How Architect Diane Bald Blended Past and Present in Her Iconic Palm Springs Kitchen
Category: Monogram
“Elevated” Event Kicks Off Newest Monogram Experience Showroom
The Mark of Monogram At KBIS 2020
The 2020 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas earlier this year was truly a celebration for Monogram with the launch of two new luxury appliance collections, the Statement Collection and the Minimalist Collection. Inspired by professional culinary spaces highlighting precision-engineered details, the two distinct collections exceed expectations in style and performance.
KBIS attendees enjoyed a first look at the new collections inside the impressive Monogram booth, which featured custom-curated vignettes imagined and brought to life by highly accomplished designer Richard Anuszkiewicz.
Monogram’s KBIS kitchen vignettes were a thought provoking exploration of what a kitchen should or can be. Built around Monogram’s newest Statement and Minimalist collections, each space was meticulously designed to reflect the elegance and craftsmanship that is a signature of Monogram appliances.
Partners featured inside the Monogram Experience at KBIS included:
- BENTWOOD CABINETRY – Showcasing new door styles, Monogram’s brand standards, Pearl and Cerused Walnut, customer cabinetry finishes and designer Richard Anuszkiewicz’s signature Richard Living Red Interiors.
- SAPIENSTONE COUNTERTOPS – Unveiling the new Basalt Black finish in the Butler’s Pantry as well as Monogram’s brand standards, polished Arabescato and Pietra Gray, in a 2” mitered edge detail.
- GROTHOUSE SOLID WOOD SURFACES – A bespoke Parsons table pushing Grothouse lumber capability to new heights. Comprised of hand planed wenge wood with proprietary Durata finish, stainless steel with fully integrated Monogram appliances and inlay accents of Grothouse’s signature Anvil brass real metal finish. A one-of-a-kind piece with unparalleled craftsmanship.
- KALLISTA PLUMBING – The Statement kitchen displays the Bacifiore 30” polished hammered sink with Quincy Collection faucetry in exquisite unlacquered brass.
- ANN SACKS TILE – A statement hood designed by Richard Anuszkiewicz executing the Versailles antique mirror tile in a thought‐provoking manor, Python smoked antique mirror will shine in the Butler’s Pantry and the French bistro with Erose Grey Chevron Mosaic at the hearth oven and fire box.
- GALLEY SINKS – The Minimalist kitchen displays fine kitchen furniture in the 6’ galley dresser in polished eucalyptus wood with the unmatched function of the galley workstation sink.
- KRAVET FABRICS – The idea of the greatest showman would not be complete without a theater. Kravet high performance velvet drapery wraps the entire Monogram booth to give a warm theater, showman quality and feel.
- PHILLIP JEFFRIES WALLCOVERING – The Minimalist kitchen features the Deco Leaf abstract metal collection specialty metallic silver leaf wallcovering.
- LUKE LAMP CO. LIGHTING – The ever‐artistic Luke Lamp Co. is back to the Monogram booth again for 2020 with a dual pair of handcrafted brand new Surrey Sconce.
- TEXTURES WOOD FLOORING – This boutique Nashville Company is bringing real wood floors to the Monogram booth experience with a 7” plank Northern Appalachian Walnut, live sawn in a butternut custom color and a 7” plank Northern Appalachian White Oak flooring in a warm whiskey barrel color.
- ARTERIORS LIGHTING / ACCESSORIES – Each distinct and special, the Aja Art Light, Anthony Shaded Sconce and Trapeze Sconce are featured in the booth, as well as a beautiful assortment of Arteriors decorative accessories and furnishings.
- LE CREUSET – An assortment of luxury enameled cast iron cookware in White with brass knobs, and new colors Black Metallic and Meringue Ombre.
- SCALAMANDRE FABRICS – Straight from inspiration on the fashion runways, the Leopardo ivory gold and black completes the Monogram Statement kitchen banquette.
For more information about the Monogram brand and available products, visit monogram.com and follow @monogramappliances on Instagram, Pinterest or YouTube to experience the #MarkofLuxury.
A Florida Kosher Kitchen for Entertaining
Rochelle Flug and Eva Staiman of EVRO Interiors have been designing kosher kitchens for more than 35 years. When they were hired to redesign this Southeast Florida kitchen, the client wanted her dream kitchen with plenty of room for hosting – from weekly Sabbath dinners to frequent parties.
“The client desired an elegant and traditional tone, while still having the aesthetics reflect the 21st century,” says Flug. “When we married those styles together, I like to call the result 21st Century Updated Transitional.”
