Let’s see. Where were we? Ah, yes. I was going to tell you about FTK at iSaloni. If you don’t know about my trip to Milan with the Blanco Design Council during Design Week, you’ve got some catching up to do! Anyway, FTK, or Technology for the Kitchen, is a showcase for innovation in the category of domestic appliances. 
The focus is on the seamless integration of cooking and refrigeration technology in the kitchen. It is a world event so I saw names I am familiar with such as Miele, Electrolux and for the first time at this show, Subzero Wolf (above). I also saw many unfamiliar brands such as Turkey’s Arcelik (Beko) Group which was also making its debut at EuroCucina 2014. 
In Europe we Americans have a reputation for embracing BIG! This includes cars, portions and, yes, refrigerators. Did you know what we call a standard refrigerator is referred to as an “American Refrigerator” in Europe? This is a misconception as there are many NYC apartment owners who I'm sure would warmly embrace their kitchen luxury a bit scaled down! Am I right? Compact sizing was a popular offering along with ease of operation and low energy consumption. 
I saw new color choices for appliances such as the return of black and white for high end appliances, as featured at Miele.
Ventilation was perhaps the “design star” at FTK with all kinds of sculptural sexy hood choices on show. All the appliances were design oriented as well as efficient, offering consumers products that meet technical demands while holding their own in the “looks department”. This means appliances for the home have taken on new shapes, colors and materials in addition to being light, compact, ergonomic and extremely appealing. 
Steam and induction cooking continue to take the industry by force. They’re not going away peeps! 
Contemporary lifestyles and increasingly open floor plans require versatile, multi-purpose solutions. In some areas of the globe, not only is fresh water a precious commodity, but so is fresh air. Check out these interesting air purifiers. 
Next up: What's going on in the bathroom? Salone Internazionale del Bagno. If you'd like to see all my photos from Design Week Milan, I've got you covered. Just click here.
This New Sink is Definitely THE ONE
Organization and efficient use of space will make or break your kitchen. It all starts at the sink which, it may be argued, is the heart of your kitchen. Living in South Florida, I do my fair share of condo kitchens where space is a precious commodity. It’s not always practical to devote 36” (the standard) to a sink base cabinet when every inch counts.
That is why I’m so pleased that my go-to sink manufacturer, Blanco, has introduced something very good in a small(er) package. It’s called Blanco ONE. These stainless steel single bowl sinks are not only sized right to fit in 30" or even 27” sink cabinets but they can be customized to the way you work. They come in three sizes XL Single Bowl, Super Single Bowl and Medium Bowl. All are 9" deep which is a good thing when it comes time to insert that spaghetti pot.
Perhaps the best thing of all is that you have lots of accessory options sold either as kits or a la carte. They include grids, work stations, cutting boards, magnetic drain covers and sink caddies to hold that necessary evil, the sponge.
Click here for more information about Blanco ONE.
Hot Trends Make a Big Splash at KBIS 2014
As many of you know, the Kitchen and Bath masses gathered in Las Vegas February 4-6 for their annual pilgrimage to KBIS, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. This year the event was part of Design & Construction Week, a new concept, merging KBIS with IBS, the International Builder’s Show. As a result, it was bigger and better than ever. Let’s hope that what happened there does NOT stay there !
Maybe I should limit that to kitchen and bath industry products and trends ;) Uber interior design resource Modenus hosted their latest Blogtour group who covered the event in a big way! You can get the entire scoop here.So what is trending, you may ask? Here’s the latest scoop from Kitchen & Bath Design News and KBIS co-sponsors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association:
Let there be light. Yes we’re used to lights in the refrigerator but now we’re adding LED lighting to cabinetry as well.
Make that matte. Last year I noticed a growing interest in matte finishes and it’s even more so this year. One such surface is the new Dekton by Cosentino. It's an ultra compact surface including quartz, porcelain and glass. This makes it perfect for both indoor and outdoor use, even better than quartz as it's UV resistant and can withstand extreme heat.
Keep it simple. NKBA President John Petrie, CMKBDT tells us, "while transitional styles are still number one, we see kitchen design trending more contemporary this year, with clean , simple lines: less clutter and little ornamentation".Quartz rocks, especially if it’s patterned! Homeowners have discovered quartz but they're not willing to give up the pattern and movement found in natural stone products like granite and marble. New finishes by Cambria let you have the best of both worlds.
Cambria's Waterstone Collection captures the depth and beauty of marble and granite while offering the superior strength and performance of quartz. (Here's something for you "traditionalists", they clearly didn't get the message about contemporary in this kitchen!)Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets, We may like our cabinetry look pared down but gimme the gadgets! Technology reigns, ie anything touch operated or digital.
The new Temp20 Technology by Delta Faucets boasts a digital temperature display that saves you the shock or injury from water that's not the temperature you were expecting. When the temperature is less than 80 degrees the LED display will glow blue. It's magenta from 80-110 and red when it's above that. You can get this feature on your Delta faucet this spring.
A bath to come home to, trends in the bathroom focus on customization and spa ambiance. In the high end markets, free standing tubs are all the rage. They are functional and sculptural at the same time. We are also understanding the benefits of hydrotherapy as in soaking tubs and steam baths.Additional features you may want to include in your new kitchens and baths include the following:-Induction cooktops (and now ranges too!)-Steam ovens-French-door refrigerators (duh, I think we all know that already!)-Bottom freezer drawers (ditto of above)-Touch activated faucets-Electronic (no touch) faucets-LED lighting-Charging stations-Pet stationsI believe all of the above are here to stay, at least in the foreseeable future, and the technology will only get better.
