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!
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 accessible
Tile 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
KBIS 2016 Previews Everything New for Kitchens & Baths
Happy Monday! I am reporting to you today from Sin City. Yes, I'm here to experience the phenomena known as Design & Construction Week, more specifically KBIS. It all begins bright and early tomorrow and runs through Thursday.
The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) partners with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) to present the latest products, trends and technologies in our industry. It's when brands showcase their newest offerings and design professionals share their knowledge. Think big bold product demos, live chef performances, parties, champagne, did I mention parties? Don't worry with two full halls of exhibits and events there's always a lot of learning converging with the fun. Follow me on social media for live updates and, of course, when I get back I'll be sharing my take with you right here. In the meantime you can see more over here. Bye bye for now!
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.
Applying the Elements of Design to Your Kitchen
Elements of design are the building blocks of art for good reason. They also happen to work when it comes to planning and laying out your kitchen. Whether you are all about luxury or bound to the basics, awareness of these fundamentals can make all the difference.
Read moreThe Many Facets of Custom Cupboards
Who says the art of printing is dead? You may be devouring novels on your Kindle but printing is very much alive at Custom Cupboards. Their Facets program allows you to bring a new level of personalization to your kitchen, bath or anywhere you have cabinets through digital printing. 
With Facets you can have a truly artful kitchen enhanced with your own original artwork or photography. If you can dream it they can do it. Just remember you can't reproduce work that is copyrighted. That is a no no, but you knew that, yes?
Mael Hernandez, President of this Wichita Kansas based company, was quoted in the Wichita Business Journal as saying,“It’s all about the trend in personalization. We think this is going to change the cabinet industry. It’s very exciting for us.”
Custom Cupboards uses patent pending digital printing technology to stylize cabinet fronts with textures, patterns, art, photography and even typography.
What do you think? Remember it's just an accent, doesn't have to be on every cabinet. In fact, less is definitely more in this case. You're creating a focal point which gets diluted when over done. In case you're wondering, Facets would add about 15% to the cost of an average 13 cabinet, L-shaped kitchen if you did it on say three doors. If you'd like to explore adding a new "facet" to your kitchen, I'd love to help you do it!