100% Wood Collection

Could you imagine a Kitchen Island made from a single tree? How about solid chestnut, and no filler wood?

This unique kitchen concept is offered by Effeti Cucine Uniche and Effeti USA. Handcrafted by master artisans in the Florentine headquartered plant, this bespoke kitchen is all about luxury.

Only a limited number of autographed models are made by hand each year from the solid chestnut wood. Traditional and timeless, yet cutting edge and functional, the 100% Wood series showcases Effeti’s passion for perfection.

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The 100% Wood Collection is the design of Giancarlo Vegni, who has partnered with Effeti since the 1970s. This bespoke kitchen focuses on organic beauty: “Each carefully selected piece is seasoned and weathered before undergoing the multiple steps of production.”

100% Wood was recently displayed this past March at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show. Pricing starts around $125,000.

The 100% Wood island comes with a grey glass induction cooktop by Gaggenau.

About Effeti

For more than four decades, Effeti has been inspired by the curiosity to explore and interpret new lifestyles—the changes in taste and customs that affect the needs people have and the way they live.

The Tuscan brand’s vocation is to think of whatever doesn’t exist, explore new routes, and accept new challenges in the visionary worlds of research and creativity. It then applies experience, technological knowhow, quality without compromise, and the care and passion that have always characterized Effeti’s mission.

In 2012, Effeti launched a U.S. flagship location in New York City—Effeti USA

March 19, 2014

2014 Tile Trends

Tile Trends 2014 Subway | KitchAnn Style

What’s going to be hot this year in tile? It seems many trends from 2013 will continue to reign supreme. The palette is mostly neutral – nuanced and sophisticated; balanced equally between warm and cool tones with a heavy emphasis on grays and muted tones.

Beveled

The Beveled subway tile and 3D tile adds dimension, depth and interest to a basic geometric shape. Look for large tiles scored to look like smaller tiles.

Pattern

Patterned tiles continue to be popular in 2014, such as the classic encaustic tiles from 2013. The vintage look is still the effect you should be striving for in your home, and ceramic tiles which imitate original encaustic tiles are excellent for creating this look.

2014’s encaustic wall and floor tiles have gone a little bit Boho: a slightly softer look which was popular in Europe between the two wars. Try to recreate this style with ever-so slightly faded ceramic tiles in complementing shades.

Create an eclectic feel by going for a mismatch effect. Apply tiles to walls for a fresh feel and to accentuate a room.

Geometric

Geometric shapes such as hexagons and fashion inspired Victorian reliefs or herringbone patterns offer a fresh vantage point – outside the rectangular or square box.

Many tiles have a vintage hand-craft feel to them. This trend also works well mixed with others for a fusion style.

Gloss & Glitz

Highly polished tiles that look like stone are starting to be replaced by the tiles that look like polished wood.

This trends lends itself well to being combined with the geometric trend – especially with a herringbone pattern.

Stone Effect

Rather than mimicking one stone the latest collections will have elements of several different types of stones and marbles and toned them to the same neutral color palette. This creates a unique stone look that can only be created with the latest inkjet-decorated ceramics.

You might also enjoy: Dapper Design

March 16, 2014

FLOwer Power

FLOwer Evolution is a unique vessel concept from GlassDesign, an Italian Plumbing Company in the heart of Tuscany. Designed by Marco Pisati, the organic inspired tub and sinks draw inspiration from the Calla lily.

With the calla lily’s distinct shape, the faucet is reminiscent of the pistol, promoting an exotic and extremely artistic design. The series is manufactured with state-of-the-art materials such as VetroFreddo, Pert, and Inox, which enhance its artistry.

VetroFreddo (CoolGlass) is an innovative material composed of glass pigments and resin. Its major characteristics are its versatility in adapting itself to any form or shape imaginable. The material’s unique characteristics are expressed through colour, which is available in transparent, semi-transparent or opaque form.

VetroFreddo is temperature resistant up to approximately 100°C and can be worked with and carved just as marble or glass.

All fixtures manufactured with the VetroFreddo can be cleaned with any type of non-granular soap, using soft sponges or towels. To remedy scratches, the damaged area should gently be rubbed with a cloth soaked in olive oil. In case of deeper scratches or damage, a special replacement glass paper is available from the manufacturer for every color.

Pert is a technological polymer of great quality, combining a low specific weight with high mechanical resistance. It is particularly suited to fields where light weight is essential (e.g. in nautical, aeronautical).

It is a material which enables the creation of products of high design, allowing perfectly crafted angles and a smoothly plane surface, with the possibility of choosing among a wide range of colors to suit individual demand.

Vessel Sinks are available in matt and polished white, matt and polished black, Ferrari red, platinum, gold leaf 3D and silver leaf 3D. Pedestals are available in white, black, Ferrari red, gold leaf 3D and Silver leaf 3D. The bathtub is available fully white , or in bi-color finishes : black mat/white , Ferrari red/white, or with gold or silver leaf and white.

White and chrome pedestal cabinets are also available for added storage while keeping the minimal design aesthetic.

FLOwer is a highly stylish design collection – it’s basically haute couture for the bathroom.

March 9, 2014

Mosaic Art

Stark industrial scenes, high contrast abstract patterns and bold graffiti make up the URBN mosaic collection – a collaboration between Artaic, a Boston mosaic design and fabrication company and Boston non-profit Artists For Humanity (AFH).

Artaic worked with AFH youth to transform their original artwork into unique tile mosaics. All the designs can be customized to fit any space, application and color needs.

Artaic trained AFH youth on Artaic’s Tessera software with the aid of a Mass Ventures START grant and commissioned a collection of one-of-a-kind mosaic designs. AFH youth toured Artaic’s studio where they manufactured all of their mosaics to experience first-hand the blend of art and technology. Utilizing their new mosaic software skills, the AFH participants transformed original artwork, including paintings, sketches, mixed media, and graphic designs, into mosaic murals.

“Sharing the software and touring our facility, I was able to see teens’ eyes light up with realization that there is actually potential to make a business and earn money through creating unique art.” – Paul Reiss, Artaic Cofounder

Currently, 83 percent of AFH’s youth participants are from low or very low-income homes and 44 percent use their wages to support their families. Proceeds from any of the designs sold from the collection will support Artists for Humanity to continue its work transforming the lives of Boston’s urban youth.

About Artaic:
Artaic was founded in 2007 to make mosaic more accessible to artists as a medium to work with. Artaic’s design software and robotic manufacturing systems enable the creation of high-end, custom mosaic projects fast, efficiently, and with exceptional value.