Kelly’s Kitchen Sync by Kelly Morisseau

Several years ago I decided to give my kitchen a facelift and set about: pulling magazine pages for inspiration; visiting kitchen and bath showrooms to talk to designers about cabinets, counters and plumbing fixtures; reading how-to do kitchen remodel books from cover to cover; and walking the appliance aisles at the big box stores all with the intention of creating my dream kitchen on my own. How hard could it be? I loved DIY and design, and had been decorating the homes of others for quite a few years so I didn’t give it a second thought. I would undertake the kitchen facelift project on my own.

A few months into my project my enthusiasm waned as I learned that kitchen design is a whole different beast. I got through the project but I suffered needlessly. One of my biggest frustrations was the day the refrigerator was delivered. I had worked closely with the appliance store to make sure the refrigerator would fit perfectly in the niche left behind by the late 80s era refrigerator the previous owner had installed. I measured, measured, measured, so imagine my surprise when this expensive refrigerator refused to fit where it was supposed to based on the wall, cabinet and counter measurements and the appliance specifications. My frustration turned to absolute dread when the delivery guys said to me, after trying to shimmy the refrigerator for 30 minutes, “We have another delivery and as much as we want to help you out here, we can’t. Got to go.” They left me with a refrigerator which was slightly angled in place because the top cabinet jutted out less than 1/16th of an inch. Enough to prevent the refrigerator from sliding in snuggly right under it – and the problem wasn’t with the cabinet and counter measurements; no, the refrigerator specs on paper were off by a bit coupled with a less than level floor and a slightly less than square wall-all of which led to the fitting problem. The nightmare scenario then ensued. I had to go to my husband and ask him for help. After some discussion we agreed that we’d keep the refrigerator. I really wanted it and didn’t want to send it back. So we removed the upper cabinets forsaking valuable storage space in the process.

How I wish I had my friend Kelly Morrisseau’s handy guidebook “Kelly’s Kitchen Sync: Insider kitchen design and remodeling tips from an award-winning kitchen expert.” back then. Kelly is a second-generation kitchen designer who lives and breathes kitchen design and remodeling. It’s her passion; one that she has generously shared with readers of her blog, Kitchen Sync. She gleefully answers questions on all things kitchen design with a perfect balance of charming wit, and top notch expertise. Her newly released book expands on the topic of kitchen remodeling and design and offers up loads of tips, advice and recommendations delivered in a warm and conversational tone – just like having Kelly right alongside you! 

I adore Kelly’s take on writing this book, as she shares not only the tips from her successful projects, but she opens up and shares about several design challenges she encountered and how she approached the problems and delivered to the homeowner the kitchen of their dreams.  In the following passage, Kelly details a design challenge: fitting a refrigerator into an angled corner:

Refrigerators are deeper than all other appliances, up to a maximum of 34” deep with handle. Even the “built-in” refrigerators still protrude further than 24” deep once we allow for the electrical plug and counters and side panels.  How the doors swing also determine whether they’ll pinch against a corner.

The last refrigerator I placed next to a lazy susan, I allowed 15” of swing space to the adjacent counter. The design was hindered by the kitchen door to the garage, which wouldn’t allow us any more movement away from the corner. So I designed with the understanding that according to the appliance specifications, 14” of clearance width to the corner was sufficient.

Except it wasn’t and the specifications were incomplete. Any time the door swung wider than 135 degrees, it hit against the counter and eventually had to be redesigned.

When you design the refrigerator next to the corner, ask how wide you will be swinging the door open before you make your final decision…and allow more than what the specifications say.

Kelly also goes beyond offering her design expertise in this book. She discusses some of the leading appliance and cabinetry trends in the kitchen design industry which I think makes this book even that much more useful to homeowners. For example she shares why she thinks Induction cooking ranges will overtake gas ranges over the next few years. Those little industry insights peppered throughout the book will give homeowners the additional information that they won’t necessarily find at the design showrooms or big box appliance or cabinetry stores where they only show you what’s available now. Which is fine if your project is a near-term endeavor and/or you don’t necessarily care about technological or design innovations. But if your project is slated for a few years out, and you do want to buy the most technologically advanced designs, then it’s imperative that you know where the kitchen design industry (appliances, cabinetry, surfaces, etc) is headed.

“Kelly’s Kitchen Sync” is a wonderful guide book that covers kitchen remodeling from inspiration to designing to purchasing to completion while offering homeowners fantastic and insightful tips to help them avoid many of the pitfalls often associated with remodeling.

