As you know, I’m always on the prowl for the latest in the kitchen and bath industry. You may have noticed all the articles lately about the decline of stainless steel as the “go to” finish for kitchen appliances. Everyone from the Wall Street Journal to The Daily Beast is touting the hunt for THE new finish that will supposedly unseat stainless. Yes, stainless steel does have a reputation, and rightly so, for being fingerprint prone and hard to clean.Tip: Never clean your stainless with any product containing ammonia or chloride. For best results use mild soap and water and dry with a dry cloth. For tougher jobs you can also use find stainless steel wipes at your local grocers. Never use steel wool as it will scratch the finish.This said, there have been lots of improvements and attempts to address these issues with special coatings and claims of “finger print resistance”. True or not, we’re ready for a change and several major manufacturers are taking a stab at what will be the next big thing. Personally, I think stainless will continue to be a predominant option but I also believe we’re going to continue to see many new choices. Here is what 5 major players are doing:-G.E. Slate is one of my favorites. I like it because it’s fresh and different yet not SO different that it will clash with existing stainless steel. Brushed metal touch points can also tie a new appliance into the mix in case you’re not in the market for a complete suite. They also claim the Slate finish is fingerprint resistant and easy to clean.
SubZero Wolf- The Mercedes Benz of appliance brands introduced the “Black Glass E Series Ovens” a year ago. Clearly not the best choice for households with children! Built in ovens are available in 30” standard or flush inset application, the Black Glass model comes adorned with a black glass tubular handle and, wait for it, a COBALT BLUE interior!
In addition to the oven, Wolf also offers black glass trim kits for Warming Drawers and 30” Convection and Standard Microwaves. Glass may be print-prone but it’s also one of the easiest surfaces to clean. No word on if this finish has been popular enough for them to offer refrigerators in Black Glass.
Whirlpool White Ice is hot. It’s the new white. I think in general, people are taking another look at white which is also hugely popular as a cabinet finish. Just think how seamlessly it would integrate with white cabinetry. On the other hand a contrast highlights the best of both worlds. I must spill the beans, however, White Ice isn’t really glass, it’s just metal that looks like it. If you want real glass Jenn-Air makes the “Floating Glass” collection & does offer a choice of white or black glass fronts to them. They no longer offer the contrasting stainless tubular handles however. The handles are now a euro curved powder coated finish (that won’t discolor like plastic)
Last but not least, my fave appliance maker Bosch featured a line of UBER glass finished appliances just a few months ago at IFA, the world's leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances in Berlin. This is strictly a European offering so far and I don’t believe we’ll be seeing it here anytime soon. A kitchen designer can dream though. Bosch has applied their good old German practicality and efficiency to create a seemingly indestructible and beautiful product. Here’s video filmed on location at IFA Check out this line up, also as seen at IFA this year in Berlin. Can you imagine a purple refrigerator? I hear they also deduct calories, just kidding...
Elements Converge In Dream Kitchen
Another year is winding down. We have been blessed again with many interesting projects. As we are in “finishing up mode” I thought I’d share with you one of the best of 2011. This project was a true collaboration. Our clients, a couple of sweet snowbirds from Chicago, were very hands on which made it fun to see this kitchen take shape. The existing space was on the small side, the cabinets a little dated.
Our assignment was to add a whole range of state-of-the-art appliances and a clean unique contemporary feel that would flow into the existing family room. Naturally storage and function were also of the utmost importance but the real challenge was in fitting it all in!!
They chose a rich coffee bean stain for the cabinets to match existing cabinetry in the family room. The cabinet fronts were not ordinary doors, no way. Together, with our clients, we designed the Soldono and the Soldono Pacifica Doors just for this job. The Soldono custom door features a cherry frame around a horizontal grained oak center panel all stained in a rich espresso color. The center panel is beveled on one end with stainless steel grip strip inset on the frame. No hardware sticking out in this kitchen! A select few of the upper cabinets sport the Soldono Pacifica custom door which received center panels in olive ash burl veneer for a huge shot of “unique”. 
Stainless steel serves as an accent finish and is found in the appliances and in the monster-multi-functional Hafele appliance garage. Refrigerators are Subzero, ovens are by Gaggenau, cooktop is by Miele and the dishwasher drawers are by Fisher Paykel. Thank you to Linda Roberts at House of Appliances for her guidance. Counter tops are Caesarstone quartz by Stone Palace and the backsplash is painted glass by Florida Shower Door & Mirror, Inc. Clearly they do much more that shower doors! Perhaps the "piece de resistance" however is the glass tile behind the hood. It truly looks like water cascading down the wall behind the hood! The sink is a Precision by Blanco and the glass theme is picked up again with the glass table. You can find a listing of all the trades on the Local Resources page here at Kitchens for Living.
KITCHEN BLING
A great way to combine art and function in the kitchen is through your cabinet hardware. We think of it as jewelry, or bling, for your cabinets. Check out this assortment of stunning handles by Glass Fancy, Art Glass Interior Design Elements. 
Glass adds a water element as well as vibrant color to your kitchen or bath. These particular handles are handmade fused glass created by a glass jewelry artist who segued into creating cabinet hardware when contemplating ways to beautify her own kitchen. The result was so successful she decided to add knobs and pulls to her store selection. The nice thing is that you don't have to use them on every single door and drawer, just a select few to create a focal point of interest. Check out her Etsy store knobsandtiles
You can also find her at the following links:http://glassfancy.wordpress.comhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/GlassFancy/55206902579Thanks to my pal and jewelry artist Vicki of Skygypsy Studio for the heads-up!
