Great Kitchen Finds from KBIS Kitchen Bath Show Atlanta

We never seem to have enough time or space in our homes, especially the kitchen right? And since multi-tasking is our way of life, Kohler is out with a new kitchen sink called the Stages Kitchen Sink, that I really like. It helps you maximize the space and time you've got, and helps you prep a meal in various stages in the same single sink. Suddenly you are a big time chef!

Here Kohler's very nice Executive Chef, Ulrich Koberstein shows me how it works.




FYI, did you know that Kohler makes their own chocolate now?

Speaking of sinks, here's another good one, made by Blanco, The Silgranite II. What is especially handy is how you can't scratch it for the life of you. Here we tried the fork test and all it did was take metal off the fork which did not penetrate through the sink which is 80% granite and 20% composite. It comes in 5 colors and sells from $400 to $1500.




Here is an amazing kitchen faucet I've fallen in love with. It is made by Brizo called the Talo. It has a pull down feature that reconnects on its own with a trademarked "Magnedock". This one is venetian bronze but comes in several other metallics.
Watch how it works:




Where to put the spices, small snacks, your kitchen supplies and all of those little doo-dads you need in the kitchen? The Hettich company has an incredible new solution with it's under-counter Oraga T Wing with customized storage.



And here is the above stove or cook top storage organizer, the Cosario also made by Hettich.





Here's the new refrigerator by LG that helps you stay organized and avoid wasting food you forgot was there (out of sight out of mind) of with its newest version with 4 doors. The freezer has two drawers, so you can keep the turkey and larger portions in one with smaller snacks and items in the other.


The better to see you with my pretty--This is the new refrigerator by Electrolux


It offers luxury lighting that is ramped so you can see food way in the back, even when some things are so big they might otherwise hide the light. It also features a drawer that can hold 3 cases of beer and a tri-level freezer for more space-MSRP $3799.

Here are the new Washer Dryer Machines by Electrolux. The red ( the one you see in the TV commercial with a woman dressed in red) is made with BMW paint and is SO red it has metallic flakes in the
paint. Gorgeous.




Equally pretty ( one more reason not to put off doing the laundry) is the new Turquoise Sky model. This picture doesn't do it justice but had to share. It was launched on Earth Day and $200 dollars on every pair you purchase goes to support Research to fight Ovarian Cancer

And if you want to die for counter tops and budget isn't a concern-- why not go precious stone? It's expensive but so out of this world beautiful. These are made by Prexury


- $15,000 for a slab for your counter but it's in Amethyst, Wild Agate, Rose Quartz, and just stunning! Maybe you could use some of this for a backsplash or top off an island and stretch the budget with another material on the larger spaces?


Let me know your thoughts!
Cindy@homewizards.tv

Luxury Bathroom Finds at the Kitchen and Bath KBIS Show in Atlanta

No matter how you feel about your Bathroom, when you see all of the amazing new innovations at the 2009 Kitchen and Bath Industry Trade Show (aka KBIS) that just wrapped up in Atlanta, you can't help but want to do something new, and maybe splurge. This trade show is a total sensory experience, and the end result of many months and years of trends and technology research, product testing and design creativity by the hundreds of manufacturers showing off their stuff. Take a look at some of the spectacular finds I discovered to enhance your sense of luxury and style in the bathroom.

Bathe by Moonlight!- It's one of TOTO's latest designs called the Luminist and like it

sounds it is luminescent and gorgeous. It is a hybrid epoxy with the translucence of glass that can be lit from below-hence the moonlight vibe for your bathtub, your sink, even your toilet! TOO cool!

TOTO's Luminist technology can also transform your sink/lavatory and is breathtaking!

Speaking of TOTO another hot trend is to save space and water by installing a toilet that is mounted to the wall. Here is the new Neorest II Wall Hung Dual Flush



It is a smart toilet that is energy and water efficient and also incorporates that beautiful Luminist glow on the push plate to coordinate with a lavatory and soaker tub.

How about a shower and bathtub experience in one? WHAT? Well, TOTO has the solution in the form of its GyroSteam which brings the relaxing qualities of the bath culture to our love affair with the shower! Here's how it works--TOTO brings a water flow through nozzles on two different axes that tilt and rotate, resulting in greater and more consistent water distribution. The result is a body drenching experience as if you were in a bath!

Check out the hand-painted high-art known as TOTO's Waza Collection the Miyabi series of toilets and lavatories that Asian cherry blossom designs for each of the seasons, including one that is 24 carat gold!




I also found some great plumbing fixtures by Brizo. Check out the Brizo Sensori Shower that promises to give you indulgence with a customized head, hand and body spray in the shower.









Less glam and more practicality, there is the Odor Proof Toilet. Not the first, but a company called VIP says it is the best.

Here's how it works. The VIP toilet system has a battery-powered fan that removes foul air from beneath the user and flushes it out into the sewer along with the accompanying waste. It installs just like a regular toilet with no additional construction.



Discover more by listening to Home Wizards live Saturday's 8-9 AM PST/11-Noon EST or archives at www.homewizards.tv. Email me at cindy@homewizards.tv and let me know what you think!

Kitchen and Bath Show 2009 KBIS in Atlanta

If you go ga-ga for Kitchen and Bath anything, this is the place! KBIS, the largest Kitchen Bath Industry Trade Show is underway in Atlanta and I'm here to share all the scoop with you!
Here's the buzz I'm hearing so far and it's good news for our economy, or so says one group that completed a national poll which says we as homeowners who like to improve our home are feeling more confident and going from the "stay-cation" to "feathering the nest," and perhaps launching into bigger projects! We'll see. More on that in my upcoming blogs from KBIS.

