Kitchen & Bath Confidential

Posted in Barbara Capella Loehr, Design Trends, International Trends, Trade Shows, imm cologne on October 21st, 2008

Trends Unveiled at Preview Luncheon for 2009 IMM Cologne

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During a recent preview luncheon at Fiamma here in the Big Apple, Koelnmesse GmbH – organizer of imm cologne held annually at the Cologne Exhibition Center in Germany – recently offered a preview of the international design trends that will be emphasized and seen at the upcoming international furnishings trade show, which is set for Jan. 19-25, 2009. The German company unveiled these interior design trends – which were broken into four categories called Extra Much, Near and Far, Tepee Culture and Re-Run Time – predicted by the show’s Trendboard for 2009 and beyond following a two-day meeting of its five members this summer in Barcelona, Spain.This year the board – which gathers annually and whose members vary slightly from year to year – included New York-based designer Stephen Burks, who spoke at the event; renowned Swedish architect Eero Koivisto; Paris-based designer Arik Levy; Italian designer and textile expert Giulio Ridolfo; and Markus Fairs, editor-in-chief of online magazine, dezeen. The four categories of trends the board predicted were, as usual, compiled into a preview book. A larger five-volume compendium will be seen at the show, which, in 2008, attracted 107,000 kitchen designers, members of the international furniture and furnishing retail trade, interior designers, architects, interior decorators, carpenters and joiners from 130 countries.Burk, who represented the Trendboard at the event, described the four trend niches:

Extra Much: Designs that have a natural composition, feature a blue-grey base and are richly detailed.
Near and Far: Designs that are about taking familiar looks and experimenting with them, and using natural materials such as sea grass and bamboo, as well as warm, light and natural tones.
Tepee Culture: Design that feature geometric forms, recyclable materials and rich, muted colors of red, orange, green and brown.
Re-Run Time: The basic premise of these designs is that everything old is new again, borrowing ideas from the past and updating them.

Koelnmesse officials also revealed that this year among its 11 halls there will be a section – dubbed the Art of the Kitchen – dedicated to kitchens products. It’s part of a larger hall called imm pure, where “modern design furniture” will be on display along with kitchens.

Specifically, in the Art of the Kitchen section, manufacturers of “kitchen furniture and built-in appliances”, as well as lighting, home accessories, textiles and carpets, will gather to show their latest, most innovative wares. The impetus to create such a section, explained Koelnmesse officials, was the idea that the kitchen has evolved beyond a lone, isolated room into a space that’s increasingly more open and spills into the living area.

“The kitchen has long since become a place where boundaries between food preparation and everyday life dissolve. The kitchen is continuing its evolution into a natural part of people’s living areas. In the high-end segment this progress is characterized by kitchen architecture that is as optimal as it is innovative, [with] excellent design and technology…The unique staging of exclusive premium kitchens in Hall 11 puts them in a perfect setting. And every year now renowned kitchen manufacturers will be demonstrating that exquisite kitchen design is really art,” noted Koelnmesse’s Franze Balve.

For more information about imm cologne, log onto www.imm-cologne.com.

For more news also visit the Live Events and Top Headlines sections.

Posted in Business on April 29th, 2008

The Path to Embracing Environmental Design

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Today, the widespread observance of Earth Day – and Arbor Day – now more than ever signals to one and all that not only is environmentalism something that could reduce the human impact on the earth, but that it’s also something that’s become increasingly political and corporate (see related story), with Google going green for the day on its search page and offering a list of Earth Day-related sites just a click away, for instance, President George W. Bush planting a tree in New Orleans on Tuesday to mark Earth Day and all three presidential candidates issuing statements calling for better environmental standards.

The Bush administration also offered a plan to boost fuel economy for cars and trucks to cut U.S. dependence on foreign oil and curb greenhouse gas emissions. U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters said yesterday that the new plan would require passenger cars to average 35.7 miles per gallon (MPG) and light trucks to average 28.6 MPG by 2015. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 President Bush signed in December would already require cars average 35 miles per gallon by 2020, a 40% increase over the current standard.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also launched a national campaign aimed at cutting emissions in U.S. homes. It encourages people to make sure home heating and cooling systems work more efficiently and homes are well sealed and insulated; choose an ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerator, dishwasher and/or clothes washer when replacing or purchasing new appliances; and enable the power management features on home computers and monitors.Current EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson also announced on Monday a new agency strategy to encourage the mainstream adoption of green building practices. This strategy revolves around five objectives, which include expanding the understanding of green building and increasing the adoption of green building practices in areas where progress has been more limited, including homes and existing commercial and public buildings.

