About a month ago, I was asked to review the Delta Pilar Faucet with Touch20 technology and provided the product by Delta. I knew this might be a perfect product for my son Independent Product Analyst to test in my apartment in Manhattan Independent Product Testing Laboratory.

Review aside, do you know what the chances are to get your college kid to return an email, let alone write about a piece of his life on his mom's blog? Reading his review (it was sent to me at 3 am-no surprise there) gave me much insight into features, benefits, and new, learned, behaviors surrounding this faucet technology. Without further ado, here is my son's manifesto comprehensive review (as well as evidence of where my college dollars have gone these past nearly four years-graduation in May 2010!) I think you will enjoy reading this as much as I did. I asked for a paragraph or two, but I couldn't edit it, it's too good!

 

We are a pair living in New York City, and we love to cook, which is a byproduct of our statuses as near-starving college students.  Therefore, the kitchen is a very important place to us. It's a small space, typical of kitchens found in New York's cramped urban dwellings.  We were thrilled at the opportunity to test the Delta faucet because, not only do we appreciate functional kitchen appliances, but we have a constant bone to pick with germs as well.

Our menus consist of a lot of meat, poultry, and fish, and before I met my girlfriend, cross contamination rarely, if ever, crossed my mind.  Since this realm of enlightenment, for better or for worse, every time I touch meat or fish I wash my hands immediately after.  Washing your meaty hands with a typical faucet is trickier than it sounds if you don’t want to spread any germs, as it usually involves a lot of elbows, wrists, forearms, sometimes even a foot, or a chin, in the attempt to maneuver the faucet lever higher or lower.  As you can see, this was becoming an issue.

Enter shiny new Delta faucet with removable head. The faucet head can be toggled between two different water flows; spray and regular stream, and it is nice to have both options.  There is a magnetic ring that holds the spout in place for easy removal and reattachment, although the head needs to be faced forward for it to take hold. In addition, the water pressure can go quite high which can be useful, and the temperature changes quickly between hot and cold, which means that unintentional scalding happens a lot less.

When we first started playing around with the touch feature of the faucet, we were like cave people at the dawn of time, touching and poking the object and measuring its responses.  In our studies, we found that it could be slightly temperamental, mostly when the area of the faucet being touched is wet.  This isn’t much of an issue since there is a whole lot of other area on the faucet from which the water flow can be activated and deactivated. 

Since we are dish-glove wearers when doing the dishes, it was of utmost importance that we didn’t have to de-glove to turn on and off the faucet, and thankfully we were not disappointed.  And you may ask “how do you move the faucet around then without activating it?”  It is a logical question, but the engineers at Delta have accounted for that, and designed it such that if you touch or grasp the neck and maintain the touch for a few seconds, it will not turn on or off but stay in the same mode.  This is subject to a certain amount of trial and error, however, and will most likely improve as the technology improves.

The old fashioned on and off handle is also “touchified,” which is confusing at times because you can turn the water on by touching and lifting it, although it must be in the lifted position for water to flow.  This reality takes a bit to wrap one's head around, but in the end we think it’s best to leave it lifted all the time, since it won’t turn on otherwise and it would ultimately defeat the purpose of the “touch and go” aspect of the faucet.  

An understandable concern with this, especially for city dwellers is "what happens when a cockroach (they have P.O. boxes in New York City) or rodent, or perhaps a pet, activates the faucet by accident?"  This is entirely possible since it can be sensitive to a small touch, but there is nothing to fret about because it will automatically turn itself off after four minutes (should be half that). Editor's (mom's) note: We do not have said cockroach or rodent issue-if we did, someone's head would be on a platter!

M&M Cooking TogetherSince Manhattan apartments are especially small, we are constantly in or moving around the kitchen area, so we had a lot of contact with the Delta faucet.  Besides the whole germ thing, the touch feature was very convenient just for the fact that you don’t have to reach those extra few inches and lift up the on/off handle; a quick flail of the finger or forearm is all it takes to turn the water on and let us complete our objective. 

