Time to switch from "turkey talk" to tile! Hope you had a great holiday. If you haven't found the new Kitchens for Living page on Facebook, please check it out and give me some love (ok I'll settle for a like). Today I'd like to highlight a local resource that you should definitely know about if you live in South Florida.
Cavastone is located in Boca Raton. I've worked with them before but I was recently in the neighborhood so I decided to make a pit stop and check out the latest in the world of tile. The showroom is stunning, sophisticated, and well lit which allows you to view the products to their full advantage. I was most impressed with the options they have for porcelain tile but there is also a large assortment of granite and marble slabs.
The tile above is gorgeous! It's a natural semi-precious stone accented with silver! Makes me think of a decadent boudoir or dressing area.
Digital printing technology allows for an infinite number of options when it comes to porcelain tile. They've got the natural look down! The nice thing is if you ever need more it can be made for you. Those large sizes (see top) also come in 25" by 25" in case your abode is not quite that large. 
This dimensional look is also a big trend, used for walls in both interior and exterior applications. You can find all Cavastone info right here on the Kitchens for Living Local Resources page. If you've got a great local resource clue me in. I'd love to hear about it!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today I thought it would be appropriate to share with you a divine (literally) sanctuary located a midst all the urban hustle of Dallas, Texas. It is called the Thanksgiving Square Chapel and was designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson.
The chapel contains many awe inspiring features but, being partial to spirals, this is the one that takes my breath away. You can read more about it on this interesting blog post over at Glasstire.com. The exterior pic is courtesy of Bluffton.edu.Happy Thanksgiving to all my blog peeps, for which I am very grateful. May you experience the magic of gratitude. Now go eat some turkey, watch some football and give the closest person a GREAT BIG HUG. <3Glo
Viva Modenus!! KBIS 2015, Las Vegas
Yes! I'm excited to announce I will be off on a new adventure to cover the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas this coming January courtesy of uber design resource Modenus. KBIS is the BIG annual event where industry professionals learn about new technologies and get fueled with creative inspiration. 
I will be in great company, as you can see, meeting most in person for the first time. I'm looking forward to sharing ideas with them but most of all I can't wait to share it all with you, my blog peeps. Wheels up on January 18th but until then I will be covering all sorts of interesting tidbits leading up to the big show. Follow me here, on Twitter, Instagram or on the new Kitchens for Living Face Book page. Oh, and don't forget to check out all the Blog Tour Vegas designers. It's always fun to see different perspectives. After all, don't you want it ALL?
5 Things To Do Before Remodeling Your Kitchen
A new kitchen can be life changing. The process of obtaining one definitely is! Make no mistake, it's stressful and expensive but it can also be fun and adventurous, with a little preparation. Here are five steps, culled from my 20 plus years in the biz, that can help make the process less about stress and more about adventure!
Collect Your Thoughts & ImagesI have always been a big proponent of what I call "kitchen scrapbooking". It's the best way to begin. Collecting your ideas is now easier than ever with resources like Houzz.com, Pinterest and Modenus. Just grab what appeals to you for whatever reason. This is the way to identify your style. Sometimes a picture is what it takes. You may choose 12 pics and 10 of them feature black counter tops! Maybe you hadn't even consciously thought of that preference. Get the picture?
Consult a proOnce you have some good ideas about what type of appliances, cabinets etc. you'd like to see in your kitchen run it by a pro. I have always felt that the best projects are the result of great collaborations. The more you bring to the table, the more your kitchen will be a unique reflection of your own personality and lifestyle. My job is to make sure you know all your options and to translate them into a functional and beautiful plan. A large (and fun) part of my job is staying educated on the latest products and technologies and I am excited to share that info with my clients. Most kitchen designers will work with you at whatever level you require from simple consultations to full blown project management including design, supply and installation. When you're making an investment in a new kitchen consulting with a trusted and knowledgeable professional is a small price to pay!
Create a temporary kitchenOnce the madness begins you can realistically expect your kitchen to be down at least ten days or so, maybe longer depending on various factors. Having a functioning temporary kitchen will be your saving grace. If you have a laundry room with a sink that is a good start. Locate your refrigerator close by. If you have a microwave hood you can set it on a table or other surface. Just plug it in and you're good to go. Slow cookers are a good idea too. If you are a domestic diva, start freezing meals! Pack a box with your everyday necessities such as glasses, plates, cutlery, cups etc. and don't forget the coffee pot. The more time you take to think this part through and set it up, the happier you'll be during the process. Trust me.
