KBB - March 2009 - (Page 50)

Favorites 3 1 2 Mark White’s Top Product Picks A 28-year veteran of the kitchen and bath industry, award-winning designer Mark White, CKD, of Kitchen Encounters in Annapolis, MD, is probably better than most at spotting innovative products. Although he tries to ascertain his clients’ preferences by presenting them with a wide range of styles and options, White also insists on showing them products that hopefully they’ve never seen anywhere else. His approach has been a successful one, given the longevity of his ﬁrm and its many accolades, and his versatility and wealth of experience have sharpened his eye for what’s new and truly ingenious. Some products, not surprisingly, have become favorites. Take Sharp’s Microwave Drawer (1), which provides a handy solution to a problem White frequently encounters in his practice. “Because so many of the kitchens we do today are open plans, we’ve lost a lot of the wall space necessary to install eye-level appliances, such as a microwave,” said White. Unlike countertop models that can inadvertently become focal points (or eye sores) in a kitchen, “the drawer can be installed into an island or somewhere where it’s out of sight,” he explained, and its design is “much more convenient to use than a regular microwave placed under a counter.” As a second sink, Kohler’s Undertone trough-style basin (5) adds functionality without taking up too much space. Available in several lengths, the sink measures a slim 7 in. wide and, when situated along the back edge of a countertop, leaves ample room in front for prep work. “It’s extremely useful in areas where you might not have an abundance of counter space, but you want to put in a second sink near the cooking station to have that convenience,” White said. “It can also be placed in the middle of an island so it’s accessible from both sides.” Pedal Valves’ foot pedals (6) make White’s list for being both hygienic and water-efficient. Easy to “hook up and not terribly expensive,” said White, the pedals allow hands-free operation of the kitchen faucet when hands are dirty and limit water usage to only what’s needed. White added, “They’re the type of thing people are familiar with in doctors’ ofﬁces, but they’re also really convenient in a kitchen.” Equally functional, as well as attractive, are Craft-Art wood countertops (3), which White often incorporates into his kitchen designs as transitional surfaces, breakfast bars and eating and prep areas. The tops come in “a wonderful variety” of woods, thicknesses and edge treatments, and, according to White, “can really be practical and beautiful if used correctly.” And speaking of beauty, all fetching kitchens require a set of, well, fetching cabinetry. For that, White likes Neff Kitchens, which offers “beautiful wood veneer inlays on its cabinet doors” (2) to expand one’s design horizons, as well as Bentwood Kitchens’ Paciﬁc Rim line (4), which will soon be featured in his showroom. The latter, White noted, perfectly synthesizes the “key characteristics” of that region and reﬂects the growing interest in a modern, Asian-inspired aesthetic. “It’s an exciting and really innovative product,” he added. And he should know. I —Alice Liao 4 5 6 50 + K BB March 2009 / www.kbbonline.com / The Ofﬁcial Sponsor of K/BIS www.kbis.com http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - March 2009

KBB - March 2009
Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Digits
Consumer
Trends
Products
Profile
Design
Family Affair
Runner’s World
Access
Tech
Education
Practice
Ad Index
Editorial Index
Favorites

KBB - March 2009