Reality TV- Not Reality At All

How many of us watch HGTV, TLC, DIY, and all of those shows where you see the "Interior Design Process"? I have to admit that I have watched them and sometimes even been inspired by them. I was reading an article on KBB http://www.kbbonline.com/kbb/index.shtml and came across an article that made a lot of sense to me as a designer and I wanted to share the article and my opinion with all of you.

As a designer I have clients who have come to me very inspired by a show and expect to go through the same process. In the real world design fees, drawings, and labor costs are common but not shown in these programs. The TV show also makes the whole process appear to take a week or even less. As a designer I know that no project is done in just a week and if a problem arises it is taken care of immediately.

Well done and successful design takes time and an open mind. Also, collaboration between designer and client. Educating the client is also very important. As a designer I want you to be along on the ride with me and knowing what we are doing and what steps it will take to get us there. The design process may take longer, but with sparkling results and happy clients.

So when looking for a designer to aid you in your home projects just know that it isn't a TV show, but you will be extremely happy with the results as long as you do a little research to find that perfect designer for you.

Kitchen and Bath Trends 2010

Trends.What do you think of when you see or hear this word? Do you think they are worth your time or a waste of it? When it comes to Interior Design they are both and you really should hire the help of a professional to find out which ones are worth your time to follow and integrate into your home. Every year there are new ones and there are some that just stay year after year, the ones that stay are the ones to go with because ultimately they will help with the resale value of your home.

The NKBA or National Kitchen and Bath Association put out a list of the top 10 trends in their industry for 2010 and I thought it would be fun to talk about them.http://www.nkba.org/-NKBA http://www.nkba.org/press_releases_20100518.aspx- ARTICLE

1. Concealed Kitchens. This is one subject that we have talked about before and this is one trend I don't see going away anytime soon. Entertaining in our homes has become one of the main concerns for people in the process of buying homes. We want great rooms and a great room design should flow seamlessly throughout the kitchen, dining, and family room areas. This is one place where the concealed appliances in the kitchen have made such a big impact and given a lot more flexibility. Definitely one to invest in if you like the look.
2. Beverage Stations. You see these becoming more and more popular on a daily basis with undercounter refrigerators, wine coolers, and espresso or coffee makers. Within the same area you see coffee cups, wine glasses, cream and sugar, and silverware being housed as well. This really gives a fun feel to your kitchen and can be quite convenient, not to mention it helps to keep you organized.This is a trend that certainly wouldn't hurt your investment and may be worth the time and research if you are the type of person who would use it.
3. Scaling of Elements. This trend is to do with what you want your focal point to be and what you want to stand out in your home. This is all about visual balance and having your eye be carried from one end of the room to the other. It is important to know when the right amount of accent color is enough and when it has been taken too far. This is in my opinion not just a trend but a rule. Definitely worth the investment.
4. Color with Energy. This trend talks about making that accent really pop and stopping it before it becomes too much. You want to create something visually appealing, different, and fun, though, do you really want to have something be cool now and hideous tomorrow? This is all about knowing how far to go get a professional's opinion.
5. Soft Geometry. Here we are talking about soft and organic shapes and incorporating them into your design. This is yet another trend I don't see going away. Having and adding curves or angles makes the space more interesting and visually appealing.
6. Space Subtleties. This one in my opinion is not a trend, but a benefit to the age and time we live in. This speaks of having new products that can be mounted or placed in so many different ways, such as wall mounted toilets, floating vanities, and kitchen appliances in the island. Technology is amazing.
7. Design Framing. This is definitely something that designers have been doing for years and it is becoming another thing that is easier with new innovations and technology. Framing out a focal point, you would think of artwork in a frame, but what if the room itself is the art? Use architectural molding, cabinets, etc to make the whole room a focal point.
8. Varying Heights. This is a very interesting and fast growing idea for kitchens and baths, having countertops at different heights to create separate spaces and different work areas. It gives a beautiful counterbalance to the rest of the room just by switching the height slightly. Something different, but definitely not a waste of time or money to invest in.
9. Japanese Influences. Bold splashes of color, artwork, antiques, and screens. This is something that I think is gorgeous, yet should be done with more caution. I would do some Japanese influences mixed with traditional feeling accents and make it more eclectic.
10. Art Integration. This is something that is very common and I wouldn't consider a trend so much as a design concept. You want to make all of the elements of the room tie together and art is a great way to do so, it is even better when it is a more personal piece of artwork because the room then oozes with your personality.

