Ok so you got me, Poggenpohl is not Italian. They are German, except when they're in Milan, then they're Italian. Good enough? I can hardly believe I’ve been home for over a week! Images and impressions are still swirling around in my head from the wonderful time I spent with Blanco and some fellow members of the Blanco Design Council in Milan. Design Week was not limited to the extensive exhibition at the Rho Fairgrounds but also included events all over town. We visited two memorable and cutting edge showrooms on our visit. 
The first was Acheo (pronounced AH-kee-oh), located in the Brera district. Brera is also known today as the design district. It is also one of the few really old areas of Milan which saw 80% destruction during WWII. Acheo opened it’s showroom there in 2010. Today they are a showcase of quintessential contemporary Italian design for the kitchen.
They put on an impressive pre-dinner spread for us and the peeps from Modenus Blogtour Milan.
All through our trip we saw many products not available here in the US. Some will become available, perhaps in other versions. One such item is this Durinox work top and sink (below) which is a part of the Blanco Steel Art collection. Think stainless steel on steroids!! Seriously, it is made with a finishing process used in the auto and aerospace industries so it is super scratch resistant and more than twice as hard as stainless steel. It is available, as shown, in Europe from Blanco in Germany. The sinks only will be available for undermount installation here in the US.
We found that in Milan you could miss half the experience if you failed to look up! Look at these cool light fixtures at Acheo!
The other showroom we had the pleasure of visiting during our visit was Poggenpohl. I think you could argue that they set the bar when it comes to innovation in contemporary cabinet design. As I mentioned, Poggenpohl is a German company and they claim to be the oldest kitchen brand in the world! 
Some years ago Poggenpohl teamed up with the Porsche Design Studio to develop the P'7340 line of cabinets. Both companies focus their concentration on the overall line as well as providing unsurpassed quality of product. Above is a Porsche Design Kitchen P'7340 by Poggenpohl. It's hallmark is the aluminum frame which surrounds each box. Originally designed with men in mind, it has evolved into a brand appealing to discerning contemporary design devotees of either sex. Chief Poggenpohl designer Manfred Junker was on hand to explain the intricacies of design detail that go into the product including their trademark, no handle, fronts. In fact, he claims, they are the first to offer touch control on the refrigerator and dishwasher. Here's what they have to say about that on their website: "Handleless fronts emphasize the clean, uncompromised lines of the kitchen furniture."
Poggenpohl took care of our tummies too. After all, design spotting can work up one hell of an appetite!
This newest version of P'7340 (see below) features a contrasting counter top inset made of solid New Zealand pine with a wire brushed finish.
Next up: FTK (Technology for the Kitchen) This was the section of iSaloni featuring the latest trends and products in kitchen appliances.Click here for a peek at all my Milan photos!own and automatically completes the closing cycle
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!
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!
TOTO, Total Luxury with a Conscience
There's nothing more luxurious than a TOTO toilet. There, I said it. Even the "design civilians" know about the TOTO toilet with tush cleaning features but since learning about this amazing company, in depth, I have begun to notice that TOTO toilets are literally everywhere! When you visit restaurants, airports, hotels and any number of commercial locations, check the toilet. It's probably TOTO. There's a good reason for that. Their products start with really listening to people and discovering what they need. They call it "People First Innovation".TOTO is the world’s largest plumbing products manufacturer offering a complete line of commercial and residential decorative plumbing fixtures including, not only toilets but showers, faucets, lavatories and more. They're at the top because they achieve a seamless integration of performance, conservation, technology and innovation. No small order and they've been doing it for over 90 years. TOTO was founded in Japan in 1917 and continues to be a global company with TOTO USA headquarters and state-of-art plant located in Morrow Georgia.We both know a TOTO product is an investment so let me tell you what you're paying for. Countless layers and hours of research and development are spent which results in superb performance and products that are environmentally responsible. Quality and worry-free fixtures translate into money savings and, even better, peace of mind. I'm not joking when I say research. While on the Modenus Blog Tour, I spoke with Lenora Campos, TOTO PR guru, who explained that TOTO studies, in depth, every possible type of matter that is likely to end up in the bowl. They are intrepid. TOTO's Dual-Max® flushing system, found on several of their most popular High Efficiency Toilets, offers the option of a 1.6 gallon flush or 0.9 gallon flush based upon need. I've heard consumers complain about the inefficiency of the one gallon flush. My answer to that is that quality varies in all products. The one gallon flush is not going away and I can tell you with TOTO it's a win-win concept. Even the materials used help conserve your time and water. SanaGloss® ceramic glaze - prevents debris, mold from sticking to ceramic surfaces, leading to fewer chemicals and less water in cleaning.In addition to the famous NEOREST toilet, TOTO also makes what they call a Washlet toilet seat which offers the same personal cleaning system that uses warm, aerated water to clean (similar to a bidet) and can fit right onto your existing bowl. All you need is an electrical outlet in the vicinity. Still not sure? You can actually try one out for yourself at a number of establishments. Click here to see where they are.