Where to buy:

Kelly’s Kitchen Sync on Amazon

Contact:

• Kitchen Sync Blog
• Kitchen Sync on Twitter
• Kelly Morisseau {Kitchen Sync Book} on Facebook

John Sparano of ICE Enterprises

Photo:KITCHEN This was a kitchen with limited space, so installing glass paned cupboards and staggering their lengths gave it a greater sense of depth. A soffit was created above the cabinets and finished with thick crown molding and a copper painted inset on the ceiling to further open it up.		Photo: KITCHEN  A farm sink would be too casual for this Parisian cafe inspired kitchen, so John had a stone installer fashion a sink entirely out of pieces from the same lot of granite- giving the whole counter top a lyrical flow. Doing so kept with the Parisian café look replete with black vintage cabinets and highly textured granite throughout.  The original linoleum was replaced with warm tone hardwood flooring to further push the café motif.
Photo:DINING ROOM The dining area was tied into the kitchen by continuing the textured paint on the wall and the black wainscoting. Two antique chairs were paired up with two modern chairs. Artwork was in black and gold. The Japanese silk cushion added a touch of color and some more international flavor. The second mismatched chandelier kept the formality while injecting a touch of whimsy.		Photo: DINING ROOM Wall covering in the kitchen and dining room is a painted suede treatment from Ralph Lauren, cabinets from Oneil Cabinets installed by R2 Build and Design, granite from Stone Mart and installed by Planet Stone. Table and two chairs from Target, Hitchcock chairs, Japanese Obis, and Venetian Hand-stamped drapes provided by homeowner.

Photo:LIVING ROOM John wanted to reflect the fun and vibrant personality of the resident, a young marketing professional, so he painted the walls a light steel gray in order to have the objects in the room pop. The blue of the couch compliments the brown hues in the wood of the coffee table and provided the opportunity to add more bright accents. Coffee table from Urban Home, couch from Furniture One, lamps from Pier One, accent pillows from The Great Indoors.

Photo: DINING ROOM The resident wanted to keep her dining room open because of the limited space in her apartment, so John employed a stark modern design and created another seating area with a coffee table that transforms into dining height and can moved to the center of the room and used with the bench. Coffee table from Urban Home, Bench from West Elm, vase with bamboo from In Mode and Eames style cradle rocker from Overstock.com, Artichoke light from In Mode. Textured burgundy grass wallpaper from Astek Wallcoverings.		Photo: LIVING ROOM In the living room John wanted to make the side chair a bold contrast the traditional sofa, so he found this unique Danish easy chair at Silica 3 and added a rust accent pillow from In Mode Los Angeles. Side tables from Target.
Photo: BEDROOM The bedroom was a very small square, so to give it some personality John added a subtle bed crown and black Lucite chandelier. The gold embroidery in the bed crown drape picks up the gold curtains on the windows. Bed from Urban Home, bed crown found at Satsuma Gallery, chandelier from H. D. Buttercup.		Photo:DINING ROOM The dining room needed to seat 14, and have a modern classic feel like the rest of the house. John found a long simply shaped dining table, put matching benches on one side to accommodate six, stackable midcentury chairs on the other, and two matching Mackintosh chairs at either end. Since the room had a great view of the outside, he had cushions made that tied in outdoor landscaping.

Photo:LIVING ROOM The concept for “America’s Next Top Model” cycle 11 included classic shapes and styles in all the rooms. The living room was very large and needed to feel intimate and luxurious, so John used a curved couched and low profile furniture to give the room a sensual and grounded vibe so the contestants would feel comfortable talking about the show. The couch and carpet stayed with the grey and beige of the house so the girls themselves would be more of the focal point.

About John Sparano

Born in Norristown PA, John Sparano moved to Los Angeles in 1984, where he learned about design working in the art department in TV commercials. Several of the spots from that time have been featured during numerous Super Bowls, and have been multi Cleo award winners. He worked with and learned from some of the best commercial and feature designers in the business, such as Alex MacDowell, Michael Gaw, and Nigel Phelps. Since then he has gone on to design his own films and commercial spots. His experience as a decorator and shopper in the entertainment industry made the transition into residential design a natural progression, and his sense of drama and cutting edge ideas and materials has made him a popular designer in Los Angeles. He has also worked in Italy and New York.

About ICE Enterprises

Between film and television work, John Sparano designs through his company ICE Enterprises, and currently specializes in small spaces and personality based design concepts. His most recent project for marketing professional Ashley Ulrich, focused on her specific need to work from home combined with a fun and sophisticated interior. His approach utilizes his experience in film to communicate the emotions and overall vibe a client would like their space to achieve. Every job is personal in that he starts with the residents’ needs, tastes and expectations and creates them in the space. John can be reached through his website: John Sparano.

