KBB - April 2011 - (Page 58)

Favorites 1 2 James E. Howard’s Top Product Picks For someone who is no stranger to winning awards, designer James E. Howard, ckd, cbd, of Glen Asplaugh Custom Kitchens & Baths, has a charmingly modest and down-to-earth demeanor on the phone. Asked if he has a design philosophy or signature style, he answered, “I don’t really have a particular style: It’s what the customer wants. It’s all customer-driven.” Nevertheless, last year, his kitchen for a couple in a St. Louis suburb won Kitchen of the Year in the K+BB Design Awards, as well as the NKBA’s 2010 Pinnacle of Design. This year, Howard is again in the running for the grand prize in the NKBA competition, having not one, but two entries making the cut as finalists—one in the medium kitchen category and the other in the large kitchen category. They differ greatly in look and feel, illustrating Howard’s versatility as a designer, yet are similar in that both ooze a sure-handedness and completeness in vision and execution. In a way, the qualities that have contributed to Howard’s success are also reflected in his list of kitchen and bath favorites. In fact, the manufacturers that get his nod do so for the quality of their offerings, as well as their wide choice of offerings. Elkay, for example, has the “largest selection of materials and finishes in one book,” Howard said.“That even includes accessories, such as drain baskets and cutting boards.” Equally appreciated is the company’s willingness to accommodate special requests. Such a fan is Howard that he has one in his own home, Model ELUH4221 (2), which easily meets all his kitchen needs. He added, “I kind of designed my kitchen around it.” Howard also owns a Sharp microwave drawer (1), which he describes as a “problem-solver” in open-plan kitchens that lack wall space. In addition, he noted, “ergonomically, under the counter is probably the most comfortable and safest place to put a microwave.” RangeCraft hoods (3) are another go-to for Howard, who likes the broad variety of materials, sizes and styles in which they’re available: “I’ve never used the same hood twice.” Last year’s winning kitchen featured a custom design produced by the New Jersey-based maker. Howard said of it, “The homeowner described it, I designed it and they built it.” For its low energy consumption and long lamp life, LED lighting has acquired many fans, including Howard, who sees its usefulness in a variety of applications. He is particularly fond of an LED product invented and patented by Premier Custom Built (4). The cabinet company has created a way to install an LED light strip underneath a shelf, while allowing the shelf to still be adjustable. Last on Howard’s list, but certainly not least, Blum’s Dynamic Space concept (5), though not a product but more of a design tool, won him over after he applied its principles in a showroom display. “The system allows kitchen designers to break down and arrange the workspace into five different zones,” he noted, which can be further organized with the company’s hardware. Howard added,“It actually makes the space more efficient.” n —Alice Liao 3 4 5 58 + K BB April 2011 / www.kbbonline.com / The Official Sponsor of KBIS www.kbis.com http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

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

KBB - April 2011
Table of Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Focus
Trends
Products
Profile
Abroad
Blonde Ambition
Serenity Now
Education
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - April 2011