from paper or textiles and come in a variety of color and heights that connect by magnetic end panels.  It's a very flexible and sustainable design that can accommodate life's changes over time. You can configure the modules to meet your space needs whether that's a room divider to absorb sound or to create a more private space within a space.


 Complementing Spaces - Cascando

 This was the most fun booth for me.  Workplace happiness was on display here.  They have room dividers on wheels.  The divider could be configured to accommodate a screen, or business pamphlets.  It is about 12" deep so you can use the space between the acoustical panels to store manual or as book shelves.  This is a modular system so you create whatever environment you wish to incorporate in your life/work style.

 

















Cascando is a Dutch design company with an impressive collection of innovative and inspiring products focused on empowering your workspace.  From soft seating to whiteboards to tables and coat racks, they can help  designers to give their clients just the right products for their needs.

Make Space Work Better - Loftwall
 

A lightweight, flexible partition screen that can accommodate the design of any space. The panels are neutral colors that serve as sound barriers in open spaces. The panels are available in 3 colors and can
easily be re-configuration to fit your work space and needs.

It's important than we enjoy our home and our workspace as much as possible.  I hope some of these concepts inspire you to look at your space in a more functional and sustainable view.  Designing your space effectively for your needs is the main goal of professional designers.  We like to help create just the right space.

Cooking with Chef Lourdes Castro at KBIS 2015



Mini S'More Cupcakes

Throughout the tradeshow there is a variety of  culinary events providing great food and a moment to rest your feet.  This is Chef Castro whom you may recognize if you saw her on NBC's Today show or  The Talk which is CBS.  She is also the author of 3 cookbooks: Simply Mexican, Eat,Drink,Think in Spanish and Latin Grilling. Loudes' recipes have appeared in the Food & Wine Magazine as well as in the New York times and other papers/magazines. 

At this event she was making Smoked Paprika Crusted Shrimp Skewers and some Mini S'More Cupcakes.  Both were delicious.   See below for the cupcake recipe.

Mini S'More Cupcakes

Makes one double layer cake or 72 mini cupcakes.

Cake:
1 1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 c flour
1 Tbl baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 c vegetable oil
1 1/2 c buttermilk
3 c sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1 1/2 c hot water

Meringue:
4 egg whites
1 c sugar
pinch of salt

12 large Graham crackers finely crushed

Conventional Oven:  Preheat oven to 350 deg.  Grease pans (cake or cupcake ones).

Prepare the cake batter -  Place all cake ingredients in a large bowl, beat on medium speed 2 or 3 min. until batter is smooth and shiny. Pour batter into the pans and bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Let cool for 15 minutes.

Prepare the meringue -  Place egg whites, sugar and salt in a work bowl and set it over a pot of simmering water. Stir the egg white mixture until the sugar is dissolved and egg whites are warm to the touch, about 4 minutes.  the mixture should be a bit frothy and milky in color.  Remove the bowl and whisk on high speed until egg whites are stiff and glossy about 5 minutes

Assemble and frost - Lightly dab a small amount of water on the top of cakes or cupcakes using pastry brush or crumbled towel.  Sprinkle the graham crackers over the tops. With cupcakes place a dollop of the meringue on top.  then use a kitchen torch to burn the meringue.  For a layer cake you can place some meringue on the top of the bottom layer then put the 2nd layer on top.  Finish by dolloping more of the meringue over the top of the cake. 

They were so good at the show. 

Tubs Steal the Show at KBIS 2015 - Part 1 - The Aquabrass Story

If you were at KBIS this year, you couldn't help but see the plethora of freestanding tubs displayed with such a sense of flair and style.  It may very well be the year of the tub.

Keeping the tub has always been a kind of dilemma for homeowners when they start to think about remodeling the bathroom.  They often want a bigger shower and find that the tub is in the way.  You can see the distress on their faces.  In my latest bathroom remodel I moved the toilet to the other side of the space which enabled me to separate  the all-in-one shower/tub unit creating one frameless shower enclosure and one bath tub area.  So now the real decision is what type of tub to purchase.  The trend these days is to go with a freestanding tub and make it the center of attention or the focal point.

