THE BEST OF KBIS

Our annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show known as KBIS  was held last month in Las Vegas.  I’m hearing that attendance was much improved over the anemic showing of the last couple years.  This show is traditionally where new products and design trends for the kitchen and bath are introduced to the world at large.  Here are some of my new faves from the show!

One of the most exciting debuts this year is  Bornholm Cabinets,  conceived of and created by fellow blogger Susan Serra and her daughter.     They are a couple of smart cookies who know what’s both hot now as well as basic and unique enough to be timeless.  The line is Scandanavian inspired but American made.  Simple yet elegant and designed to blend into and enhance any environment.  I think we’ll be seeing more of this.  You can see more here.I also love this beautiful bit of black.

Yes it’s a toilet!  When it comes to commodes the Japanese have definitely got it going on and this example is no exception.   We all know what a "smart" phone is, well meet the "smart" toilet!  The REGIO by Inax  features a sound system, heated seat, double power deodorizing, automatic seat and flushing, and dual nozzle bidet. Geez, what more could you want?  Oh, yeah it’s also environmentally responsible. Check it out here Here’s a new fun way to add a little glow to that backsplash area between your cabinets and counter top.The °eluma RGB DecoSplash illuminated backsplash is the first fully customizeable color changing LED backsplash.  You can change your color as you change your mood from fuschia to lime green!  This LED light is dimmable and you even have your choice of decorative inserts.  Find out more here.Dark rich wood finishes continue to be a popular choice.  I just love the Asian vibe (of course!) of this kitchen by Wellborn Cabinets.Click here to see the rest of The Best of KBIS!

MEXICAN MAGIC

Happy Cinco de Mayo. Today, the 5th of May, is the day to celebrate  Mexican culture and heritage.  It marks the date of a Mexican victory in a regional battle with the French in 1862.  However when I think of Mexico I think of Frida, bright splashes of color and real Mexican food, not the goop of melted cheese you find so often in "Mexican" restaurants.  Frida, of course, is surrealist Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, one of the most well known artists of the twentieth century.  She was  married to the famous muralist Diego Rivera.

 The movie Frida, starring Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina relates their tumultuous relationship as well as the revolutionary political climate and personal experiences that colored both their careers as artists. I love this movie because it is art. I doubt there is a single solitary frame in this film that cannot stand on its own as a work of art. The colors are amazing as are the scenes that morph from reality into artwork.One of my favorite scenes is Frida's tango portraying a seductive dance between Frida Kahlo and Tina Midotti (Italian photographer and fellow revolutionary) played in the movie by Salma and Ashley Judd. Watch the steamy scene here. Frida's kitchen was no less colorful than her life. Her house, La Casa Azul in Coyoacan Mexico, is open to the public. A visit is something I definitely need to add to the old bucket list.If you find yourself craving some Mexican culinary magic check out this cookbook filled with authentic Mexican recipes.I'm hoping you have Netflix so you can blend up some frozen margaritas, whip up some fresh guacamole,  sit back and enjoy Frida on this Cinco de Mayo. You're in for a treat!

CREATING AN INSPIRING WHITE KITCHEN

Today's Let's Blog Off topic queries the source of our ideas.  Where does creativity reside?  Is it within or is it outside and all around awaiting discovery?  For me the answer is both.  Yes, it's all around us, for sure, but it also requires the eye of the beholder to breathe life into it.  Here is a recent example in my life of something I saw which inspired a blog post.You may have the panache to pull off a monochrome white room that invites and stimulates the senses but for most of us going all the way with white runs the risk of BORING.  Since white is so "white hot"  at the moment, especially in the kitchen, I’m going to share with you the secret of how to make white pop.One thing to remember is white is a team player, it’s all about the colors around it. As you know, I love art (a big source of inspiration). I recently came across this image in Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine which is a perfect example of how white can glow when surrounded by the right color.  I see it work time and again. White cabinets plus color equals stunning.  If your taste runs more to the conservative think camels, taupes or warm beige walls to create the contrast.If you’re more daring go for Apple Martini Green or Sky Blue.  The nice thing is if you want to go for the gusto paint is a safe bet.  It’s one thing you can change fairly easily and reasonably.Another thing to remember about white is that it’s just not white. There are probably hundreds of whites and they all read differently depending on your lighting and location.  The lesson here is to test your whites on site.  Consider the color for a full 24 hours so you can see how it looks as lighting changes throughout the day.Many times wherever you find white you will also find black.  You can tastefully mix black and white cabinets or if you have guts and great lighting the walls could be black, as in this example.  This photo also serves as a great inspiration for many of the newer homes we have in my area with cathedral ceilings but short stumpy cabinets (thank you Mr. Builder).  If you can't afford to change the cabinets take advantage of the great space above for art.  Here, it carries the eye upwards taking attention away from shorty cabinets.This stunning Apple Green back splash looks like glass but it's actually a colored plastic by Opticolor!  So there you have it, inspiration of the day all inspired by a whimsical little piece of art!  

