KBB - September 2011 - (Page 10)

Editor’s Note Openness Is a Virtue Recently, a friend of mind expressed doubt when I told her kitchens are becoming more open… and people tend to gather there during parties. While we did not have this conversation in her kitchen, which is fully enclosed, we did spend much of that afternoon sitting at her island and chatting as she prepped more food for the barbecue. Interestingly enough, the afternoon also ended there with the rest of her guests—mainly, her husband’s old fraternity brothers—standing around and shooting the breeze, even though it was just a tad too warm. Had the kitchen lost some of its walls, perhaps all of us would have felt more comfortable and lingered there earlier and longer. But if the entries in this year’s K+BB Design Awards are any indication, my friend’s kitchen, as well as my own, will soon be, if not already is, a thing of the past. Although open kitchens are not a new trend, many of the winning projects seem to push the envelope on this front, using conventional upper cabinets oh-so-sparingly and incorporating creative wall storage solutions that don’t call attention to themselves, but instead contribute to the overall aesthetic of not only the kitchen proper but also adjoining living spaces, such as a great room or dining area. Other trends worth mentioning? Sure, the competition received its fair share of white kitchens, but interestingly, there were also considerably more entries that featured color—and not just neutrals or earth tones—which, in some cases, added a freshness to the project. In the bath category, however, soft, earthy colors continued to dominate, which makes sense. Given the current state of the world, our bathrooms are pretty much our sanctuaries. One final note on the design awards. This was the first time the competition was judged by industry professionals, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them—Matthew Bremer, Roberta Kravette and Susan Serra—for their time, insight and efforts. I learned a lot by listening to them discuss each entry and feel privileged for having had the chance to do so. Wow! With one awards program concluded, I’d like to call your attention to another. This one is for the manufacturers—the 2011 K+BB Product Innovator Awards celebrates the most innovative kitchen and bath products introduced this past year. An entry form is available for download at www.kbbonline.com. Winners will be featured in the next issue of K+BB. Alice Liao, Executive Editor aliao@kbbonline.com Circle No. 5 http://www.kbbonline.com http://KBGuides.interlinegroup.com http://KBGuides.interlinegroup.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - September 2011

KBB - September 2011
Table of Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Show Director’s Note
Trends
Products
Design
Meet the Judges
Top Projects
Merit Projects
Honorable Mentions
Modern Classic: An eclectic bath with timeless appeal
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - September 2011