Electrolux Icon Kitchen Contest Winner Named

Electrolux named Marcello Zuffo as the Grand Prize Winner with his futuristic kitchen entry. The conceptual kitchen has movable components that can be reconfigured to adapt to the task at hand and is a sculptural component to a typically rectangular space.

“As a city dweller myself, I congratulate Marcello for addressing lack of space with a completely unique concept,” said Cindy Allen, judge and editor-in-chief of Interior Design Magazine. “The jury especially loved the ‘knuckle,’ which swivels, and allows the kitchen to serve utilitarian and sculptural purposes simultaneously.”

In its second year, the design competition, challenged members of the architect and design community to present innovative, thoughtful concepts for a kitchen that meets the changing needs of today’s modern family.

Marcello is a Senior Designer at Motorola’s Consumer Experience Design Group (CXD)

Congrats Marcello!

November 8, 2008

Around the Web November 2008

Brown Turtleneck Sweater is a wonderful blog with decorating and entertaining ideas you’ll love to bookmark. Here’s a photo from Brittnye’s Blog that shows another use for Chalkboard Paint. By painting the back of the shelving dark the objects on display really stand out. The paint is also a great way to make a new shelving unit look instantly older. You can personalize this further by writing out a daily menu. If you are entertaining guests you can list your feature coffee bean next to the coffee machine.

If you like to watch HGTV, you’re going to love visiting Interior Designer Kenneth Brown‘s Blog. His popular TV shows “reDesign” on HGTV and “Over Designed” on TLC have help catapult him to being one of the most sought-after interior designers in Los Angeles. In one of his posts he gives easy examples of how to use containers and backyard cuttings to freshen up a room.

Over at decorology, another fabulous design blog, you can get a pictorial tour of the home of Patti Silverman. The white on white palette is stunning. You would never use the word sterile to describe this home. All the posts have beautiful pictures for providing lots of inspiration.

A life’s design has a great post showing re-purposed industrial items. This is another well thought-out site great for inspiration. I also really enjoyed the post showing some great alternatives for decorating with seasonal pumpkins.

November 3, 2008

Back-painted Glass Splash

My new samples of back-painted glass came and I’m really excited about using it in a project.

Most homeowners are familiar with full height glass backsplashes. In the past, full-height mirrors were very popular for making small kitchens look bigger.

Today’s hot trend is to customize glass panels with the color of your choice for a seamless look that fits in contemporary or traditional settings.

This is a beautiful product that can be templated to fit most splash applications. I say most because it would be quite difficult if not impossible to get a full glass panel behind an existing exhaust hood.

The availability of large glass panels have also made back-painted glass popular in bathrooms. They are being used for splashes, tub skirts and shower walls. With no grout lines like you would have with glass tile, the glass panels are very easy to clean.

You don’t have to stick to solid colors, artists can also custom paint a panel in any image or abstract design you want.

If you are uncertain you are ready to put in full glass splashes, there’s an Australian website that has an incredible Virtual Kitchen Program on their website that lets you view 60 different color options. DecoGlaze Virtual Kitchens Website.

October 8, 2008

Showtime House: Dexter Kitchen

showtime concept design | KitchAnn Style

Metropolitan Home magazine and Showtime Network teamed up to turn a New York townhouse into a modernist masterpiece creating different rooms inspired by 6 of the network’s shows -Californication, Dexter, The L Word, The Tudors and Weeds, plus the soon-to-be-launched United States of Tara.

Johnny Grey Studios designed the Dexter kitchen inspired by the character’s South Florida lifestyle reflecting Miami’s Art Deco architecture and tropical setting.

Grey chose to depart from the typical predictable kitchen. His blog discusses his desire to get away from the typical work triangle and create a space that will appeal to the visitors’ senses.

Immediately upon seeing the kitchen you can’t help but notice the curved walnut countertops. I am reminded of the display Grey designed a few years ago for the Electrolux booth at KBIS. It’s very disappointing there are not more pictures of the kitchen available. I was able to find many photos of the Dexter Dining Room.

Grey used many natural materials including Aspen, Walnut, Blogged Oak, Zebra grain Maple, Bloodwood and Teak Tiles. He used Caesarstone on the countertops, windows and bookcases to give a nod to Miami’s modern architecture. Paints were also inspired by Miami and ranged from ocean blues to spicey hues.

Metropolitan Home’s Showtime House is located at 23 Gramercy Park South and will be open to the public for tours until October 26, 2008. Proceeds from the tour ticket sales will benefit Nemcova’s non-profit organization, Happy Hearts Fund. For more information about tickets and tours at the showhouse, visit www.methome.com/showtime.