BETTER LIVING BY MIELE

This past week I was given the opportunity, by the nice folks at Miele (rhymes with tequila), to mix business with pleasure.  I attended a Miele Table Artist Salon for an evening of culinary creativity.  I was not disappointed.Not only were we treated to an exceptional gourmet experience, courtesy of Chef David Whyko, but I also got to learn more about the two most promising and up and coming appliances in the industry. (Trivia:  Chef David was chef for Lenny Kravitz for ten years!)

Greeted at the door with a glass of bubbly set the tone.  This was followed by a sit down dinner for around 20 people. All food prepared by Chef David was cooked using a combination of induction, steam and speed cooking.Miele, based in Germany, is a family owned business started over 100 years ago.  Their guiding principle is to provide “Better Living” with products designed to make one’s life easier.  All appliances are tested to last a minimum of 20 years.We’ve been hearing the buzz about induction cooking and, as I have written before, it is a safer, faster and more efficient way to cook.  You will certainly be seeing the induction cooktop become a major player very soon.  The second star of the show was Miele’s steam oven.  Steam cooking is gaining in popularity as more people become aware of the capabilities it offers.  For example, you can do anything in a steam oven that you can do in a microwave.  Not gonna lie, there are two exceptions to that rule which are popcorn and reheating your morning cup of joe.  Here’s how it works.  Fill the reservoir with water, set your temperature and in about ten minutes average you should be done.  Steam cooking retains flavor and nutrients to a greater degree than with other modes..  A big thanks to the Miele Gallery in Boca Raton for an informative and delish event.  The Gallery offers prospective customers a hands on experience so you can see how their products add a little "better living" to your life. 

DAY 2 BOSCH BLANCO BLOGGER RETREAT

So where were we?  Ah yes, day 2 of my latest great adventure.  Friday, after an impressive little breakfast spread, we settled in for a guided tour of the new BSH Experience and Design Center and yes it WAS quite an experience.  We were outfitted in our very own custom and official looking lab coats (my first).  A camera crew toured with our group so someday I expect a film or two to make its appearance.Our first stop was THE WALLS (excellent use of hallway space, I might add).  These walls illustrate through shadow boxes, the details of materials, engineering and quality control that go into a Bosch appliance.  Each appliance undergoes not 25, not 250 but 2500 checks before being sent out into the world.  Yes, your new dishwasher may have a couple water spots and that's why.  The Bosch design philosophy is inspired by German industrial designer Dieter Ram's 10 principles of design .  They are in good company.    Apple Inc. is also one of the few companies designing products according to his principles.DESIGNED FOR LIFENext on the hit parade was Designed for Life-an Interactive Design Workshop.  My group worked with a member of the industrial design team to design a range.  We looked at things like how it could work for people that have limited mobility, are visually impaired (just had to remove my spectacles) or victims of advanced pregnancy.It was a real eye opener and I actually did come up with some ideas.  Here are my notes.  From sketches and notes the design team takes it to 3D imaging on the computer where they will tweak until its ready for the prototype stage.

 LISTEN TO THE SILENCEFrom vision to hearing, the next experience was all about my favorite Bosch product, the quintessential dishwasher.  Bosch makes the quietest dishwasher in the industry rated at 39 decibels.  I know this to be a fact from personal experience.  I've been squirted a time or two from opening the door when I wasn't aware that it was running (probably didn't have my glasses on).  They have solved that problem.  In new models a red laser dot shines on the floor when the dishwasher is running.  You can't miss it, even sans glasses.  In addition to the silence these dishwashers are rated the most water and energy efficient.  They are quite proud to have placed in Consumer Reports latest top ten in five categories including number one in value.  Speaking of value, you will spend anywhere from $549-$1,999 for a Bosch dishwasher.  The nice thing is that whether you opt for high end or entry level you don't have to sacrifice efficiency or silence.  The differences are in the interior bells and whistles. FIX AND FEAST!Time for lunch and a great opportunity to test drive all the Bosch appliances and Blanco plumbing fixtures .  Under the guidance of company chef, Kyle Jacobi, we collectively prepared a feast including fish tacos, stuffe chili rellenos, bacon wrapped shrimp, Spanish rice and more!WHAT'S COOKING?After lunch it was time to learn about induction cooking and convection ovens.  If you're not cooking on induction now, you will be in about ten years.  I'm not kidding.  Even the glass top electric range will go the way of those coil burner types we used to use.  Remember those?  The cool thing is you cannot burn yourself.  The heat only happens when the burner comes in contract with the bottom of the pan.  It uses a lot less power too!Convection ovens have been around a long time but I learned a couple of things about them too.  True convection, as featured in Bosch ovens, has its own separate heating element.  Then there is something called "Speed Convect".  What that means is no preheating.  Zero to 350 in no time at all!  We finished the BSH Experience in some really comfy chairs learning about the Forces that Drive Innovation presented by Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing at Blanco America.  I loved that he expressed that there is an emotional as well as technical component to kitchen design.  I have always held that belief.THE LAST HURRAH!The final event of this two day adventure was dinner at The Cannery in Newport Beach.  Here I got another glimpse of the water but for the first time the sky turned gray. (Guess it was sad we were leaving).That's it!  I have a lot more to share about new products at Blanco along with my random musings on stuff.  I hope you enjoyed your personal virtual tour.  I'll be loading lots more photos to the On the Road with Kitchens for Living Flickr album.  I'll let you know when they're up.  Ciao for now!  

