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.