Let me introduce you to a company called Aquabrass.  Aquabrass is headquartered in Montreal Canada and manufacturers a wide range of bathroom and kitchen fixtures.  Recently they launched a new limited series of hand-painted freestanding tubs known as their Kanvas line.  These  stunning tubs would add an artistic as well as distinctive touch to any bath remodel. 

 These stone resin tubs have a high-resistant glossy white finish and the artwork is protected with lacquer.  They come with a press pop-up drain included as well as a build-in overflow.  They are made to fit into any space so they are not large in size.  They measure 56" at the base, 28" deep measuring from the floor to the highest side ( 25" inside the tub), and 30" wide.  They weigh around 330 lbs and can hold up to 95 gal of water.  The lowest price is around $8,000.00. 


Another concept offered by Aqubrass is the Aquazone.  The Aquazone is a space saving bath and shower unit molded into one separate but equal wet zone.  It this 59" x 59 1/2" space, you have 28.5" allocated for the tub and 28.5" allocated for the shower  with the tub being 18" deep on the inside.  It's made of a solid Lucite acrylic one-piece construction material and comes with 2 wheels and 6 adjustable levelers so one person can roll this in place.  This definitely has a place in homes with small bathrooms.  The panels shown can be used for seating or double as a wall shelves.

Design & Construction Week - 2015 Overview

Last month at Design and Construction Week in Las Vegas I saw some fabulous products.  It's so much fun and so productive to go to this event.  It allows me to be aware of the top products on the market as well as the most innovative one.  And I often get to see things in their conceptual stage and not quite ready for the world yet.  It's a whirlwind of an event and my Fitbit showed that I walked around 28,000 steps a day.  There was much to see and so little time to see it.

My Top Five Items of the Show:


Freestanding Tubs:
Bath tubs took center stage this year.  There's always a dilemma for homeowners on whether or not to keep the bathtub. I think that you should have one bathtub in the house because they are very functional for bathing children and for relaxing.  So, the current trend is to make the tub the focal point in the room.  Several hand painted tubs were on display.


Top Zero Seamless Stainless Steel Undermount Sink:

By far one of the best items presented at the show was the seamless undermount sink.  In the US we tend to do undermount sinks in the kitchen where there is a joint between the countertop and the underside and after time junk can stick in that joint area.  But this is a seamless undermount sink. Very sleek. Very clean lined.   I want one of these.

Opti-myst Fireplace:

DCDimplex has a fireplace that's not fueled by gas or wood, but by water.  Using ultrasonic technology, the water creates mist  and in doing so creates the illusion of flames and smoke. Very cool.




Urban City Designs:

Custom stone work that's really only limited by your imagination.
Whether you want to dress up the kitchen with a unique backsplash or add pizazz to the entryway with a tiled dome or a medallion at the center, these tiles will make a statement in any room. And the metal chair you see in the picture was made by them just for the event.  It was very comfortable. I love the chair. They could sell this chair, but it was just a place for the person manning the booth to sit for the event..

Diamon-Fusion Nanotechnology:

This Diamon-Fusion process makes surfaces easier to clean by making them more water and oil repellent.  Think about the shower glass here.  You have a beautiful frameless shower but is susceptible to soap scum and hard water stains.  Well, DFI is a protective coating on the glass that has a barrier against hard water mineral deposits, environmental pollutants and weathering.  They gave me a sample to use on my car window.



There were five big tradeshows/events going on in Vegas during the same week as the Design and Construction Event.  The place was hopping. 

Salone del Mobile - A Design and Art Extravaganza

As a kitchen and bath designer I try to attend as many tradeshows as possible to keep abreast of new and innovative products.  In addition to KBIS which is a must for me, I also had the pleasure of attending EuroCucina, The International Kitchen Furnishings Exhibition held in Milan every two years.   Wow!  What a fabulous event!