DAY 1 BOSCH/BLANCO BLOGGER RETREAT

Back to the real world!!  Got home around 11:30 last night.  Jet lag be damned. I owe you!  Here are my notes from Thursday which was officially day one of our Blanco/Bosch Blogger Retreat. So without further ado:It's beautiful here!  The sun is shining but no sweat!  They tell me it's because it's dry.  I could get used to this no humidity stuff.  Last night the first arrivals gathered for dinner at Bayside, a beautiful restaurant in Newport Beach.The food was delicious, the scenery beautiful and I was so excited to be in California with such an impressive group!  This morning we went on a walking tour of the amazing Segerstrom Preforming Arts Center which is right around the corner from our hotel.  It's a world class venue for concerts, theater and especially dance. In fact it's the largest privately funded performing arts center of its kind in the nation. The oldest part was built in 1986 and the newest twenty years later. The design is comprised of an interesting juxtaposition of triangles and undulating curves.The 3000 seat theater is currently running the musical American Idiot featuring the rock group Green Day. We got a sneak peak back stage. I had no idea it was so complex behind the scenes!After a delicious lunch at Seasons 52 it was time to descend on the brand new BSH Design Center located close by in Irvine. BSH will feature not only Bosch but also Thermador and Gaggenau appliances when completed. Blanco and Bosch are two German based companies who value fine German engineering so it makes sense that they are collaborating to offer consumers the whole package, sinks, faucets and appliances of unmatched quality and design.

After a champagne reception we got to participate in a panel discussion on kitchen design trends moderated by Dwell Magazine Contributing Editor Erika Heet.

 

Thursday's dinner was a real treat.  The event was titled Designed to Devour.  That was a pretty apt description.  True Food Kitchen, Newport Beach is a new restaurant specializing in a very "California" type of cuisine, very whole, healthy and organic.  I had the best panang curry ever (vegetable, of course).  The acai-pomegranite mojito was not too shabby either!Enough for day one?  Day two we entered the "design lab" (lab coats and all, honest!).  We got a first hand view at the design process, materials and more.  Check back next post for round two where we really dig into the nitty gritty of what makes Bosch appliances so extraordinary.

DAY ONE AT ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST SHOW

 

 Day one began with a little networking at the Marys and Mimosas event sponsored by Modenus.  This is where I was hoping to meet some of the other bloggers.  I did run into Veronika of Modenus and Linda Merrill of Surroundings as well as meeting Saxon Henry for the first time.  Of course, Mimosas and Bloody Marys were on the menu but the temperature was hot, hot, hot and I just couldn’t at 11AM!  Tasty treats were also on hand for those who were so inclined.  Everyone was very friendly but I couldn’t weight to tuck into all the enticing displays.

 

First off I roamed the area featuring kitchen related products and there were some really awesome offerings.  Reclaimed wood is THE thing in flooring.  I loved the finishes at Tennessee Wood Flooring.  Wouldn’t this be awesome in a kid’s room?  This company’s products are stained through and through, well at least a couple millimeters so that sanding and repairs won’t compromise the finish color.I also fell in love with a company called Manhattan Forest Products whose tagline is “reclaiming New York City”.  That’s exactly what they’re doing.  Their flooring and wood paneling is made from wood reclaimed from the old Coney Island boardwalks, the old wood water towers that used to top many old buildings among other places.  If it’s old wood in New York City, they can make magic with it.  Just think, your floor could be “green” AND have its very own story. Of course I’m always on the hunt for interesting cabinet designs and these cabinets by Rutt certainly fit that criteria.  These are made of Sapele Mahogany and Rutt wants you to know that they will provide you with “chain of custody certification” when you purchase cabinets from them.  No, it’s not a warrant for your arrest, rather it’s a trail of proof that green practices were employed in the manufacture of your cabinetry from start to finish.Now you remember Think Glass.  I wrote about them here.  The painted glass is beautiful in person.  The paint is not on the surface but is, in fact, embedded between layers of glass!  Stunning. Many appliances were on show including Sub Zero Wolf, ULine, Best and Liebherr who has a kicking 48” refrigerator freezer that is half fridge and half freezer.  I love the symmetry of it and the fact that their products are a TRUE 24” deep with no muss, no fuss.  I enjoyed chatting with ventilation hood specialists at ModernAire and at Faber regarding a tricky design dilemma I’m working with at the moment. Compass Ironworks are iron forgers in with old world attention to details and I got to see a demo on the spot.  Yes it was hot.I also enjoyed one of the featured events of the day which was a talk entitled:  Globe Trotting: Inspiration Through Travel.  Yes, I agree that incorporating artifacts and mementos from our travels, wherever they may be, certainly make for  unique and personal interiors. It was a special treat to hear Juan Montoya speak as a part of the panel.All this crazy fun to be continued tomorrow but tonight my sis and I will see the Merce Cunningham dance company.  The production is called “4 Walls Doubletoss Interludes” and if you know anything about modern dance this is a very big deal indeed.