Talkin Turkey and Combi-Steam Ovens
Sometimes my job comes with perks. I cannot lie. This week I had the pleasure of attending the annual Thanksgiving “lunch and learn” hosted by Florida Builder Appliances, the dynamic go-to resource for all types of appliances from GE to the uber high end including Subzero-Wolf, Miele and even La Cornue. This little gathering for us peeps in the business is quickly becoming an annual ritual we look forward to.
We get to experience the amazing Chef Rachelle Boucher in action. She has cooked for the rich and famous including Catherine Zeta-Jones and George Lucas among others.
We enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving fare including turkey, stuffing and cranberry relish, served each year with a new culinary twist. In addition we learn all kinds of interesting expert tips.
Chef Rachelle recommends the “butterfly method” where she actually spreads the turkey, breast down for cooking. This is so that the white meat retains moisture.Perhaps the most impressive take away this year was learning about the combi-steam oven. You know I tout the induction cooktop as the future of cooking, now you can pair that with the combi-steam oven. This gem combines steam cooking with a convection browning/roasting function.
Everyone knows you can steam vegetables to retain flavor, nutrients and moistness but you can also reheat pizza in this bad boy!! Yes, and you will enjoy a crispy perfectly browned crust. The 14lb turkey at the top of this post was cooked entirely in a Thermador Combi-Steam Oven. It was steamed for one hour and 15 minutes followed by 30 minutes on browning mode (no basting needed) and voila'!
Commercial combi ovens have been used for years in the restaurant industry. Now the same technology is available for your kitchen. In addition to Thermador, you can get your combi oven from Miele or Wolf. Bosch makes one too but it's not available in the US :(
If you're eager to sample the benefits of steam convection cooking but don't have the space or funds to invest in the high end brands, you're in luck. Williams- Sonoma sells a smaller counter top model for around $300. It looks small but can hold a whole 5lb chicken or 12" pizza.
Next up: Is your kitchen tired, decrepit and outdated? You can refresh, renew and update without reinventing the wheel.
Poggenpohl, Ultimate Form and Function
Whether your in the market for a new kitchen or you're in the business of selling kitchens one of the first questions that comes up is, “what’s your style?” Are you traditional, transitional or contemporary? If the answer is contemporary, the elements to look for include seamless integration, totally efficient function and clean sleek lines. These happen to be the standards at Poggenpohl, founded over 120 years ago as the first German kitchen brand and now the best known kitchen brand in the world – present in more than 70 countries around the globe. Poggenpohl can show you what true European contemporary design is all about.
Today they continue to think outside the box (pun intended) to offer some of the most cutting edge cabinetry in the industry.
Behind the scenes storage is also a Poggenpohl hallmark. A wide range of available drawer inserts can be customized to your needs. These kitchens are not designed, they’re engineered! This includes not only cabinets but thin counter tops, offered in glass or stone, and even integrated glass front cooking appliances! One can be sure that their kitchens are as pleasurable to look at as they are to work in. I also love that although the elements are integrated they seem to also stand alone as individual sculptural statements. (Spoken like a true kitchen designer channeling her inner artist.)
A modern European kitchen utilizes the easy to reach back splash area under the upper cabinets. Other elements to notice include horizontal graining, mid-height cabinetry and a mix of texture and materials. 
I enjoyed learning about Poggenpohl and their design philosophy as a part of the Modenus Blog Tour New Orleans.Next up: We’re gonna get steamy at KFL! Adding luxury and health benefits to your bathing experience with Mr. Steam
Trend Spotting at KBIS 2013
The last two days of my exciting visit to New Orleans with the Modenus Blog Tour centered around the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). This annual trade show is produced by the National Kitchen & Bath Association which is celebrating 50 years as the industry leader (more on that later). I love to attend the show as it allows me to see the trends emerging in the American market and keeps me up to date with products and technology. This year I had an additional behind-the-scenes perspective as a member of the Tour. We were there for opening day, Friday April 19th and enjoyed a whirlwind tour of products followed by time for solo exploration and networking on Saturday. Every year has a theme and this year I thought it was particularly appropriate. The show as all about the concept of "evolution". This is really a common theme across the board as it applies to everything from design and products and how we are evolving the way we do business in 2013. Here are some of my discoveries:Let there be lightLighting always plays a crucial role in kitchen and bath design but this year it was all about the light within. Why didn't we think of this before? LED lights inside cabinetry, particularly closets is a great idea! 
The look of leatherLeathery textures made a big appearance. Silestone by Cosentino debuted their new Suede line of quartz counter tops. Gator Mills ( a very local Louisiana company) showed leather (and leather look ) vanities and Richelieu is offering recycled, reconstituted leather veneer. 
Sliding doorsCabinet doors no longer have to swing out due to new hinging technologies that allow doors to slide. Hafele calls theirs Frontino
Glaminates take the stageIt's not your grandma's laminate anymore! Taking a cue from our friends across the pond, American laminate manufacturer Wilsonart has upped their game introducing two new seamless edge details and increased durability and sustainability. 
Blingy to sculptural When it comes to handles you can go for the bling or the sculptural. Cabinet hardware manufacturer Duverre is all about very artful sculptural shapes and while I saw a lot of matte finishes, very shiny made an appearance too. 
Look, no hands!Hands free faucet technology has quickly become the norm across the industry and was shown by not only the original, Brizo but also Rohl, Kohler and Moen and Delta Faucets.
This year's best in show award went to Toto for their awesome Neorest 550H toilet. Believe me when I tell you it can just about do anything but drive you to work! Stay tuned for an entire post about Toto and the Neorest 550
In a nutshell KBIS2013 was largely about technology and texture. Cabinet manufacturers are touting what's inside more than ever as they maximize the ease of living in the kitchen. White cabinets, cleaner lines and pops of natural and engineered wood veneers are strong trends.Next up: Poggenpohl, the cutting edge in kitchen cabinet design, inside and out