Going green has also been a growing focus of recent design and building shows. The 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS) sprouted some interesting green news, trends and products, despite the mid-April onslaught of Chicago-style wintry weather. For instance, former EPA Administrator and Republican New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman delivered the show’s keynote address about sustainability. Whitman said that kitchen and bath dealers and designers have a key role in helping to educate the public about lessening environmental impact. She told the audience that selling environmentally friendly kitchen and bath design and products is very similar to selling eco-sensitive public policy: it’s about getting people to do something for the common good when they may be skeptical about the individual impact on their bank accounts. They may also feel that they would have to sacrifice style and function for the sake of greener design and products.However, Whitman asserted that by explaining the long-term economic benefits of making the higher upfront financial investment, pointing out the wide array of stylish and functional green products available and sharing how the inclusion of even just one energy-efficient or water-saving product in a kitchen or bath can lessen the public’s cumulative environmental impact, dealers and designers can help open their clients’ eyes to green design and make them realize they aren’t sacrificing anything by going green and may save more money in the long run. (To hear more of Whitman’s remarks, click here.)Whitman’s heartfelt commitment to bettering the environment was also echoed by the current National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) president, Sara Ann Busby, CKD. She told KBDN/KitchenBathDesign.com during K/BIS that she’s all about sustainability, which was truly the overriding theme of this year’s show, from the green conference seminars to the plethora of products on the show floor that were sustainable, and promoted health and well-being.

At the NKBA Special Focus Event, Implementing Sustainability, speaker Jonas Carnemark, CR, CKD, provided an in-depth look at what kitchen and bath firms across the country are doing to incorporate eco-friendly design and construction. And at the NKBA Center Stage speaker Patti Weaver, CKD, offered some useful ideas for greening kitchen and bath firms, such as TerraPass, a green company that sells carbon offsets for travel and other fossil-fuel-consuming activities.

Whitman’s sentiments about the individual economic benefits of green design were also echoed at this year’s International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando, where show sponsor National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) not only emphasized green building as the right thing to do, but also as a way to survive and thrive in an economy that’s been affected by the subprime mortgage market across the boards, and has resulted in what some industry experts are now calling a . The NAHB also unveiled a host of eco-sensitive initiatives, such as its Green Building Program and Green Building Standard. And the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) also launched a microsite, www.greencabinetsource.org, for its Environmental Stewardship Program.

Given all of the media and industry and political attention, now more than ever, it’s clear that environmentalism is a hot topic and that green design is taking a firm hold, and that even installing a single energy-efficient appliance or water-saving plumbing fixture, as Whitman indicated in her K/BIS keynote speech, can help offset the world’s carbon footprint.

What do you think?

For more breaking news also visit the Top Headlines and Live Events sections.

To hear more of Whitman’s remarks: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (260)

Posted in Barbara Capella Loehr, Conceptual Design & Strategies, Design Trends, Green Design, International Builders' Show 2008, K/BIS 2008, Podcasts, Show Homes & Design Displays on April 29th, 2008

Two Show Homes Go Green, and Luxe

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With Earth Day Tuesday, and Arbor Day Friday, it was appropriate to post the audio files describing the kitchen and master bath of The (25th Annual) New American Home because it was the first show home to be certified by the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) new Green Building Program, launched on Green Day during the 2008 International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando, FL.The New Southern Home, which was also on display during the IBS, was built with plenty of eco-friendly building and design techniques and products, as well, so it’s also appropriate to post the audio files describing the kitchen and laundry room.Both homes featured Timberlake Cabinetry, which has also received certification by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association’s (KCMA) Environmental Stewardship Program on its entire line of products.Now, some hard-line environmentalists wonder how such large homes can be eco-friendly, while many other industry experts maintain that a home does not have to be small and austere to be green and efficient. It can be large and luxurious and still be environmentally friendly. Christine Todd Whitman even said that during her keynote speech during the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference in Chicago, IL.

Take a listen and a look, be sure to read a more in-depth look at The New American Home in the 5/08 issue of Kitchen & Bath Design News, and let us know what you think of the homes, and whether or not you think they can be green and luxurious.

To hear Connie Edwards, CKD, CBD and director of design for Timberlake Cabinetry, talk about The New American Home, click here. To hear Connie Edwards, CKD, CBD and director of design for Timberlake Cabinetry, talk about The New Southern Home, click here.For more breaking news also visit the Top Headlines and Live Events sections.

Shown here are the exterior, kitchen and master bath of The New American Home, on display during the 2008 IBS in Orlando, FL.

