Shape The Future of Black

Do you have what it takes to Shape the Future of design? DuPont Corian has established an international design competition that has been launched across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

Participants are invited to conceive an interior design solution (such as furnishing, tables, seating, vanities, vertical cladding, etc…) for one of the following with the new DeepColour blacks:

• home environment (kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom, etc…)

• public/commercial spaces (hotels, hospitals and medical facilities, shops, restaurants, bars, yachts, offices, airport  and train stations, museums, banks, shopping centers, theaters etc…)

The contest excludes flooring and ceiling applications, lighting equipment, accessories and small objects. Entry deadline is June 15th, 2014.

Corian DeepColour | KitchAnn Style
The result is to give architects, designers and fabricators the confidence to experiment with the material through all manner of volumetric or surface treatments. “The newness of this technology and the depth of these colors offers designers something to play with that they haven’t had before,” says Mark Woodman, lead design consultant for Corian.

Consider the work of the Giles Miller Studio. I saw their amazing tiles at the London Design Festival last fall.

When the LDF needed  a feature desk for the V&A entrance , the organizers approached Giles Miller for a solution that was the opposite of “off-the-shelf.” In response, Miller developed a system of intricately patterned, machine-cut panels that could be arranged volumetrically. The triangular panels, each uniquely grooved with a different surface treatment, were laid out in opposite directions, creating a dazzling effect of light and shadow.

Giles Miller Desk for VA | KitchAnn Style

Miller, who typically works with metals and other reflective materials was new to Corian, yet he was able to achieve the same, polished metal effect using only DeepColor solid surface. “Before we made the final desk, we laid the tiles out on the floor of our studio and saw the effect of the reflection,” recalls Miller. “We were blown away by the ability to make intricate profiles and have them all reflect light.”

For those who dare to use Corian as more than just sheet goods, you may have encountered “stretch marks” as you manipulated and formed the surface. DeepColor, however, now eliminates those unsightly lines and other imperfections, such as scratches, a constant issue with darker surfaces.

The new collection of solid surfaces is currently available in four dark, lustrous hues—Anthracite, Nocturne, Night Sky and Black Quartz. Still under wraps in DuPont’s labs, an extended palette of colors is about to be added to Corian family of colors.

Milan Design Week Corian | KitchAnn Style

Lighting on My Mind

Table lamp ideas for kitchens | KitchAnn Style

As a Kitchen and Bath Specialist I don’t usually specify furniture or soft goods such as upholstery so I was a little worried when I saw BlogTour NY was scheduled to visit the Donghia showroom in the D&D Building that I’d struggle to come up with something to write about this sponsor.

Donghia | KitchAnn Style

My worries were quickly put to rest as I sipped Prosecco and was introduced to the new spring product offering. I quickly fell in love with the Murano lighting and wall coverings.

It seems like designers are always looking for great chandeliers to hang over kitchen islands now that open floor plans are preferred and higher ceilings are in more demand from homeowners. But what about table lamps in the kitchen?

Table Lamps in the Kitchen

Table lamps are great accessories in the kitchen and are too often overlooked. They provide great task lighting as well as soft ambient light when dimmed for parties or quiet mornings.

Table lamp ideas for kitchens | KitchAnn Style

Table lamp ideas for kitchens | KitchAnn Style
Table lamp ideas for kitchens | KitchAnn Style

Whether you want to use a pair or a single lamp paired with a vase, picture frame or other accessory of your choosing, lamps can fit most any design theme.

Some planning is needed to locate outlets for the lamps in each designated spot. Lamp chords will also most likely need to be shortened by your electrician or lamp shop.

Table lamp ideas for kitchens via Atlanta Homes | KitchAnn Style

Table lamp ideas for kitchens via 3rd Uncle | KitchAnn Style

Lamps make a kitchen feel more like a room and less like a food laboratory.

What do you think? I think they are a better alternative to Swiss cheese ceilings with too many recessed can lights.

Margot Lamp Satin Sepia | KitchAnn Style

The Margot Lamp in satin sepia was my favorite piece from the new spring collection shown in the Donghia showroom (see first picture). The Murano glass is most alluring. For a shorter lamp, I really love the clean design of the Clara lamp.

Clara lamp - Donghia | KitchAnn Style

About Donghia

Donghia, Inc. produces furniture, textiles, lighting and accessories sold exclusively to interior designers and architects through Donghia’s 12 showrooms across the United States and in over fifty representative showrooms around the world. With a forty-year history at the forefront of the luxury home furnishings industry, Donghia represents American design at its best.