Photo Credits

All photos by John Sparano. “America’s Next Top Model” images shot by John Sparano used with permission from Anisa Productions.

Design Credits

The two cycles of America’s Next Top Model were decorated under Production Designer Jeff Hall and Art Director Karen Weber.

Kitchen designed in conjunction with entertainment personality and celebrity chef Jeanne Benedict.

Ashley Ulrich residence located in West Hollywood, Ca.

Ishka Designs, Inc – Designer Portfolio

Designer Notes:  The 10-foot long custom glass dining table lightens up the heavy original wood details, while the combination of warm greys compliments well.		Designer Notes: Completely remodeled bathroom with linear elements and dark wood to create a zen feel.
Designer Notes: Client’s masks mounted and framed in a vertical style that emphasizes height of ceiling and seemingly extends the expandable table up the wall.  Giulletta chairs keep the space light.		Designer Notes: Designed for the lady of the house, blues, browns, and gold lifted from the vintage sofa give life to this formal space – an eclectic combination of metal, velvet, and organic elements.
Designer Notes: Designed for the husband’s entertainment, the family room colors were derived from original fireplace details, while modern furnishings update the original 1800′s Brownstone detail.		Designer Notes: This bachelor pad is softened up with pattern repetition, gauzy 14ft. curtains, and punches of yellow throughout.
Designer Notes: Updated appliances contrast with antique stove (partial view).  New floors and French doors carry light further into space and connects formal dining.		Designer Notes: Spacious kitchen remodeled to accommodate breakfast seating and modern appliances.

About Ishka Designs Inc.

Ishka Designs Inc. a Brooklyn-based interior design firm, led by Anishka Clarke and Niya Bascom, provides efficiently beautiful interior solutions to commercial and residential spaces. An Ishka Designs’ interior solution is beautiful, fresh, inspiring, aspirational, and efficient. Each space is thoroughly conceived with substantial client involvement throughout. From conceptual ideas to fully installed projects, Ishka Designs works with clients at all levels to provide a comprehensive and creative design solution.

Importantly, our design solutions are informed by over-riding concerns for their environmental impact. As a Brooklyn business, Ishka Designs has developed strong relationships with local vendors and specialists that translate into cost savings for clients and a continued focus on environmentally friendly design by minimizing the carbon footprint of any project.

In addition to comprehensive design services, Ishka Designs also offers consultations and specialized services such as creative problem solving, custom furniture design, and materials and color selection to name a few.

About Anishka Clarke of Ishka Designs, Inc.

With a minimalist philosophy at the heart of every project, Anishka Clarke cleverly combines modern design elements with subtle, rhythmic flavors from her Caribbean upbringing. Anishka’s love for her lush home away from home, Jamaica, translates to an over-riding environmental consciousness in her design approach. Additionally, her 10-year residency in New York City has fostered a knack for maximizing small to mid-size spaces and exploring her own customized furnishings.

In 2007, Anishka fearlessly quit her award-winning finance career that spanned a decade on Wall Street and in Jamaica, to pursue her real passion of interior design. Anishka is a Summa Cum Laude interior design graduate of the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. She has a simple mantra that is the driving force behind everything she designs: “to create beauty from nothing, find beauty in something and to see beauty in everything”.

Contact Information

• Website: Ishka Designs, Inc
• Blog: Ishka Designs Blog
• Twitter: @ishkadesigns
• Facebook: Ishka Design, Inc. Group on Facebook

Paul Anater Bakes Up A Baker’s Dream Kitchen & Delish Bread Loaves

The photo above is one of my all-time favorite design projects. The kitchen in question was a labor of love for my client as much as it was for me. My client was a baker, a baker’s baker. Our goal was to give her enough room, the right equipment and the perfect atmosphere for her to bake to her heart’s content.

I’m a baker too and although my client wasn’t fully aware of it, I was designing the kind of baker’s kitchen I’ll build for myself one of these days.

I baked my first loaf of bread when I was in college more than 20 years ago and from that first attempt I knew I’d found a niche I could call home. I had no experience with it up until then and all I had to go by were the kind and encouraging words I found in the Tassajara Bread Book written by Edward Espe Brown.

Edward Espe Brown’s gentle prodding and his inexact recipes taught me to bake by instinct as much as by the rules and I was hooked. Bread baking is a philosophy and a way of life as much as it is a method of food preparation.

Contrary to popularly-held opinion, bread baking is neither difficult nor time-consuming. Bread baking happens in short bursts of activity that fall between hours or days of doing nothing more than waiting. Bread baking is a never ending process and I don’t think anyone ever masters it fully. It thrives on experimentation and no two loaves ever turn out the same way. It can’t be rushed, it requires physical work to produce and it touches a part of me that nothing else can.

