The Future Lies Beneath the Counter Top

They say that what's inside is what counts.  That couldn't be more true when it comes to some of the newest technology for your kitchen.  The counter top is one of the most integral parts of your kitchen.  Besides being a major visual element running right through the center, it is also a functional element.  Did I say function?  How about a counter top that is also a cooktop?

Earlier this year at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Orlando, SapienStone served pancakes on their ultra thin ceramic slab.  The Smart Slab incorporates adjustable heating and cooling elements below the surface.  The material, which is porcelain, is also microb-resistant. I don't know if Smart Slab is the start of something we'll all have some day but I do know that you should be considering porcelain as a very viable option for your kitchen counter top. It comes in a variety of textures and looks and is perfect if you are looking for a more matte finish.  It's also anti-microbial and can be fabricated to give you a chunky or skinny look.  I still love my quartz and natural stone, in the right applications, but this is another option.

Smart Slab with embedded heating and cooling can also be used for a dining table as shown here.  Seems SO futuristic, no?  The cooking and plate warming are one thing but there's also an option in case you need to chill- your beverage, that is. Check it out! Besides the function I also love the seamless minimalist-friendly look. Can you see this in your future?

Natural Stone 101

Natural stone is sexy.  There, I've said it.  If you want a countertop that makes a unique statement with lots of movement and natural variations I recommend natural stone.

A big part of your new kitchen investment lies in the countertop material you decide to use. It’s definitely one of the key players both in terms of function and aesthetics.  It is your work surface and it is one of the most visible features of your kitchen.   In terms of user friendliness and durability it usually comes down to natural stone or man made products such as quartz. There's nothing wrong with the other options, I love them too in the right applications, but if you're looking to personalize your kitchen and be, wait for it, DIFFERENT, go natural.   When I say natural stone I mean granite, quartzite, marble, limestone, soapstone, slate and onyx.  There are a variety of choices that can be used in various applications.  So what’s the difference and what’s the best option for you?

Soapstone-  This is a very viable option for both indoor and outdoor countertops.  It’s unaffected by heat, acid and alkalis.  It’s also non-porous which means it is inherently antibacterial and won’t stain. On the other hand it is soft and can scratch but can be sanded and repaired.  Colors are pretty much limited to greys, greens, blues and blacks with subtle lighter veining.  Like with all natural stone, price is largely determined by how close you are to the source (quarry or port).  You can expect to pay at least as much as you would for granite in most places.

Onyx- The biggest appeal of onyx is its beauty.  It’s absolutely gorgeous! If it’s a statement you’re after this could be it.  It’s found in a variety of colors,  known for its translucent quality and is frequently enhanced with back lighting. It’s not particularly durable but could be a good choice for a dramatic powder room or bar top.  This is also one of the most expensive of the natural stone choices.

Granite- This is the natural stone that you are probably the most familiar with.  It is found in a wide variety of patterns and colors.  It is typically heat resistant and non porous although less so than quartzite.  This stone is usually offered at various price levels, 1 being the most inexpensive and easy to come by and 5 being at the pricier end.  

Quartzite- Not to be confused with quartz which is a man-made product, quartzite is the Rolls Royce of natural stone tops.  It’s the ultimate in both beauty and durability which is why it is so expensive.  It is also extremely hard, requiring a diamond saw to fabricate.

Marble-At the moment, nothing is more popular than the look of white Calacatta marble.  It is beautiful but sadly it is not the best choice for your kitchen countertop.  Marble is porous which means it will stain and etch.  If you throw caution to the wind and decide to use it anyway, make sure you seal it regularly and  just expect it to season with time like something you’d find in an old French bistro. Oui?

Limestone-  This is a very “Florida” look, great for floors and walls but it’s going to require maintenance if you decide to use it for a countertop..  It is very porous and must be maintained regularly with a sealer.  I do love the look of embedded shells and fossils you can get with some limestone. Choices include beiges to soft browns.

Slate-This is another stone that’s great for flooring and exterior as well as interior applications. It can be rustic or modern and is usually found in dark colors like blacks and grays. 

There you have it, natural stone 101.  I’d like to thank the folks at MIA+BSI: The Natural Stone Institute who sponsored this post.  You can find more info at  www.usenaturalstone.com.  

