Caesarstone 'Islands'

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Following a preview at the Interior Design Show in Toronto, Caesarstone will present a further exploration of ‘Islands’ at Fuori Salone 2014, Milan with an interactive installation focusing on food and dining within the domestic environment.

For this latest collaborative endeavour, the brand has teamed up with London-based design studio Raw-Edges – founded by Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay – to create a collection of seven living islands that offer both a new take on the materials and an innovative interpretation of the domestic space.

Islands marks a playful shift in Caesarstone’s focus, as it looks to re-imagine its surfaces for more unconventional uses. Here, materials take center stage in the collection with a simple and intuitive design; a sheet of stone arranged into table-like structures serve as a base for each of Raw-Edges’ explorations. Further elements are inserted through slots cut into the stone to become an integral part of the islands.

“For the Milan presentation we want to further-explore the concept of the sliding of objects into Caesarstone Islands; the focus will be on the kitchen, which will be set as a working station – a stage for performing cooking. Thanks to a rare creative freedom afforded to us by Caesarstone, we have carefully developed a conceptual interior that we hope will influence the mainstream.” –Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay

Raw-Edges’ seven island concepts offer a new take on a variety of domestic spaces whose surfaces answer more emotional domestic needs such as a space to play and a space to display objects.

Islands focuses primarily on the kitchen concept and the significance of the preparation and enjoyment of food. Mer and Alkalay are most ingenious in terms of the use of space. The cooking island challenges a traditional household layout with a combination of appliances and modular storage units cleverly combined into the space, imagined as a stage for entertaining.

The collection employs seven different colors from Caesarstone Classico series, with natural finishes in different shades ranging from pearlescent greys to darker browns and charcoal. The quartz surface is combined with reclaimed wood, ceramics, terracotta, glass and other fun household items such as a fish tank and ping-pong net.

” Thanks to a rare creative freedom afforded to us by Caesarstone, we have carefully developed a conceptual interior that we hope will influence the mainstream.”

Caesarstone added seven new colors to their Classico Collection. The new additions have striking patterns, are rich in color and texture, and designed to complement any space. 4130 Clamshell, 4460 Summer Rye, 5100 Vanilla Noir, 5110 Alpine Mist, 6003 Coastal Grey, 6131 Bianco Drift, 6338 Woodlands. Explore the new 2014 Collection Here.

Islands by Raw Edges for Caesarstone will be presented at Palazzo Criveli Via Clerici 5, Milan

April 6, 2014

Miele Generation 6000

Even if the Miele Booth at EuroCucina 2014 didn’t have tempting aromas of gourmet food coming from two show kitchens, I still expect it to be a popular exhibit.

The company is set to unveil new design features offering the ultimate in appliance individuality. According to Gernot Trettenbrein, Managing Director of the Domestic Appliances International business unit, this bold move is a step away from “off-the-shelf products.”

Discerning lovers of fine kitchens are simply bound to be inspired by the new design features – such as M-touch controls, and out-of-the-ordinary materials now offered for customized manufacturing.

The spacious Milan exhibit will cover the two design lines PureLine and ContourLine as well as showcase the Obsidian Black, Brilliant White, Havana Brown and CleanSteel stainless steel finishes.

For the first time, Miele will be presenting the entire Miele Generation 6000 Collection. This Miele product launch is the result of five years of extensive product development and embodies the “Design for Life” philosophy – each appliance is tested to last 20 years.

All Miele appliances flawlessly complement one another in form, function and materials and elevate the culinary experience – employing unprecedented convenience, performance and elegance. Included in the ground-breaking line are newly designed ovens, speed ovens, steam ovens, combi-steam ovens, coffee systems, and gourmet warming drawers

Eurocucina 2014 will run from April 8 until April 13. The Miele booth (Hall 9, Booth A02/B03) is part of a special show called ‘Technology for the Kitchen’.

Miele was founded in 1899 and has 8 production plants in Germany and one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania. thirds in Germany and is headquartered in Gütersloh/Westphalia, Germany.

With the single promise of Immer Besser or Forever Better, Miele is a premium appliance brand committed to the highest quality, performance and engineering.