The aesthetics of the brushed metal swan neck faucet are elegant, though I would like to see the touch on/off functionality migrate to different designs to suit a broader range of kitchen and bathroom décor.   The soap dispenser is however surprisingly boring, and it would have been nice if Delta could have taken their mission of decreasing cross contamination a step further by implementing an easy touch soap dispensing system.  Nevertheless, the faucet is the focal point of this unit, and deservedly so.  Since our use began, we have denied millions, if not billions, of pesky germs and other toxic bio hazards from inhabiting the surface of our faucet, making it one less pit-stop the little buggers can hitch a ride from.

As the designated but proud germaphobes of the family, we are happy to have this newly found sense of cleanliness and convenience in our lives.  It is a great start to something that I think will catch on for many. I now have the urge to tap every faucet I see to turn it on, which is either just muscle memory or the mark of a good product.  I think it is the latter.

 

Editor/mom/Susan: Thanks for the review! My personal observations, after light use over a four day period, are also positive. It was a bit confusing at the start as to what position to leave the main lever in, but it's not rocket science. You figure it out. I felt the faucet spout was too long, falling toward the front of our normal sized sink, which means it should be mounted as far back as possible. As far as the concept behind the technology, although I'm a believer (unlike my son) that exposure to germs makes for a healthy immune system (to a point, trust me) I cannot deny the benefits of its time saving (I'm very impatient) attributes. I like efficiency! 

I'm a bit lax on telling you about some new (or if not new, then cool) products. Here are a few interesting ones.

But, first, within this section is a product which I was asked to personally review. My policy, like many bloggers, is and has been (the one other time that I reviewed a product) that if I like the product, I will review it. If not, I will not. And, I mean, I will not. I do not ask to review products. Example: There is a product which I was approached about and was subsequently sent to me at least 2 months ago, maybe 3 months. There is a small kit which I needed for a certain type of installation in order to review it in a way that makes sense to my lifestyle and I requested it initially. The product functions perfectly without it, I can experience the end result, but it is not how I would normally use the product. I'll review the product if the kit comes unless there is a compelling reason not to. A second example is a colleague of nearly 20 years who sent me her just published book and asked me to review it. I felt the book was poorly written, declined with a diplomatic yet honest assessment, and that relationship declined as well. I have obligations to no one within my industry.

I see nothing wrong with sharing my personal use experiences that are connected to reviewing an occasional product. If I'm extremely enthusiastic about it, that will show. If it's a nice, simple, product that is a generally pleasant experience to use, that will show too. There will be decibels of difference in enthusiasm, so to speak, in my reviews which will honestly reflect my personal experience with a product. Will I say anything negative about a product? Sure. If I dislike it overall, I do not see the purpose of using this platform to make that type of (negative) announcement. In that case, I'm going to assume that it may just not speak to my lifestyle needs/wants. I think this concept serves no ill purpose, whatsoever. In fact, I think it's a positive and helpful service to my readers for a variety of reasons. I hope you think so too.

 

 MGS T45-DF One spout, two waterways built in, three levers: hot, cold, filtered. Normally, one has an extra spout mounted for filtered water. Made of solid stainless steel, lead free (of course) and NSF certified, it is 100% non toxic. Their own design team has created the faucet, and many others, which MGS calls innovative functionality, with an emphasis on convenience and performance. I am one who likes simple lines. I think simple often = elegance, and I do think this is a very elegant faucet system.

 

 

 

 

 

 Studio Italia Design has introduced a MUST SEE lighting fixture. Why? It redefines the single flourescent ceiling fixture in a huge way. Here are their words: "The Inpiega by Italian Designer Marco Ferreri is available as a sconce, table lamp, floor lamp or suspended fixture. It calls for fluorescent lamping and offers both direct and indirect light. With an entirely modern shape with geometric lines, the inner side is available in white, while the outer side can be done in white or raw aluminum."

 

GelPro floor mats GelPro asked me if I was interested in using their product in my home, and I accepted. I had certainly heard of GelPro when they first introduced their product, maybe a couple of years ago, and I had mild interest, but not much more than that.

