This year my birthday coincided with Design Week so I thought what the heck, it's time for another On the Road episode, this time to the Big Apple for ICFF. The International Contemporary Furniture Fair was held at the Jacob K. Javits Center May 20-23 and is known as the North American platform for Luxury International Design showcasing the latest in exclusive interiors, contemporary design and high-end furniture. However, it's much more than furniture. Naturally, I wanted to home in on the latest and greatest for the kitchen and bath. Read on to see my discoveries.

I found lots of beautiful plumbing fixture booths featuring all types of sculptural free standing tubs and faucets in the widest variety of metal finishes ever! Admittedly the innovative furniture was the star of the show with an emphasis on bentwood designs and mid-century modern styling. I also loved the "International aspect and one of my favorite sections was the Hand Made in Germany booth. There was a lot of Bauhaus inspired design and I especially loved a minimalist work center. So clever! Push play and you'll see what I found at the show.

At the same time another show, Wanted Design, was happening right down the street in the Terminal Stores located in an up and coming area by the waterfront. The venue was old warehouse chic and the show was even younger and edgier than the main event at ICFF. There was a global focus here as well.

I found the Mexican contingent filled with creative and visionary youth. There was product design, jewelry, furniture and even a line of bar ware based on Mexican cocktails made out of sustainable materials! That's quite specific and remarkable, don't you think? For now, these are one of a kind but I think it's a testament to creative thinking in the future.

Wanted Design was also the venue for Modenus Talks sponsored by Lixil and hosted by Modenus and Design Milk. This regular series of talks is held in different locations usually in conjunction with trade events. They are always so informative and relevant. The one we attended was Sustaining the Sustainable Home moderated by Modenus Media CEO Veronika Miller and featuring materials expert Grace Jeffers. It's always great to have more knowledge about the materials I am specifying and to educate the public about safety and sourcing. Do you know the number one thing you can do to reduce pollution in the home? I'll tell you because you'll never guess, It's removing your shoes at the front door. Your shoes track in not only dirt but also carbon monoxide! Who knew? Honestly even though some really relevant information was shared it was also very scary.

If you know me you know that no trip to NY is complete without an "art fix". My savvy New Yorker sister and brother-in-law suggested the Noguchi Museum which did not disappoint. Noguchi was a stone sculptor among other things. He's also famous for those fabulous paper lamps. It was very inspiring and I even bought the T-shirt. I'll be making another video about my Noguchi Museum visit. Subscribe below and stay tuned. Part two of the art experience was The Museum Of Art & Design which is a satisfying combination of craft and fine art. This was my second visit and I must say my favorite part is the sixth floor where you can see and talk to artists in residence. It was quiet on this rainy afternoon but I did meet textile artist Emily Oliveira.

.All in all it was a great trip topped off by a birthday dinner courtesy of my dear sister and brother in law at Shuka in the Village. OMG what an amazing feast! Executive chef Ayesha Nurdjaja has a knack for flavorful combinations which feel Middle Eastern to me and are described as Eastern Mediterranean. The service was top notch too, even though it was packed for a Tuesday evening. Maybe everyone knew it was my birthday ;) Back to work now but at least I have some great memories to savor.

The needs of children can be easy to overlook when designing a new kitchen. If you are contemplating a remodel and you have small children or grandchildren you should think about ease of maintenance, user friendliness and above all safety.

Beware of sharp points. Soften sharp corners on countertops with angles or curves. Remember, if it’s at your hip level, it’s at a child’s head level.

Don’t place glass doors below the counter, where small ones can break the glass. Even if you use glass door inserts for upper cabinets be sure to use tempered glass which will cost a little more but won’t shatter in the event of breakage.

Also avoid open display shelves below the counter. It’s an invitation to curious toddlers,making them more trouble than they’re worth (the shelves, that is).

Vinyl or wood flooring are kinder on the chef’s legs and feet—and on falling children.
Select finishes that are easy to clean. Stainless steel is not kid-friendly, as it easily shows the little ones’ fingerprints and smudges. However if this is the look you want consider using a model such as the GE CleanSteel which has a stainless-steel look that, unlike true stainless, resists fingerprints and accepts magnets. Kenmore, Whirlpool and LG also make similar models.

A lower cabinet devoted to storing plastic cups, bowls, lunch boxes, snacks or other items that your children need to get to on their own is a great kid-user idea. A lightweight stool that is easily accessible can make all the difference when it’s time to reach the counter. You can even install a step stool in the toekick space under a cabinet. However, if bending to access your stool doesn’t appeal to you check out the Ultraslim Aluminum Step Stool from Williams-Sonoma. It is lightweight, has plastic feet to protect floors and opens with a fingertip push. Best of all it folds to a mere 1 ¾” deep for easy storage.

Last but not least don’t forget you can install locks on cabinets that are off limits as well as safety covers on electrical outlets. Next post: English charm in Palm Beach

Photo from PLUS IT! Family Activities for Kids: Promote Learning, Family Literacy

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