I bake bread year round, but it’s at this time of year that my baking ratchets up a couple of notches. Nothing expresses the depth of my affection for the people I love like my bread does. It’s not just a good food, it’s me in those loaves. Life gets no better than to have my loved ones sitting around my table as I fill them with food I made.

I’m attaching my current favorite bread recipe. It’s based on a French baguette but I don’t use a baguette pan for it. It’s perfect with dinner, it’s perfect as dinner and it’s the backbone of my turkey stuffing every Thanksgiving. It’s a simple recipe and one that would be a great introduction to the way of life that is being a baker. Happy holidays to one and all.

Photo of two bread loaves that Paul baked recently. Looks absolutely delish!

Paul’s Baguette Inspired Bread Recipe

• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 ½ cups warm water (105°–115° F)
• 4 to 4 ½ cups unbleached bread flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons salt
• olive oil

In a large bowl, take ½ cup of warm water, 1 cup of flour and a pinch of the yeast and mix together. Cover and let sit overnight at room temperature. The next day, add a cup of water to this starter and mix it well. In a separate bowl, dry mix 3 cups of flour, sugar, salt and yeast and then fold into the larger bowl. Mix thoroughly with a metal spoon.

Take the remaining ½ cup of flour and use it to lightly flour your hands and a kneading surface. Turn the dough in the bowl onto the surface and knead thoroughly for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Rinse and dry the bread bowl. Lightly oil the bowl and transfer the dough back into it. Turn the dough to oil it top and bottom. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise at room temperature until it doubles in size (1 ½ to 2 hours).

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Take a cast iron skillet and fill it ¾ full with water. Set in the lower rack of the oven.

Punch down the dough, turn it out onto the floured surface and form it into two long, slender loaves around 3" in diameter. Lightly grease a baking sheet and set loaves onto it. Let rise for ½ hour at room temperature.

Make 3 or 4 diagonal slashes across the the top of the loaves. Lightly brush the tops with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake on the center rack for ½ hour or until the crust is golden. Remove from oven and cool on a rack.

About Paul Anater of Kitchen & Residential Design

I am a kitchen and bath designer based in St. Petersburg, Florida. I’ve been designing in this market for almost ten years now and I’ve developed a great base of clients, many of whom have become friends.Two years ago I started a blog called Kitchen and Residential Design. My intention was for it to be an online resource for my kitchen and bath clients. It’s taken on a life of its own since then and its effects have been as thrilling as they’ve been surprising. Through my blog, I’m able to reach clients, vendors and colleagues I could have never met otherwise.

My blog’s become more broad in its subject matter since I started it, but my first love will always be kitchen design.

Contact Information

• Blog:  Kitchen and Residential Design
• Twitter: @paul_anater
• Facebook:  Paul Anater on Facebook

RELATED

• More recipes by Paul at his blog Kitchen and Residential Design.
• The Decorating Diva.com interviews Paul Anater.
• Paul’s Style Maker Look Book – Kitchen Design.

Layla Altman of Posh Living LLC Shares her Favorite Holiday Recipe

The Crystal Bud Chandeliers add an elegant, feminine detail
to this classic style kitchen design by Posh Living, LLC

Crescent Chicken Squares

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 (8-ounce) can refrigerated crescent melted and divided rolls
• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 3/4 cup seasoned croutons, crushed
• 2 tablespoons milk

Combine Cream Cheese and 2 tablespoons butter; stir in chicken and next 3 ingredients. Set aside. Unroll crescent dough, separating into 4 rectangles; press perforations to seal. Spoon one-fourth of chicken mixture into center of each rectangle; bring corners of each rectangle together over chicken mixture, and twist gently to seal. Brush packets with remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter; dredge in crushed croutons, and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake, uncovered,at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. Yields: 4 servings.

(Recipe Attribution: JoAnn Frazee, Premium Recipes That Really Rate Insurance Women of Sussex County Ocean View, Delaware)

About Layla Altman of Posh Living, LLC

After spending her childhood in Miami, Florida and then later finishing her education in Atlanta, Layla developed her own style early on, influenced by the clean lines and sophisticated details of stylish South Beach and historic Atlanta architecture. After completing her degree at The Atlanta College of Art with a BA in Interior Design, Layla started her career in midtown Atlanta.

She was employed by a well sought after design firm whose focus was on corporate, educational, medical and high-end residential design. Layla’s design management experience includes projects for companies such as BMW, Coca-Cola, Cingular Wireless and Emory University. Designing interiors for the homes of Atlanta executives sparked her passion for Residential design, which continues today.  Layla holds the highest level of ASID membership (Professional Member, ASID), having achieved an accredited education and experience in interior design, and successfully passing the difficult NCIDQ exam.