The design process started with the countertops. The client found a quartzite slab with a vein of light purple. This inspired the deep purple island.
“We used a light gray as the neutral in this space, because the client has many different colored tablecloths and textiles she uses when entertaining,” says Flug. “This backdrop allowed her the option to add the color she desired through décor and floral arrangements.” The design team used mirror-front cabinets that give the visual illusion of open shelving, without exposing the cabinet’s contents.
When it comes to kosher kitchens, functionality is key. Given that there are two of each appliance, the space must be maximized and beautifully appealing.
“Monogram ovens are our No. 1 choice when designing a kitchen,” says Staiman. “Not only does the remote-enabled option allow for easy accessibility when away from the home, my clients love being able to leave the racks inside during the self-clean mode. Monogram is a natural favorite.”
The 2020 BUILDER Chowa Concept Home: Collaborating to Create Calm
Home is where you go to recharge. It’s a place to find calm in an often chaotic world. A place to find balance.
Balance is the inspiration of the 2020 BUILDER Chowa Concept Home in Summerlin, Nevada, a collaboration of Japan-based Sekisui House, its subsidiary Woodside Homes, and Ryan Young Interiors. Chowa is the Japanese principle of balance, and this one-of-kind home brings that to life from its efficient construction methodology to its innovative, health-conscious technology to its soothing, streamlined décor. 
Harmony, inside and out
The marriage of elegant form and efficient function start with the exterior of the 5,400-square-foot home, which is pre-fabricated within millimeters accuracy in Sekisuki House’s factory. Parts are shipped, with precise instructions, and constructed on site in less time than traditional methods. That new approach to home-building creates less waste and an easier construction process – what the collaborators are hoping will be the future of American homebuilding. The floor-to-ceiling windows, seen throughout the home, bring in ample natural light and blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living, a key to chowa living. The zero-edge pool stretches across the backyard, offering a serene sanctuary for relaxing alone or gathering with a group.
Inside, balance is reflected in the four bedroom, five-and-a-half bath home’s layout with clear sight lines and an open floorplan. A centralized living area anchors the first floor with a full guest suite on end and a sleek, state-of-the-art kitchen on the other. Elements of nature set the tone, from the floating wood stairs to the white oak ceilings to the kitchen’s monochromatic palette. Here, top-line appliances were chosen to accommodate a gourmet chef while managing not to overpower the overall kitchen design. This isn’t the place for bulky knobs or abrasive finishes, but rather the clean lines and smooth, earthy tones of the Monogram Minimalist collection. The appliances bring impeccable quality with an understated beauty that melds seamlessly into the design.
Simplifying with smart features, health-conscious technology
Balance is further introduced with thoughtful technology that promotes ease and aids healthy, sustainable living. The Monogram Minimalist appliances have interactive LCD screens, push-to-open oven doors and smart features that simplify the cooking process. The post-and-beam architecture and panel walls inside the home create a more airtight, energy-efficient structure. Air quality in the home is regulated by a state-of-the-art system that reduces allergens and pollutants. And a high-tech electrical panel connects with smart-home systems and analyzes energy usage for homeowners.
Bringing balance to your home
The collaborators earned praise for this artfully-efficient home. Ryan Young Interiors has earned a reputation as one of the top design firms in the world because of its ability to integrate function with beauty in family-friendly spaces. Woodside Homes is one of the largest home builders in the United States while Sekisui House is the largest home builder in the world. But chowa is a concept within reach for anyone. Homeowners can integrate chowa into their own lives through careful design choices that focus on sustainability, function and and fuss-free artistry. To learn more about how the Monogram Minimalist Collection can help you achieve your balanced design, please visit: https://www.monogram.com/minimalist-collection/
An Urban Firehouse in Dallas
Written by Kim Mays, content strategist for Monogram Appliances
An inspired love for modern architecture and a need for a unique local event venue led Ginger Curtis, to create the Urban Firehouse in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The elegant, contemporary space serves as home to Urbanology Designs, but also contains private offices and a large event rental space with kitchen area that features Monogram appliances.
As president of Urbanology Designs, Curtis loves the unique architecture of the former fire house. The former bays where firetrucks were housed now features paned glass windows and large double doors that open to a spacious rental area with polished concrete floors and modern accents. It’s perfect for a small wedding reception or company party. From the photo gallery, you can see it is a flexible, beautiful space that follows Curtis’ “relaxed, modern, California-casual vibe” that can be found in a lot of her designs.