To hear Connie Edwards, CKD, CBD and director of design for Timberlake Cabinetry, talk about The New American Home: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (205)

To hear Connie Edwards, CKD, CBD and director of design for Timberlake Cabinetry, talk about The New Southern Home: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (192)

Posted in Barbara Capella Loehr, Design Trends, Green Design, K/BIS 2008, The Economy on April 28th, 2008

Consumers Want to Do More Green Building and Remodeling: Study

K/BIS 2008 Design Display Takes a Literal Look at ‘Green Design’

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This year, everything seemed to be coming up “green” on the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS) show floor, and the 2008 Design Showcase was no exception. Now while many displays and products were green because of their environmentally friendly design, the Design Showcase highlighted “green design” quite literally.Indeed, the project’s principal designer Ingrid Leess was inspired by CaesarStone’s Apple Martini shade of natural quartz surfacing material. Leess, of New Canaan, CT-based Ingrid Leess Interior Design, started with color as her guide, and because of that green hue she saw last year, green became the theme of this year’s Design Showcase, which was sponsored by Woman’s Day Special Interest Publications (WDSIPs) and Merillat, which supplied the Merillat Masterpiece and Merillat Classic cabinetry for the combination kitchen/drop zone/mudroom/luxe master bath retreat.According to Leess, green is the color that “sets the tone,” and she used a variety of vibrant, yet complementary shades, including Apple Martini, which appeared on the perimeter of the kitchen. Mixing greens with an emphasis on organic shapes and a variety of materials, the designer was able to create, in her words, a “fresh” transitional style.

To bring the design to life for this year’s K/BIS, Leess worked with Mervyn Kaufman, WDSIPs’ project director/writer, Paul Radoy, project manager for Merillat, and Nellie Ondrovick, an interior designer for the cabinetmaker.

To read about the project more in-depth, look for the Design Update article in the 5/08 issue of Kitchen & Bath Design News.

For more breaking news also visit the Top Headlines and Live Events sections.

Shown is the 2008 Design Showcase kitchen. Photo Credit: John Gould Bessler

Posted in Barbara Capella Loehr, Conceptual Design & Strategies, Design Trends, Green Design, K/BIS 2008, Show Homes & Design Displays, Technology on April 25th, 2008

Eco-Friendly Design, Aging-In-Place Options, Integrated Technology Mark 2008 DIC

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The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)/Meredith Corp.’s Design Idea Center (DIC) returned to 2008 the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference for its third year.Dubbed “Your Kitchen and Bath, Your Way: Designs for Every Lifestyle and Life Stage,” the 10,000 sq.-ft. DIC showcased eco-friendly design ideas, aging-in-place options, integrated technology applications and organization and storage solutions. The DIC also featured products, appliances and materials from a variety of manufacturers and designers, including sponsors Armstrong, DuPont Surfaces, Kohler, KraftMaid and Sub-Zero/Wolf.Here’s a “glimpse” of each vignette that was on display at the NKBA booth in the South Hall:

Hostess Extraordinaire (Kitchen and Bath Ideas): This kitchen was designed a space to accommodate all of the activity associated with the hub of the home. Recognizing that a mother of teenagers is part chauffeur, part chef, part counselor, and yet, someone who also loves to entertain friends in her “spare” time, the teen-friendly kitchen has the ability to morph into an ideal entertainment space where adults enjoy gathering. The overall design also included a functional mudroom/laundry room, butler’s pantry for serving and banquette for ample seating near the prominent flat screen TV.
Organizer-in-Chief (Better Homes and Gardens): Dubbed “Everyday Easy,” this super-organized and eco-friendly kitchen was designed to help make life easier for busy families. Innovations include a recycling center, recycled-content countertops and flooring and a mudroom with customizable, pull-out cabinets for everyone’s “stuff.”
Savvy Young Professional (Traditional Home): This vignette was designed to be “the ultimate bath suite” made especially for young professionals: a new generation of educated, affluent and brand-savvy consumers who embrace a modern interpretation of traditional design and are confident investing in the creation of a home environment uniquely suited to their personal lifestyles. The floorplan consisted of a central spa-like shared space flanked by two private baths. Sumptuous appointments, such as a free-standing whirlpool/soaking tub and Murano glass chandelier, express this couple’s distinctive idea of luxury, while equal emphasis is also given to cutting-edge technology. A “fully loaded” steam shower in “his” bath and a “to the nines” dressing table in “her” bath further underscore the theme of customization and personalization.
Mother Starting Out (Country Home): This stylish kitchen, mudroom and laundry/multi-task room work hard for the young family. The overall design featured DuPont Corian countertops, laminate floors that mimic reclaimed wood and glass-front cabinets. A technology station, flexible built-in seating and an island with a second tier of countertops that doubles the work area rounded out the space’s function.
Future Thinker (Midwest Living): This kitchen and bath was designed with this fact in mind: 78 million Baby Boomers are heading toward new phases in their life journey, and many are looking to stay in their homes for years of cooking, entertaining and active living. Integrated, wider traffic patterns, accommodating cabinet design, sit-down workspaces and lever controls, along with other amenities were featured in this design concept.