Be prepared to go over budgetBudgeting for your new kitchen can seem daunting. It is. You think you've thought of everything but then something else is bound to appear. There are some tools that can help. Check out the free downloadable Kitchen & Bath Planner available here from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)
Pick your battlesYou will be faced with an overwhelming amount of choices as you work through the process and you're going to have to decide what your priorities are. Unfortunately, usually, we can't have it all. Pick three. Think of the things that will add the most value for YOU! Those should be your splurges. You can save money elsewhere. It's just like clothes. Investing in that one great handbag or pair of shoes or scarf can elevate the style factor of a whole outfit. In the kitchen it could be a counter top, a particular tile or cabinet finish that you fall in love with but it can also be something like investing in a counter depth refrigerator that doesn't stick out a foot if your tight on space. There you have it, if you've been looking for a place to begin, this is a great start. Don't hesitate to email me for help at kitchensforliving@gmail.com. If you've experienced a kitchen renovation, what would you add to this list?
Spain Takes the Stage at Cersaie 2014
Tile of Spain, a collective of 90 Spanish ceramic wall and floor tile manufacturers, recently showcased new collections and innovations at the Cersaie 2014 show. Held last month in Bologne, Italy, Cersaie is THE yearly international exhibition of ceramic tile.
I love to note the trends at this show as they are a barometer of what we’ll be seeing here in the near future. It’s not only the tile itself but how it’s being used that intrigues me and can offer us a wealth of design ideas.Tile has been used in building as far back as 3000BC in ancient Greece. First used to replace thatch roofs, they were desired for their fire resistance. Today tile finishes are vast, varied and constantly reinvented through the advent of new technologies affecting both performance and aesthetics.This year Spanish manufacturers, reflecting the latest design trends, showed vintage styles, hexagon shapes, three dimensional profiles and more.Here are some of my favorites from Tiles of Spain showcased at Cersaie 2014Porcelanosa (above) makes a complete contemporary statement with this combination of tiles. I especially like the subtle injection of Old World suggested by the matte black floor tile. 
Other than the fact that chevrons are always cool, I love the gradient shades of grey shown here by Equipe Ceramicas, so original! The grey and white are also neutral and easy to design around.
Think pink! A lot of chick-pad-pink from Unicer (above). It's all tile, the white, the print the textured and the matte. Would you?
If you're going to use tile in the kitchen, go big! It really makes a statement.For more ideas check out the Tile of Spain USA Inspiration Gallery.
Museum Inspirations, Italian Style
There are still a couple of amazing experiences I have not shared from my Milan adventure, as a part of the Blanco Design Council earlier this year. One of them was a visit to the Triennale di Milano Design Museum.
This center for contemporary art, architecture and design focuses on Italy's contribution to all these disciplines. Opened in 2007, rather than being a museum in the classical sense – one with a fixed collection – it is a space with continuously changing exhibitions. The building which houses the Triennale is located at the edge of the Parco Sempione and was built in 1933 by Giovanni Muzio. I discovered it on my first day in Milan whilst strolling in the park trying to shake off the last vestiges of jet lag. Wow! 
As I found my way to the second floor I discovered an exhibit called Constancy & Change in Korean Traditional Craft 2014. Why Korea you ask? Well Korea and Italy have a long history of diplomatic relations, 130 years.
Korean culture has a 5000 year history to draw upon so the exhibit was vast and varied. Curated as a magical journey through time and space, the exhibit consisted of art works by twenty one prominent Korean artists. Although the media was so varied, the common threads were a conscious awareness and incorporation of nature, harmony, simplicity and sophistication.
The theme of the exhibit was the five materials of traditional Korean craft: ceramics, hanji (Korean mulberry paper), textiles, metal and lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Displays were designed to enhance these materials.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention these stunning cabinets. These are actually book chests made from paulownia and chinaberry woods and hanji (mulberry paper), delicate and sturdy at the same time.
Sometimes the best experiences are of the unplanned variety and that is especially true of this one. I guess the Triennale and I were meant to find each other. ;) More photos from this trip and my other travels visit Kitchens for Living on the Road