It's a drawer, no a fridge, no a freezer!

Great design has a positive impact on life; from beautiful form, to superb function, you should also expect that it makes like better. From Fisher Paykel comes innovation and flexibility in a drawer unit that cools, chills, and freezes as needed.


CoolDrawer, which follows the international success their renowned DishDrawer.
As the name suggests, the CoolDrawer is a refrigerated drawer that can be personalized to your preferred setting at the simple touch of a button.

The appliance can be positioned wherever you need it in the kitchen. For example, it can be used to store fresh fruit and vegetables next to the food preparation area. Or it can be positioned outside of the main kitchen to allow easy access to drinks when entertaining – wine can be kept chilled at the right temperature. Alternatively, the CoolDrawer can be a freezer for long-term food storage.

As with the DishDrawer, the 900mm CoolDrawer has similar ergonomic benefits. With the drawer positioned at counter height, there is no need to bend to reach items, which can all be seen at a glance. An interior light means you can even sneak a snack at midnight.
The CoolDrawer comes in stainless steel or it can be integrated into cabinetry for a seamless look.

For more information visit the website: www.fisherpaykel.com.

5 Remodel must do's.

Whether you're remodeling an apartment, condo, tract home, an historic house, or an estate, there are some must-do's to consider in your project. 

A smart remodel that maximized space, materials and light for
an on-budget, beautiful result.

1) Be energy efficient. With EPA Water Sense requirements, most plumbing fixtures will be labeled as such. You can opt for a beautiful traditional sink and lav set to complement the history of the home, or go modern and sleek in your contemporary ranch home.  This applies to your appliances as well. Almost all are Energy Star labeled. For lighting, many municipalities have codes for both energy savings and safety, Often it's as simple as using LED, compact fluorescent and other energy-efficient bulbs. Adding dimmers provides a clear and easy savings. The same efficiency extends to number, type and placement of windows and doors.  It's best to maximize natural light and improve air flow at the construction stage than to heat, light, and cool the interior later. The goal: save on annual operating costs as well as reduce your portion of global energy consumption long-term. 


2) Merge styles. From exterior facades to interior trim, it's smart to design the remodel to blend with what exists.  That's not to say that a gorgeous modern wing can't complement a traditional building, but the overall appeal of a remodel that looks as though it was always that way is better than a piecemeal style,

Space planning and materials made for a
small budget, big-impact remodel.

3) Re-design kitchens and baths for the long-term. Don't just re-surface your spaces by adding new flooring and tile, and forget to think about function. Use the concepts of Universal Design, give thought to aging in place, and consider making your spaces trans-generational. Those items include, better counter-heights, new positions and heights for appliances, improved scale in showers, re-think distances between islands and counters, wider doorways, and improved layout for function, storage, and long-term use.  A consultation with a design pro will be well-worth it for the best longevity, function, and of course, aesthetics.

Green and gorgeous.

4) Consider eco-friendly materials and indoor air quality. When you upgrade your home, the construction materials, the surface materials, and the furnishings you install, all should be the best they can be for your health,  That new-home smell we all think of is actually the off-gassing of toxic materials. Not good, although after 5 years, that off-gassing will be less. Investigate the use of carpeting, glues, paints, insulation, plywood, and other materials that generally off-gas. No VOC (volatile organic compound) products are readily available and are safer. Consider the furniture and cabinets you buy. Are they made with certified wood, do they contain formaldehyde and petrochemicals (VERY common), and are the finishes as safe as their components?  Beautiful, sustainable and safe products exist in every category.  Don't forget the construction materials and insulation that will remain with your home forever. If your contractor sneers at the thought of using better materials - the cost is NOT prohibitive and good selections now pay off in the long-run - then find another. That industry sub-segment  is NOT "business as usual". Do some research and you'll be healthier, happier, and your wallet will thank you as well.


5) Be a problem-solver before you begin. Any remodel should make your life easier, better, more functional, and aesthetically pleasing. Don't jump into a change without thinking through the steps, the immediate benefits and the long-term effects. Even if you don't change the footprint of a room or home, you CAN improve the space, the storage, the lighting, and so much more.  Make your remodel easier to maintain instead of complicated. There are fabulous solutions and ideas for EVERY budget.  If you have doubts, spend a few hours with a design professional.

An Eco-friendly kitchen is easy to create.

Designing an efficient home kitchen for a gourmand with the request that the kitchen be traditional, eco-friendly, and open, is easier than ever before.  The plethora of new products for surfaces, cooking, storage and more is amazing, and most are also promoting indoor air quality as well. Space challenges generally require a professional kitchen designer, and the results speak for themselves. 