April 2, 2014

Brummel Bar Furniture

If you’re into kitchen and bath design, you probably heard the term “kitchen furniture” before as it pertains to free-standing cabinetry. But, are you familiar with “Bar furniture?”

On display at EuroCucina – International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition in Milan April 8-April 13 will be DIAMOND “Cheers Hour” from Brummel Cucine.

Diamond “Cheers Hour” shares the unique bombe island shape from the Brummel Papillon Kitchen Collection, created by Bassano Del Grappa.

Handmade by artisans in Bassano Del Grappa, Italy, “Cheers Hour” is a masterpiece in glossy white perfection.

The glass island top slides open to reveal its functional side. The center of the island also moves and slides forward to create a bar ledge and reveal two wells – one for bottles, the other for stemware.

In addition to the sink and cooktop, the island also has an ice maker. No pricing information was given.

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Created in 1974, EuroCucina – International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition takes place in Milan, Italy. The trade show is biennial, with SALONE INT. DEL MOBILE, Salone Int. del Complemento d’Arredo and Salone Int. del Bagno.

Some 2,400 exhibitors are expected, bringing all the very latest furnishing solutions to Milan. 130 leading Italian and foreign kitchen manufacturers will be exhibiting at the 20th edition of EuroCucina, International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition, ranged over 25,000o square metres, in the four dedicated pavilions: 9-11, 13-15.

EuroCucina’s collateral event, FTK (Technology For the Kitchen) – 35 exhibitors, in over 9,800 square meters (Pavilion 9-11) devoted to built-in domestic electrical appliances and cooker hoods, is back again, showcasing products, prototypes and designs for kitchens of the future. FTK has also acquired major new exhibitors, such as Arçelik (Beko) and Sub Zero Group (SubZero, Wolf), underscoring its prestige.

The show also has a Free App – Salone del Mobile.Milano 2014 – iOS and Android
The app features the list of exhibitors (organized by event, pavilion and category), location of the stands, floorplan of the Fairgrounds, and schedule of events.

March 30, 2014April 14, 2019

Green Light

If you’ve ever been told you needed live plants in your home but just felt like you didn’t have the space, this may be the solution you need.

Designed by Toronto-based multidisciplinary design studio O/I (Object Interface Inc.), Babylon is a plantable light fixture inspired by the legends of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The suspended light is made of powder coated aluminum with a removable ABS plastic liner. You can choose between the single light or a three light cluster. Pricing starts around $500.00

If you prefer a more enclosed option – especially if hanging over your kitchen table – this next light from Greenworks may be what you need. Also called Babylon, this light designed by Alexis Tricoire is a suspended terrarium of sorts.

The suspended light fixture is about 19.5″ wide with 5 openings for stems to grow through. The bottom of the globe is covered with pumice that contains minerals and micro nutrients that feed the plants. Due to the high water holding capacity of the pumice, plants need watering and maintenance only every third week.

I love this photo with the orchids. I will admit I’m not the best when it comes to keeping orchids but If I had this fixture, I’d try to improve my skills.

The last option I found for Green Lights is from the Bocci 38 Collection. This collection is an extension of the 28 series by Omer Arbel that features a series of distorted spheres filled with cavities that double as planters.

“This chandelier object, in production, uses a technique Mr. Arbel had previously used to create 28. It takes an hour for three people to make one; 10% to 15% of them break in the process, says Mr. Arbel. This piece, 38, has cavities deep enough to contain earth and succulent and cacti plantings.”

Within the spheres there are 4-6 cavities, 2 or 3 of which house either a 10 watt xenon or a 1.5 watt LED light source. Electricity and suspension are achieved with stiff copper tubing, which is allowed to tangle and skew, seemingly without regard for gravity.

Due to the hand crafted nature of the 38 series, the pendant size as well as the number and location of interior satellites, pendant diameter, and sometimes shape may vary.

Based in Vancouver with a satellite company in Berlin, Bocci is a contemporary design and manufacturing house that follows sustainable practices. Bocci’s 38 Collection is made from recycled glass, lit by energy-efficient LED lights, and shipped in recyclable packaging.