Design Duel

Here's a curiously compelling kitchen. Cabinets with a tinge of mid-century modern gracing a Shakeresque interior: who knew? I suspect that the stylistic convergence might be a bit jarring if the space was smaller; the expansiveness of the setting gives the eye plenty of room to roam. devolkitchens.co.uk

Behind Closed Door

Such a simple idea, so well executed! What makes it a standout—in my opinion—is the vertical divider on the exposed side of the cabinet. The easy way to treat it would have been to slap a piece of wood of the same thickness as the other interior shelves into the opening. Instead, care was taken, and a thinner panel was used, and set back from the outer perimeter of the unit. copatlife.it

Treading Lightly

We happen to be in the final phases of a rather extensive bathroom remodeling. Part of that project is a resilient floor. While our design does not include a walk-in shower, I can nonetheless attest to the pleasure of having something soft and warm underfoot rather than hard, cold tile. This brand new product, a cushy shower floor that's pre-sloped to facilitate drainage, is something I'll definitely keep in mind for our next bath upgrade. solidsoft-tray.com

Resolving Differences

We live in confusing, confounding times. From the presidential campaign with its off-kilter choices [thankfully, these are contracting after every primary vote; a big buh-bye to !] to the tortured seasonal transition [warm one day, freezing the next], change is constant. Even though this kitchen exhibits both a mainstream choice in materials and an iconoclastic taste in lighting, I think it is a stimulating design. pierreyonavitch.com

A Cultured Sense of Calm

The way light and line unite in this bath is mighty conducive to relaxation, wouldn't you say? No grout lines crisscrossing the surfaces, a soothing horizontal orientation, and a gentle glow add up to one sweet retreat. arkham.it

We Interrupt this Blog...

...to share some news. Yours truly has won the 2016 KBIS Outstanding Media Award! I am humbled and happy to be a part of the kitchen and bath community, and all the creative, dedicated people who inhabit it. And it's always been a true pleasure to share my experiences with you, dear readers.

Out of the Shadows

Lots of sub-freezing cold, some snow, and not much sun here on this Presidents Day...and the current storm of political gloom compounds the darkness. This kitchen does demonstrate that even a glimmer of light—as captured by the carefully mitered cabinet door—can rescue a design. I like how the cabinet drops down from a coordinated ceiling panel. uda.it

Progressive Palette

When—or if—we tire of our lovely all-grey kitchens, this design offers a low-commitment exit strategy. Not only does the parquet-inspired pattern comprise a chromatic jumping-off point for just about any color scheme imaginable, it does so in a fun and focused way. [And it would be simple to revert to the original scheme, should you choose.] camillearchitectures.com

Discordant Design

Examined individually, several of the elements in this bath don't quite fit. The taps and vanity are an odd couple, and the light fixtures pair well only with one another. There's an art to eclecticism, and this design proves it needn't be an in-your-face collage of contrasts. francissultana.com 

Natural Forms

Designed and handcrafted by Northern California architect Alex Miller, the Aurora lav set certainly evidences a strong organic influence. Its flowing forms are at once birdlike, wavelike, and even cloudlike. And if you check out the reflection of the faucet in the mirror, you might even recognize a resemblance to a sea creature, the graceful manta ray. alexmillerstudio.com

The Kindest Cut

Should you find this photo of the Cut kitchen intriguing, I hope you'll take the time to watch the video that documents the design of the space and its furnishings. A motion picture is really the best way to appreciate the room, as so many of its elements—a counter/table, the bands of shelving over the island, and more—swivel, swing, and otherwise activate. The film features the kitchen's designer, architect Alessandro Isola, who provides a fascinating narrative during the tour of the room.

Kick-Off Time

Might someone please explain how the 'first' occurrence of anything can be considered 'classic'? I thought not. But let's put grammar aside on this Super Bowl 50 weekend, and pay tribute to the short-lived Refrigerator Bowl, which was held in Evansville, Indiana from 1948 through 1956. The inaugural game pitted the hometown Purple Aces [the eventual victors] against the Missouri Valley Vikings. Contemplating the program for that contest, I'm intrigued by the rays of energy emitted by the fridge—are they defensive or offensive forces?

Branching Out

Trees in winter. Winter trees in tile. There's something very appropriate about the cold medium of ceramic depicting scenes from the bleak season. I find the coloration and decoration of this large format tile to be profoundly expressive. stonehollowtile.com

Hidden in Plain Sight

Touch-latches open and close the storage compartments of the b3 backsplash, which is a handsome combination of creative design and practical space planning. Organizing everything from spice jars to carving knives to cleaning supplies, the modular unit can be expanded as needed. The doors are fronted in glass, sleek and easy to clean. bulthaup.de

Clever Cooking

While I like the idea of sous vide cooking, the practice—simmering vacuum-packed food at a precise temperature—is frankly a turn-off. Who wants a cauldron of hot water occupying the cooktop on a routine basis? Using the steam oven to complete the cooking process is so much easier. A big danke to the engineers behind this ultra efficient [and tidy] Swiss system, which includes a built-in vacuum-sealing drawer. vzug.com

Hole-istic Design

A most curious kitchen, this. All those portals in the cabinet doors remind me that tomorrow is Groundhog Day; they bear an admittedly far-fetched resemblance to openings of burrows. I'm going to predict that ol' Punxsutawny Phil won't see his shadow, and that spring will be here before we know it. architectureatlarge.com