A southerner transplanted in Naples, FL. My passion is design. I write for exploration, inspiration and creativity. My work has grown into a collaborative collection of projects, product and design tips, advice, travel and positivity.
This week I’m headed to California to sit in on discussions on Modern Design with Bosch, BLANCO and an esteemed panel from DWELL magazine.
I’m also super excited to get a sneak peek at the new 2013 offerings and talk directly with the product designers about their process in creating today’s leading European designs. I’m sure I’ll have to sign away my first-born and I won’t be able to report what I see but I will be able to what I discover in the new “experience and design center” in Irvine, CA.
At events like these, I always look forward to meeting the other Design Bloggers who will be attending. For this event I’ll have a chance to get to know some online friends as we dine at True Food Kitchen on Thursday. A few of my Blogger 19 colleges will also be attending so I anxiously look forward to our reunion.
If you have any specific questions or information you’d like me to gather, just leave me a comment.
As the popularity of Outdoor Rooms and Outdoor Kitchens grow, I often get asked by home owners if they should purchase an outdoor dishwasher.
Outdoor Dishwashers are different from the standard dishwasher you would install inside the home. They are specifically designed to hold up to weather extremes, dirt and have a special wash cycle for tough to clean items.
There are two manufacturers to choose from – Kalamazoo, which holds the bragging rights for being the first to introduce the outdoor dishwasher and Asko. (Note: Asko’s website also says they were the first but Kalamazoo debuted theirs at KBIS 2011)
Kalamazoo
Both offer dishwashers with stainless interiors and exteriors, adjustable racks that will hold 12 place settings, weatherproof electronics, water safety leak protection and winterization steps.
Kalamazoo offers separate finished sides and back for the dishwasher to build it into their stainless cabinets. The Asko model includes a finished stainless exterior so it can be built-in or free-standing.
Asko
So, should you include one of these in your plans to upgrade or add an outdoor kitchen?
Most homes have a single wall outdoor kitchen that has barely enough room for a grill, sink and undercounter refrigerator. So if you fall into this category I’m sure you’d rather have the refrigerator than a dishwasher.
Kalamazoo Optional Back
If you have a large outdoor kitchen area and plenty of storage space then the question comes down to the size of the budget. An outdoor dishwasher is about $4,000. That may be a quarter to half of the entire budget so it is a big decision.
If you have the space and money is no object then I factor in the location of the outdoor kitchen to the house.
If your outdoor kitchen is very far away from the home then you may actually want to consider using an outdoor dishwasher. A perfect example is a lakefront home.
If the outdoor kitchen is positioned near the water because that is where everyone hangs out and the home is set back from the water’s edge and possibly elevated; then carrying a lot of items back and forth may be very inconvenient.
One last note, you may be the ideal homeowner for an outdoor dishwasher but local building codes could also be a factor – especially in flood zones.
Be on the lookout for the new Ice Collection from Whirlpool. This new streamlined collection of kitchen appliances will include refrigerators, wall ovens, ranges, and dishwashers. White Ice and Black Ice are the finish choices.
As best I can tell, Whirlpool doesn’t list the new appliances as an actual collection on their website so it’s best to do a search by finish. The new sleek appliances have cleaner lines and are unified by an arched stainless handle.
This new series could be a solution to a problem many remodelers face when looking at professional-grade appliances that bust their budget. If your goal is to find appliances that look clean and sharp and you don’t need extra cooking power, the Ice Collection may be the solution you need.
I seem to be Obsessed with Arabesque tile these days. It doesn’t matter if they are glass, painted clay or somewhere in between – I like them all.
The traditional Moroccan shape adds old world texture without adding a lot of pattern. The tile can look contemporary or antique depending on the material and color you select and the installation process.
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