There is a fresh new concept on the scene when it comes to kitchen appliances. For years the challenge has been to make them go away, visually, that is. Integrating your refrigerator and dishwasher using matching cabinet panels can be the perfect solution in some situations but let's take another look, shall we?
What if you crave something different, you have yen for retro design and you LOVE color? If this is you, Big Chill has you covered. This Colorado based appliance maker was founded in 2001 by Orion Creamer and Thom Vernon, two guys looking for vintage style with modern functionality.
In the early days of the company Thom and Orion studied vintage styling from the 50s, particularly automotive detailing as well as the materials that were used. Their wish was to replicate the quality of products from this bygone era and blend it with the latest technology. I am impressed with the wide variety of appliances offered by Big Chill! Think the 48" pro range, induction cooking, large capacities as well as compact counter top microwaves.
Also, if you're not a fifties fan they have two other lines, Classic with 1920s detailing and Pro offering the same bold color selection in twenty first century design. Speaking of color, if none of their many options is just right for you, custom colors are available too. You can find dealers throughout the US but if they're not in your neck of the woods you can purchase on line with free shipping in the month of August. For much more info check out their website and blog.PS. I have no affiliation with Big Chill. This just came across my radar and I had to share!
BigTrends from KBIS2015 Part I
Day two of the Modenus Blog Tour was opening day for the 51st annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). The Bloggers were given an inside peek into many of the booths at the show and as we toured, trends most certainly did emerge.
"There is a three year lag between Europe and North America when it comes to trends", says Warren Ramsland, President of Top Knobs. Taking that into account, there were many differences between what I saw here and what I witnessed in Italy at Euro Cucina last year. Perhaps the biggest European influence that continues to pick up steam is contemporary design for both the kitchen and bath.
Laminates are enjoying a serge in popularity. This material is more widely used and experimented with by our friends across the pond but we're picking up speed. I was wowed by the offerings at Wilsonart who debuted their "Spirit of Mindfulness" collection of 27 exciting laminate colors and textures. Also introduced were a line of quartz counter tops in a great assortment of neutral, workable hues. By late spring, a selection of 50 patterns will showcase a full range of colors, textures and four structures: Fine and Small Scale, Medium Scale, Large Scale, and Veining and Movement. That is one of the things I love about quartz, the wide variety of pattern, or no pattern at all! I was impressed not only by the innovative product development at Wilsonart but also their philosophy. This press release statement says it all:"Fueled in part by a turbulent economy, today’s more budget-savvy and eco-conscious consumers have responded by making their homes the calm eye in the storm of life. For many, this translates to finding a spirit of mindfulness within themselves and expressing it in their surroundings."
One of the new Wilsonart quartz options showing beautiful veining. Photo courtesy of WilsonartCheck out the Wilsonart Visualizer to help you pick your counter top color. It's easy, fun and very helpfulTechnology is also taking the kitchen and bath world by storm. There were numerous examples but two stood out for me. A company called TechTop took home the Best In Show Award for their counter top charging technology. Simply place your phone, tablet etc. on the counter top and viola' it will charge, no plug-in required. 
This great idea is from LG Hausy, yes it's the same "Life's Good" LG that makes appliances. They make counter tops too. I also loved this Solna articulating faucet by one of my favorite brands, Brizo. How convenient, right?!Fifty Shades of Gray has moved on to what I call "greige". It's the new warm toned beigey-gray which I saw everywhere! Palettes are definitely neutral. A great example is the Tangent collection by Walker Zanger. Love the mid-century inspiration which I also saw a lot of at the show. 
Walker-Zanger deals in tile, marble and stone artistry. Their collections are arguably the most innovative I've seen. Case in point is their Sterling Row collection, inspired by menswear and a favorite at the show. I found it to be extremely sophisticated, eye catching and innovative. The collection was a favorite at the show. 
We saw more of the Sterling Row Collection later on the blog tour in The New American Home, so there's more to come!Perhaps the BIGGEST trend of the show was personalization. I mentioned this in the last post about Thermador but they were not alone. Here are a few more pics highlighting the concept. Frigidaire's SpaceWise Custom Flex refrigerators allow you to totally customize the shelves inside by moving the drawers and shelving to your desired configuration.