Having moved into our new (not newly constructed) home 9 months ago and living with a tile floor (which I never had before) it made a lot of sense to try it. FYI...I did not design my kitchen in the images...it's 20 years old, so a renovation is in my future, for sure! 

I came home after a short trip last week, and my husband had the GelPro mat in place. My initial reaction was WOW! It looked really great. Upscale, cool, designer-y, I was extremely impressed. You must take a look at all of the styles and colors. The selection is fantastic. I was a little nervous, because some of the images to my eye did not look that promising, but it was helpful to see both close up and far away shots, in fact, very helpful. Because of those shots, I decided I wanted something that looked like a visible pattern from a ways away. It was very tough to pick a color, the options are great, but I settled on the deep, rich brown, which I LOVE.

The sensation, once I stood on the mat, was truly a surprise. I did not expect the surface to be so soft, especially given the particularly busy pattern. It looked like, and I expected it to be, a semi-tough top surface, for wear purposes. It was not-it was soft. It's great on the feet, it's not too soft and not too hard. I'm sorry I didn't take a closer look at GelPro earlier. The mats come in special "designer sizes" as they are referred to. In fact, there are many different sizes. The performance and looks far exceeded my expectations, very much so. I'm happy to be able to report this.

 

Sub Zero UC-15I Ice Maker - Sub Zero introduces an ice maker. At 15" wide, incorporating the flush installation Sub Zero is famous for, this appliance can easily fit anywhere. It makes 50 lbs of ice in one day and stores up to 25 lbs. Best news yet, the ice is produced with filtered water, and the filter even tells you when it needs to be changed! Now, that's good thinking. The controls are electronic, the face is stainless steel, and there is led lighting. This ice maker is approved for outdoor use...see the site for further details. Literally....cool!

FIRST...JOIN ME FOR MY SECOND FACEBOOK EVENT! I'M TAKING QUESTIONS ON KITCHEN DESIGN. SEND ME YOUR QUESTIONS BY THIS SATURDAY, AND I'LL DO Q&AS ON SUNDAY. DO THE TEST...PLEASE LOOK AT YOUR QUESTION AS IF YOU KNEW NOTHING OF YOUR ISSUE, TO BE SURE IT'S CLEAR AND CONCISE. LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING YOU WITH YOUR KICHEN DESIGN QUESTIONS! SEND TO: SUSAN @ SUSANSERRAASSOCIATES.COM AND BE A FAN OF MY FACEBOOK PAGE! 

Here is what's catching my attention...new and/or interesting products you need to know about.

Blue Star is sort of a lone wolf (no pun intended) in the pro range category. A somewhat silent player, it's a product that deserves more attention. Blue Star says that they are the only genuine restaurant range for the home due to their open burner system, producing 22,000 btus of power, resulting in shorter cooking times and an even simmer. BUILD YOUR OWN Blue Star range (that's what I built in the image) to reflect your personal style and preferences.

 

 

Miele hasjust redesigned their CombiSets, or modular cooking pieces. I LOVE modular pieces. It's a super flexible, super functional way to precision-design your cooking needs. The new line includes an induction cooktop and Japanese Tepan Yaki. The design of these pieces are gorgeous, with controls that are slanted in an ergonomic way. A slightly larger 15" size is available for some models and that really makes sense to me.

 

I'm crazy about sink accessories! In my new home, I have this one small built-in cutting board, and it's so incredibly useful to have it right nearby. We do so many tasks at our sinks...sink accessories are a huge help throughout the process. Elkay is introducing a wide assortment of new sink accessories, enhancing aesthetics and expanding functionality in the kitchen. Designed for the Gourmet e-granite and Avado sink families. There are 39 new accessories!

 

Oceanside Glasstile's Muse is a clean edge, handcrafted, recycled glass mosaic tile. It comes in over 42 colors and nine patterns. 

Some of the colors contain up to 97% recycled bottle glass, which is collected from curbside recycling programs (definitely a ton of Corona bottles!)

 

I love these random products that I find, just love them.

