For the last kitchen to be featured in 2015, I searched for something slightly fabulous and forward-looking. Hopefully, this space in a renovated manor house fits the bill. It has the requisite glitter factor, with polished brass topping the counter and lining the gem-faceted cooking alcove. A few golden pendant lights drip downward; the way they attach to the ceiling reminds me of pierced earrings. There is a bit of photographic trickery at work here—it has collapsed the very long room into a seemingly small space. thomaskroeger.net
...to announce the results of the 2015 KBCULTURE Awards! Of the many impressive products in this year's entry pool, these are the ones that passed the critical muster of our jury. From cabinets and cooking appliances to tubs and tile, enjoy perusing the honorees.
Tomorrow night, kids around the world [and NORAD] will be scanning the skies for flying reindeer. Designed by Dima Loginoff, the Mountain View pendant light captures a bit of the topography that Santa and company might soar over. The 'mountain' that forms the diffuser in the hand-crafted fixture can be had in amber or grey, in addition to clear glass. axolight.it
In celestial matters...This year, Star Wars is definitely encroaching on the season that was once ruled by the Little Star of Bethlehem. Fans of the Dark Side might appreciate finding this Darth Vader hand-shower under the Christmas tree. Eerily, water streams out of various Vader facial features in three spray patterns. oxygenics.com
Perhaps it's not quite a heavenly peace, but I think this Milan kitchen does supply sufficient serenity to qualify as a refuge from the holiday rush. Inky blue walls set off the austere, altar-like expanse of brass cabinets. While the arched ceiling is more of a chapel scale than a cathedral, it still has overtones of sanctity—in a secular sense. dimorestudio.eu
This 1953 refrigerator isn't the only thing that's frost-free. This almost-winter of 2015 has been remarkably mild, too. In fact, the forecast for Christmas day is a warm 68°F. I wish Santa the best in his upcoming excursion, but he might want to look into alternative transportation—it doesn't look like optimal sleigh weather.
This light-permeable concrete could be used in all sorts of creative ways in the kitchen or bath—I'd fancy a shower enclosure made of it, or a backsplash panel. Tiny pores allow natural light to filter through the material for a subtle yet surprising look; for a more pronounced effect, thread-like fiber optics can light up the surface. The strength and water-repellent quality of the material is uncompromised. luccon.com