Donghia Associates was founded in 1972 by Angelo Donghia and focused in the areas of residential, contract and hospitality design. In 1978 Donghia Furniture was established to produce fine upholstery and casepieces and Mr. Donghia continued the growth of his companies, expanding his network of showrooms and products across the United States.

Since his passing in 1985 Donghia was owned and operated as a private company. In 2005, the company was purchased by the Rubelli Group, a leading designer and manufacturer of textiles from Venice, Italy.

(Donghia is a sponsor for BlogTour NYC May 2014, but the views and opinions expressed on this blog are mine, and I will be honest in what I share. You, the reader, are my top priority and it is my goal to make sure you can trust the content and integrity of this blog.)

Win a $14,000 Custom-Made Sofa

win a sofa| Kitchann Style

I had the chance to meet Mark Cutler and Dorothee Fisher from nousDECOR on my recent trip to NY with Modenus. If you aren’t familiar with nousDECOR, it is a design resource for everyone.

Everyone, from expert designers to decor enthusiasts, can interact and inspire one another by using a system of mood boards, inspirational images, and even personally uploaded items.

There’s also rich community on nousDECOR, where members passionate about decor can express their tastes and help each other get their interiors to where they want them to be.

nousDECOR Community | KitchAnn Style

How it works

Unlike other home décor sites or remodeling apps, nousDECOR provides much more than beautiful images and links to products, but also all the resources and tools you need to translate dream designs into reality. See a room that you love on nousDECOR, but it’s about 300 times out of your budget? Click on the moodboard, then click on each item and use the “SAME LOOK, DIFFERENT PRICE” button to search for similar items at different price points.
Have a room that you love from a Magazine but can’t find the products to recreate it? Have a couch that you can’t seem to find the perfect rug for? Try nousDECOR’s SEEKING HELP feature. You can upload a photo of what you need help with, then put it out there for the nousDECOR community to give you feedback, including their in-house designers and Chief Designer, Mark Cutler.

kitchen studio of naples board | KitchAnn Style
 For those of you who fill your homes exclusively with “flash sale” decor but you get tired of hunting and hunting and hunting through them to find what you’re looking for, as you’re creating your moodboard, click the SHOW FLASH SALE FIRST button to give you products straight from all of those sites. There is also a SHOW DIY FIRST button for products that you can easily recreate at home.

Want to Win the Sofa?

To get your hands on the boss, Mad Men-style Mid-Century Modern sofa you see above, simply follow these simple steps.

1. Register/Log into your nousDECOR Account.
2. Go to the “Create” page. (nousDECOR.com/create)
3. Attach an inspirational image.
4. Create a moodboard with an inspirational image and the Bespoke sofa. Search “Bespoke sofa” and drag & drop to start styling.
5. Publish your moodboard and inspiration to enter.
6. Invite your friends and family to “Like” your moodboard on nousDECOR.com. (Share your moodboard on Facebook and other social media channels to help you get the most “likes”!)
The moodboard with the most “likes” on nousDECOR wins!

Submit your entry by June 3rd 2014 at 11:59PM (PDT)

Like my Board and I will like yours back.

nousDECOR KitchAnn Style Moodboard

Prize Details

One-of-a-kind sofa from Bespoke Furniture Inc.
Mid-century inspired custom-made sofa
Custom linen burlap fabric
Cast oil-rubbed bronze legs
Walnut burlwood detailing
Valued at $14,000
Dimensions: 84″W x 25″D x 32.5″H

For more details, see our contest rules.

What is the meaning behind the company name?

“Nous” is the French pronoun for “we,” and it underscores our commitment to helping anyone translate
their dream interior to reality, regardless of budget, time or expertise. Through our proprietary
technology and the power of our active community for guidance and feedback, we empower anyone to
decorate their space. And just in case you didn’t take French in high school–“nous” is pronounced
“new,” a pun we intended you to hear to convey a “new” outlook on interior decorating, or all those
“new” items you can discover through our search tools.

 

(NousDECORis a sponsor for BlogTour NYC May 2014, but the views and opinions expressed on this blog are mine. Be glad they told me about the contest so I could share it with you.)

 

Slimmker Click Floating Ceramic Tile

Inalco Slimmker Click takes the high-performance characteristics of the Slimmker Floor product and marries it with traditional tongue-and-groove laminate flooring plywood backing.

Slimmker Click | KitchAnn Style

This creates an easy-to-install flooring option. The semi-translucent white porcelain collection can be made in many lighter porcelain designs which allow for backlighting much like an onyx or alabaster slab.

Inalco’s Slimmker Click Collection is lightweight, versatile and ideal for places where surface coverings are regularly changed.