On My Way to Milano

Sunday morning I will begin the long journey to Design Week in Milan.  I'm really looking forward to seeing my Blanco Design Council peeps, the Modenus gang and all the events that are in store for us.   We will hit the show beginning Tuesday morning.  I will be snapping photos right and left so you can see all the awesomeness yourself. But wait, it gets better.  Our sponsors have organized a Pinterest contest.   The big prize will be an iPad Mini, and since I'm lucky enough to already own one, if I win, it goes to one of my lucky pinners.  Are you game?  All you have to do is re-pin me, easy and fun!  Here's a link to the soon-to-be-filled page.  If you follow me on FaceBook or Twitter you'll see a reminder on Tuesday morning which means GO!  In the event of a win, the iPad winner will be chosen at random.  If we don't win the iPad at least you'll be acquainted with the newest products and styles. It's so nice to be "in the know".In addition to that, I will be looking for examples of how art influences design and how we can use these ideas in our own spaces.  For example, I ran across this art installation the other day in the New York Times and it made me think of this modern kitchen with its bright bold blocks of color.

You get the picture.   Signing off for now and I'll see you in Milano!

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. 

Getting Ready to Meet Milan

Where can you go to see the genius of Leonardo da Vinci as well as the brilliance of contemporary couture and cutting edge design?  MILAN!!!  This year I will be one of the more than two million annual visitors to Milan.  I'm excited to be a part of the Blanco team covering the Milan Furniture Fair or more properly referred to as, Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano.  

Originally an Italian furniture show, the event has grown, since 1961 into a major international happening for the design world.  Always held  in April, this year Milan Design Week runs from April 8-13th.  Besides being a major world fashion and design capital, Milan is home to the 5th largest cathedral in the world, Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Santa Maria delle Grazie

Santa Maria is home to many da Vinci paintings, including The Last Supper,  and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Naturally I will be very interested in the EuroCucina/International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition segment of the show. This, along with the International Bathroom Exhibition are a part of the big event every two years.  A little (Italian) bird tells me that this year we will continue to see an abundance of natural finishes.

Technology designed to improve the kitchen experience will be its own category and for the first time, American manufacturer SubZero Wolf will be joining the mix.

The Bathroom Exhibition's theme is all about creating a "temple for the mind and body" with the latest products and accessories you need to create the "spa experience".

SOOOO if you haven't put Kitchens for Living into your regular-blog-reading-rotation, now might be a great time.  It's so good to know what's going on in the rest of the world and I'm so excited to share iSaloni and all my impressions of beautiful Milano.  You can  also follow me on FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.

This New Sink is Definitely THE ONE

Organization and efficient use of space will make or break your kitchen. It all starts at the sink which, it may be argued, is the heart of your kitchen. Living in South Florida, I do my fair share of condo kitchens where space is a precious commodity. It’s not always practical to devote 36” (the standard) to a sink base cabinet when every inch counts.That is why I’m so pleased that my go-to sink manufacturer, Blanco, has introduced something very good in a small(er) package. It’s called Blanco ONE. These stainless steel single bowl sinks are not only sized right to fit in 30" or even 27” sink cabinets but they can be customized to the way you work.    They come in three sizes XL Single Bowl, Super Single Bowl  and Medium Bowl.  All are 9" deep which is a good thing when it comes time to insert that spaghetti pot.Perhaps the best thing of all is that you have lots of accessory options sold either as kits or a la carte.  They include grids, work stations, cutting boards, magnetic drain covers and sink caddies to hold that necessary evil, the sponge.Click here for more information about Blanco ONE.

Blanco Makes a Splash!

For the last few years I have been honored to be a member of the Blanco Design Council.  This means I’m on the main line when it comes to inside information about their products. BLANCO, of course, is the German manufacturer of finely crafted sinks and faucets.  Their SILGRANIT II sinks are a particular favorite of mine and you should definitely know about them if you’re considering a kitchen remodel.  If you don’t know about SILGRANIT II, see my previous post here.   As a kick off to KBIS2013,  I got to see the newest BLANCO happenings  in New Orleans with a Cajun-styled experience called The Kitchen Unmasked.  This joint venture featuring Blanco, Poggenpohl and Silestone was held at the beautiful Nordic Kitchens showroom and was one of our stops on the Modenus Blog Tour.

The latest SILGRANIT II color, Cinder, is all the rage.  It’s a stormy striking combo of dark gray with some black and rich brown thrown into the mix.  I think it’s the perfect color to go with all the new luscious shades of gray we’re seeing.  It’s on trend yet neutral at the same time. The new SILGRANIT II series of sinks also includes HYGIENIC+PLUS^™ a patented formula that acts as a shield against dirt and bacteria. Independent laboratory tests confirm that the unique built-in hygiene protection reduces bacterial growth by an average of 98%.My favorite addition to the SILGRANIT II collection is the Modex sink (at top).  The next kitchen I design for myself (hoping) will have this sink.  I love it.  It adds a bit of architecture to the kitchen!  Modex features a unique 3” profile that sits on the counter and includes a large integrated cutting board.  It’s not just a sink, but a workstation.Speaking of work, did you know your faucet is the most abused item in your kitchen?  BLANCO's well known German engineering ensures that you have a product that will stand up to the test.  BLANCO also launched a new line of water saving faucets including Grace II, Alta, Highland and Napa. “Our latest collection of faucets offer livable style,” stated Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing for BLANCO. “When we say livable style, we are referencing style that leads trends while integrating into any kitchen design. At the same time, we are talking about the faucets’ functionality. We engineer BLANCO faucets to last, to use less water, to provide unmatched cleaning and to be as easy to use as they are to maintain.” I’ve had a blast telling you about all the products I learned about on the Modenus Blog Tour.  A big thank you to Veronika Miller and her team at Modenus as well as all the fabulous sponsors including Blanco, Poggenpohl, Cosentino, National Kitchen & Bath Association, Kitchen & Bath Industry Show 2013, Mr. Steam, TOTO and Du Verre Hardware.   It truly was a most memorable and enjoyable experience to see New Orleans in this way.  To me, the best part of all was the people, both meeting the sweet good- natured, perservering locals as well as enjoying the community of those who I’m honored to call my peers.  I hope you’ve enjoyed following along and have learned a thing or two in the process that will help you know what to look for when shopping for kitchen and bath products. Click here to see ALL my photos and commentary from Blog Tour NOLA!     

ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS

In the classic bar song Closing Time by the Semisonics, it says "every new beginning is another beginning's end".  It's that time of year again and for me it's always a bittersweet mix of what could have been and hope for what could be.  It was a banner year for us here at Brendan Donovan Furniture & Cabinet Co.  We have broken every record in the amount of business we were blessed with.  Thank you to our amazing clients and all our partners in the business who help us get it all done.  Personally I want to take this opportunity to thank you for reading my blog.  I know there are thousands, probably millions of blogs and I am honored.  Thank you also to Blanco, Bosch and Brizo who give me a rare opportunity to learn about their products in depth and the chance to interact with some of the most talented individuals in the industry.  Which brings me to a big thank you to all my fellow bloggers.  I learn from your excellence everyday.   We survived the end of the world.  Now we look forward to a fresh new year sure to be filled with new challenges, changes and chances.  I'm looking forward to sharing with you some changes you will see at Kitchens for Living in the new year. More later!