Salone del Mobile is an international design and art venue that is comprised of five components including: EuroCucina (Kitchen Furnishings Exhibition), & Technology for the Kitchen.   I was attending this event on a double mission - kitchen/bath designer and  writer.  As a kitchen/bath designer my focus was on the kitchen and bath pavilions but there was a whole other side to this event that was just as compelling.

In an article written for the June printed edition of K+BB(Kitchen and Bath Business), I covered many of the innovative kitchen and bath products that I saw at the event.  However,  recently I wrote an article for one of my favorite online designer magazines:  DesignerCircleHq.  This article: Salone del Mobile,  A Show  Within a Show,  is not kitchen oriented but instead addresses some of the other inspiring elements of the event.  Just click on the title to read the article.

 

Design & Construction Week 2014 - Part Two - The Copper Craze

It was evident at the tradeshow this year that copper with its warm color tones is enjoying a resurgence in the building and design industry.  Copper is in its own class of excellence.  It can accent any style of décor: contemporary, traditional or transitional. Copper can be used as accessories to soften a modern setting, as wall panels to set the tone for a section of the room, as a focal point like the hood over the kitchen island, or just simply a hammered copper backsplash mixed with other materials. Sometimes homeowners want the color and look  of copper but not the maintenance. 



Rohl, who has offered high-end kitchen and bath products since 1983, displayed their eye-catching and award-winning stainless copper sink.  This handcrafted, stainless copper finish sink is constructed of  a 16" gauge commercial grade stainless steel and specifically designed for the high-end residential market.   It comes in either the single or double bowl  incorporating a  "quiet coat" insulation with  sound-deadening technology.   
The view below shows the thick coating for an undermount installation of the sink.  There's a radius edge around the bottom making it easier to clean while the sides have a very defined zero-edge.



This stainless copper finish sink  is great for homeowners who want that fabulous look of copper but not the maintenance. The copper color is achieved by fusing a thin layer of specialty metal to the surface.  It's very durable and can easily be cleaned with soap and water.  Because since there is not actually any copper used, the sink will not oxidize or patina over time.


  

Contemporary Look

Amerock, a hardware  company headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, continually creates new hardware designs and colors based on consumer trends and preferences.  This year their  new brushed copper pulls/ knobs took center stage.  Copper can be used in rustic settings or  it can add elegance and richness to a contemporary setting.






RangeCraft, the range hoods made to order, can help the designer create that perfect kitchen focal point.   Superior craftsmanship and handcrafted in the United States, this company offers the homeowner  a  wide variety of hammered /antique copper, brushed stainless steel and  the non directional stainless steel existing designs from which to select,  or the homeowner can have a uniquely designed hood using any material and any finish of their choosing.





Within the Elmwood Fine Cabinetry booth there was a fabulous glass with resin door that would be great in the kitchen as a refrigerator door.  It would be the focal point of the room at that point.  The picture on the left  is a
glimpse of the refrigerator door they were showing in the booth.  The door style is called Eclipse.  It is a polished Stainless Steel frame that looks like it has mitered corners but is actually all  one piece.  The insert in the frame is an architectural resin of your choice.  This copper colored one was the favored eye candy among the attendees in the booth when I was there.


There were many other elements like decorative tiles and fabrics that showed the desire to have the warmth and richness of copper present in as many rooms as possible  in your home.

 

 

Design & Construction Week 2014 - Part One - Overview

More than 75,000 design/build professionals were expected to attend the Design and Construction Week in Las Vegas last week and I've no doubt that expectation was met.  The combination of KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) and IBS (International Builders Show) offered more exhibitors for designers and trade professionals to see and to take advantage of the variety of learning opportunities the combined forces presented.  They built the Show, people came, and it did not disappoint.

The mega Show was divided into three large buildings; North Hall dedicated to KBIS, Central Hall to IBS and South Hall featured more of IBS and WCI (Window Covering Industry).  It's best to plan ahead as much as possible and yet always leave enough time for discovery.  The show constantly surprises.