For the next several days I'll take you "shopping" with me, since this really gives you a great overview of all the neat new things you can get and do for your home-- mainly the Kitchen and Bath. And here's just a taste of some of the hot stuff I've discovered so far. We're talking 900 leading manufacturers all here unveiling their latest toys and technologies for the home!

How about an Outdoor Kitchen and Cabinetry made of Bamboo, Teak or Cyprus? Atlantis makes it so your fun in the sun can withstand any kind of weather, rain or shine, snow or sleet too! And it's available in a bunch of colors. It is the "ironman" of outdoor kitchens because of its weatherproof Perma-Panel engineering and beautiful custom wood designs.


Check out: www.atlantiscabinetry.com
I love this Tiki bar above, made of Teak.

Talk about Bling for your Kitchen--this is not a chandelier or disco-ball but a range hood full of pizazz! An Italian based manufacturer called Elica makes these gorgeous varieties of range hoods. This one is appropriately called "Star" that goes for $ 3750. They use the patented All-in One Evolution system-- so, it decorates, illuminates and ventilates!





Don't have space for a washer AND a dryer or just want to create more room in your laundry room? Consider Fagor's latest creation. It's two in one and measures aboaut 2 feet by 2 feet- a washer and dryer in one machine! Great for condos, boats, spare washer/dryer in the garage.




You eliminate the need of removing your clothes from the washer to another unit to dry them, save space and energy too! www.fagoramerica.com

Looking for a splash of zen in your bathroom? You may like this bathtub made by Viaggi and is the MAAX collection. It's an egg shaped tub that sits on top of a bamboo wooden frame and is a work of art on its own.

Here is a cool way to introduce the look of metallic to your home without breaking the bank. ACP has the look of it in metal wall paneling for your home or garage. It's called The Fascade Wall Panels.

They are made of composite thermoplastic and are water and corrosion resistant!!! 19 different finishes from chrome to aluminum...and they also have embossed stampings and patterns. They also make metal tile that looks like a metal back splash but is a 3 x 6 inch tile that you peel and stick! Plus they are made from 60 percent recycled material. Talk about an easy weekend DIY project!

What's your favorite? And would you like me to hunt for? Email me at: cindy@homewizards.tv

More to come!!

(You can hear me talk about it live on my show online at www.homewizards.tv Saturday 8-9AM PST/11-Noon EST)

Outdoor TV ROCKS!

We are all in the mood to spend more time outdoors right? And since we can't live without the TV (Picture watching the SuperBowl outside) here is a great find. It's a TV made by Sunbrite www.sunbritetv.com. You could hose it down and it wouldn't hurt this thing! Imagine this on your patio! And the great thing is, the pricepoint isn't bad--roughly $2500. Check it out! I especially love how it's not only weatherproof, and resists dirt and scratches, it is a great monitor in terms of outdoor quality picture and resisting glare! In my view the MUST for any outdoor living room!

Fabric For The Ceiling And Beyond

Don’t forget “the fifth wall”- the ceiling and instead of paint, why not try fabric! Amy Devault, a designer at the 2009 Pasadena Showcase House (Pasadena, CA) did in the Library she made over and it looks great! The fabric has a metallic sheen to it and you can find it inexpensively in the downtown Los Angeles Fabric/ Fashion District. Here it was stapled with a staple gun to the ceiling! The designer trick here is by making the ceiling the focal point, it will open up a small space, by diverting the eye! Very clever!

Here Larry Rizkowsky Designer at the Showcase House used outdoor fabric for a tent effect on his Grand Terrace. Notice how he created a palette of black and white which started from the grand piano also on the patio/terrace.

Think Outdoor Sunbrella Fabric for the Indoors as well as outdoors! It’s what top designers are doing at the Pasadena Showcase House. For example, these curtains from Designer David Dalton’s Adult Male/Guest Room space are outdoor fabric. It’s more durable, fade proof and an awesome trendy choice!

Prada Fabric Chair and Great Room Scent

This citron yellow leather chair is featured at the Pasadena Showcase House in the Young Adult Male/Guest room, done by Designer David Dalton. When I saw it, and touched it I said, this reminds me of a Prada bag. Turns out the fabric IS genuine Prada, made from a raincoat and it is so soft! Really a fun use of yellow pop up a room.

Not only do I love this chair but the entire room/space! It’s an excellent example of how and why we need not be afraid of using bold color in our homes. Here David used yellow, with black, white, and some chocolate brown. It has a mod but also optimistic and refreshing feel!

LOVE this candle, a special fragrance of fresh lemon and herb. It smells great before you even light it! It’s a product sold by one of the Showcase Designers and a recent guest, Larry Rizkowsky.

Go to www.lrizdesign.com

Trends at The 2009 Pasadena Showcase House Revealed

The 2009 Pasadena Showcase House (Pasadena, CA) is FABULOUS this year! I got a preview recently and had to share some of my pictures.

This year’s house was built in 1917, by the same architect who created the famous Wrigley Mansion, also known as the headquarters for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, world renown, G. Lawrence Stimson.

One of the trends you will see is the use of subdued colors, taupes, creams, light blues, blended with the bold purples, yellows and metallic accents. This all works with the original floors that are black and white marble in the entryway.


I especially love this breakfast nook designed by Scott Barr and Suzi Reader of SUZISCOT Design. Look at the detail in the table!