Here is a copper spice rack. Doesn't it look so elegant? It also comes in aluminum, brass or stainless steel. I would imagine there may be some polishing required on occasion, unless a sealer is used, better check with the manufacturer.

The finishes available are mirror, fine satin, anodized, antique and etched. By Quality Metal Works, in business since 1965. 10 1/4W x 31H x 4 3/4D

 

 

 

Another cool accessory for the sink, here's a cloth holder from Magisso. A clever concept, the cloth holder uses magnets to keep it in place...one magnet inside the sink cabinet on the outside of the sink and one in the cloth holder to attach to the outside magnet. It will not scratch the surface of your sink. Some cool, Scandinavian designs too!

Here are more (and no quick 1-2-3 roundup for me-too much to show you) truly fabulous finds that I'd like to share with you.

And, for the uninitiated...here's how I handle the products from KBIS. I'm not in a rush. Over several weeks' time, maybe months, I'll be bringing you products that I have found at KBIS that need to be noticed. Some will be newly introduced, some will already be in a product line for some time but deserve to be brought to the forefront. It is not only new products that should be mentioned!

First up is Texas Lightsmith, a little booth way at the end of the convention center in no man's land (that's where many of the best exhibitors are, scrunched together in a bunch of aisles).

Texas Lightsmith manufacturers lots of things - sinks, hoods, metal panels for cabinet door inserts, lighting, and more. I loved this display for apron sinks, but I'm sure these patterns can be used for other purposes.

Being a bit more of a modern girl myself, I particularly like the third up from the bottom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kohler's new stunning (I've been using that word quite a bit during this show) finish, Vibrant Moderne Gold, really took my breath away. You can find it on a variety of products, even on the very sexy Karbon faucet.

 

Blanco, one of my favorite "no brainer" sink recommendations, has just come out with Silgranite II. What you are looking at in the image is a Blanco representative simply wiping off the metal shavings from the fork that I used to try to sratch (VERY hard) the surface. The material already had one whole day of people taking out their frustrations ahead of me. I saw zero wear. Get this sink.

 

It's funny because my husband and I also talked about a motorized flat panel TV lift...and there it was at KBIS by Hafele! It holds up to a 27" tv and disappears via remote control. Our use for something like that was going to be in our otherwise lovely breakfast room which my husband, anyway (I don't care) wanted this type of mechanism, which would take the tv up into the attic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was REALLY surprised when I saw this new remote-controlled prototype mechanism at the Rev-A-Shelf booth on Saturday. In fact, I couldn't believe it!

I wrote to Rev-A-Shelf in December 2007 to ask if my idea for a strictly vertical shelf-lowering mechanism was something they could think of putting into their line, as I thought it would be very useful for everyone, not just me.

Here's an email I sent a month or two later, after Rev-A-Shelf asked me for more details, and I think I must have sent my original email into their website comment box.

From:Susan Serra, CKD [mailto:sserrackd@gmail.com]
Sent:Wednesday, January 16, 2008 3:49 PM
To:Ward, Kevin
Subject:Re:
Kevin, I believe I gave some information on dimensions, but if I didn't, I will again. First, take a look at my blog:http://www.thekitchendesigner.org/journal/2008/1/14/the-kitchen-walls-came-down-my-apartment-remodel.html Look at the oven/refrigerator wall since it's been opened up. I will be getting a smaller refrigerator, a sub zero, built in. The microwave will go away from that spot. I'll be getting high end appliances. I'll have about 54" in width between the wall and the refrigerator. I want that 54" to be perfectly flat, one material, no cabinet doors, just something decorative. The hood I will get will be like this, very minimalistic to keep this sleek theme:http://www.faberonline.com/cristalhc.html I'll end up having around 24" in width between the new refrigerator and the hood. Since I'll have no doors, I'd like some sort of storage solution that will sit up in that area, able to be pulled STRAIGHT down and back up again, of course, as easily as possible. I think this could be a very innovative design and storage solution.

The response I received from the Product Development Manager was that they currently do not make anything like this. I knew that. And, here is what I saw at the show. I mean, I can't help but wonder!

