Draw the art you want to see, start the business you want to run, play the music you want to hear, write the books you want to read, build the products you want to use – do the work you want to see done.
Auston Kleon, Steal Like an Artist
Friends, I am back from a whirlwind trip to Las Vegas for the KBIS show.
Did you know that I was dreading the trip? I always get a little apprehensive before I travel (mostly worrying if kids and horses will eat enough while I’m gone….ha!) but this time I was really dreading it.
But I went anyway.
Over and over I’ve learned to run into the dread, for once you go through, you’ll learn it was Resistance all along. And you’ll find exactly what you need on the other side.
Please remember this.
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This KBIS show was my first. I only gave myself one day to get through it, which turned out to be perfect. I didn’t even go in with a specific plan like I do for the High Point furniture show, and it turned out to be the best plan of all. My intuition instantly took me through the companies I needed to see plus dumped me (longer than I anticipated) in the builder’s section of the show. There I happily talked shingles, doors, appliances, electrical, and plumbing with the companies. I felt at home.
What a difference ten years of mistakes and trials makes, I thought.
The troubles of homeowners and design questions came bubbling out, such as the case of dealing with ugly slide-in ranges over and over. Until now, appliance manufacturers have had high backs with knobs that were hard to clean, or the sleek ones were downdrafts that couldn’t be accommodated in remodels. Time and again I’ve wished for a professional-looking, normal range.
I found one at Miele. The sales rep was a little thrown off when I pumped his arm up and down and told him, “Thank you!” three or four times.
This particular stove unit has an induction cook top. The electrical requirements are different for the induction vs. the electric cook top, so keep that in mind when you are deciding which appliance to buy. Shameless plug: I think this is one of many reasons you need to hire professionals instead of trying to do a new build or remodel on your own. It would stink to get excited about an appliance, purchase it, then realize your electrical doesn’t support it.
Another thing to ask when looking at induction cook tops: Miele still has “zones” because they learned that when you get two pans next to each other on the “zoneless” tops (you know, the ones that “follow the pan” around) that one sucked the power away from the other. I can’t say this is true for all brands, but it’s something to ask when shopping around.
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While I’ll always forever and ever love natural stone counter tops, sometimes a budget requires other options.
And those options have come a long way baby!
Wilsonart introduced a new “thin” counter. While not as affordable as a laminate, it is strong and boasts an easy install. A local cabinet maker (or anyone with a router) can cut out sinks and shape the edges of this product (it doesn’t have to be done by the manufacturer). The color goes all the way through so the cuts look nice. Its light weight is an added install perk: tradesman can haul it with ease and framing support and special brackets aren’t needed. (Yay for getting rid of corbels!!)
I drilled him about the strength of the product, and he claimed it wouldn’t break. If someone were to really stress it, he said it would pull off the cabinet before it broke. We might need some teenagers to test this out ;).
It will be in the price range of man-made quartz and is set to hit the market in about a month.
The two showrooms that knocked our socks offer were Kohler and GE Monogram.
Let’s start with Kohler.
If an image were to “trend” for KBIS, it would be this one:
What’s not to love? The Ann Sacks tile and gorgeous counter tops, rich colors, and brass accents made everyone’s jaw drop.
Have a tight space? This sink could be the solution.
I grabbed actual sink color samples for my personal consultations because I use Kohler sinks more than any other brand.
And what’s not to love about Monogram’s showroom?
This is a refrigerator. I should note GE has the appliance and the panels are custom.
There were chefs in many showrooms, but this demonstration showed off Monogram’s pizza oven. I haven’t checked the specs but I heard it gets up to 800 degrees. That’s why you see the heat proof material around it!
And they pushed the design envelope with this oxblood lacquered kitchen. While I doubt any practical homeowners will ask me for something like this in the future, it made all of my creative senses tingle with excitement.
Yes, that counter top is cowhide.
I’ve come away from the show inspired and ready to roll for 2019. Samples you can touch and see are being shipped to me from my main product manufacturers. This will be a great benefit for both of us, and I am now determined to find more appliance trainings so I can better guide you to what you need.
Be curious about the world in which you live. Look things up. Chase down every reference. Go deeper than anyone else — that’s how you’ll get ahead.
Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist
My promise is to continue to gather all the information possible and dive deep in the world of design and art.
Have a great weekend!
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