How about this great storage system by Rev-A- Shelf? I know we all want this level of organization in our lives, yes? Right now this is a prototype but the response from the industry was good so I think we can expect to see this in the coming year.
Enough for now? Well there's more to come.Up next: KBIS 2015 Part II where I'll tell you about all my great finds for the bath and more.
Jet Set for the Bath
In my world of kitchen and bath design, just when I think I’ve seen it all, I realize that’s very far from the truth. Luckily, I see all the drool worthy newness hot off the press via the myriad news releases I receive every day. Here is one new product I recently learned about. I think you'll agree it's not to be missed!
Not only do I love the dependable functionality of the Delta/Brizo brand, but I’m always intrigued in the creative process they use in coming up with new design. Brizo Faucets has outdone themselves again with their new Sotria Collection. Think mid-century-jet-set-streamlined-fins-you get the picture. The sleek angular lines call to mind the days when the iconic Pan American World Airlines ruled the sky. At the risk of dating myself bigtime, I'll admit my dad actually worked for Pan Am so I was a lucky enough to be a jet-setting tot! 
Playing off the Sotria collection’s mid-century inspiration, Adele Young, of VDL Interiors, infused colors and shapes popular in the 60’s throughout this space. The result? A beautiful room brimming with modernity while hinting at the retro age of “Pan Am” airlines. 
10 Etsy Treasures For Your Kitchen
In case you enjoyed a fabulous holiday weekend and are finding the Monday grind somewhat anticlimactic, I thought we'd have a little fun today.
Recently I wrote about the value of “the handmade” and the Arts and Crafts Movement of the turn of the last century. (If you missed it, it's right here.) It must be a part of our American cultural DNA, we like to make stuff and we like to have stuff people made. Think of the wedding quilt made by your great grandma or even the home cooked meal. Anything made with love is imbibed with soulfulness. The website phenomenon etsy.com is evidence of this love affair with hand crafting. I’ll be the first to admit you have to wade through a lot of “kitsch” to find the treasures but they can be found. SO just for you, my peeps, I have uncovered ten treasures for your kitchen. The Holidays are but a distant memory. Maybe it’s time to treat yourself or a loved one with something beautiful, original and handmade just "because". What are your Etsy favorites ?
PS Unfortunately I have been in no way compensated or influenced by any of these shops. I just give them my "cool" stamp of approval. I have however, in the past, been a customer of Pats Pottery and probably will be again in the future, just in case you're wondering.
Mad For Mid Century
If you're a Mid Century product of Florida, like me, you probably grew up in what's fondly known as a "ranch style house". Our friends over at Wikipedia define the ranch abode as " a domestic architectural style originating in the United States. The ranch house is noted for its long, close-to-the-ground profile, and minimal use of exterior and interior decoration. The houses fuse modernist ideas and styles with notions of the American Western period working ranches to create a very informal and casual living style." In addition to the above, the Florida ranch house usually came in pastel colors with what we call a "Florida room". This is kind of like a family room with lots of windows.
Although not as grand as the house above, my childhood home shared several elements. Our Florida Room ceiling had a similar wood treatment and it also had a stone feature wall. We had lots of green and brown and that EXACT furniture. The authentic flooring would have been terrazzo, like ours. I never knew it was cool then but now it's all the rage. Think about it, there are lots of these houses still around! Mid-Century has firmly established its niche in design history and has left its mark on our culture. We've got MadMen, Modernism Magazine, the website Atomic Ranch and numerous blogs. 
If you're looking for that 50s vibe in the kitchen, keep it simple. Door styles were just flat and were either a warm wood finish or painted. Guess what? Wall ovens with a separate cook top were much more common in the typical Mid Century kitchen. Today most homes have ranges.
Throw in a little atomic patterning and you're there. If you are really embracing this you can get the vintage look for your refrigerator.
Elmira Stove Works has introduced the latest addition to its retro Northstar collection, the French-door refrigerator. By combining iconic 1950s-style with the modern amenities of contemporary appliances, this new model is larger capacity than previously available in the line. It comes in a full-depth model as well as counter-depth. You don't have to get red. It comes in nine standard colors OR you can even get it custom-colored (for a price, I'm sure).