Have I ever mentioned how much I love quartz countertops? If not, I have been remiss. Quartz tops, composed of 93% quartz and 7% resins, are the ultimate in durability, come in a variety of looks and are so easy to care for. What could be better? My favorite brand when it comes to quartz counter tops is Cambria. I love their selection of patterns and colors plus they make it so easy, all the colors are the same price! I was thrilled to be invited, earlier this month, to the local launch of two new additions to their luxurious Marble Collection, Ella and Brittanicca.
The event was held at the Pavillion Grille in Boca Raton. The stage was set with style, elegance and a chance to view the two new offerings up close and personal. It's easy to see that these latest marble looks were inspired by the seashore. Crazy beautiful veining brings to mind patterns created on the sand. 
Here is a quote from Cambria describing one of the new colors. "Vast and expansive, Brittanicca™ offers a velvety marbled background of neutral white that provides a stage on which gray streams meander among intertwining ashen veins dotted with veiled charcoal sparkles." It's perfectly poetic, yes? 
The second star of the evening, Ella, has a finer pattern but is also reminiscent of marble. The background is rich and creamy. Both of these options are a great way to get the opulent look of marble with easy to care for durability.
Both new finishes are a part of Cambria's Oceanic Collection.
Architecture Inspired Furniture: Brasilia by Broyhill
I often tout the benefits of designing to the architecture of a building. Integrating your interiors with your architecture makes for a look that is always right. This is the best way to avoid a strictly trendy or out-of-place look.
For example, if you have a MidCentury ranch style home, honor that and incorporate it with your furniture, cabinets and finishes. If your choices go with the house they'll never go out of style. Look to the structure for cues. If you have arched windows then complement them with a few arch details in the kitchen.
One style that exemplifies this concept on a grand scale is Brasilia furniture by Broyhill. Contemporary architecture of Brasilia, the capital of Brazil circa 1956-1960, was the inspiration for this style of furniture. The line was first introduced at the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle. It is easy to see how the city influenced the furniture inspired by it.
One place you can find Brasilia furniture today is at Retro Vegas on Main Street in Las Vegas Nevada. Owner Bill Johnson says, "The principal architect of Brasilia, Oscar Niemeyer, loved the parabolic arch and used it frequently.In addition, the aerial view of the city was designed to look like a plane or bird from which Broyhill used a bird symbol in some of the tiles and fabrics on their pieces.
For more on the latest pieces and prices at Retro Vegas, please visit their website www.retro-vegas.com
A Quest for Efficiency Fuels Passion at TecnogasSUPERIORE
What is hot, sexy, Italian and soon to be gracing kitchens across America? No, it's not my husband ;) , it's TecnogasSUPERIORE. I had the pleasure of meeting the new SUPERIORE line during my recent daytrip to Miami. 
The South Florida introduction of this new line of Italian dream appliances took place at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables Florida. Built by developer George Merrick in 1924, the Biltmore resembles the finest in classic Mediterranean architecture. It remains the centerpiece of Merrick’s vision of Coral Gables as an elegant, stately suburb, which he called “The City Beautiful.” Did I mention I was born there?
Back to TecnogasSUPERIORE! Manufactured strictly for the North American market, this line features optional panoramic windows, American sizing as well as a variety of cooking options including gas, induction and convection. Founded in 1952, Tecnogas is the premiere manufacturer of ranges and matching hoods in Italy.
TecnogasSUPERIORE ranges and hoods are made in Gualtieri, located in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, which also happens to be the heart of the Italian automotive industry. Think Lamborghini, Ferrari, you get the picture, fine Italian detail and design. For them, it was only natural for these elements to be incorporated into their products. Cuisine and an enthusiasm for cooking are celebrated in this region of Italy. 
Since size counts when it comes to our ovens, you can find 6.7 cubic feet in their 36" ovens. They call them "big gas ovens"! (say that quickly three times and you've got the right idea). A perfect blend of function with a distinctive Italian flair customized for American taste is what defines TecnogasSUPERIORE.
