Cooking Table

Open Floor Plans and new technology have helped the kitchen become a more social space.

Open floor plans not only maximize available space and eliminate wasted space, they make rooms more flexible and inviting. Food preparation, eating, lounging, entertainment and children playing all occur within the same undivided space.

Now a new cooking concept allows social cooking to be accomplished with ease in the smallest of spaces. German Designer Moritz Putzier presented his graduate project, the Cooking Table; at IMM Cologne 2015 and won first prize in the Pure Talents Contest – a contest aimed at acknowledging the work of young students and recent graduates who have developed a product or system that addresses the area of interior innovation.

“My work is focused on the creation of the experience not on the food itself,” said Putzier. “Traditional and original values are picked up and transformed into the present time.”

Putzier incorporated a hidden cooktop into a long, wooden dining table that can be used for preparing and cooking meals, dining, working or studying at. The table pulls apart to reveal a track where the gas burner can be attached on the top with a gas tank below. The burners can slide along the top allowing the user to add as many as they need.

The Cooking Table comes with a couple of wooden stools and a set of ceramic bowls that can be used for storage or serve as heat shields for the hot burners. The lids conveniently double as cutting boards.

I really like the concept and the approach Putzier took in creating his graduate project. Perhaps we’ll this on a Kickstarter page in the future for the American market.

February 1, 2015June 15, 2018

Wilsonart Quartz Collection

Wilsonart recently introduced 50 (You read correctly, 50!) patterns in their new quartz collection at KBIS in Vegas.

The Wilsonart Quartz patterns celebrate discovery with designs inspired by locations and cultures from as far away as the Gobi desert to the Midwest skies of the USA and native peoples of the Americas, Australia and Southeast Asia.

“Bringing our own quartz line to the market furthers our ability to provide customers with a full spectrum of decorative surface options for any project they may embark upon,” – Alison DeMartino, Wilsonart Director of Marketing Communications

The Quartz Collection is divided into four categories based on aggregate and pattern structure. The groups are Fine and Small Scale, Medium Scale, Large Scale and Veining and Movement. By late Spring 2015 all the patterns should be available.

Fine & Small Scale Structures:

This collection contains subtle concrete tones with touches of sparkle, soapstone with a dappled appearance, and imbues a modern and sleek sophistication.

Serene (Q1001)Niwa (Q1002), Gobi (Q1003), Amalfi Coast (Q1004), Key West (Q1008) ,Alamosa (Q1011), Lorraine (Q1012), Chillkat (Q1013)

Medium Scale Structures:

The Medium scale designs are transitional in their offerings of color variation. This collection offers choices that will not overwhelm your space.

Lyra (Q2001), Majestic (Q2002), Aurora (Q2003), Sans Souci (Q2004), Viaggio (Q2006)

Large Scale Structures:

Large scale structures create bold interpretations in design. From terrazzo looks to subtle movement this collection offers increased style for distinctive spaces.

Skye Cliff (Q3001), Osteria (Q3002), Kabi (Q3004), Vittorio (Q3005), Rio Upano (Q3008), Galileo (Q3011), Nakasendo (Q3012)

Veining and Movement:

This collection offers visual impact It is inspired by classic white marbles, Turkish red marbles, and exotic tortoise shell.

Badaling (Q4001), Colza (Q4002), Araku (Q4003), Mehndi (Q4004), Adena (Q4005), Xcaret (Q4006), Duomo (Q4007), Haida (Q4008), Kolams (Q4009), Arashi (Q4011), Sangda Falls (Q4012), Isselburg (Q4013), Murren (Q4014), Las Medulas (Q4016), Arno (Q4017), Gaudi (Q4019), Anatolia (Q4021), Jules (Q4022), Santiago (Q4023), Via Augusta (Q4024)

The new product line represents the best in global design and state-of-the-art manufacturing, and will be delivered through Wilsonart’s exclusive distribution network. Wilsonart Quartz joins the family of engineered surface options led by Wilsonart® Laminate and Solid Surface products, as well as other engineered surfaces for a range of commercial and residential applications. Wilsonart Quartz meets all industry standards including UL GREENGUARD Gold for Indoor Air Quality and NSF International Seal for Safe Surfaces for Food Preparation.