Layla’s work has been featured on Southern Living Presents television show, published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and Coastal Caroline Homestyles Magazine.  She also co-owns the pillow website, PillowFolly.com with her partner Kerry Ann Dame.  Ever creative, her new project is creating a line of framed art and photography based on vintage pieces and her own photographs.

Layla’s stone & tile designs, furniture layouts and custom millwork are created using Autocad for her clients. Her involvement in the design process from the pre-construction phase through the completion of the interiors results in a cohesive and less stressful experience for the client.   

CONTACT

• Website: Posh Living LLC and Pillow Folly
• Blog: Posh Living Blog
• Facebook: Posh Living,LLC on Facebook
• Twitter: Posh Living,LLC on Twitter (Layla)
• Twitter: Kerry Ann Dame on Twitter 

Related: Posh Living, LLC’s design portfolio and Interview with Kerry Ann Dame of Posh Living, LLC on The Decorating Diva.com.

Surreal Sustainable Kitchen by IKEA: SURREALISTIKA Sculpture

“SURREALISTIKA” is IKEA’s artistic homage to their futuristic vision- one that gracefully intertwines design, usability and sustainability- for the one room in our home, the kitchen, where creativity, inspiration, and the joys of home life and family are centered.

Bringing fantasy and imagination to life, the [SURREALISTIKA] sculpture incorporates the natural beauty of the Silver Birch tree intertwined with elements of an everyday kitchen. It depicts a surreal vision of the future when environmental concerns will be ever more at the core of kitchen design.

Brizo Faucets: Inspired Distinctive Design

For being a relatively young brand, Brizo, has already left an indelible mark in the highly competitive world of luxury kitchen and bath design. Their kitchen and bath faucets are distinctive, innovative and stylish. Equally striking are Brizo’s advertising campaigns (image above: Brizo ad campaign launched April 2010; image below: Brizo ad campaign 2009). The advertising campaigns were born of the collaboration between fashion designer Jason Wu and Brizo – based on the simple premise set forth by Brizo for their faucet designs, “Fashion for the Home”.

Jason, renowned for designing First Lady Michelle Obama’s iconic inaugural gown, designs haute couture confections for Brizo’s ad campaigns, and, in turn, Brizo sponsor’s the young designer’s fashion shows at New York Fashion Week.

The relationship with Wu and fashion was a natural one for Brizo. As is the case for all design, whether it be fashion, architectural, industrial or furniture – no matter how different their final creation all designers start with that one moment, that one idea, that one inspiration that spurs them to create.

Jason’s fall 2010 collection was inspired by the artistic works of the legendary photographer Irving Penn. Brizo’s design team also finds inspiration from the world around them and the experiences that mold their lives. A multitude of inspirational variables from the latest trends in color, texture, pattern and form to fashion to architecture to life experiences to art to travel to culture all come into play resulting in a design equation that yields truly unique, innovative, soul-moving creations.

During the Brizo morning training session I attended, (Editor’s Note: I was one of Brizo’s guest for the NY Fashion Week events including Jason Wu’s fashion show. ) I listened as Judd Lord, Brizo’s Director of Industrial Design, discussed his inspiration for the Venuto faucet. Judd related to the group of kitchen and bath designers and design editors that it was an inspirational idea for a faucet handle which gave birth to the Venuto bathroom faucet.  The Venuto handle design was inspired by Japanese hair sticks that Judd had spotted several women wearing at a Japanese restaurant in Milan. He said that the “incredible hair sticks…had really simple forms” and “that the ends of the hair sticks had a very cool slice to them and he was very intrigued by them.”  The inspirational concept for a faucet handle that he sketched on a napkin, later took a more defined shape on his return flight home, and that simple inspiration resulted in the Brizo Venuto.

Inspirational Faucet Designs: Brizo’s Talo and Virage

The Brizo Talo kitchen faucet is a perfect example of what according to Jai Massela of Brizo are two of three hallmarks that define the Brizo brand, those being,“inventive technology and distinctive design”. The Talo is Brizo’s first traditional pull-down kitchen faucet that uses a technology called MagneDock which utilizes magnets to make retrieving and returning the spray wand to the faucet effortless and perfectly aligned use-after-use. According to the product specifications, MagneDock is “the first technology of its kind available”. The Talo’s Technological innovation doesn’t stop with MagneDock, the Brizo design team also included a future-forward option they pioneered called SmartTouch technology that allows water flow to be activated or deactivated solely based on touch – no need to move the handle (unless you want to).