As I made my way through the registration area, I entered the showroom floor at the Kohler Booth.  The Kohler business started with the plumbing industry that we associate as Kohler but today it is home to a variety of furniture and home decorative products such as Robern, Kallista and Ann Sacks Tile and Stone Inc., so I spent a lot of time in the Kohler section.

  


Kohler Kitchen and Bath products are endless.  I love the new Sensate - touchless kitchen faucet.  This is great for cooks with sauce on the hands and good for all the generations living under one roof.  It just takes a wave of your hand behind the spout to turn it on or off.  It's a pull down hose with a magnetic docking  system that locks the hose back into place.  The faucet comes with a two-function sprayhead: spray and steam.   

Kohler has some fabulous sinks as well.  This red enameled cast iron double sink is an eye catcher. Cast Iron can definitely live up to the daily beatings from pots and pans but it also comes with a life long warranty against chipping.  It comes in a wide range of shapes and you have a choice of 20 colors.

 

Since Kohler has Kallista under its wing you also see Mick deGiulio's fabulous stainless steel sinks here.  Fabricated with a 16 gauge sink for durability this multi tiered sink  is a real task master. There are a variety of  accessories such as the teak cutting board and a flatware  tray. 

 

 

 

A little known fact that people outside of the Midwest may not realize about  Kohler is that it is owner of  the American Club, a 5 star hotel resort in Kohler Wisconsin.  The Chefs of the American Club were looking for a better turtle candy and 100 batches later, the Kohler original recipe for their chocolates was born.  Like every office worker in America knows, chocolate always brings people back.  So, I was at this display everyday of the show.

On my first pass through the KBIS North Hall, I tried  to pick up the common themes or occurrences .  There were several things that popped up as I made my way through the  crowd:  Copper Craze,  Technology in the Kitchen. Mixed Materials and The Italian Influence.   

So much to see and hear in 3 days time.   What a whirlwind! 

 

 

In preparation for Eurocucina in Milan - 2014

When I go to the International Kitchen Furniture (Eurocucina) show in Milan next year,  io voglio parlare italiano, (I want to speak Italian). Not that it is truly necessary in a city like Milan where people probably speak English, but  I've been to Italy a few times and it's time to move beyond: Ciao, buon giorno,  Dov'e'  il bagno? (Where's the bathroom?).  When someone asks -  Parli italiano? (Do you speak Italian?)  I would like at least to be able to respond - Parlo inglese e italiano un po'. ( I speak English and a little Italian).
 
It's really by chance that I hooked up with this group of like-minded travelers and I'm glad I did.  Our instructor Davide grew up hearing Italian, has a masters in the language from the prestigious Middlebury College and has been teaching Italian for several years.  Along with his knowledge and expertize he also has a great personality for teaching, un professore molto bravo.  He has developed a well organized course and keeps us on target and moving at a good pace.  Be prepared for homework though, it comes with the territory.

In questa classe ci sono molte persone brave e simpatiche di varie professoni,  (In this class there are many talented and fun people from all walks of life),   It's a very interactive class.  It is not held in a traditional school environment, but don't let the relaxed atmosphere of being in someone's home fool you.  As you can see in the picture we are all very studious and truly interested in learning the language as well as the culture of Italy. The class can get rather intense so we need a break at some point.  And by the end of the evening I am exhausted.

If anyone is interested in this class you can email me or click on  Valenti  Lingua for more course information and Davide's contact information



 


  

Peter Bynum's interactive paintings

At the Architectural Digest Home Design Show in NYC this year I was mesmerized by the illuminated paintings of Peter Bynum.  His work blends the art forms of sculpture and painting with light to create a  more dynamic type of art.  As you can see with the photo on the right, the paintings consist of several panels, this one is 8 panels but it varies depending on the work.   Each panel is painted and the space between the panels adds depth when the unit is assembled.   Light is transferred through the art piece from behind thereby enhancing the depth and drawing the viewer into the art work.  The visual effect of each work of art can be significantly changed by the viewer with the remote dimmer that controls the light. It is the light that gives a sense of movement to the paintings landscape.  If it is a field of flowers than the viewer is pulled into the field. If it is an ocean scene with fish than the viewer may find herself  swimming  through the scene with the other fish.  This contemporary art form is just fabulous to view. You can see more of his pieces by clicking onto http://www.peterbynum.com/.   Enjoy.