The Urban Fire House includes five areas: the engine room, conference room, kitchen, private bathrooms, and an outdoor patio with expansive back garden. Flooring in the conference room is wide white oak plank, which stands out nicely against the painted walls done in All White by Farrow and Ball, which is used extensively throughout the venue. The cabinetry in the kitchen continues the wood tone with rift sawn white oak cabinets with slab fronts. Says Curtis, “I absolutely love our cabinetry—it really makes all the appliances and décor sing.” The countertops are Cambria quartz, which continues the bright, airy California-coast feel.
According to Curtis, her team is in love with the Monogram appliances: “Not only are they beautiful and functional, but we get compliments on them all the time. By far our favorite feature is the Autofill water pitcher in our column refrigerator.”
We love the look of this unique, multi-function space and are honored that they chose Monogram to finish out the kitchen space.
Form and Function: New Monogram Website is Sleek, Modern — And User-Friendly
The new Monogram collections feature high-end appliances designed to function as fabulously as they look.
The same can be said for the redesigned Monogram website.
Monogram tapped into the expertise of master designers to create a contemporary feel for its new Statement Collection and Minimalist Collection, both of which were launched in early 2020. The end result: luxury appliances that exude elevated craftsmanship, meticulously selected materials and attention to detail.
These characteristics are reflected in the new-and-improved Monogram website, too.
“I would describe the new aesthetics as bold but tasteful, airy and sophisticated,” Marie Davis, senior digital marketer with Monogram, says of the new website. “We are using larger, more full-width imagery, which gives the site a very modern feel.”
The site’s design is elegant and unobtrusive, taking a backseat to the images that highlight the brand.
“We really wanted to showcase the design elements of the new collections in the beautiful kitchen photography throughout the site, and on the Statement Collection and Minimalist Collection pages,” Davis says. “We also highlight key materials or performance features in each product line, such as the sapphire crystal knobs on our gas cooktops. It really helps to tell the story of the quality materials and engineering of our products.”
The site’s aesthetic is modern and sleek, yet it doesn’t sacrifice function for the sake of form — which perfectly aligns with the Monogram brand.
The website now features a more streamlined navigation, enabling users to see product specifications in fewer clicks. It also shows key features and specs on product results pages to allow for quick reference while browsing.
“We know that a significant percentage of appliance shoppers begin their journey online, so we want to have a beautiful destination where they can explore our products and easily find information and specifications,” Davis says. “User experience is an important part of site design.”
And though the new site is subtle and sophisticated, it’s far from boring. There are engaging animations and interactive features, along with personalized touches, such as quotes from designers highlighting what they love about particular Monogram products.
When asked what inspired the look of the new Monogram website, senior UX designer Amber Glisson points to the streamlined luxury feel and refined aesthetic of both the Statement Collection and the Minimalist Collection.
“It is important to show the elegance in the industrial design and thoughtfulness of the engineering with every opportunity we have in marketing to a savvy luxury audience,” Glisson says. “A website is often the first touchpoint someone experiences as they are researching what to buy. The more effectively we provide them with the information they need to find the right fit, the more likely they are to want to experience the appliances firsthand.”
Take a look at the new website — and come back often, as Monogram will update the site regularly throughout the year to reflect new products as they are released.
Monogram Takes it to The Next Level at KBIS
In 2019, Monogram made an indelible mark at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) with a booth exquisitely executed by respected designer Richard Anuszkiewicz. The impeccable space wowed designers, builders, homeowners, architects and everyone in attendance, nabbing the honor of Best Large Booth at the renowned trade show.
“This year, we wanted to take it to the next level,” says Richard, who is once again leading the design of Monogram’s booth at KBIS, which takes place in Las Vegas from Jan. 21-23.
“In every which way we tried to heighten the space. It’s a true showpiece,” adds Richard, who describes the Monogram designs as “future-minded, but with a nod to the past that honors the heritage of craftsmanship.”
The stunning KBIS booth has a theater-like quality, with plush velvet curtains serving as a backdrop to the stars of the show: two separate kitchens featuring Monogram’s new Statement Collection and Minimalist Collection, which were launched in early 2020. Both designs exude thought-provoking concepts, meticulously selected materials and attention to detail.
The Statement Kitchen is a contemporary take on French gourmet influence. It showcases a library wall book case with integrated floating wall ovens and a classic French hearth custom hood above Monogram’s never-before-seen 48-inch professional range and bespoke gold hearth oven. An exotic eucalyptus refrigeration armoire in a starburst tailored grain pattern with leather stitched appliance handles is a show‐stopper.