Judd Lord Discusses Talo’s Design Inspirations

Talo was born out of the Baliza project which was going after the ‘new traditional’ trend at the time. Traditional styling is always a strong player especially domestically, and as such there is always a challenge to design fresh and interesting objects to fill these spaces. Every year there are new generations of designers reinterpreting familiar objects with a fresh perspective. The movement tends to be more about evolution rather than revolution. Baliza was just such a design exercise…with it’s design cues taken from a lighthouse with its beacon, the original Baliza design incorporated traditional details in an architecture not usually seen in this type of product. The mid-rise up-and-out architecture captures a comfortable feeling in a fresh perspective.

While the mid-rise up-and-out design was received quite well, there was still a desire for a taller, more standard pull-down option, as well. This was discovered during the Baliza design process when we were interviewing many designers, showroom folks and customers about various aspects of the current kitchen faucet offering and something heard over and over again was a desire to have the choice between a mid-rise and a taller hi-arc model. Hence Talo was born.

The kitchen island had now become a focal point of the house: where homework was worked on as mom prepared dinner; as the general main gathering spot for friends and family alike; and often time the place families ended up eating many of their meals. Tall spouts in this location were viewed by this group as a distraction by obscuring the view and interaction with others at the island. We also heard many not wanting tall hi-arc spouts at the main sink because it obscured their picturesque view out of the window. There is also the large contingent who still want the taller hi-arc spout at the main sink along the wall and a shorter version, a mini-me, if you will, of the exact same design at the island. Well with the introduction of Talo we provide the designer and homeowner the choice to mix and match between the mid-rise and hi-arc models. They both share the same design cues, even sharing the same bud vase and soap dispenser. So while Talo is not marketed as a Baliza model, its origins are inextricably intertwined with that of Baliza. Talo fits right at home in the ‘new traditional’ movement of today’s casual living.

Virage is a bathroom faucet that brings a sculptural art form to the home, and does so in an eco-friendly fashion (WaterSense Certified) – using about 20% less water while still performing as well as its more water hungry peers.  Brizo’s Mandy Ellington noted on the style versatility of the Virage “putting a different finish on it really brings out a different style. Chrome and polished nickel is very modern, contemporary…Venetian Bronze brings out that rustic wrought iron look which is what [Virage] was inspired by.”

Judd Lord Discusses Virage’s Design Inspirations

Virage was designed at the peak of the Glam trend in the mid 2000s’. Both Art Deco and Art Nouveau design cues were strong and exerting influence in every style category, from the ultra-traditional to modern. At this same time we made a couple of trend spotting trips to Europe…one to London and one to Paris.

What we came away with were a lot of images capturing many of the architectural elements of these cities. A common theme identified was all the detailed and decorative iron work, especially in Paris. Whether it took the form of fences, gates, window guards, entrance accents, balcony railings, etc…this highly decorative ironwork became most intriguing to us.

As a matter of fact, much of the iron work detailing, while often stylized, was quite Gothic in nature as were many of the architectural elements and the original Virage concept followed suite. It was a J-spout profile with the quarter turn twist as it is today, but the spout tip and spout and handle base details were much more gothic in nature…visually heavier and with the look of having exposed nail heads.

After reviewing the initial prototype it was obvious we wanted to drive it more Deco to capitalize on the ever growing Glam trend wave. So to that end we visually lightened the bases and spout tip, simplified them by removing the faux exposed nail heads and punched up some of the faceting and chamfers to pull in more Deco flair. We also added some Deco styling details to the tops of the handles during this iteration, but after reviewing, decided it was visually unnecessary. The geometry itself could more than stand on its own without the extra details so they were removed. The result is the beautiful suite you see today.

One of the pleasant surprises in this design is how people are able to interpret it as belonging to several differing style categories. Many call it ‘fancy or eclectic’, many call it traditional or decorative and quite a few view it as contemporary and fresh. All of which is a very good outcome for us as it means the suite is quite transitional in nature, being able to play in any number of styles of interior spaces.

Looking to the Future of  Brizo

After attending the Brizo training session; listening to their design team discuss their inspiration driven design processes; learning more about Brizo’s continuous journey for technological breakthroughs; and getting sneak peeks at new faucet designs, I was left with the striking impression that Brizo’s inspirationally designed smart faucets will, without a doubt, redefine what homeowners will expect from their faucets.

I will be attending the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) later this week, and I’m looking forward to seeing and sharing with you the new creative and technologically advanced faucet designs Brizo will be debuting at the show.