The DECO series is for you if you want a punch of color in your kitchen. Matte finishes include brown, red, cream and black with a variety of finishes available on the Deco-inspired knobs. All smart chefs know that when you have a range, adequate ventilation is a must. TecnogasSUPERIORE has got you covered there too.
Hoods to pair with all range styles offer a 600 CFM capacity. It isn't just about the looks, you see.TecnogasSUPERIORE is distributed throughout the US by Almo. They have also established a nationwide service network of partners trained as experts in their appliances. Feel free to contact me for pricing and availability. I say every kitchen has a "star". If you love to cook in style, this could be yours!Update 11/13/15- Tecnogas Superiore Ranges start at $3200 for 30” sizes, under $4500 for 36” and up to $10,000 for the Tri Fuel. The line is available at fine appliance retailers on the east coast and will be available in early 2016 in the Central US and West Coast.
The Art of Ceramics: Innovations with Tile of Spain
Last week Artful Kitchens hit the road again for a mini-trip to my hometown, Miami. I was excited to re-connect with some of the great people I met earlier this year on my visit to the Cevisama tradeshow (if you missed that, you can read about it here) with Tile of Spain. I was not disappointed!
Ceramic Solutions-Innovations Pushing Boundaries of Design was held at the Miami Center for Architecture & Design, presented by Tile of Spain. Several of the big Spanish tile companies were also on hand showing their wares and I'm happy to report that their innovative products are readily available to us here in South Florida and other parts of the US.
The big "takeaway" of the evening, besides seeing my peeps, was hearing Dr. Martin Bechthold, Professor, Harvard GSD, talk tile from a historical and architectural point of view. Clay has been used in the arts since ancient times and ceramic tile has a long history as a covering, or finish material. Now new technologies are utilizing ceramic tile architecturally and structurally!
Next up was Tile of Spain Consultant Ryan Fasan who gave us an overview of the latest tile trends along with solid knowledge that is so useful in helping me to educate clients on the best products. 
The sleek thin look of large format porcelain for counter tops is a current favorite of mine. Can you blame me? Consider it as an option if you're looking for a contemporary Euro vibe in your kitchen.
Breakthroughs in digital ink jet printing on tile allow for infinite possibilities. Tile can also be used to cool or heat your home due to their thermo dynamic properties.
It's just like Tile of Spain to round out the experience with a literal taste of Spain! We enjoyed tapas, a traditional paella and Spanish wine.
Tile of Spain is the international brand representing 125 ceramic tile manufacturers belonging to the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer's Association (ASCER).
Applying the Elements of Design to Your Kitchen
Elements of design are the building blocks of art for good reason. They also happen to work when it comes to planning and laying out your kitchen. Whether you are all about luxury or bound to the basics, awareness of these fundamentals can make all the difference.
Read moreThe Many Facets of Custom Cupboards
Who says the art of printing is dead? You may be devouring novels on your Kindle but printing is very much alive at Custom Cupboards. Their Facets program allows you to bring a new level of personalization to your kitchen, bath or anywhere you have cabinets through digital printing. 
With Facets you can have a truly artful kitchen enhanced with your own original artwork or photography. If you can dream it they can do it. Just remember you can't reproduce work that is copyrighted. That is a no no, but you knew that, yes?
Mael Hernandez, President of this Wichita Kansas based company, was quoted in the Wichita Business Journal as saying,“It’s all about the trend in personalization. We think this is going to change the cabinet industry. It’s very exciting for us.”
Custom Cupboards uses patent pending digital printing technology to stylize cabinet fronts with textures, patterns, art, photography and even typography.
What do you think? Remember it's just an accent, doesn't have to be on every cabinet. In fact, less is definitely more in this case. You're creating a focal point which gets diluted when over done. In case you're wondering, Facets would add about 15% to the cost of an average 13 cabinet, L-shaped kitchen if you did it on say three doors. If you'd like to explore adding a new "facet" to your kitchen, I'd love to help you do it!