Opening It Up

Easy access, a bit of glamour, and maximum storage were the requests for this kitchen design. One of the first things was introduce an open floor plan. The kitchen, dining room, and family room now easily flow into one another. With this layout, the homeowner is able to interact with family and friends while cooking. The primary working area - the peninsula  - is  oriented to the south so the homeowner can view her large screen television and have maximum natural lighting whether prepping vegetables or washing dishes.  I wanted the kitchen to reflect the Asian style furnishings in the dining and living area, yet be sleek enough to suit the client's love of modern design.   The kitchen boasts a Zen-like palette of muted taupe on the walls and the glamorous recycled glass tile backsplash.  With a wall of necessary appliances and a  newly installed pantry wall, this kitchen is small and efficient but offers ample counter top space for creating gourmet meals.

Clever Details

The cabinets and pantry wall have a simple inset  panel with modern stainless pulls that marry tradition with a sleek style.  The upper cabinets have glass doors so the client is able to display dishes and her blue and white collectibles. I counterbalanced the traditional look with stainless-steel appliances and slick stainless bar stools.  Fabulous art-glass pendants bring in a hand-made element that adds drama and color to the main cooking area. Inset into cabinets are a baking center, a microwave, and storage elements that make using the compact kitchen a breeze.

Going Green

I chose materials and finishes for their eco-friendly and healthy properties. A bank of energy-efficient windows in the kitchen and dining area facilitates cross ventilation, as does the new doorway to access the backyard for relaxing and barbecuing.  The cabinets are FSC certified woods, finished with low-VOC stains. Builders used formaldehyde-free plywood, strawboard, and insulation, as well as solvent-free adhesives in the construction of the cabinets. Walls are finished in no-VOC paints by Benjamin Moore. In cabinet LED lights, a Lutron Graphic Eye system and recessed LED on dimmers, offer eco efficient lighting.  Most of the year, the position and scale of the window, along with the LED under cabinet lighting strip provide sufficient natural lighting so that little power is used.  Using a permanent seal on the granite counters, eliminates the need for bi-annual chemical treatments and adds anti-microbial properties.  Recycled porcelain tiles in a large format, make the floor easy-care and eco-friendly.

Two products for a great shower experience.

Dornbracht ATT system

Kohler DTV

When you want to relax, do you think of a bath or a shower? For some, the flow of water over them is more soothing than a soak. The three products featured here have special features that a true shower afficionados will love.


























The ATT system by Dornbracht - a luxury fixture provider that I love to specify for clients - is like a perfectly-modulated massage. The system allows pre-programmed variations in spray configuration, volume, temperature, and force. Thus it facilitates “de-stressing programs to pamper with carefully choreographed pressure, temperature, outlet, and lighting changes.” It was created by the company in response to studies of the emotional and psychological benefits of luxurious bathing. Their miniature electronic thermostat cartridge allows for the variation in flow rates, temperatures, and spray configurations in the same shower. Imagine if you will, an energizing cold splash of water from a side spray within a warm shower flowing from above. The stylish faceplate is aesthetic par with their line if contemporary fittings. It features indicator lights to show when the shower is in use, as well as an illuminated band of red or blue to signify water temp.


From Kohler, is easily programmable digital showering system that won’t leave you ice cold. The DTV showering system allows for temperature control for the ultimate shower or bath experience and is easy to use with minimal buttons. Power on, pause, and turn off with one touch. The simple diverter controls allows you to quickly change between one or two outlets, including rain heads, hand showers, body sprays, bath fillers, and your standard showerheads. Examples of popular configurations include shower head and handshower, showerhead and bath filler, hand shower and bath filler, and more. The list goes on. Too often, older showers only have two settings; scalding and freezing. No longer will you have to choose the lesser of two evils. For complete safety, the precise temperature control relies on digital thermostatic valve technology for accuracy. The valve can be placed up to 20 feet away from the interface, for complete installation freedom. DTV Prompt is a simple but powerful bath solution. The aesthetics of the system are matched with its intelligence. Sleek design is paired with four handsome finishes, Black, Satin Chrome, Satin Nickel, and White, for easy customization. This collection of attractive neutrals means you will find the perfect shade for your bathroom.

Room dividers with pizzazz.

When you want to create multiple functional areas from a large space, try one of these very different methods. Each has unique style and features that make them aesthetically dynamic.

1) Hand-woven vertical shades from Hunter Douglas provide a soft, creative, interior room divider. Hand woven with bamboo, wood, reeds and grasses these natural materials create a unique texture perfect for a modern or casual vibe. The shades - called Provenance - also meet the GREENGUARD indoor air quality guidelines and can help save energy on heating and cooling costs through the insulation properties of an optional liner. The liner also helps to reduce the amount of solar heat passing through the window, further reducing energy consumption.

