What do a luxurious high-end handbag and a kitchen have in common? Give up? Fendi! One of the most impressive exhibits I viewed earlier this year at EuroCucina in Milan was the one featuring Fendi. As you can imagine, a show like EuroCucina (a part of the even larger Salone Internazionale del Mobile) encompasses pretty much everything you could ever think of when it comes to kitchen design. Not only that, I saw things I've never imagined in my wildest dreams! The Fendi's Casa Ambiente Cucina line fits squarely in that category. 
Styling can be described as elegant and sophisticated with details that call to mind to a fancy buckle or luxurious lining on your favorite expensive bag. Speaking of linings, I was impressed with the cabinet interiors too. In this case beauty isn't only skin deep it extends to what's inside. This includes clear (yes CLEAR) roll outs and LED illumination which activates when you open the door or drawer.
Fendi Kitchens made its debut at Salone two years ago with its first line of kitchen designs known as Ambienta Cucina, produced for them by SCIC, a high-end Italian kitchen manufacturer.
The Fendi exhibit was kept strictly under wraps, no peeking from outside and once you were cleared to enter photography was verboten! Big burly bouncer type guys were on hand to enforce the no pic policy. Sadly I witnessed one enthusiastic viewer caught in the act. She was made to show her phone and delete all photos in presence of bouncer! I thought the whole point of showing at a trade show was to garner publicity, no?
Fendi Casa Ambiente Cucina can be ordered in the U.S. exclusively through the Luxury Living Group in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. Their offerings are truly a marriage of quality and fine design 
Check out Kitchens for Living On the Road to view all my pics and comments from Eurocucina 2014 and more!
A New View into Kitchen Design
This year marks my twentieth anniversary in this industry. I was originally a fashion major but when I fled the retail life for this industry I came to it totally green. I still clearly remember my first day looking at a floor plan. I couldn't tell a door apart from a bathtub. My, have we come along way! Around 5 years ago I converted from hand drafting to computer, yes I was a hold out. I taught myself Chief Architect and never looked back (although I still look forward to learning it much more in depth). Today there is a wealth of real photos at your disposal on websites like houzz.com or modenus.com available to help with design ideas and options. We live the adage that "a picture is worth a thousand words"! One company is taking it a step further, meet VDS (Virtual Design Studio) This tool was developed for Austrian Laminate Maker EGGER. Choosing an exact finish for your new cabinetry can be daunting. This tool allows you through HD video projectors, to see wooden textures on real objects. This touch screen interface allows you to choose out of Egger's 700 options. For the first time the viewer has the option of making a choice in full scale mode and with a truly realistic impression.The days of color sample chips are quickly coming to a close.What could be next? Follow me April 6-11 as I cover iSalone, a part of Design Week in Milan. As a member of BLANCO’s Design Council, I’ll be traveling with a small group of my fellow members Marilyn Russell of Design Magnifique, Kelly Morriseau , and Ken and Grace Kelly of Kitchen Designs, I'm thrilled to be included with with such talent and will be Instagram-ing, FaceBooking, blogging and Tweeting up a storm! I hope you join me.