PROS & CONS OF QUARTZ

Now that we've taken a look at the world of granite counter tops, today I'll tell you everything I can think of about quartz engineered stone countertops. First of all I am biased, but for good reason. As far as durability and efficient functionality you can't do better, seriously. Quartz is non-porous which means you don't have to worry about stains or sealers. In fact since it doesn't absorb it's antibacterial by its very nature. You can also cut and place hot pots directly on quartz without concern. Quartz is one of the hardest, most abundant minerals found in nature.

These qualities are firmly in the "pro column". If you want a countertop that is consistent and without streaks, movement and color variation it's the top for you. You will know what every inch will look like, no need to examine slabs. This this will be another pro for you. However if you want a counter top that is truly unique with an organic feel and drama, then the consistency is a con for you. Another con is price. Quartz is at least as expensive as granite (depending on the granite) and frequently even more. It typically comes in 3/4" or 1 1/4" thick slabs.   There are many different brands on the market but they are all essentially the same thing which is approximately 93% natural quartz particles mixed with resins to hold it all together. So it is at least partly natural although it's a man-made product. These countertops belong to the category referred to as "solid surface". This means that the surface material runs all the way through unlike, for example, laminates. Corian is also a solid surface material but it can scratch and burn unlike quartz. Price varies little between brands but can vary according to color. If radon is a concern for you, quartz countertop manufacturers claim that testing shows their quartz counters to be low or free of radon gas. If you'll remember, in my previous post, I explained that radon is a naturally occurring substance found in the earth and since quartz is a natural substance you're not entirely out of the woods in that area. The most well known names in quartz countertops are Caesarstone, Silestone, and Zodiac. Cambria is an up and coming brand which I love for their color choices. Check our Local Resources guide on this website for suppliers in the Palm Beach County area. 

PROS & CONS OF GRANITE

I must apologize for having been off the radar for too long!  It certainly doesn't mean I've forgotten about you.  In fact, I'm always thinking of things to write that will have value and interest to you.  The good news is I have been very busy.  People are suddenly ready to get serious about their projects.  It's a regular springtime flurry of activity!  One question that comes up often during the process of planning a new kitchen or bath is what type of counter top to use.  There are tons of choices including the old standby, laminate, which incidentally is enjoying great popularity in Europe.  This is not your grandma's Formica but a rejuvenated product with new and improved colors, textures and innovative applications.  My friend, and fellow blogger, Paul Anater of Kitchen and Residential Design writes about it here.  Then there are the new cutting edge "green" materials made out of recycled products such as Vetrazzo, a beautiful product with a mid-century feel made out of recycled glass.  Definitely worth a look but for most of my clients it comes down to granite or quartz.  Here's what I've learned in my experience  working with both options.  Today we'll take a look at granite.As I write this, I hoped to once and for all dispell the myth about granite and radon.  Well I can't.  I can tell you that radon is a radioactive substance generally found in the soil and levels vary according to location.  Granite, being a natural substance, can emit varying amounts.  I personally am not worried nor have I heard of this to be a problem in my area.  If you are concerned there are very inexpensive kits you can purchase that will test for the presence of radon in your home.One of the benefits of granite is all the beautiful colors and patterns it comes in courtesy of Mother Nature.   This is a pro for some and a con for others.  If you want your counter top to be visually consistent with an even pattern, granite could drive you crazy because many of them are  just not like that.  For this reason it is reccommended that you personally select the slabs to be used in your job.Granite, although less porous than marble, can still stain, show water spots and scratch, depending on the type of granite and the color.   I must confess that I cut on my granite,  subject it to hot pots  and have  had no problem.  I reccommend that my clients get a sample, take it home and abuse it.  If  your selection stands up to the test you should be good to go.  Your granite installer should also include a sealer which can be easily re applied about once a year or so.Depending on where you live and what type of granite you like price could be an advantage over quartz.  It is for us in Florida as we are close to the ports that receive the stone which saves a considerable amount in transportation.  Also, in general, the more plentiful the stone the lower the price with rare selections being more expensive.NEXT POST:  ALL ABOUT QUARTZ, IS IT BETTER?

What Are You Carrying?

Every two weeks, an intrepid group of bloggers participate in something called a Blog Off. We share our take on the same topic on the same day.Today's Blog Off topic is "What are you carrying?"  Good question.  As I pondered it, while driving to my appointment today, I heard an interview with Dr. Marc Agronin, author of  [amazon_link id="0306818531" target="_blank" container="" container_class="" ]How We Age:  A Doctor's Journey into the Heart of Growing Old[/amazon_link].  He was discussing the qualities and essential parts of ourselves that we carry into old age.  This got me thinking about how I would approach this Blog Off topic.  What are the gifts I carry with me now that I did not see at 18?  One thing is a sense of perspective.  They're not kidding when they say "hind sight is 20/20".  Today I think before I act.  I look beyond the present moment.  I have also managed to carry with me a general sense of optimism.  Yes I have suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, haven't we all?  But for me, behind it all,  hope is always there.  Today I carry with me the hope that my children will be everything they wish for themselves.  I believe everything happens for a reason and that there are no coincidences.  I honor my intuition and I also have some weird inkling that if I keep plugging away at this blog something will happen.  I don't know what but I hope and it keeps me going.   The MOST important thing I carry with me is my attitude.Check out the links below to see what other bloggers had to say.