RELATED: Brizo Talo Faucet with SmartTechnology Giveaway

Resources: Brizo

Jennifer Gilmer Style Maker Look Book & Designer Case Study: Award Winning Kitchen Design

Jennifer Gilmer’s Designer Notes

This kitchen design project is situated on the Atlantic coast, and, the house was built by the top real estate agent in that area. It was very important that her house has all of the features that her clients are looking for when they want to purchase their beach house. She wanted to have open spaces that took advantage of the beautiful view, yet, it had to be warm and cozy. She also wanted to have a unique cabinet design since she was tired of seeing the predictable “shaker” style cabinets in cherry that have been so popular for the last 10 years.

She saw in my showroom the door style that she wanted, a unique, sculpted door with an Asian flair. She also loved the walnut wood which is very rich and warm and different from any other kitchen she has seen. She loved the 2” thick Valley Gold marble in this display, and, even though it was risky as far as its maintenance, she was willing to take the risk. We decided to incorporate quite a bit of frosted glass in order to bring in the soft blue/green color of the ocean into her home. With the materials selected, we were ready to move on to designing her kitchen.

The Kitchen was open to the family room, and, did not have enough space for a table to be freestanding out in the space at all times. We had the challenge of getting a table that could seat at least 6 people in a space where we really didn’t have room. Also, the dining room is behind the range, and did not have a view of the ocean. The only windows in this room were on the side of the house, looking at the neighbor’s home. She shares her home only with her husband and their dog, so, she didn’t require a lot of refrigeration, so, we reconsidered the big side by side refrigerator which was in the original plan. She also liked the idea of hiding the oven and microwave since her kitchen was so open to the family room. Then, she wanted a pantry, however, the wall that was left for that had a window in it which cramped the pantry space. These were the design challenges for this space.

We decided to have a butcher block table made to match the walnut on the cabinets, and, it had to be a large one, 72” round. In order to have it fit in the space, we have it “attached” to the island most times, but, the casters make it possible to move it out when she has more company. Under the table and attached to the island is a built in booth which is automatic seating and allows for the table to not have to be pulled out too far when in use. We could not center the island in the room, so, instead, we centered this very large and beautiful table. The asymmetry that was created really complimented the mild Asian style of the kitchen!

To solve the closed off dining room, I recommended that we delete the walls on either side of the range and put “floating” shelves suspended by cables which would serve both the kitchen and the dining room both in function and style. This worked like a charm!

We eliminated the large refrigerator/freezer unit and instead, we used a built- in Sub-Zero refrigerator on the side closest to the sink and complimented that on the opposite side with a tall cabinet which houses the oven and microwave. This balanced and tidied up that elevation using some ingenuity so as to keep the space open and airy. The Sub-Zero freezer drawers are next to the refrigerator under the counter.

The pantry problem was resolved by incorporating the window inside it. By creating very large slider doors with frosted glass, the window added some beautiful natural light so as to have the pantry glow during the day. The soft/blue green color of the frosted glass is further complimented by the backsplash tile, a perfect combination.

About Jennifer Gilmer

Jennifer Gilmer, CKD, has been creating beautiful kitchens in the Washington, DC area and beyond for more than 20 years. Starting with a drafting job in a small kitchen design firm in McLean, Virginia, Jennifer soon realized she had an absolute passion for this creatively technical work. She also discovered an innate ability to understand the needs and personalities of her clients and to create spaces to compliment each individual. Her award-winning designs span the spectrum from classic and traditional to sleek and contemporary. She is committed to fulfilling her clients’ needs, doing it well and making the process as joyful as possible.

Jennifer is a native of the Washington, DC area. After her initial drafting job, Jennifer worked with legendary high-end kitchen designer Richard Tunis for eight years. She and a partner then opened Kitchen and Bath Studios, Inc. in Chevy Chase, Maryland in 1993. In 1998, she decided to launch her own firm — Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and Bath, Ltd. Her vision has grown into a successful business, which includes a dedicated support staff who strive to provide the firm’s clients with detailed designs and exceptional service.

In 2009, Jennifer launched an online kitchen design studio, Kitchen Design Online (KDOL) that provides homeowners (both DIY and those working with contractors), architects and builders with a range of services from floor plans to detailed elevations to 3D perspective images.

Mark your calendars:  Jennifer’s design column “Kitchen Design Secrets Revealed” debuts on The Decorating Diva.com on Thursday, May 13th 2010. Jennifer’s first column will focus on kitchen island design.

QUADRIS STEELART Kitchen Faucet by BLANCO

High-end kitchen sink manufacturer BLANCO creates quite the sensation with their first STEELART faucet, the QUADRIS, made completely of stainless steel. The QUADRIS kitchen faucet sports a strong square profile and is decidedly modern and minimalist in design.  The QAUDRIS faucet has a pull-out spray handle that stealthily hides as part of the design.

