KBB - January/February 2011 - (Page 50)

Favorites 1 2 Kelly Morisseau’s Top Product Picks If you aren’t already reading Kelly Morisseau’s popular blog, Kitchen Sync (www. kitchensync.typepad.com), maybe you should. It’s chock full of keen insight, spot-on advice and industry savvy, all gathered from her 25+ years as a designer and presented with a healthy dose of personality. Not a web person, you say? No worries. Morisseau, a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer and Certified Interior Designer on staff at Main Street Kitchens in Walnut Creek, CA, will be sharing her wisdom and experience in her first book, Kelly’s Kitchen Sync: Insider Kitchen Design and Remodeling Tips from an Award-Winning Kitchen Expert. Scheduled for release later this year, the volume is described by her as a resource for “kitchen design 2.0” and will provide solutions and techniques for resolving common design problems. No doubt the book will brim with the same common sense that characterizes Morisseau’s blog and makes her a trusted web source. It’s also reflected in her criteria for selecting kitchen and bath products. “They all have to be well-made and long-lasting,” she said. “Most of my clients are going to remodel only once because it’s so expensive to do a project. They’re people who are going to be living in their homes for the long term.” Needless to say, Morisseau’s kitchen and bath faves also boast durability and great performance. Induction cooktops from Miele (4), for example, not only offer solid construction and energy efficiency but, to boot, feature a “nice treatment on their surface,” she noted. Morisseau admits to becoming a fan of touch faucets from Brizo, especially its Venuto (1), after having been invited by the company to see its products up close and personal. “They’re so beautiful and work very nicely,” said Morisseau. However, she added, “We have to watch a little bit in California because some of them don’t fulfill AB1953.” Another favorite is Cambria’s engineered stone (2), which Morisseau likes because it does not require sealing and is eco-friendly and American-made. In addition, “all of the colors are the same price—it doesn’t matter which one you pick,” she said.“So as a designer you’re not constantly going,‘Oh god, I have to re-price this.’” Morisseau is particularly excited about the company’s new collection, which includes such dramatic options as the blue-speckled Charston (shown). Equally at home in both traditional- and contemporary-style kitchens, Berenson’s Hearth Stone hardware (5) has been seeing a lot of use in Morisseau’s designs of late. Although the collection’s versatile looks make them an easy choice, their appeal for Morisseau runs more than skin-deep. “They’re really well made. If you lift them, they have some heft to them,” she said. “And they’re quite reasonably priced.” Finally, while Morisseau’s list could go on, it would not be complete without custom cabinetry from Crystal Cabinets (3). The company gets her nod for its green offerings, some brand new door styles— which are “really, really sharp”—and its “wonderful” customer service. “It’s almost like having my own cabinet shop,” Morisseau added. “I can specify anything I like.” n —Alice Liao 3 4 5 50 + K BB January/February 2011 / www.kbbonline.com / The Official Sponsor of KBIS www.kbis.com http://www.kitchensync.typepad.com http://www.kitchensync.typepad.com http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - January/February 2011

KBB - January/February 2011
Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Letter to the Editor
Focus
Trends
Products
Design
Abroad
Practice
Editorial Index
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - January/February 2011