Modern Kitchen with Fabric Doors

Demode is offering material doors in their Meccanica Kitchen line for a modern “dematerialized” aesthetic. Created by Gabriele Centazzo and engineered by Valcucine, the Meccanica Kitchen uses less materials in its construction thus creating a revolutionary eco-friendly kitchen system.

The Meccanica Kitchen is characterized by tubular iron (anodized aluminium) frames that create different modular elements which can easily be assembled and dismantled as needed, customizable to any space in the home or office. The tubular pieces are joined with mechanical fasteners so there is no gluing or worry about formaldehyde.

Shelving, drawers and panels can be added into the metal framework in a variety of different finishes. Doors are available in various colors of plywood, sheet metal or even fabric which is stain-resistant (Teflon-coated), removable and washable.

Meccanica has been designed to be 90% reused and 100% recycled. It comes with the Valcucine Life-long Responsibility Guarantee, which ensures that they will take the kitchen back at the end of its life cycle.

The units are shipped flat-packed allowing for more items to be shipped at one time, reducing transportation and fuel costs.

DEMODE by Valcucine redefines a new parameter of the real living culture with real beauty that is simple, intellectual, engaging and unique design purpose.

Demode stands for Democratic Modern Design. A name that can also be read as Démodé, i.e. out of fashion. Why? Because fashion is ephemeral while Demode is designed to last. Meccanica is the 5th Kitchen Series for Demode, joining Digma, Planca, Integra and Forma. Traditionally associated to the idea of reducing consumption (degrowth philosophy), Demode kitchens embrace minimum consumption of raw materials and energy, long durability, recyclability and non-toxic finishes. Each product is 100% recyclable, designed for reuse, optimization of raw materials and application of non-toxic processing and materials. Demode does not advertise in magazines or on television so they can price their products at a proportional value for the consumer.

(The new Valcucine London showroom will be open during the
London Design Festival 14-22 September.)

March 27, 2013April 10, 2020

Botanical Easter

I’ve been meaning to set out some Spring decor and now Easter is almost here. I love this project which Martha Stewart did back in 2000 using herbs as a mask for Easter Eggs.

If the weather is too cold to collect plants from outside for your eggs, use fresh herbs from the grocery store, flowers from a bouquet, or even small house plants. Continue reading “Botanical Easter”

July 16, 2012

Best Use of Paperstone

I haven’t been the biggest fan of Paperstone, the sustainable solid surface material made from recycled paper, because it shows water spots. However, I recently stumbled across these images of a kitchen and an island countertop made with various shades of the eco-friendly material.

Designer Alessio Bassan gets all the credit but I’d like to give a nod to the fabrication team for the Key Kitchen Project.

July 6, 2012May 1, 2025

How to Shop for a 60 Watt Bulb

Do you remember the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007? Provisions began taking effect the first part of this year, with many popular incandescent reflector lamps being outlawed.

If you used to buy 100 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 1600 lumens
If you used to buy 75 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 1100 lumens
If you used to buy 60 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 800 lumens
If you used to buy 40 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 450 lumens

Watts are a better predictor of how hot a light bulb will be than how bright it is. Lumens tell you how much light a bulb will provide.

To make it easier to compare light bulbs, the Federal Trade Commission has designed a new label which you have probably already seen. It was required to be on all packages starting this year.

It is important to look for the ENERGY STAR on light bulb packaging, which means that they meet strict criteria set by EPA for both energy efficiency and quality. Other bulbs may be cheaper, but the tests that ENERGY STAR requires are important, and necessary for consumers to get the performance they expect.

Update: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ended the ENERGY STAR specifications for lamps and luminaires December 31, 2024.

In absence of the ENERGY STAR mark, the Federal Trade Commission’s Lighting Facts labels will continue to communicate lamp performance to consumers, including brightness, estimated yearly energy cost, life, light appearance as the expression of the correlated color temperature,
and energy used.