Technology is a great thing but what about the inevitable "cord spaghetti"? There is a very cool solution for that. Check out this little video by Adorne. They've got you covered for all types of under cabinet magic including lights, outlets, music and more. High function with a lovely aesthetic. 
A LOOK AT LOOX BY HAFELE
Hafele is one of my favorite resources for kitchen hardware and functional, fun accessories. Known for quality and efficient German engineering it seems they are always coming out with something "wow-worthy". Our ever faithful local rep, Pat Flatley, keeps me in the loop on their latest products. I just found out about this one which I'm dying to share with you. It's call Loox. Does it sound like a Dr. Seus character? Sure. Is it a seriously kick-ass lighting option for your home? Definitely. Whether it's task lighting or just an ambient after glow you're looking for, Loox has the answer. Loox is a low-voltage LED lighting system. You can read about the technical details here.
What I love is the great functionality of having a light inside a drawer or in the nooks and crannies of the closet. Check out this handy Loox Room Configurator. Simply click on the type of room you want to view and you can turn on and off all the various light fixtures that illuminate the room. Hours of fun! (Ok maybe not hours) When you're a kitchen designer it's the little things that come together to make a fantastic whole!
HOUSE BEAUTIFUL GOES GREEN WITH HOLIDAY!
House Beautiful Magazine featured Holiday Kitchens Cabinets in their May issue. I wrote about the project in my May 7th blog post. I love the Holiday Kitchens line because they are truly a great value for a custom US manufactured cabinet. This Kitchen of the Month, which happens to be in the residence of Robert Kennedy Jr. and his family, showcases green, eco-friendly products. Designer Robin Wilson used recycled wood, formaldehyde-free glues, low-VOC paints and stains. With a little bit of thought you can incorporate some or all of these things into your new kitchen. The best news is that it is even becoming more affordable to do so. If you're not ready for the "full-on-granola-lifestyle", you can go green at your own comfort level. Even simple habits like turning off the the lights and recycling your cans and cardboard can be a good start. If you want to go further, there's always a new Holiday kitchen!
THE GREEN LIGHT ALTERNATIVE
I want to welcome guest blogger Marcia Exelrud, expert on lighting (see previous post). In this post she enlightens us on one very good option for energy efficient lighting in the kitchen.
“Everyone talks about energy savings nowadays. If there is one area of the home that makes those electric meters whirl it's the kitchen. Today our kitchens are not only for cooking but for entertaining. People like to gather in the kitchen, talk and drink while the host is preparing the meal. Why not put together two very important things: energy savings and creative architectural lighting. LED lighting is the new source that allows you to save energy and create different effects and colors without producing more heat in the room.
LED stands for "light-emitting diode." An LED is a semiconductor diode that emits a single wavelength of light when charged with an electric current. LEDs have many practical applications and are already used in many products we use everyday. LED lights are energy-efficient and produce almost no heat in comparison to incandescent and fluorescent lights. They usually have a lifetime of 50,000 hours and are available in a variety of styles and wattages. LEDs allow you to install lighting in any area allowing you to be creative with your lighting design as shown in this kitchen from kutecat.com."