 

There are always neat discoveries to make at KBIS, always. Without further ado, take a look at some images of some wonderful new finds. These are the first of a bunch of products I'm going to share with you, outside of products I've already showcased on Twitter: 

Distressed copper hood by J.Tribble below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terra Aqua, fabulous sinks, below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at these appliance handles by Vincenza, below: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New to the industry! Lansen sinks flush edge with solid surface material, below:

Here are a few more new items I'd like to share with you.

Here's a smart looking multi bin recycling unit called the Smart Bin. Available with two or three compartments, the Smart Bin allows homeowners to cleanly and effectively separate their organic, recycling, and waste in an attractive stainless steel push-pedal bin. Made of post-consumer plastics, the Smart Bin makes the task of sorting and recycling a snap. With removable inside containers, this sturdy and attractive bin is a welcome addition to any kitchen, bathroom, or office.

It's good to be organized!

 

 

Take a look at what's new at Kichler.

For use inside or below a cabinet or in a variety of other areas, these energy-efficient fixtures use 75 percent less electricity than typical incandescent lighting. Plus, they’re so thin they’re nearly invisible -- just 3/8” thick. In addition, the Design Pro LED discs offer a warm white color rendering and a lifespan of 20 years. A variety of finishes are available to blend into any surrounding.

The new Design Pro Discs can be used individually or in combination with Kichler’s Design Pro LED under cabinet fixtures, which offer the same great energy-saving features and color rendering, to create a seamless flow of light under multiple cabinets and furnishings.

Both products have been awarded the prestigious Lighting for Tomorrow Award, the industry’s highest honor for energy-efficient lighting solutions. Plus, they are ENERGY STAR rated, a distinction given by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy for energy efficient solutions, when used with most power supplies.

Perf Go Green produces Biodegradable Plastic Products that are eco-friendly, non-toxic and food contact compliant. These bags are seen as a practical and necessary solution to the problem of plastic waste around the world.

In 2008 Perf Go Green is launching six Biodegradable Plastic Products including the following:

Perf Go Green 13 Gallon Tall Kitchen Trash Bags
Perf Go Green 30 Gallon Lawn & Leaf Bags
Perf Go Green Plastic Drop Cloths
Perf Go Green Commercial Trash Bags
Perf Go Green Kitty Litter Bags
Perf Go Green Doggie Duty Bags

Perf Go Green products are produced using recycled plastic which reduces plastic in landfills. The recycled plastics are then combined with an oxo-biodegradable proprietary application method to produce the film for the bags. This product, when discarded in soil in the presence of microorganisms, moisture and oxygen, biodegrades, decomposing into simple materials found in nature.

Perf Go Green Bags will completely break down in a landfill environment within 2 years leaving no residue or harmful toxins and have a shelf life of 2 years.

White River Achieves Chain of Custody Certification - Very Impressive!

White River announced its achievement of the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) Chain of Custody Certification. For the past 18 months, White River™ has been researching the optimal plan for purchasing lumber from certified, well-managed forests for its local manufacture of hardwood mouldings. The FSC Chain of Custody Certification is granted by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent third party, which is accredited by the FSC. This internationally recognized certification verifies that lumber from certified forests is identified, marked, and recognized as it passes thru a "chain of custodians" or "handlers" from the forest to the consumer. This applies to products manufactured at its Arkansas manufacturing facility.

Good work! I've used and admired White River for many years.

Let's look at a collection of products, some new, some not new, but new to you. Get it? I'm confused.

Take a look at Sharp's SuperSteam oven, model AX-1200, a multi-purpose oven that enables healthier meal preparation. Using SuperSteam convection technology, the AX-1200 cooks a wide variety of foods without the addition of oils, fats or sauces while preserving taste and appearance. It also features three other cooking methods – convection, conventional steam, and microwave – all in a single appliance.

I LIKE that idea of combining convection with steam and microwave cooking. Convection mode means that you can heat up that slice of pizza (you know you eat it even though you want the steamer) without heating up the big oven, or worse, using the microwave. OR, those extra oven foods when the big oven is full.

