Our #ProjectLakelife Kitchen - My Favorite Appliances Part 2

Hi again from Lake Cherokee where I sit enjoying the beautiful view of the sunlight reflecting off the water. But behind me sits my pitiful kitchen that is half torn up waiting for it’s moment to shine like the sun.

I have clients battling the appliance waiting game as they are getting year long lead times from many of the heavy hitters in the luxury appliance realm. In my case, I was lucky when the vendor I selected had anticipated a growing demand and had ample stock sitting in their New Jersey warehouse. So my appliances are all here in Richmond waiting on my kitchen to be completed. In my case, it’s my cabinets that are holding up the process. But I’m pretty sure it will be worth the wait! And my trip to KBIS in Orlando a few weeks ago reassured me that I made the right decision about my appliances.

Enjoying the SKS booth at KBIS with my design besties, Jana Donohoe and Sarah Wilson.

In 2019, I had the pleasure of traveling to Napa, California with the Designhounds to tour the Signature Kitchen Suite Experience & Design Center. Check out my blog post about this amazing trip HERE and learn more about the beautiful SKS Napa EDC. This year at KBIS, Signature Kitchen Suite continued it’s streak of introducing ground breaking luxury appliances with its 48” French Door built-in refrigerator which won the Best of KBIS Award.

The refrigerator boasts two freezer drawers, a convertible drawer and a drawer housing the dual icemaker. The functional and innovative convertible drawer offers five preset temperatures ranging from 41⁰ F to -6⁰ F allows for precise food preservation across five temperature settings: chilled wine, fridge/deli, meats and seafood, beverage, or drop the temperature all the way down to make it a freezer. The dual icemaker provides options for both frustum ice and the slow-melting, spherical Craft Ice elevate beverages of all kinds. This 48” model will not hit the market until the end of 2022, so I’ll be installing the 36” version which is just fine for our empty nester lifestyle. But, this 48” version would have been amazing when I had two kids at home, both athletes.

The star of the SKS line in my mind is still the 48” Dual Fuel Pro Range and I’m excited to say that this beauty will be the star of my new kitchen!

I have clients that go back and forth between gas and induction when we’re designing kitchens and it has become a contentious debate. But with the SKS Pro Range, you can have both! There are four gas burners and a two zone induction cooking area. But the third zone on this cooktop is the one that has me the most excited … the sous vide! My husband and I discovered sous vide about 6 years ago when we had some of the best steaks prepared in a sous vide in a Nashville restaurant. Until recently, the only means of cooking sous vide (latin for “under vacuum”) was with a portable wand that would heat and circulate the water to the desired temp. We started experimenting on all kinds of things and quickly became obsessed. We went on to send sous vide wands to our whole family as Christmas presents. Now we’ll have the sous vide built into the top of this amazing range.

In addition to all of the capabilities this range presents on top, it also boasts an 18” steam combi-oven and a full size convection oven on the bottom. I can’t wait to incorporate this steam oven into our repertoire! My husband became even more sold on the 48” Pro Range when we enjoyed a virtual dinner party via Zoom during he pandemic with SKS Executive Chef Nick Ritchie. I’ve had the pleasure of watching Nick cook both at the SKS Napa EDC and at KBIS. You should check out some of his cooking demos and the Pro Range in action on the SKS YouTube channel.

So hopefully I’ll be able to bring home my refrigerator, this magnificent pro range, the SKS power steam dishwasher and the SKS microwave drawer soon! I’m excited to see this kitchen transformed!

This rendering shows my plans for the new kitchen. I can’t wait to see my vision become reality!

So, I’ll end with one more cool thing about sous vide. You can make some killer craft cocktails in it! Here is a fabulous recipe, courtesy of SKS, for a Carmen Miranda cocktail.

Our #ProjectLakelife Kitchen- My Favorite Appliances

Hi everyone! As I’ve shared, we are renovating the house that my husband and I recently purchased and there isn’t a room that isn’t getting some love. But of course, the kitchen is at the top of my list and the one that I’m most anxious to complete. To that end, I’m focusing several of my updates on this oh so important room in the house.

I recently traveled to Orlando Florida for the 2022 KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) and IBS (International Builders Show). This is honestly my favorite trade show of the year. I’m truly like a kid in a candy store and I get the chance to connect with my design besties from all over the country.

Over the past several years, this show has become the battle of the appliance companies. Gone are the days that you just go down to Sears and pick out your suite of Whirlpool, Kenmore or GE appliances. There are so many other American and International players in the appliance space now that are bringing so many more options to the market. And if you’re building a custom home or undertaking a significant renovation, you’re likely considering appliances from some of the luxury manufacturers. And these manufacturers are in a fierce competition to bring to market the most innovative technology and jaw dropping styling! I could write for days on all of the players, but I’m going to focus on two of my favorite companies.