January 21, 2015

Dekton Offers Five New Colors

Dekton by Cosentino introduces five striking new colors that highlight the beauty of natural stone as part of the Natural Collection.

Aura: A New Design Concept

Aura replicates the elegance and beauty of Calacatta marble with large-scale veining for an impactful design statement. Aura provides a stunning option for those interested in the luxurious look of marble – a trend that has shown a recent strong resurgence in the U.S. market – without the maintenance issues typically associated with natural stone.

For the first time, Cosentino has developed a slab design with an endless symmetrical pattern. Aura can be composed so that the veining continues from one slab to the next, giving a true mirror effect known as “book-matching.”

Edora

Edora is uniform in color yet contains delicate, undulating textures offering a minimalist concept and a natural look. Its warm neutral tones are distinctly stylish and classic.

Irok

Thin, delicate veining gives Irok its unmistakable appearance. Its creamy tones and a subtle movement evoke the look of limestone, offering enduring beauty for myriad of applications.

Kairos

Another marble-like variant in the collection is Kairos, which offers a soft, white base striated with subtle, pale grey veining reminiscent of Italian Carrera marble. Its natural veining and milky appearance brings an elegant brightness for both classic and cutting-edge environments.

Vegha

The stormy taupe of Vegha reveals a layered depth, which is impactful yet neutral. Inspired by the formations of limestone and sandstone, its innovative look is sophisticated and versatile enough for a variety of aesthetics.

Dekton retails for $58-$96 per square foot, depending on thickness and color.

How It’s Made

Dekton is made using a proprietary process called Particle Sintering Technology (PST), which is an accelerated version of the change that rocks and stone undergo in nature when subjected to heat and pressure over thousands of years. Dekton has reduced this process to four hours with extreme heat and pressure resulting in an ultra-compact surface with superior technical characteristics.

Warranty

Dekton offers a 25-year limited residential warranty on the material. The warranty does not cover “commercial uses” of the Dekton products. “Commercial uses” include but are not limited to use in commercial buildings such as
retail stores, restaurants, offices, hotels, or apartment complexes.

December 28, 2014

2015: The Year Ahead in Bathroom Design

This year brought us the use of matte black fixtures in the bathroom with the declined use of oil-rubbed bronze. Matte gold finish gained ground in fixtures, lighting and accessories – especially in higher end homes.

In 2014 contemporary bathroom design requests surpassed traditional. For 2015 I expect clean, contemporary design will still be most popular with curbless showers and suspended vanities incorporated into designs for continuous sleek tile floors.

LED lighting will not only be used in lighting fixtures on the ceilings and walls but also underneath suspended vanities and recessed to accentuate free-standing tubs.

My prediction for the most significant shift in 2015 will be in the request for semi-recessed tubs.

Homeowners want bathrooms that are easier to clean and the corners and crevices behind free-standing tubs can be difficult to reach. Installing a tub in a semi-recessed design allows the bathroom to look more spacious and modern while eliminating the need to clean behind the tub.

In addition to providing easily accessible storage for bath salts and other bathing items, the partial platform allows for additional plumbing options for the tub filler placement.

The semi-recessed tub installation requires skilled installers that can carefully craft a deck that follows the contour of the tub.

As the 2015 progresses, more manufacturers will make installation easier by offering half-skirts to consumers. Cladding the surrounding decking will become faster and easier.

The semi-recessed tub can also be installed at variable heights providing customization for homeowners and plumbing solutions for drain configuration in bathroom remodeling.

Leave a comment if you think this trend will take off or if you think it’s too custom to get a foot-hold and will flop. Here’s to a prosperous and creative 2015!

Category: Countertops

Wilsonart Quartz Collection