KITCHEN FAVORITES GUEST POST

Today’s guest post is from Susi, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, a must-shop resource for beautiful light fixtures.  Susi is sharing some favorite kitchens, from traditional to contemporary, cottage to penthouse. There is a wide range of styles, fixtures, cabinets, flooring and lighting in these kitchens. We hope you see something that will inspire you. What is your favorite kitchen?

Pinterest via

Love the greenhouse feeling to this kitchen. The cream cabinets and countertops blend seamlessly with the architecture. Pantry & appliances are tucked further back so they don’t disrupt the view.

Pinterest via

This cottage kitchen is one of our favorites because of the island that feels like a farmhouse table. Classic white subway tiles are classic for a reason…they’re timeless.

Apartment Therapy via

Small doesn’t mean unstylish. Love this eat-in-kitchen that is small on space but large on style. High gloss cabinets reflect the light to make the room feel bigger. The pendant light over the table adds a stylish touch.

Fresh Home via

Colored cabinets are not a new trend but we love the high gloss aqua on these metal cabinets. Everything feels sleek and polished in this contemporary kitchen.

House and Home via

Luxury finishes and quality materials make this kitchen a favorite. Dramatic dark cabinets and contemporary lighting make this kitchen feel sophisticated.

 

Abode Love via

This white kitchen is anything but sterile. Grey veined white marble, dark floors and punches of orange from the counter stools keep it lively. Love the kitchen pendant lights.

Shatter Boxx via

While many of our favorite kitchens are light and airy, we do love the drama of dark cabinets paired with dark floors. The island sink also makes this a fave, as does the professional range.

A Note on Design via

This contemporary farmhouse kitchen is a gorgeous blend of new and old. Love how the design incorporates the stone wall with contemporary cabinets and pendant lightsContent provided by Arcadian Lighting, a site that specializes in top quality lighting fixtures at extremely affordable prices. If you like this post, be sure to stop by the Arcadian Lighting blog and let us know you saw us here!

Dream Kitchens Made In Italy

Daniele Busca lives for Scavolini.  After spending an hour chatting with him and touring the showroom and US headquarters in Soho I can understand why.  Daniele is the Manager and Creative Director who makes it all work on this side of the pond.  The new location which has been open since last October is enjoying a brisk business and I think it's largely due to Daniele's knack for tweaking this Italian product for an American market.  "American kitchens are generally bigger", he says, "and where you would have an island in America we might have a kitchen table instead in Italy."  Another major difference is the appliances.  American refrigerators are almost always bigger."  White still reigns.I thought it was interesting to hear that home owners are requesting glossy finishes and architects prefer the matte look.  A artful mixing of textures, both tactile and visual,  is also important.  I asked Daniele to define a trend.  He says, "in the end a trend is what sells." The showroom spans two floors.  Displays were designed in Italy and re-designed by Daniele for an exact fit both in size and taste for the US market.  "Americans also tend to prefer symmetry in kitchen design," he added.  Scavolini is a family business based in Pesaro, Italy and has been the largest cabinet manufacturer in Italy since 1984 with 40 dealers  in the US.  This year marks the company's 50th anniversary.  Clientele for the New York location is largely an international group who keep an apartment in New York City as well as elsewhere.  This year Scavolini will roll out seven new models.  Four new displays are already in the works for this new showroom.  The Tetrix line, as seen at IDS,  designed by internationally-famous British designer Michael Young, is also being featured.  Tetrix is not yet on display here but Daniele's sending me some pix to share with you.  Designers may be interested to know that Scavolini has developed their own design and pricing program.  Scavolini is very involved in the Green movement.  I was surprised to hear that the manufacturing facility in Italy is 85% powered by solar panels and they are planning to make it 100% by the end of the year.  All cabinet boxes and door panels are made from 100% recycled fire retardant and water resistant wood.  All lacquers used are water-based.  Scavolini is involved in the local community offering the showroom for fund raising events  organized by trade associations and design schools.  Generally speaking, a Scavolini kitchen can be yours for from about 10K to upwards of 90K.   Thank you to Daniele for hosting my visit.  I really enjoyed chatting with him.  I asked a million questions and he was up to the task, warm and most gracious.  If you're ever in Soho stop in and see for yourself.  Tomorrow I will be back with more from New York.