MY KITCHEN & BATH FAVORITES
As a kitchen and bath designer I am constantly assaulted with images of products that are truly "drool-worthy", if I may coin that expression. I am seduced by originality, great function and sometimes simply an undefinable- irrational- attraction (kinda like how I found my husband). Anyway here's what I'm lovin today.Siderna Faucet by Brizo
Everyone knows I've been a big Brizo fan ever since becoming a member of the exclusive Blogger 19 (2.0) last year. Their Siderna bathroom faucet is simply sublime. I love the glass handles and I love the shiny chrome. I know that the popular taste, at the moment, is for brushed nickel but I have to stray from the pack for chrome. The nice thing is, frequently, shiny chrome costs less than the more popular brushed finishes.Sharp Microwave Drawer
I think the best microwave I ever owned was an over-the-range model by Sharp. Now they offer a microwave drawer which I love for many reasons. Although infinitely useful, who wants to look at a microwave? The microwave drawer is unobtrusively located below the counter. It's safer and accessible for the junior chefs in your family. They come in 24" or 30" models which are installed into a base cabinet. Mosaics by Hot Knobs
Hot Knobs is a product of Portland Oregon based Aquila Art Glass. Producing Art Glass Knobs and Pulls was a natural extension for this company known for the production of a variety of hand crafted art glass plates, bowls candle holders, etc. What a great piece of bling this would be for any cabinet. Knobs as well as pulls (handles) are available. The Green River Stone Company
Despite the serial killerish name, this is an awesome product. I just love fossils. There's something about all that antiquity in something you can actually see and feel. This is the ultimate in unique. The Green River Stone Company offers the finest in natural art fossil fish and stone products. The material actually is fossil-rich calcium carbonate shale from their private quarry in Southwestern Wyoming. From this stone, deposited 50 million years ago as sediment in a large freshwater lake, they produce individual fossil specimens, artistic fossil murals, and other stone products for museums, private collectors, interior designers and architects.Aqua & Lime Anyone?
Check this out! Brendan was doing a little modification on these antique doors which I believe belong to an armoire. Since they were done and awaiting delivery, he propped them up in our very cool new greenish design studio and voila'! It's like the chocolate and the peanut butter. They just go together. Wish we could keep them. Now we're looking to steal some doors off of another armoire. I think we may be on to something. Hmmmm
FIVE LOW COST KITCHEN UPGRADES
You’ve heard of Snakes on a Plane. Well yesterday we had snakes in a Kitchen Design Studio. Ok I exaggerate. It was one snake, a juvenile black snake (according to Trevor’s iphone Googling). I think he slithered in to tell me it’s high time I write a blog post so here I am with a topic that is especially near and dear to our hearts nowadays, saving money.If you don’t have thousands of dollars to invest in a new kitchen, there are some small tricks that can make a big difference. Whether you just seek to make your tired dysfunctional kitchen great looking and user friendly, or you want to up the appeal for a potential buyer, these smaller upgrades fit the bill.Consumer Reports’ latest tests offers the home owner a variety of low investment ideas to freshen up the kitchen. Here's my twist on what they had to say.Paint!“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”- Henry Ward Beecher (Love the quote and was going to find a way to work it in here no matter what) SO, how about painting your nature in your kitchen? Paint is the most inexpesive low-risk investment you can undertake to make a dramatic difference. Most of us can even tackle the walls ourselves. You can be bold as there typically isn't a whole lot of wall exposed in a kitchen (except this one!). Don't forget to consider adjoining rooms and how colors will work together. I prefer a satin or even a semi-gloss finish that is easy to wipe clean in the kitchen. If you’re more ambitious and want to paint your cabinets, do it right. Remove the doors, drawers and hardware, clean all surfaces, sand or de-gloss, use a primer and take your time!
Make it work! (As Tim would say)You know what I’m talking about. Are you tired of falling spice containers? Do you yearn for a convenient trash receptacle? If you’ve lived in your kitchen for a while you will probably have a few functional pet peeves. Many of them can be addressed without breaking the budget. There are all kinds of ways to store those unruly spices. Check out my previous post Spaces for Spices. If you have a 15” to 21” wide cabinet to spare you can install a pull out trash container. I’d say this is the number one accessory for a kitchen and every kitchen needs one! How about roll out trays? You can also purchase these and install them yourself if you’re handy. 
Counter solutionOne of the most visible elements in your kitchen is the counter top and a new one can make a world of difference. Unless you’re going with a laminate, and there are some really nice selections out there, you’re going to spend more than $1,000. If that’s the case make sure your cabinets are worthy. Check for damage, especially for water damage in and around the sink cabinet. If the integrity of your cabinetry is compromised you certainly don’t want to set a butt load of money on top! Did you know that once granite or quartz are installed no one will guarantee it can be removed without breakage? 
Create a splashThe back splash is another visible element with a lot of impact. Here you can get even more creative than with the counter top because it’s purely decorative! Other than being cleaner- friendly it doesn’t have to do anything but look pretty. Tile, tin panels, or even wine bottle corks can make a unique statement on your back splash. 
Floor itWood flooring is hot at the moment and that’s because it’s a great look and it goes with almost everything but here’s the best kept secret in kitchen flooring. Traffic Master Allure Ultra Resilient Flooring.
It looks great, it’s pet proof, kid proof and water proof. It’s really easy to install. I know, my hubs installed it for us and it still looks great after five years!No excuses. I find that even the smallest project completed yields such a sense of accomplishment. These are even things you can do to tide you over until you have saved enough for the full Monty! (At which time you will call me) In the meantime, send me pix. I want to see what you can do.