I was able to view many of the TOTO products at the recent Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) last month. The product selection extends beyond their famous toilets. I loved the Rain Showerheads. Not only are they lovely to look at but somehow they are able to make less water feel like more!
The Wyeth Collection also embodies TOTO's People First Innovation philosophy. A part of that is it's extreme "environmentally friendliness". It consumes only 1.5 gallons of water per minute without sacrificing an ounce of performance. The transitional design is also the product of consumer research. This look will be at home in a variety of decors. Wyeth tub and shower faucets are also available. Click here to visit TOTO's comprehensive website where you can see the many features and technologies they incorporate into their products. 
Du Verre, The Hardware Co., Sustainably Beautiful
As a designer I'm always on the look out for products that will make my kitchens one of a kind. Sometimes the necessary functionality of cabinet boxes can be redundant. As much as I tell clients "less is more", I can't fight the fact that most of us have lots of stuff and we need our storage, dammit! One way to add a little artfulness is with cabinet hardware. Du Verre The Hardware Co. is one of the companies I discovered on the Modenus Blog Tour New Orleans. Then, you know how you learn about something and then all of a sudden it seems to pop up everywhere? That's what happened to me and Du Verre. Whilst writing about the NKBA design winning kitchen below I discovered that the hardware used was none other than the Forged 3 Collection by, you guessed it, Du Verre!
sports Forged 3 handles by Du Verre in satin nickel finish. Photo by Evan White
Du Verre Hardware is a design leader for original, contemporary hardware. Made from recycled aluminum, Du Verre is environmentally friendly.
Co-Founder, CEO and Creative Director Gina Lubin teams up with innovative designers such as Clodagh to create truly unique and artful collections that can be considered sculpture with a function. Clodagh, who worked on the Primitive, Stacked and Tribal collections, is known for intelligent use of materials and natural elements. One hallmark of contemporary design is minimalism yet there has to be enough. "Clutter can undermine serenity, but minimalism should not be self denying", says Clodagh.
Available die cast finishes include Satin Nickel, Oil Rubbed Bronze polished chrome and more. Each collection varies. I love that these are all as pleasurable to look at as they are to touch. If you'd like to experience Du Verre in person, click here to find a distributor in your area.
Your Chance to Make a Difference
http://vimeo.com/64400893Last month I told you about the continuing recovery efforts eight years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This is what's transpired since my post. Modenus, has launched a campaign to get the word out. We'll be having a live Twitter chat tomorrow, Thursday, May 9 from 4-5pm EST. Please join, get involved, donate and help these people out. #blogtourNOLA will get you to the right place on Twitter. Funds raised during the Twitter chat will be dedicated exclusively to Joe and the St Paul’s Homecoming Center. Below is an excerpt of the story. Above is a video taken on the day of our visit to the Gentilly neighborhood of Joe and Gloria Robert. You can find more on the Modenus website here.Joe and Gloria Robert of New Orleans were newlyweds looking forward to a bright future together when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August 2005.Residing in their new house for just one month before Katrina slammed the city, the couple lost everything when the levee behind their house was destroyed - one of 53 levees in the city breached by the storm surge – and canal water swallowed the home. The Roberts evacuated the city, staying with various friends and relatives. When the flood waters receded weeks later, Joe and Gloria moved into a pop-up camper in their driveway for a while, but they’ve also been staying with Joe’s daughter from a previous marriage.Nearly eight years later, Joe and Gloria’s house is still uninhabitable. While a new house has been framed out, the building lacks essentials including electrical, drywall, flooring and plumbing. Because Joe is a contractor by trade, he has the skills to work on his house, but he has generously donated much of his free time to volunteering with St. Paul’s Homecoming Center helping to rebuild other people’s houses.Joe works on his home little by little, but is often derailed by setbacks such as having his house broken into and his tools stolen. Even though Joe was forced to save up until he could replenish his tool supply, he has not lost his faith in humanity.Fortunately, Joe and Gloria received some good news recently when Storehouse of World Vision selected the couple and their house for a rehab project. A few weeks ago Storehouse joined forces with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and St. Paul’s Homecoming Center to help rehab kitchens and baths in three houses as a lead-in to NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) held April 19-21 in New Orleans.While Storehouse and NKBA partners have donated materials, appliances and labor for a new kitchen and bath in the Robert’s house, the rest of the unfinished home still needs lots of TLC.PLEASE GIVE NOWAbout Storehouse of World VisionWorld Vision’s Storehouse network is comprised of six warehouses across the U.S. that receive corporate donations of new, top-quality goods made available to local community partners for distribution. Goods that are distributed include building materials, school supplies, personal care items, and clothing to over 2.2 million people in low-income communities annually. About the National Kitchen & Bath AssociationNow celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS®). With nearly 60,000 members, the NKBA has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry since the association’s founding in 1963. The mission of the NKBA is to enhance member success and excellence, promote professionalism and ethical business practices, and provide leadership and direction for the kitchen and bath industry worldwide. For more information, visit the NKBA Press Room orcall 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522). KBIS and NKBA are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen and Bath Association.