Note the rounded stainless ends. This is a built in kit that is optional. The oven can be used without the built in kit, to simply sit on the counter. Read this.

Here is "wallpaper" that is actually recycled glass tile. By Trend, the Wallpaper collection offers a multitude of diverse styles from richly elegant and serene to playful and funky. The collection starts at $23 a square foot. Depending on the pattern, the mosaic tile is saturated with reflective color, recycled from post consumer glass, veined with aventurine stone, shimmering with iridescence, or hand made 24 k colored gold from Orsoni, a 19th century Venetian foundry. The individual tiles are either 3/4" or 5/8" square and assembled into modules that allow seamless repetition of the design.

A 10x10 wall, at their lowest price tile, will cost $2,300. In my world, if money was not an object, yes, I'd consider this product. I think the look is worth the cost. It makes a strong design statement. I like that. This was the only kitchen image they had on their site, but they have lots of very wonderful motifs.

Now a word from our sponsor...yeah, they should be my sponsor! Humor me please. When this commercial comes on, I stop everything and watch it. I LOVE IT! I've seen it a million times and it just came on again. Have you seen it? You have to watch it a few times to get all the perfect nuances of it. What can I say? I just need to share this. :)

Let's look at even more tile just to give you more difficult choices! I have a conflict with choices. I believe in choices, but they quickly get confusing, don't they? This, from Mandala Tile:

"Many of Mandala Tile's colors (sister company to Oceanside Glasstile) contain recycled material. The combination of materials spawns vivid surfaces, making it dance in front of your very own eyes. The earthy colors merge in intriguing patterns highlighting the beautiful combination of glass and stone. 'Avani provides movement and depth to design projects and the color palette complements a wide range of settings, offering limitless possibilities for creating a masterpiece,' noted Feras Irikat, Design Director.

It is available in 10 mosaic blends and three patterns – Herringbone, Random Matrix, and Ministicks. Each piece is precision cut to provide a smooth, continuous field."

I have more to show you, which I'll do tomorrow. I'm freezing and I'm sick (and I think I'm freezing because I'm sick) so I'll leave it here. See you then!

 

Ok, it's a lame title, but I couldn't resist, I've been accused of being a ham more than once. I've been filing away information I've received on new, or maybe not new, but cool, (literally) products for a short while, and I'll share a few with you. I see a strong green theme here. 

A little while ago I was an absolute expert in ice machines and the quality of ice making due to a client's needs. I can tell you what's important: clarity, shape, taste, and energy use. Scotman's new Brilliance residential ice machine has these covered. The machine has a water quality sensor to detect hard-water conditions and purge mineral laden water with every harvest cycle. Unlike refrigerator ice, odors are not an issue in the Brilliance. Energy savings include the use of half the energy and 1/3 the water used compared to previous models. AND, the ice melts more slowly, how about that!?

I like this hardware from Sea-Stones. It's something I've certainly seen over the years, but I like this collection. The stones are very varied, and I'd encourage you to use a variety of stones as a result. Don't just get one color/texture. Mix 'em up! Sea-Stones also has stones to be used as towel/coat/other hooks, another fun idea. The stones are found on New England beaches and a new quarried stone is "replanted" in the water to ensure the beach remains as it should for future generations.

Is bigger better? When it is, it seems to be a necessity. Take a look at  Dacor's new 36" Epicure Renaissance wall oven. I'll tell you something. At first, I felt a little weird about such a big oven in regard to energy. But, with the ability to cook two turkeys, 144 cookies or any other combination of multiple foods, we may just have a new definition of energy savings via one oven rather than having to use two. Hmmmm....

Have you seen those new commercials with the young and beautiful Kelly Ripa buzzing around her kitchen, appeasing wee ones and preparing for adult guests while cooking on a new state-of-the-art-stove? Ripa is the mother of three small children, the Star of Regis and Kelly and a Soap Opera diva. The commercials showcase a glam kitchen with a glam star. However, despite the fact that most women don’t whiz around the kitchen in pumps and full make-up, the commercials resonate with most multi-tasking moms (OK that’s a major oxymoron).

The kitchen is central to all homes and good appliances make the job easier and more enjoyable. Electrolux is showcasing the popular star for the launch of their new North American premium kitchen appliance line showcasing appliances with European flair.

Ripa is shown cooking on a chic cook top that boils water in 90 seconds! Electrolux offers an energy efficient Induction Hybrid cook top in both 30 and 36 inch models. Induction heating is new and faster, more energy efficient and promises easier clean-up.

In addition to their new high-tech line, Electrolux is joining Ripa in supporting the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. “Thousands of women and their families are affected each year. That’s why I am so grateful to Electrolux for stepping up and helping me to raise money and awareness to help support this important cause,” said Ripa. Together, America’s sweetheart and Electrolux are cooking up some philanthropy and that’s always delicious!.......Maureentheassistant

 

I had this post all put together day before yesterday. A couple of days prior I downloaded a beta firefox3 that I read was stable, almost ready to be released (well, June) yadayada. Then, I noticed a very slow internet connection. Did I make the connection between the browser and the slow internet? Not until today when I decided to try explorer to see how that ran. Made an appointment with the ISP and everything for this Saturday! Sheesh! So, we're up and running again, nice and fast. Here we go...

Let me tell you, I WORKED that show, KBIS! Ok, so I couldn't stop snapping pictures with my new camera, truth be told, BUT, my intentions were noble...and so many things were so inspiring. So, let's look at what's new for inside our kitchen cabinets and pantries.

Here's a cool new mechanism thing to allow your doors to sit at any position and stay there. No worries about snapping up or down or whatever. It's by Hafele, who makes so many useful and modern products for the kitchen.

Also from Hafele, a pull down shelf to access those hard to reach, and possibly, heavy items from the upper shelves of your wall cabinets.

 

And, one more from Hafele, a chefs pantry pantry insert with a new finish for the shelves. From the Arena champagne collection. The shelves are coated with a special finish which causes items NOT to move around. It's a good thing. :)

 

From Knape & Vogt, would you rather reach in and use this in your corner cabinet...

 OR THIS.....

 

 

More organization tools tomorrow. Just wait till you see THESE....

At KBIS, I took a 1/2 day sort of refresher course on venting. There is not a whole lot new in venting concepts, but, it did reinforce and remind me of the "ick" factor, which I'll explain. 

Here's what's happening. First, our kitchen floor plans are more OPEN to other rooms. This means that pollutants from cooking have more opportunity to freely move about your home, hanging out in your furnishings, your artwork, your pillows, walls, flooring, you get the idea. Just as an fyi, grease from cooking turns into vapor and floats in the air as particles for as long as 72 hours!

ADD TO THAT, the tighter construction of newer homes, which can encourage mold growth and trap pollutants, and your health becomes at risk for allergies, asthma, lung disease, and who knows what else.  A very impressive ick factor, yes? AND, if that is not enough, indoor pollution is considered to rank within the top 5 environmental risks to the public, according to the EPA.

Hoods now do very cool things. They sense heat and turn on automatically. They sense cool temperatures and turn off automatically. They are much quieter than they used to be.  They operate via remote control. Some have hidden controls with a memory feature. They have a delayed shut down mode and a 24 hour anti pollution mode. Some hoods move up and down at the touch of a button to get out of your way, and some hoods move in and out. And, some are energy star rated. Hoods do amazing things these days. Look more deeply when you are in the market for a hood. It's substance, not only style!

More to the story are cfms, duct runs, turns, duct diameters, and other elements and information with which to design a proper venting system, but that is for another day. Today's purpose is twofold: 1) to get you aware of all that is floating in and around the kitchen after you cook and 2) to show you some new hoods (which you really, really, need!)

Please run your mouse over the image to see the brand names.

 

I took about 700 pictures at KBIS, that's right, well, closer to 800! OK, it was the new, fancy, camera that made me go crazily snapping on and on and on. Plus, I didn't want to miss a thing!

The show is fantastic...always. New products = fun, cool, interesting, plus, always, a slow shake of the head in wonder at what they thought of next! Here are some random, but notable, picks...

Ann Sacks tile, always gorgeous, introduces the Perennial series of tile, all, made in a small, Portland, Oregon, studio. This is custom mosaic tile, and I think it's amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll tell you one thing that I kept saying to myself and the person who walked me around the Elkay booth...Elkay has stepped it up! I was continually impressed by the beautiful design and innovation at the products in the Elkay booth. Smart, modern, very nice. Here's a new pot filler.

 

 

Here was a lovely, new, sink by Kohler, called the Cordial. It's an "entertainment" sink, ready to hold a block of ice, or bottles of wine, a staging area for mixing drinks, all that good stuff. A cutting board is included, an ice mold (hmmm!) and a steel pouring tray. Makes cast iron look modern, doesn't it?

 

 

 

From Fisher & Paykel, a new refrigerator drawer. It's great to have a SINGLE refrigerator drawer. You don't always need a double. BUT, that's not all. It's not only a refrigerator drawer, it can be a freezer, a pantry (53 degrees) OR a wine storage unit. Just select the lock button to lock and unlock the temperature selections, decide what you need it for, and wa-laaa, the ultimate in flexible refrigeration!

And, here's a new oven from Smeg...a glossy, mirrored finished door. Looks to me like it is a 24" size, perfect for a second oven in a medium or small kitchen or in an apartment. It's new!

 

 

 

 

 

 

More analysis and images, tons more, soon. An hour after I returned home from the airport yesterday, I met with clients for several hours, so I'm a bit late out of the gate! Lots more to share...

Here are a few things, either new or cool, that I think are definitely worth noting.

First, take a look at this receptacle. Good for an island situation or other areas around the kitchen. It makes countertop receptacles possible. Not for every installation, but I can think of a few it would be perfect for, a long island, for one. This kitchen receptacle will do a good job being sealed off from liquid spills. By Doug Mockett & Company.

 

 

 

 

 

Look at these Harmony Wood tiles, by Anchor Bay Tile, aren't they cool? It's a real wood tile that is mounted with mesh, something your tile man will thank you for, that is, after he criticizes you for buying non ceramic tiles, of course. Just tell him they are made of wood from sustainable forests, and he'll feel better..we can dream. 

And, I really love this product, American Clay. It is a natural earth plaster, made of natural clays, a green product, recycled and reclaimed aggregates, and contributes to Leed points on your project. It is such a beautiful, sort of suede like finish for your walls, and again, it is healthy for your home. I'm seriously thinking of using it in my home this spring. In fact, someone is coming to my home today to take a look at my walls!

I also love the idea of a chalkboard wall, or section. My immediate thought is to do a post just on chalkboards in kitchens, and I may, but I also know that if I say, good idea, it won't happen for a month, so here's the idea now. I'm also seriously thinking of doing this in my kitchen too. The image is by booizzy. Here are a couple of other places for inspiration: Martha Stewart (but, of course) and Apartment Therapy (always.)

I'm thinking random thoughts today, so I'll jump around and show you some things you need to see.

You need to see the post from Living Well in Westchester, about antique hardware! I mean, come on, how cool is that?  Mark has lots of good insight on all things home related.

Laurie Burke from Kitchen Design Notes has good information on small space kitchens. Laurie says she likes small kitchens. I do too. They're efficient, smart, and any designer worth his/her salt enjoys the unique challenge of trying to get every square inch of function out of a small kitchen!

Kelly from Kitchen Sync has insightful information on seating around countertops, what works, what may not, and WHY. Most important issues to resolve is real lifestyle behavior rather than assumed. Good ideas and solutions, take a look.

Ann from KitchAnn Style is showing new tile from Ann Sacks. Of course, you know it has to be gorgeous! These handmade tiles of glass give an old world look with modern character. I think they're just gorgeous. Good find!

Oh, did someone ask about my "Top Secret" project? If all the stars line up, it may be unveiled on the weekend of the 22nd. In the meantime, take a look at this. It is connected to the project. What does it have to do with kitchens? Everything!