These were the 10 trends for 2010 and my reactions. In my professional opinion if you are interested in any of these trends or others consult a designer to come and see how to integrate them into your home to prevent hurting your resale value and to help you pull them off flawlessly so you can enjoy them for many years to come.

Viking Appliances

I went to a great class this week and I wanted to share the experience as well as a really great recipe that I received. I went to the Lake View Appliance Distributing Corporate office and showroom in Bensenville, IL where the Viking cooking school offers complimentary product cooking demonstrations and dinners that are open to designers and clients who are interested in their products.

We used all Viking Appliances and learned a bit more about them and tasted what they could produce. The recipes are simple and delicious and their appliances reduced the amount of time it would take to make them in an older kitchen.We worked with the Induction Cook top and the Convection Oven, both products were easy to use and made the experience even more fun.

On the menu was a Mediterranean Bread salad, Dry-Rub Barbecued Salmon with Summer Tomato, Sweet Bell Pepper, and Cucumber Relish, Basmati Rice Pilaf, and Warm Chocolate Tarts. It was delicious and they let you take the recipes home with you. The recipes are all provided by the Viking Cooking School. The induction cook top was great to use and to see in action. It boiled the rice in under a minute and the surface was still cool to the touch. The salmon was baked in about half the time in the convection oven.

I thought that I would share the recipe for the Warm Chocolate Tarts with you because it is very simple to make and a great treat!

What you Need:

Tarts:

8 Ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped

3/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup whole milk

1 large egg, lightly beaten

12 mini-graham cracker pie crusts (available in the baking aisle at the grocery store)

Whipped Cream:

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. For the Tarts: Preheat the oven to 325 F; position a rack in the center of the oven. Place the chopped chocolate in a medium mixing bowl and set aside.

2. Combine the heavy cream and milk in a medium sauce pan, and bring to boil over medium-high heat.

3. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Allow to stand for 30 seconds, then whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

4. Whisk the egg into the chocolate mixture. Place the tart crusts on a baking sheet. Pour the filling into the crusts, dividing it evenly between them.

5. Bake the tarts just until the edges of the filling are set; the centers will still be a little soft, about 15 to 18 minutes. Cool the tarts on a rack for 15 to 20 minutes.

6. For the whipped cream: Combine the cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on medium high speed just until soft peaks form. Top each tart with a dollop of whipped cream and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Check out the Viking Website at http://www.vikingrange.com/consumer/index.jsp

and the Lake View Appliance Distributing Website http://www.lvdistributes.com/index.html

If you are interested in the Viking Product Cooking Demo call me for the dates and more information. 630.462.0254

My Experience at KBIS

Which of you have gone to or heard of KBIS? If you are looking for some inspiration for a kitchen or bath design look no further! KBIS happens once a year and this year it was April 16-18 at McCormick place; I was very fortunate to have gone. This is the show you go to and all of the Kitchen and Bath industry has pulled out all the stops, they show their newest, greatest, and most remarkable new products. This show is for the trade only, and it dazzles interior designers who work in the industry every day.



There were so many new and amazing products I saw that I loved and inspired me. I thought I would share a few and give you some links to check them out! We'll start with some of my favorite bathroom products. I think everyone knows the name TOTO right? If not check out their website to see some of their amazing products, http://www.totousa.com/! They were introducing the Neorest 500, 550, and 600. These toilet seats are amazing and just to name a few features, automatic open and close lid, hands free automatic flush, washlet cleansing with 3 spray modes, warm air dryer, manual override function, and much more. Another great item that I saw was from Aquatic. http://aquaticbath.com/ They have some great and beautiful product line, but what really caught my eye was their accessible bath, it wasn't an eye sore. It really is something much more attractive and easier to implement into a design. Last thing about bathrooms I thought I would share with you is Myson towel warmers. http://www.mysoninc.com/ We have all seen towel warmers by now and these are just the same, but there is a ton of design options which makes things a lot easier.