KBIS - Premier Show for Kitchen and Bath Designers

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is the world’s largest international trade event .  It's a trade show that targets the knowledge needs of the various professions within the kitchen and bath industry - kitchen and bath designers, architects, remodelers, wholesalers and custom builders and the kitchen and bath showroom dealers. This is the place to go for the latest products, designs, trends and education that the industry has to offer. This year it was held in Las Vegas and, as a true addict for trade shows and designer showhouses, I attended. Here are just a few of the many interesting products presented at the show.

One of the highlights of the trip for me was to attend a design session given by Mick deGiulio, author of Kitchen Centric.  I have the book and enjoyed hearing his explanations of some of the kitchen layouts.  While he is known as a kitchen designer in the Chicago area,  it is not well known that he has designed a series of sinks that are just beautiful.  Pictured on the right is his 45" Multiere brushed 16-gauge stainless steel single basin sink. Notice  

 the drain in the top corner of the sink.  That is strategically placed to maximize the interior of the usable space for dishes, pots etc. and also to maximize the storage space within the cabinet.  This sink also comes with a teak cutting board which glides along the top rim of the basin.  For your comfort and convenience there is also a guiding rim below the top one.  Other task-oriented accessories such as a colander, a knife holder and a flatware tray are also available.  There were several of his sinks presented but this one is exceptional.

The Grothouse Lumber Company also had an extraordinary sink in their area.  Wooden sinks are still a novelty but are becoming more acceptable as more people are interested in having wood as their countertop material.  The real show stoppers presented by Grothouse Lumber  were the wood countertops.    If you would like to know more about the beautiful craftmanship and the finishes for their wood products please treat yourself to a visit of their website:

http://www.glumber.com/.  Below is an example of the beauty in their countertops.

I intend to visit this showroom on my next trip to Pennsylvania, so you will be hearing more about this company from me in the future.

 

Design by Artisan Kitchen and Bath; provided by Grothouse Lumber Company.  

Rather enticing as well was the Soapstone sink display.  There are two types of soapstone - Artistic and Architectural.  The Artistic one has a high talc content making it very soft and not suitable for the kitchen environment.  The Architectural Soapstone has a lower amount of talc making it appropriate for sinks, countertops, and other architectural applications.  As for color, there's basically only one - gray.  You can get some veining disbursed through it  as well as some flicks of other colors, but it is basically a charcoal gray which will darken over time.   If you want more information on the Soapstone sink please just checkout the Green Mountain Soapstone website: http://www.greenmountainsoapstone.com/.

As a bath designer I am constantly checking out new products for showers and bathroom materials.  I have designed several snail showers so that while they don't need doors on the shower they still like a sense of privacy.  There could be two issues here, one is privacy and often the other issue is light.  In this case it is advisable to devise the shower glass so that most of it is etched or frosted and then clear at the top so that light can enter the space. Take a look at this picture and you will see what I mean:  

One other aspect of shower design is often the drain.  If you are going through all the trouble and expense to update your bathroom than you need to consider the drain.  A nice drain gives the shower the finishing touch that it deserves.  In the TileRedi booth they showed an interesting way to dress the drain and insure that things other than water do not go down the drain.  In these two photos you can see the center square has a space around it when it is in place in the shower.   

My next what's-new-in-design endeavor will be touring the  Hampton Designer Showhouse in Bridgehampton, NY.  Undoubtedly it'll be a very exciting display of talent and artistic design that will be well worth a few post in this blog.  After that is the Las Vegas Market which is 4 buildings of design products and countless educational opportunies for us in the field so that we can better serve our clients.

Next year KBIS will be in Chicago.  I will be there as well.