Images copyright of respective companies.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: BLANCO

Olga Adler Interiors

INTERIOR DESIGN PORTFOLIO GALLERY { Olga Adler Interiors }

Photo: Dining Room “All in the Details” A hand-painted Chinoiserie finish demi lune sideboard paired with a light-reflecting hand-carved round mirror beautifully provides visual balance to the china cabinet on the other side of the window; and the finishing touches: silk covered chairs; dramatic red silk drapery; and a collection of glass candlesticks, and vases filled with freshly cut flowers from the clients garden creates a fresh, sophisticated and inviting dining room.		Photo: Eclectic Living Room Warm and relaxed, this living room is a medley of British colonial case goods, modern seating and a collection of antique Chinese accessories (like the large window carving). The warm colors and plush finishes – silk rug by Thomas O’Brien, custom velvet and corduroy pillows and silk drapery with gross grain ribbon detail – envelope you and make you (and your dog) want to stay longer.
Photo:  Sea-Inspired Spa Bathroom Cheery and casual this bathroom inspired by coastal vacations has it all: hand-made Spanish tile in soothing blue and green envelop the room, lining the floor, walls, shower stall and the jetted tub. A skylight above the tub makes for an indoor-outdoor feel; taking the bathing experience to a whole new level.		Photo: Blue and Green Kitchen Light background and dramatic accents – engineered walnut heated floors, custom white cabinets, and a dramatic 8′x5′ island in a custom blue finish. Calacatta Gold subway tile backsplash features dramatic accent pieces over the sink and the cook top – sliver thin green and blue pieces of marble cut to resemble bamboo stalks. {Featured in the “Kitchen Idea” book.}
Photo: “PlantAsian” Living Room This room exemplifies Adler’s proprietary design style ‘PlantAsian’ – a combination of plantation style furniture with strong Asian elements. The Chinese red sofa was the starting point of the design and it inspired the red-black color scheme reflected further in Thibaut pagoda toile drapery, antique red birdcage and red and black coral pieces in the bamboo bookcase.		Photo: “PlantAsian” Living Room A neutral background (bisque color walls and a tone-on-tone beige custom area rug) in this family-friendly room created for a young couple with two kids, allows for dramatic accent colors in furniture and accessories. Custom drapery rods and a magazine stand are bamboo-inspired as well. A touch of animal print was a must, and two Balinese stools, seen here by the fireplace, serve as seating for the kids when they join their parents for a party.

About Olga Adler Interiors

Connecticut based design firm, Olga Adler Interiors, provides full-service design, kitchen and bath design, decorating, renovations and home color consultations as well as custom-designed furniture, cabinetry and rugs to clients internationally: from Olga Adler Interiors’ home base of Fairfield, Connecticut to points across the United States and internationally.

Olga Adler Interiors has participated in the following design showcase projects: Kinderwood Designer Showhouse (2005), Ridgefield Kitchen Tour (2008), Village Park Designer Showcase (2008), and Festive Home Ridgefield Guild of Artists Showcase (2009).

Olga Adler Interiors’ design projects have been featured in an array of media: The Modern Estate, Inspired House, East Coast Home + Design, Doggie Aficionado, Connecticut Home & Garden, HOME Magazine, Fairfield County Home, Ridgefield Magazine, Fairfield County Business Journal as well as on ABC CT News Channel 8.

About Olga Adler

Olga Adler, the principal of Olga Adler Interiors, is an interior designer, stylist and writer.  Olga’s refreshing approach to classic design has garnered her wide-spread recognition for her use of simple forms, unique accessories, and her love of color.

Her designs are inspired by her extensive travels throughout Europe, Africa and Asia; married with American influences here at home. This design marriage, influenced by diversity of cultures and styles, has yielded a sophisticated, yet sensible design philosophy that according to Olga is critical to,“creating stylish rooms that, just like the best clothing, are crafted with a particular person in mind – high quality, custom and unique, and only a little bit trendy.”

Olga’s earliest design experiences were derived from art books, Audrey Hepburn movies and her grandmother’s impeccable taste in clothing and decorating. She began her career in Europe designing and producing celebrity events including movie premieres, concerts and award ceremonies working with a number of world-renowned artists: Claudia Schiffer, Sophia Loren, Catherine Deneuve, Jane Seymour and Nicholas Sparks.

• Web: Olga Adler Interiors
• Blog: Home and Style: Musings on Living with Style at Home and Beyond

Photos courtesy of Olga Adler Interiors and Olson Photographic,LLC. Headshot photograph credit: Kristen Jensen Photography.  All copyright of their respective owners.