Tag: kitchen

What was trending at KBIS 2016

 in Trends

Every year in January, KBIS (the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show always features the latest trends in appliances, materials and technology, and this year was full of exciting new offerings. Everything from black faucets with hot pink handles, to barnwood cabinets, to crystal filled knobs could be found.

Building on the growing trend of creating the “Smart Home,” manufacturers from lock makers to appliance companies were promoting devices to control home automation and monitoring. Smartphone apps are used to connect consumers with various tasks within the home, saving them time, money, and sometimes, peace of mind.

Aesthetics-wise there seemed to be an emergence of “rustic modern,” using natural earthy materials in new and exciting ways. Textured wallcoverings and tiles in amorphous shapes and angles created a contemporary look that bowed to mid-century modern roots.

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Cooktops featured heavy-duty metal grates in interesting patterns, and the introduction of brass burners created a great play between materials and finishes. Satin Nickel, Polished Nickel and Aged Bronze were a few of the highlighted materials. Also big this year were appliances that give users feedback – knobs that light up when in use and glow at various rates and intensities to show temperature ranges.

Overall, it showed that kitchen and bath technology is catching up with the latest in digital advances and designing them into beautiful environments.

 

Designer profile: Robin Fisher

 in Interview, Profile

The Monogram Experience Center (MEC) brings designers to Louisville, Kentucky, for three-day experiences to learn about Monogram, the design process, our appliances – and even cook with them! We interviewed each designer to learn a little more about their background and design experiences.

Today’s profile highlights Robin Fisher with Robin Rigby Fisher Design in Portland, Oregon.

Robin Fisher, recent participant at the Monogram Experience Center in Louisville, Kentucky

Robin Fisher, recent participant at the Monogram Experience Center in Louisville, Kentucky

SRFD: How did you become interested in design?

Robin: I have always been a struggling artist. After high school, I started college to become an engineer, but dropped out to move to NYC and become a hairdresser. I quickly became bored with that industry and went back to school to study Architecture and Art History, finally settling on Interior Design. By creating designs that are functional, easy to maintain, and are high quality, I love how my work enhances my client’s lives. 

SRFD: Tell us about a recent project you really enjoyed.

Robin: I recently completed a kitchen for a couple on a budget in a small home. They are both professors at a local university, love to cook, and entertain on a small scale. We created a kitchen that is functional for both of them to cook at the same time without making the room any larger. Every space was designed for maximum storage, materials were chosen for ease of maintenance and low impact on the environment (water efficient fixtures, LED lighting, composting, locally sourced, low VOCs, and recycled content).

SRFD: A trend you’re over?

Robin: Hard-core industrial design. Design should not be “trendy,” design should be what makes a contact with your soul!

SRFD: A trend you’re excited about?

Robin: I really don’t like or use the term “trend.” I dislike that Sustainable Design has been a trend, sustainable design should not even exist as a term, it should JUST BE HOW WE ALL DESIGN!

SRFD: What did you learn in Louisville?

Robin: Where to start? I LOVE LOUISVILLE! What a lovely town (I am hesitant to use the term “city” – it doesn’t quite fit the charm). The architecture, the art, the friendliness of the people, the food and wow – the bourbon! Love it all

My favorite part of experiencing Louisville was visiting Churchill Downs. I have had horses in my life until the past five years and have always dreamed of visiting. Thank you.

My visit to GE was great! I enjoyed learning about your products, especially the Advantium! What a fabulous appliance. I have revised my design to include one in my new kitchen. Cooking in your kitchen was a wonderful experience, although the Iron Chef Cook-off was more stressful than I thought.  I would much rather take my time and enjoy the process!

Dwell and Monogram team up to take modern across America

 in Dwell

Visiting a showroom, browsing the Internet, and flipping through beloved design magazines are all great avenues to find new appliances and compare models and features side-by-side. With Dwell’s 11 platforms, however, the experience of exploring the latest in modern design extends far beyond dog-eared pages and bookmarked search engine results. Understanding that design-savvy consumers and industry professionals can quickly become inundated with information about designing the hub of the modern home—the kitchen—Dwell and Monogram are bringing the experience to life through the Monogram Modern Home.

mainhub-header-cap-rightOne of the leaders in prefab construction, Method Homes, partnered with Dwell and Monogram to build a custom 1,100-square-foot home to showcase the craftsmanship and innovative features of Monogram’s newest and most popular high-end appliances. Over the course of six months, the Monogram Modern Home will travel to key markets where Dwell and Monogram will host influencer events, consumer tours with product demos, and continuing education opportunities for the trade audience.

The event series kicks off in Portland in April, and will travel to a new city each month—including Los Angeles for Dwell on Design in May and then on to Phoenix, Dallas and Austin—before concluding the cross-country tour in Boston in September. Known for superior design, Monogram appliances are manufactured with high-quality materials and are innovative and intuitive—always with the consumer’s myriad needs in mind.

Join us on our journey and see when and where we’ll be stopping near you!

 

A Closer Look at the Appliance Selection for the 2015 HGTV Dream Home Kitchen

 in Inspiration

 

This year’s HGTV Dream Home is bright, airy, and warm. It’s the type of home in which you can picture yourself cozying up with a book – in just about any of the beautifully-designed spaces – or, alternatively, hosting a dinner party replete with great food and wine, and lots of laughter of course.

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From HGTV.com

The coastal-themed Dream Home is largely traditional in design, with a sprinkle of modern here and there. The kitchen is a good example of this, sporting transitional white cabinetry, glossy subway tiles and a clean lighting design. Monogram Professional appliances are a great choice for this kitchen from an aesthetic and performance perspective. Let’s take a closer look at the particular models installed in the HGTV Dream Home kitchen.

36″ Professional Built-In Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator: An ideal refrigerator for the entertainer, offering three full-width shelves to accommodate platters and large baking dishes, as well as four sealed bins for fresh produce, meat and cheese. The top two shelves are split to provide flexibility in storing items of varying heights, and the door bins can be adjusted as well. The freezer drawer is ideal for large items, and is equipped with a filter for the automatic icemaker.

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From HGTV.com

48” Professional Range with 6 burners and a Griddle: The Monogram Pro Range offers a variety of features to help you produce gourmet meals with the highest level of performance and ease of use. These include full-extension self-cleaning oven racks (in both ovens); burners that can simmer at 140 degrees F, yet sear at 18,000 BTU; reversible wok grates; and dual ovens that both offer convection, proofing, and self-cleaning modes. A variety of configurations are available including a grill, griddle, or both. Available in Dual Fuel and All-Gas versions in 30”, 36” and 48” widths.

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From HTGV.com

48” Taper-sided Professional Hood: The high-powered updraft chimney hood is the perfect accompaniment to the Pro Range, offering 4-level dual blower fan settings, 4-level lighting, and additional lamps for warming or task lighting. The taper style is a unique design, versus the more traditional straight-sided hood, and matches particularly well to the chamfered edges of the range.

Fully Integrated Dishwasher: The latest Monogram dishwashers utilize 102 jets (including jets installed along the side of the tub) to ensure your dishes, glasses, and baked-on cookware comes out sparkling clean. Bottle jets can be activated to clean all the way to the bottom of containers, such as sports and baby bottles – eliminating the need to hand wash such items. Other helpful features include brilliant LED lighting, a symphonic sound system (no more beeps!) and an optional third cutlery tray. Cycle options include Steam pre-wash, Delay Start and multiple drying choices. At 39 or 43 dBA, Monogram dishwashers are extremely quiet. All models are Energy Star-certified.

To see these models and other Monogram appliances in person, click here for a list of local Monogram resellers.