Star and Girls Pic: Contributors

Tampilkan postingan dengan label Contributors. Tampilkan semua postingan

2011 ICFF Trend Report

Contributed by Lori Dolnick

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York draws more than 500 exhibitors from over 30 countries and showcases the best in contemporary design. It’s a high-energy show that’s well attended by the design community from students to celebrity designers – all on the prowl for the latest new products, colors and concepts. Here’s what we saw:

High Style, Recycled

IceStone is known for their green, durable surfaces - made from 100% recycled glass and cement and certified at the Gold level of Cradle to Cradle™.

Sail Away in Comfort

With its sail-like shape, the Spinnaker chair simulates the feeling of floating on a cloud. And you can customize it to fit your décor — they will even use your old sails for added saltiness.

Iconic Chef Style, Redefined

BLANCO’s CULINA faucet offers a refined chef’s style with an innovative magnetic hook up feature. It’s easier to clean and fits beautifully into today’s more sophisticated transitional kitchen styles.

Tools at Schools

Tools at Schools is a learning partnership program between Bernhardt Design, Aruliden and The School at Columbia University. The result is a series of school furniture designed by kids, for kids. www.tools-at-schools.com

Softlight Clouds

Molo’s award winning soft collection of flexible walls, building blocks, seating and lighting exemplifies their exploration of production processes and experiential space making.

Modern Outdoor Living

Herman Miller's Eames Aluminum Group returns to its roots by creating a new outdoor collection that received the ICFF Editors' Choice Award for Best Outdoor Furniture. www.hermanmiller.com

To Infinity and Beyond

A first of its kind, this new tile drain from Infinity Drain incorporates tile or natural surface material to make the grate literally disappear from view.

Sculpted Relaxation

Hand sculpted from a single block of Carrara marble, the EAU Soaking Tub, by Stone Forest will make a stunning visual statement in any contemporary bathroom.

Functional Art

Lladró offers their new Metropolis collection that melds avant-garde building shapes with functional objects such as lamps, vases, mirrors and boxes.

Shapely Washbasin

Too pretty to be called a bath sink, the Laufen ILBAGNOALESSI One Tuna sink offers graceful curves in a white or warm grey finish.

Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::

See all Lori's posts here.

2011 ICFF Trend Report

Contributed by Lori Dolnick

High Style, Recycled

IceStone is known for their green, durable surfaces - made from 100% recycled glass and cement and certified at the Gold level of Cradle to Cradle™.

Sail Away in Comfort

With its sail-like shape, the Spinnaker chair simulates the feeling of floating on a cloud. And you can customize it to fit your décor — they will even use your old sails for added saltiness.

Iconic Chef Style, Redefined

Tools at Schools

Softlight Clouds

Molo’s award winning soft collection of flexible walls, building blocks, seating and lighting exemplifies their exploration of production processes and experiential space making.

Modern Outdoor Living

Herman Miller's Eames Aluminum Group returns to its roots by creating a new outdoor collection that received the ICFF Editors' Choice Award for Best Outdoor Furniture. www.hermanmiller.com

To Infinity and Beyond

A first of its kind, this new tile drain from Infinity Drain incorporates tile or natural surface material to make the grate literally disappear from view.

Sculpted Relaxation

Hand sculpted from a single block of Carrara marble, the EAU Soaking Tub, by Stone Forest will make a stunning visual statement in any contemporary bathroom.

Functional Art

Lladró offers their new Metropolis collection that melds avant-garde building shapes with functional objects such as lamps, vases, mirrors and boxes.

Shapely Washbasin

Too pretty to be called a bath sink, the Laufen ILBAGNOALESSI One Tuna sink offers graceful curves in a white or warm grey finish.

Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::

See all Lori's posts here.

Guest Blog: Innovative Countertop Designs

The following guest post was written by Marcy Tate, a home improvement blogger at Networx. She writes on many home improvement topics including concrete countertops and other innovative countertop materials.

The popularity of eco-friendly kitchen remodeling has contributed to the success of several new countertops successfully breaking into the mainstream market. Materials such as recycled glass and concrete are being used to make distinctive, one-of-a-kind residential countertops. Here is a rundown on why they are such a success.

Recycled Glass Countertops

Photo credit: treehugger.com

Photo credit: green-living-made-easy.com

Recycled glass countertops have many advantages. Beside their wide color selection, they are strong, durable and have a long lifespan. Additionally, most recycled glass countertop manufacturers offer a 10-year warranty. Maintenance is simple and is comparable to granite countertops. The countertops are scratch resistant and less porous than concrete or marble countertops.

Recycled glass countertops are a combination of recycled glass and concrete. The glass content is usually 80% or higher, with the rest being concrete. One of the features that is drawing homeowners to recycled glass countertops is that every single panel is unique; no two countertops are the same. Some manufacturers offer an option whereby the countertop can be integrally colored or stained in order to help coordinate better with cabinetry and the wall color. There are also various edge and shape options. For those seeking exclusive style and design, recycled glass countertops are a fantastic option. Recycled glass countertops cost about $55 per square foot.

Check any of the following leaders in recycled glass countertops for more detailed information and to find a local dealer: Vetrazzo.com, Icestone.com, Evniroglass.com, or Gilasi.com.

Additional glass countertop images:

Photo credit: thinkglass.com

Photo credit: icestone.com

Photo credit: thinkglass.com

Concrete Countertops

Photo credit: tsunamicountertops.com

Photo credit: kitchen-counter-tops.net

In the past five years, concrete countertops have become more popular as homeowners seek attractive and durable countertops for their kitchens and bathrooms. With granite considered too ordinary for many homeowners, concrete countertops provide a fantastic option for customized countertops that still have a quarried look. Everything about concrete countertops is customizable, from the size and shape to the color, thickness, edging and method of casting. Additionally, they resist all types of damage, including chipping, cracking and scratching.

The design options are infinite. Concrete countertop artisans can add small objects to the countertop, such as glass chips or sparkles. Homeowners can also choose to include an embedded soap dish or an integral sink. Integral sinks can be designed within the countertop. Dyes are added to the concrete to create just about any color combination desired. Concrete countertops are more expensive than recycled glass countertops. They cost $65-$100 per square foot. However, an additional benefit is that concrete countertops can increase the resale value of a home, and they have a lifespan of over 20 years.

Additional concrete countertop images: