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We're Susan and Kelly, mother-daughter team, and together, we're taking kitchen design style and function to a higher level. Susan, a professional kitchen designer and a CKD for 20 years and Kelly, on a tireless hunt for all things special and unique for the kitchen, share our expertise, sources and insight.  Best...Susan and Kelly Contact: susan@susanserraassociates.com

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Thursday
Oct112007

A Trip To A Kitchen Show

brown%20cabinets.jpgI went to a regional kitchen show on Tuesday and part of Wednesday in Pennsylvania. I go to this show every year. It's small, very small, but I always find some interesting materials or products, and information from seminars, so I go (to the crummy hotel room in King of Prussia, PA.)

In terms of trends, what I saw was DARK cabinetry, whether it be black (lots of black!) or very dark brown wood finishes. I saw some white, but not much, but that doesn't mean anything. I did see some exotic wood door samples and displays, clearly a trend for some time now. 

wood%20countertop.jpgI saw beautiful wood countertops in a good selection of woods that were very impressive, including bamboo and lyptus, among others. I also saw a great soapstone display and had a good refresher conversation about soapstone. It's soft, yet non porous. And, it's all about regular oiling, to maintain an even patina (the positive word for wear marks!)  

One booth I almost missed was a tiny booth showing Sirius hoods that I have used before. They just came out with a great hood for a small application. The hood is 24" wide. Great for apartment or small kitchens.

sirius%20hood.jpgAnd, the very best part of the show was that I got to meet Erinn from The Happy Living Blog! I knew she lived in the area near the show, and I sent her an email and asked if she was free, and to my delight, she was. We had dinner together and had such a really nice visit.

Try it...if you know a blogging buddy may be in a particular area you are visiting, take a chance and make the effort to meet. It's well worth it. Erinn is an architect, so we talked shop for quite awhile (we both agreed it's great to have allied professionals actually talk to one another!) and had an all around good time.

 

 

bamboo.jpg 

 happy%20living.jpg

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Reader Comments (6)

I love my soapstone counters (the first time I said that my 4 year old say, "Mommy,we don't love counters, we love people!). Anyway, soapstone is especially handy in a smaller kitchen because you can put hot pots directly on them.

October 12, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterennis

That's interesting that dark cabinets are being shown as an upcoming trend. After seeing the photo of Gwyneth Paltrow's kitchen with the black cabinets over at the Happy Living blog last weekend I switched from white and am now doing a soft black. Now, I'll need to choose a lighter countertop material to go with those. I'd been thinking I'd get soapstone, but that might be too dark overall with the dark cabinets.

October 13, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterkathleen

I live in a coop apartment in NYC. I have a galley kitchen and want a bamboo butcher block kitchen countertop. Does anyone have one? Where did you purchase it and who installed it?

Thanks,
Myrna

October 15, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterMyrna

Oh, let me find out about the one I am showing in the image, it was beautiful and from a good company in Pennsylvania, I spent some time talking to the owner. I'll get back to you here. I was actually just thinking about this exact product, believe it or not!

October 15, 2007 | Registered CommenterSusan Serra, CKD

Here is is, Grothouse Lumber
http://www.glumber.com/index.html

October 15, 2007 | Registered CommenterSusan Serra, CKD

ennis, yes, that's what they said also, totally impervious to heat. Keep those pots coming!

kathleen, just be careful of doing black, as it is a trend now. That can be tricky!

October 16, 2007 | Registered CommenterSusan Serra, CKD

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