KBB - January/February 2013 - (Page 48)

FAVORITES 1 2 Kim Lewis’ Top Product Picks Fans of ABC’s canceled Extreme Makeover: Home Edition may not be familiar with the name Kim Lewis. And for good reason. Lewis led the design team behind the scenes but “was involved heavily in every single aspect of every house,” she said. And there were many. “In one year, I would design 25 houses,” Lewis said. “In five years, I did more than 120,” often sketching the plans on a plane en route to the location just a day after being briefed about the family. Needless to say, the project schedule was tight. From her briefing to the actual unveiling on camera, a home took anywhere from four to six weeks to complete, with the latter being “a happy episode.” Most fell somewhere in between. Lewis likens her time on the show to receiving an accelerated education outside a classroom. “It was real-life experience really fast,” she noted, and has made her a bigger risktaker as a designer. The show also cultivated in her a keen interest in designing for a purpose. “I enjoy creating spaces that help people and inspire them in their day,” Lewis said. One example is an art center in Ghana, for which she has been volunteering her time and expertise. Her involvement is “an important part of who I am as a designer,” she added. Other post-show gigs include working with companies, such as Cosentino, for which she served as one of several Silestone trendspotters at KBIS last year. Silestone by Cosentino (1) is also on her list of loved kitchen products, as it comes in a variety of attractive colors, including neutrals, which “are a great option for countertops,” she said. Of these, her favorite is White Zeus Extreme (shown). Although Lewis prefers her countertops neutral, she is not shy about playing with bold color. In fact, “People don’t use color freely enough,” she said. “Once they learn how to use it, it can really make a space come alive.” In the kitchen, one option is to go with a range in a vibrant hue. BlueStar offers its ranges in 190 colors (4), landing the company a spot on her list of favorites and making her the perfect design ambassador. Also getting a nod for their colorful options is Smeg’s retro 1950s refrigerators (5). “They’re really fun,” Lewis said. “I’ve gotten kind of tired of stainless steel, which is becoming a little boring to consumers.” In addition, the line’s distinct, vintage-inspired look fits in well with the designer’s sensibility, which she describes as being industrial and eclectic. “I’m really excited about the retro feel coming back,” Lewis said. “My bottom line is I love character-driven design.” Evoking character is no doubt easier with Kohler’s Antique bath collection (3), which has made its way into several Lewis designs. She is particularly fond of the tub faucet with its six-pronged handle design, vaguely Victorian feel and resemblance to an old telephone.“It’s really gorgeous,” Lewis said. Another frequent go-to with both modern and vintage charm are Barn Light Electric pendants (2), which she loves for their versatility. A particular favorite is the Radial Wave (shown), which comes in a variety of models and can be specified with a red-and-white-striped cloth cord. The fixture “is fun and different,” Lewis said. Fans of Extreme Makeover would probably say the same of her work. n —Alice Liao 3 4 5 48 + K BB January/February 2013 / 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 - January/February 2013

KBB - January/February 2013
Contents
Online Contents
Editorial
Show Director’s Note
KBIS Special Section
Web Savvy
Focus
Trends
Products
Design Feature: A Touch of Glass
Design Feature: Glam Rock
Practice
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - January/February 2013