Did you walk through the DIC? What did you think of the displays? Of the design concepts and products you saw?

For more breaking news also visit the Top Headlines and Live Events sections.

Shown are the kitchen and mudroom from the Kitchen and Bath Ideas DIC vignette. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kitchen and Bath Ideas

Shown are the kitchen and mudroom from the Better Homes and Gardens DIC vignette. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Shown are the his and her bath areas from the Traditional Home DIC vignette. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Traditional Home

Shown are the kitchen from the Country Home DIC vignette. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Country Home

Shown are the kitchen and bath from the Midwest Living DIC vignette. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Midwest Living

Posted in Barbara Capella Loehr, Design Trends, Green Design, K/BIS 2008, Podcasts on April 25th, 2008

Pinnacle Award Winner Named, NKBA Student Design Winners Recognized at Annual Gala

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Joan DesCombes, CKD with Architectural Artworks Inc., in Winter Park, FL, was named the Pinnacle Award Winner of the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) 2008 Design Competition during the association’s Board of Directors’ Gala and Cocktail Reception at Chicago’s Union Station.

The winners of the NKBA 2007/2008 Student Design Competition were recognized during the gala by Connie Edwards, CKD, CBD, and Paul Leuthe. Edwards is with contest sponsor American Woodmark (Timberlake Cabinetry), and Leuthe’s with sponsor Sub-Zero/Wolf. As Co-sponsors of the competition, American Woodmark and Sub-Zero/Wolf also hosted an annual dinner and cocktail event to honor the winners, which was held aboard an Odyssey Cruise Line ship in Chicago the next night. Eight students in two categories were named as winners in this year’s annual competition. All of the students were challenged to meet the needs of a newlywed couple whose diverse interests and tastes had to be reflected in the room design. First place in the kitchens category went to Tanja Uzar of Brigham Young University. First place in the bathrooms category went to Danielle D. Mohlman of the University of Nebraska.In related Sub-Zero/Wolf news, the company also honored the winners of its biennial Kitchen Design Contest during the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference, including the top three: Warner McConaughey of Hammersmith, Inc. in Decatur, GA; Elaine Cecconi of Cecconi Simone, Inc. in Toronto, Ontario, CAN; and Phyllis Taylor, ASID, of The Taylor & Taylor Partnership in Miami Beach, FL. Taylor also received the new Designers’ Choice award.

The winning designs (seven total) revealed several trends, including:

The advent of smaller, high-quality kitchens.
The mixing of materials and textures such as soapstone, concrete, wood, limestone and glass, plus an increased use of carbon stainless steel finishes.
The contrast of light and dark in one design.
Simple, clean lines.
Repurposing historical furniture pieces for better sustainability.
Increased usage of eco-friendly materials.

To hear DesCombes’ remarks at the Gala, click here. To read more about the competition, click here. To hear Luethe’s and Edwards’ remarks at the Gala, click here.

For more breaking news also visit the Top Headlines and Live Events sections.

To hear DesCombes’ remarks at the Gala: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (179)

To hear Luethe’s and Edwards’ remarks at the Gala: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (173)

Posted in Barbara Capella Loehr, K/BIS 2008, Podcasts on April 25th, 2008

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Trends Unveiled at Preview Luncheon for 2009 IMM Cologne

The Path to Embracing Environmental Design

Two Show Homes Go Green, and Luxe

Consumers Want to Do More Green Building and Remodeling: Study

K/BIS 2008 Design Display Takes a Literal Look at ‘Green Design’

Eco-Friendly Design, Aging-In-Place Options, Integrated Technology Mark 2008 DIC

Pinnacle Award Winner Named, NKBA Student Design Winners Recognized at Annual Gala

Hall of Fame Brings Three More into the Fold


Eliot Sefrin was inducted in to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Hall of Fame at the association’s 2008 Board of Directors’ Gala and Cocktail Reception at Chicago’s Union Station.