Made especially for covering large expanses (including patio and sliding glass doors), there are many color and material combinations so finding the right one fro the space isn't a challenge. Since they're soil and dust resistant, offer options to diffuse light, UV protection, and have sound absorption features, they can be the ideal solution.

,

2) Glass beads.  Jewel Box is the artists' interpretation of beaded room dividers, comprised of exquisite glass elements. These individual “jewels” include a choice of six shapes (Lozenge, Onion, Marquise, Oval, Globe, and Tear Drop); five patterns (Ribbed, Stripe, Ostrich, Lace, and Primavera); and more color combinations than a tie-dyed t-shirt. . The thread running through it all is actually a stainless steel cable that can be finished in brushed nickel or brushed brass.  It seems as though this product has components that can function as pendant lighting, wall decoration, space divider, window treatment or a privacy device.

3) "Groove" screen.  What’s great about this room divider from Italy, is its versatility that allows you to better define your space. Cast a light upon the decorative wall and interesting shadows scatter across the floor. It can be configured in a few different ways too, allowing a sense of mobility to set up a space. Made from natural wood and white-lacquered aluminum, its durability is sufficient to withstand its function as a movable wall.. It comes in eight finish tones - like the wood of LZF lamps created by the same designer - and comes in a hanging or floor version measuring the same at 36”W x 78.93”H x 3.54”D.

4) Movable wall.  If your home has a great room  -as opposed to a lot of compartmentalized spaces -it can be a source of both pleasure and pain. While the open feel is nice, I'm sure you wish you could hide certain things away—like the desk with its little piles of papers and receipts. It would be nice to conceal the computer screen too. There is an ideal solution:  Switch is a clever partitioning system designed by Japanese architect Yuko Shibata. A series of moveable walls, sliding and swinging, separates different areas in an otherwise open space.  For apartment dwellers,  you can effectively hide the bedroom or the library, or change a room’s dimensions when needed.

Like library stacks, Shibata’s moving wall separates this dining/meeting room from the library. When the wall is pushed back as far as it will go, the bookshelf is hidden (blocked by the wall), which makes the space on the other side much larger. Another aspect of Switch is a swinging wall that itself contains a built-in bookshelf. This wall closes off the bedroom to create an office/reading room. There are more subtleties to the Switch system, which you can examine in detail at Shibata’s website.

Dual use furnishings with a green theme.

In an era of increasing concern for lessening out impact on the environment, come some beautiful designs from green materials that, while decidedly modern in style, work with multiple interior themes.

1) Bookshelf/bench:  Clever and very attractive. Take it apart and it becomes a low chair and higher desk for children.

2) Table/storage.  This looks as good open as it does closed. The espresso finished exterior is a sustainable veneer that glides apart to reveal a deep storage drawer, ideal for small spaces.

3)  Table-bed.  Two clever versions transform from a bed to a dining table and work surface. This sexy solution allows one to eat, work, and sleep in a studio or small apartment. It's multiple-function design and sustainable materials are as fresh today as when it was introduced in 2000.

4) Storage cubes.   These dual function storage cubes made from vetiver, and their companion table made from plantation-grown teak earn points for smart design and use of eco-friendly materials. They shed moisture easily, making them perfect for a bathroom or on an outside deck or patio. They’re designed to be functionally compact for small spaces, where they can be used to store towels and bathing miscellany and also provide extra seating.

New materials that are modern and green.

Since 2003, Kirei  - from the Japanese character symbolizing beautiful and clean - has been dedicated to bringing  natural materials to market.  Their line of seven sustainable, non-toxic materials were developed so that designers and architects could create elegant interior spaces with eco-friendly materials. 

Kirei Bamboo is their eco-friendly panel material, often used in furniture, walls, cabinets, and flooring.  They offer panels, veneers, and edge banding so the uses are nearly endless. Multiple face grains, and the ability to combine them, result in patterning that makes unique use of standard bamboo.  With the ability to carbonize the material, a rich chocolate color results.  

Both residential and commercial projects can benefit from the sustainability, durability, and economical cost.  

Modern Bathroom Style from Italy

The toilets and sinks have soft curves that work
well with the linearity of the vanity. 

Softly rounded plumbing fixtures meant to reflect
a mother & child form.

If you love sleek, modern bathroom design, you will adore the new collection by Laufen. I think they have set a precedent for art and sensuality with their new  IlBagnoAlessi One bathroom collection. Constructed of rounded, smooth porcelain in classic alabaster white, all of the fixtures are characterised by a beautiful roundness that modernizes, yet softens, the bath.