The Best of KBIS 2016

Bam!  Another show is in the books and although it's been a busy week "back at the ranch", I've been dying to share my finds with you right here on Artful Kitchens.Las Vegas was host to three days of networking and education for the best of the Kitchen & Bath industry.  As a member of the Kitchen & Bath Business Magazine's Advisory Board,  I had the pleasure of appearing on the KBIS Next stage as a part of the panel discussion entitled Trials & Tribulations-Solutions to Your Biggest Kitchen & Bath Challenges. It was an exciting exchange of ideas between both the pros on the panel as well as a savvy and engaged audience. I also had the opportunity to spend some time in the Las Vegas I like best, off the strip! I hiked in the Red Rock Canyon and visited my friends at Retro Vegas on Main Street. My digs for this trip were with my dear pals Karen, Barry & Wink.  They live in a midcentury modern gem that, rumor has it, was briefly home to Lucille Ball!  They are avid Airbnb'ers and wonderful hosts.  Check it out if you find yourself in Vegas. This location is so convenient to the Convention center I could walk, which I did, once.  Mostly I Ubered. Enough walking happens on the show floor!  So without further ado, here's my recap of the biggest and most notable trends and products that caught my eye at KBIS2016. ColorWhite still reigns.  In fact paint giants Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have both selected shades of white as their color of the year.  You know I am a huge white fan. It is always the best backdrop for art and design. It also continues to be the favorite cabinet color in my area.  Remember white is not just white, there are an infinite number of varieties you can have fun with.  If you need more punch in your kitchen you could find some great options at the big show.  I saw bright saturated colors in several appliance brands including Bertonazzi, Viking and BlueStar which offers 750 colors!  Grey has not left the stage.  The newest versions are warm, venturing into taupe territory. Textured wood grains such as cerused oak are really popular. Wood-Mode showed both traditional and contemporary versions of ribbon Mahogany. The Perfect TouchTouch latch technology was EVERYWHERE!  If you prefer a sleek, uninterrupted look for your cabinets and appliances this is for you, a gentle nudge will open your cabinets. This is nothing new but it's taken off.  I also loved the button that allows you to close this cabinet when you're done without resorting to dangerous acrobatics (I'm short).Feeling BrassyActually brass, copper, bronze and myriad versions are hot for plumbing fixtures and hardware.  My favorites were the new BauHaus inspired Litze collection by Brizo Faucets. and Kallista's Vir Stil collection.Not Your Grandma's CorianIf you're like me Corian has been dead to you since about 1998.  That sentiment has now ended in my book.  I saw a 2"thick sleek contemporary version of Corian that was perfectly at home in The New American Home.  The other exciting thing I saw in counter tops was this quartz by Silestone.  Yes, it's GOLD!  I just wish the photo could capture it's sparkly beauty.Thrills from ThermadorAppliance brand Thermador held a press conference on the show floor to introduce a couple of impressive new products, the 60" pro range available with steam and a double oven featuring steam and convection.  These are firsts in the industry.Organize ItJust when I thought we had it all the category of organization it goes to the next level. There was a great representation of brands ranging from Hafele to Rev-A-Shelf to Hardware Resources but Glideware is taking the market by storm.  If you've got a mess lurking somewhere I guarantee there's a way to make it neat and accessibleTile StyleMy two tile favorites were Michael Berman's Collection from Walker Zanger and, of course, Ann Sacks who are featuring a new line by L.A. design maven Kelly Wearstler. Love!I can IKONIf you read my blog you know I love me my Silgranit sinks, meet IKON the apron front version which easily works in any style kitchen from Traditional to Contemporary. Their Artona  faucet perfectly complements the Silgranit sink.Stikwood Rocks!

Stikwood’s line of lightweight, real-wood planking offers designers and DIYers a peel-and-stick solution to achieve that perfect, sought-after blend of rustic and modern. It can be used on walls and ceilings and comes in tons of colors, even prints! I'm thinking this could be great on the back of a kitchen island.

Believe me, all this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.  There was so much more to see and learn about at KBIS 2016.  Check out this year's winners of Best of KBIS for more info and of course if you'd like any more info on what you see here email me at artfulkitchensbyglo@gmail.com

Cambria Celebrates Launch of Two New Additions

Have I ever mentioned how much I love quartz countertops?  If not, I have been remiss.  Quartz tops, composed of 93% quartz and 7% resins, are the ultimate in durability, come in a variety of looks and are so easy to care for.  What could be better?  My favorite brand when it comes to quartz counter tops is Cambria.  I love their selection of patterns and colors plus they make it so easy, all the colors are the same price!  I was thrilled to be invited, earlier this month,  to the local launch of two new additions to their luxurious Marble Collection, Ella and Brittanicca.The event was held at the Pavillion Grille in Boca Raton.  The stage was set with style, elegance and a chance to view the two new offerings up close and personal.  It's easy to see that these latest marble looks were inspired by the seashore.  Crazy beautiful veining brings to mind patterns created on the sand.  Here is a quote from Cambria describing one of the new colors.  "Vast and expansive, Brittanicca™ offers a velvety marbled background of neutral white that provides a stage on which gray streams meander among intertwining ashen veins dotted with veiled charcoal sparkles." It's perfectly poetic, yes?  The second star of the evening, Ella, has a finer pattern but is also reminiscent of marble.  The background is rich and creamy.  Both of these options are a great way to get the opulent look of marble with easy to care for durability. Both new finishes are a part of Cambria's Oceanic Collection.

The Art of Ceramics: Innovations with Tile of Spain

Last week Artful Kitchens hit the road again for a mini-trip to my hometown, Miami.  I was excited to re-connect with some of the great people I met earlier this year on my visit to the Cevisama tradeshow (if you missed that, you can read about it here) with Tile of Spain.  I was not disappointed!Ceramic Solutions-Innovations Pushing Boundaries of Design was held at the Miami Center for Architecture & Design, presented by Tile of Spain.  Several of the big Spanish tile companies were also on hand showing their wares and I'm happy to report that their innovative products are readily available to us here in South Florida and other parts of the US.The big "takeaway" of the evening, besides seeing my peeps,  was hearing Dr. Martin Bechthold, Professor, Harvard GSD,  talk tile from a historical and architectural point of view.  Clay has been used in the arts since ancient times and  ceramic tile has a long history as a covering, or finish material. Now new technologies are utilizing ceramic tile architecturally and structurally!Next up was Tile of Spain Consultant Ryan Fasan who gave us an overview of the latest tile trends along with solid knowledge that is so useful in helping me to educate clients on the best products.  The sleek thin look of large format porcelain for counter tops is a current favorite of mine.  Can you blame me?  Consider it as an option if you're looking for a contemporary Euro vibe in your kitchen.Breakthroughs in digital ink jet printing on tile allow for infinite possibilities.  Tile can also be used to cool or heat your home due to their thermo dynamic properties.It's just like Tile of Spain to round out the experience with a literal taste of Spain!  We enjoyed tapas, a traditional paella and Spanish wine. Tile of Spain is the international brand representing 125 ceramic tile manufacturers belonging to the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer's Association (ASCER).