The kitchen also had some amazing products such as Blum hinges and more. Blum is a company that has special hinges to prevent your cabinets from slamming shut. http://www.blum.com/us/en/index.php! There was also a few key trends that I spotted while there; a big one was architectural molding, it gives the design an architectural look and makes everything feel finished, faucets that didn't require you to use your hands to turn them on ( some were touch sensors and some had a lever you could actually hit with your wrist very easily, and another thing that continues to be big is heated floors in both your kitchen and your bathroom.


This was a great show and I hope you enjoy some of the links that I provided, they will inspire you too. So if you are looking to remodel a kitchen or bathroom hire a designer that keeps up with the new technology out there. Call for your consultation today, 630.462.0254.

Trip to Kohler, WI

I had an amazing time on a tour that I took this week and I thought that I would share a little about my experience with all of you. I got the opportunity thanks to our sponsors Ferguson Kitchen and Bath in Downers Grove, IL as well as Kohler to go on a trip to Kohler, WI and see the Design Center and the Kohler Factories. I would highly recommend anyone who is looking for an extremely inspirational experience to go. Take the factory tour and go to the design center and see how things are made and all of the new products that they come up with.

One of the most amazing experiences that I had while there was seeing a factory worker actually pour hot iron into a bathroom sink mold. To be close up and see how things are done when all you ever really see is the finished product is an experience to remember.

The pictures are actual vignettes done by designers to showcase Kohler products as well as the grounds. The one picture above contains a very cool feature that I hadn't seen in person yet, the mirrors. These mirrors actually slide up when you touch them to reveal a medicine cabinet. What makes them even more modern and technologically advanced is that one had a television inside. These amazing cabinets are made by Robern.

I suggest that anyone take this trip and check out all of the amazing features at the Kohler factory as well as to do a little shopping and make a great day of it. I promise you will go home full of ideas and inspiration.

Some links to check out:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Wheaton-IL/Details-in-Design/256237242301

http://kohler.com/

http://www.robern.com/home.rbn

http://www.ferguson.com/index.shtml

Vinyl Wallcovering

Pictures are from D.L.COUCH at http://www.dlcouch.com

This past week I went to an event to learn about new technology with wall coverings and I thought that I would share some of these great new ideas that were shared with me.

Not only has it come a long way visually, but it is very Eco-friendly!

Did you know that vinyl is composed of more than 50% salt and that salt is one of the most renewable resources there is? Or that almost all wall coverings emit far fewer VOCs than low or no VOC paints? This will help you be green and keep your indoor air a better quality. Wall coverings are also now available in recycled materials.

They are also extremely durable, if they pass the washability test that means it went through 100 cycles back and forth with cellulose sponge and if it passed the scrubability test then it went through 200 cycles back and forth with a nylon bristled brush.

They are also now making a special wallcovering for humid climates (they are a great idea for bathrooms as well) that are specially made using what is called micro-venting. This technique allows for the wall covering to breath and help the fight against any mildew or mold that may have been an issue before. There is also the benefit to the fact that in the beginning it may cost a little bit more, but in the long run you will spend less on cleaning and upkeep than paint.

With all the advances in technology wall coverings have become much more visually pleasing and there are many different options to chose from. I think that these are a great way to go in your home. Maybe wall coverings are an option for you. To find out the best ideas and the best look for your home call me to set up an appointment today.

Kitchen Technology

Technology in the kitchen... what do you think of when you hear those words? Appliances and all the new things coming out? Well there is that and so much more! There are so many things now that can make your life easier and you can still manage to make an amazing dinner and have fabulous parties!

The pictures above show you how kitchens are still made to look more simple when we are putting so much new technology into them. It is popular now to integrate your appliances and make them look seamless with the cabinetry. There are so many new options from microwave drawers, refrigerator drawers, freezer drawers, and even dishwasher drawers. This gives you the option of having a drawer specifically for the kids snacks and juice boxes or running two loads of dishes at a time on different heat levels.

Induction cook tops can boil water in under a minute without the surface being hot to the touch, the technology is endless and a great way to update your home. There are so many ways when re-doing your kitchen to not only update the look, feel, and technology of your entire home, but also the appeal and resale value. Buyers today want to see an updated kitchen as well as green elements in your home; Including low or no VOC paints, energy efficient appliances, recycled paper or glass counter tops, and that is just naming a couple of the things you can do to reduce the size of your ecological footprint.

Being and going green was thought to be a trend, but it is something that is here to stay and for a good reason. What is your ideal kitchen? Consult a professional to aid in designing your dream kitchen.