Perhaps the most striking aspect of the products is a deliberate interpretation of the feminine form. The manufacturer explains the designer's goal was to create a “maternal code of the porcelain pieces in particular, round and soft.”  The bold curvature of the washbasins, tubs,  toilets, and bidets establish the principle aesthetic of the collection; the pieces are individually eye-catching and dominant, yet synergistic within the collection. Linear and geometric shapes are seen in the vanities and shower enclosures.

The effect is to balance and harmonize what the company refers to as the “four affective codes: the expressive language of a model of dreams and play.” The result; an engaging and alluring bathroom suite that speaks to a fundamental wish—the desire for a place of repose, a profoundly relaxing sanctuary where we attend to the basics of bodily hygiene and engage in daily rituals.   The company believes it has created a new aesthetic language for the bathroom, an expression of holistic shapes that satisfies our deepest impulses for relaxation and replenishment.

Clean lined yet very sinuous free-standing sinks.

A great chair for your home or office.

When work requires that you sit at a desk for long periods of time, consider a great chair for ergonomics and style. Your back will love you, and the office decor will look fabulous.

The Kimball Office Hero Chair recently made quite an impression on the Furniture Industry Research Association. This esteemed body—sort of a consumer protection agency for global contract furniture—honored Hero with their annual Excellence in Ergonomics Award, citing the chair’s first-rate ergonomics, advanced structural integrity, and superlative safety. To receive the award, the product must be manufactured by a company with high quality standards and a strong environmental policy.  It must promote comfort and well-being for the user and feature excellent ergonomic qualities that enhance the quality of furniture.

How does Hero come to the aid of the bum neck, the downtrodden mid-back? Through an ingenious combination of ergonomic support and highly-adjustable functional features. From Hero’s modulated mesh backrest, to its adjustable lumbar support, and on to its innovative seat depth adjustment mechanism, the intelligent task chair assures a perfectly comfortable fit—no matter one’s personal dimensions.   Hero’s mesh backrest is comprised of alternating areas of dense and loose fabric, such that it provides support just where needed, especially in the shoulder and lumbar areas. The lumbar support trumps the usual advantages of this common accoutrement, as its height adjustable feature finds the lumbar curve no matter how high or low it might reside on the sitter’s back. Lastly, the Astiv active seat depth adjustment mechanism increased or reduces seat depth, thus pinpointing the perfect depth regardless of thigh length.

Kimball Office offers Hero in a variety of profiles and finish styles. Options include mesh backs or upholstery in orange, anthracite, or black; high back, mid back, or cantilever side models; and bases in black plastic or brilliant silver.

Niels Diffrient, the name and the designer behind the chair, has been called “the granddaddy of the ergonomic revolution”. The Diffrient World Chair from Humanscale is an all mesh task seat that accommodates many different types of workers to keep them comfortable all day long. Amazingly, the Diffrient Chair fits more than 95% of office workers comfortably, 100-300 pounds, 5”0’ woman to a 6”4’ man. The seat height is completely adjustable.  This intuitive ergonomic chair from Humanscale is truly “diffrient”.

The human body is not flat, and our backs in particular needs to be hugged in the right spots. Keeping this in mind, the back of the Diffrient chair has 3 panels for ultimate lumbar support.  Additionally, the mesh seating provides support under your thighs, which is a lifesaver when you are on a long stretch of a project.

A very important feature of this chair is the mechanism-free recline action. The laws of physics are put to the test as two sections of the chair balance against each other and the weight of the sitter, to provide a range of recline. It adjusts to your weight, all you have to do is take a seat.

The Diffrient World Chair comes in 3 different finish options: White, Black, and Gray. The optional upholstered polyurethane foam seat cushion is available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, if you would like a splash of color against the neutral chair finishes.

Add pattern to a floor for great design and interest.

Fabrics aren’t the only way to add appealing patterns to a room. A spectacular floor—whether made of artfully painted wood or beautiful tiles—catches your eye from the very first step!

This dining room floor is painted with a large-scale geometric
pattern in neutral hues that complement the room’s palette.

Lay black-and-white tiles on the diagonal
 to set off the clean lines of this country kitchen.

A painted floor cloth with bold colors is
great for a plain kitchen or bath!

Set aged bricks in neat rows to
accentuate the serenity of this kitchen.

Mixed color and scale tiles add the perfect
detail to this casual kitchen.

A herringbone-pattern walnut floor creates a vibrant counterpoint
to the modern style and light fabrics.

Creating interesting borders or patterns is often
all that's needed for a great bathroom.