2008 Color Trend Black and White at KBIS

Black and White is such a great color combination. It’s instantly elegant even with the simplest materials. Here are some photos and products from this year’s KBIS that you can use in your black and white theme.

The Damask Remix Vessel Sink design by Cheryl Erikson-Wong for Wells Sinkware could be seen in the New Product Pavilion. These sinks are made by sandwiching the pattern between two layers of glass. The double layer of glass makes these sinks very durable as well.

Ann Sacks displayed their Laque Tile. These dramatic lacquer wall tiles come in 12″x24″ format in black or white. These tiles are manufactured in a traditional Vietnamese style that dates back to the third and fourth centuries B.C. Each wood tiles receive 12-18 coats of lacquer and is hand polished to a warm glossy finish. These tiles are not for wet areas but work great for accent walls.

This luxurious bath is from the Traditional Home Magazine vignette in the KBIS Design Idea Center. If you don’t have as much floor space you can incorporate the simple lines and stately elegance. Black glass chandeliers are at the top of the list of must-have chic accessories.

This Vanity from Duravit is great for high style in small baths. I think this would look great with a damask print tile.

One of the best things about using a black and white theme is that you can always change up your accessories to add some spice or give the room a new feeling. Red is a hot accent color right now. Most trend-spotters are crediting the upcoming Olympics for Red’s popularity.

April 4, 2008June 20, 2017

Unique Veneers on the Rise

With all the new technology being applied to kitchens and kitchen design it is no wonder homeowners are taking advantage of the ability to customize their kitchens to their own personal tastes.

Customers today are used to affordable luxury. Gone are the days when you have to shop at high-end stores to get designer names and styles. The same Marketing that places Polo and Calvin Klein in Costco stores has trickled into cabinet manufacturing.

Cabinet manufacturers are now showcasing unique and exotic veneers in their standard line-up of species offered. Homeowners are gravitating towards these offerings because it lets their home stand out in the crowd.

According to the Timber Products Company, a quality wood product supplier in the cabinet industry, the technology behind Engineered Veneers has also contributed to the increase in veneer popularity because new cost-savings and consistent appearance add value.

It’s no surprise Bamboo veneer will be popular this year. Other species to be fashionable are Beech, Walnut and Knotty Alder for it’s eye catching rustic appeal.

Using veneers with knots or in a dull luster are now giving homeowners with traditional tastes access to material they never would have considered using before. I often tell clients who really like a unique veneer but are hesitant to commit to it to consider using it for a specialty piece such as a refrigerator armoire or small island.

April 1, 2008

Diamond Faucet for your Bath

This faucet is so much better than the Swarovski crystal toilet I wrote about in January. For starters the Oz faucet is made of white gold and over 10 carats of diamonds. If that doesn’t impress you, then the clean lines will.

The Oz Diamond Edition Collection from Teknobili, designed by architect Nilo Giaocchini, was reproduced by master jeweler Professor Alberto Cotogno with 282 VVS diamonds. This handle is available on both the lavatory and bidet faucet.

March 16, 2008

Hunter Fan Illumi-Heat

This might look like an typical ceiling mounted light fixture, but this new light fixture from Hunter Fan Company actually contains a heating element.

The Illumi-Heat Fixture has a 700-watt ceramic heating element that can be used in bathrooms, mudroom, or any small room that could use some extra heat.

Operated by remote control, the heating element can raise the temperature of a 215 sq. ft. room 5 degrees in an hour. When you don’t need the extra heat, the fixture operates as a any other normal light fixture.

This is such a great product. I’ve been in many homes that could use this very fixture.