The Minimalist Kitchen takes inspiration from a dining room setting. The centerpiece of this modern room is a fresh take on a Parson’s table, with both gas and induction cooking elements suspended like pieces of art. The table is comprised of hand‐planed wood, stainless steel counters with brass-inlay detailing. Bringing further dimension to an often‐austere palette, the Minimalist kitchen has two signature brass refrigeration panels by Richard Anuszkiewicz.
“We wanted to bring our booth to life in a multifaceted way by incorporating an interactive ‘show within a show” to enhance and engage each of the audience’s five senses, to stand out from the crowd, and to be ‘The Greatest Showman,’” says Christina Reed, Monogram’s Senior Manager of Custom Display Design. “From enhanced cooking technology to meticulously curated materials, the attendees will be taken on the Monogram brand story and find an appreciation for the finer details used within our products.”
The design team focused on showcasing forward-thinking design — from exotic woods to fine-quality metals — and state-of-the-art products that highlight the mark of luxury you can see and feel.
“2020 is the year of Monogram,” Christina says, “and we are setting a new tone while also elevating to the next standard of luxury unprecedented in this industry.”
Follow along on social media with the hashtag #markofmonogram
Designer Samantha Oaks’ Fashion Career Led Her Straight into Interior Design
Written by Kim Mays, Monogram content strategist
Samantha Oaks used her fashion experience to design the rooms in her home out of necessity. “I built a custom home a few years ago and the builder didn’t have a designer,” she said. So, Oaks decided she knew her style best and took on the role herself. “Designing for me came organically. I came from a fashion industry background and was always inspired by color, shapes, and mixing materials,” Oaks explained. Working with her builder, she was able to design her ideal home: “We created the most beautiful space together, and I fell in love with the build and design process,” she said. That love became her new career six years ago and in 2015, she started Lucien Porter Design.
Oaks looks to many fashion icons for home inspiration. “For me it all starts with fashion: Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Helmut Lang, and Christian LaCroix just to name a few,” she said. Other designers Oaks admires are also inspired by fashion and she sees that in their work. “I find elements of fashion in designs by Martin Lawrence Bullard, Curtis Elmy, and Powell Architects,” she added.
She loves bringing together unconventional details in her designs. Said Oaks, “I lean towards simple and clean with a little character like doors from the late 1800s and adding a contemporary twist. Each room will have a subtle wow factor but still maintain an overall flow.”
For kitchen designs, Oaks likes to use a variety of elements for texture and color. “I love mixing materials! One of my favorites is incorporating reclaimed wood in shelving or countertops,” she said. Oaks is also a fan of Monogram appliances; particularly the Advantium oven, which comes in handy for busy families. “I love recommending the convenience and function of the Advantium,” she said.
In fact, Oaks has an Advantium oven at home that she uses a lot. “I use my Monogram Advantium oven every day,” she added, “It’s great for large meals or baking or just cooking for one.” Oaks also loves her Monogram range’s griddle feature, which she frequently uses for “gooey grilled cheese sandwiches and Sunday morning pancakes.”
Said Oaks, “If I weren’t a designer, I’d probably… be a chef. I cook anything from crusted red snapper in the oven to lobster paella and homemade chocolate chip cookies, too.” We’d love to be a guest at Samantha’s table just to taste all the delicious dishes she creates in her stunning kitchen with her Monogram appliances.
Mid-Century Modern Renovation by Studio 513 Architects
Photographs © Greg Benson
Written by Brad Barker, AIA, LEED AP, Studio: 513 Architects, LLC
I did what most architects do, Graduate architecture school, obtain my license and buy a house that needs to be fixed up. Where else could I explore my creative talent early in my career? I found a one- of-a-kind mid-century modern house in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Much of the town saw a boom in the 60’s and 70’s, but most of the mid-century modern style was incorporated into restaurants and office buildings. The house had been changed over the years and did not reflect its former style. My goal was to bring it back to its former glory while incorporating touches of current design. I used the main living space to accentuate the details I fell in love with, such as the open floor plan, post and beam structure, and great views to the lush wooded lot.
Photographs © Greg Benson
Before and during architecture school I worked in a restaurant as a cook for eight years. I learned that having good quality appliances was key to cooking good food. So, when I was selecting appliances, Monogram had the clean line style I was looking for with the true tested name of GE behind it. It was a perfect fit for my kitchen.
Photographs © Greg Benson