Monogram Appliances always knocks it out of the park at their KBIS booths creating an experience like no other and this year it won them the KBIS Best Booth Award. There was such a frenzy about this space that there was a waiting line to get in!

Villa Monogram, the Monogram KBIS booth destination showcased the brand’s latest innovations and collaborations in a variety of luxury living scenarios.

Villa Monogram Farm incorporates Monogram’s new 30” Fully Integrated Wine Sommelier and Monogram 30” Smart Flush Hearth Oven

Villa Monogram Mountain showcases the new Monogram Rotisserie Oven.

Villa Monogram Beach features the 30” Smart Electric Convection Single Oven and the 36” Integrated Panel-Ready Column Freezer and Refrigerator.

In addition to the Villa Monogram vignettes showcased above, Monogram also launched it’s first Designer Collection. Renowned interior designer and Monogram Creative Director Richard T. Anuszkiewicz created the collection in collaboration with the brand. It showcases two aesthetics, Brass and Titanium, and incorporates beautiful custom furniture style hardware. Another ingenious design detail were the 96” tall brass and titanium refrigerator column panels. With so many new homes being built with 10’ ceilings, these taller panels are a much better scale!

It was such a sexy look (and who ever thought I would use the word “sexy” when talking about appliances! Just look at the gorgeous hardware!

But Monogram is also about more than just looks! I did a hands on training session with them in their Chicago showroom a couple of years ago and I was very impressed by their technology and the breadth of their various options. We recently completed our studio kitchen and incorporated Monogram appliances so that we could share some of their more innovative designs with our clients and visitors.

We installed their 5-in-1 smart wall oven with Advantium Technology, their 30” integrated glass door refrigerator with the two convertible drawers at the bottom and their 36” induction cooktop. I wanted to highlight some of their more unique offerings so that we could bring our clients options that they didn’t normally think about. We’re in the process of planning an event where we can hopefully show off the muscle of this 5-in-1 oven with a live cooking class. If you’re not on our email list, you should join now so that you’ll be sure not to miss an invite to this event or any of our other regular events.

Well, that takes care of one working kitchen for me! At least I can go to the studio and cook on my Monogram induction cooktop! Now, if only I could get my kitchen finished at #projectlakelife. As I said above, Monogram is one of my two favorite appliance brands. Join me next time for a spotlight on the other brand and the one that I’ve chosen for my own home. I’ll also share some of the great new award winning introductions this brand brought to KBIS 2022. After everything I discovered at KBIS, it makes me want to design a whole new house just to be able to use all of these great products.

Supply Chain Woes? Read our List of The Top 5 Things You Can Do Right Now To Level Up Your Home

We have all experienced the effects of the delayed supply chain that began with the onset of the pandemic. Nearly every industry is being affected with the delays of supplies and manufacturing which has created shortages everywhere. The interior design world is no different. As an interior designer, I have witnessed firsthand how the supply chain and waiting on materials to arrive has delayed my design work with contractors as well as delaying the renovation process for my clients. If you are a consumer or designer waiting on custom pieces to arrive, you can attest to that as well. Manufacturers and freight companies are backed up, delaying processes for nearly everything, which can put a downer on larger creative projects. However, I am here to guide you with 4 things you can do right now to level-up your home in the meantime.

1.    Update or Add Window Treatments

With daylight savings causing longer nights, we want to take full advantage of any sunlight we can get!  I frequently encounter clients who are worried that window treatments will take away the light from their windows.  However, if planned correctly, simple long panels on the sides of a window can beautifully frame that view without hindering any light.  If your home is older and has some drafty windows, long drapery with heavier lining can go a long way to insulate a room and keep you warmer and cozier during these cold winter months.   If you don’t want to spend the money on full width drapery panels to cover your windows, you can add shades for light control, privacy and insulation.  There are some terrific shade options that incorporate materials and technology to help cut down on light and drafts.  And while fabrics and shades are subject to some of these supply chain delays, they seem to be weathering this storm with a bit more ease.  With the increase in demand in the interiors space, our workrooms are busier than ever, but with careful selections and planning, you can have new beautiful window treatments in as early as 6 weeks.   

2. Incorporate Wallpaper for an Accent Wall or an Entire Room

Accent walls have been a big trend over the past several years and wallpaper has exploded in popularity bringing a fun pop of artwork to a single wall or ceiling in a space.  You can opt for subtle or bold patterned papers, beautifully textured papers, lacquered finishes or incredible murals.  Every wallpaper brings a different element to the room depending on the mood that you want to set.  I still get clients who are afraid to return to wallpaper, typically because they’ve had some horrible experience removing old poorly applied wallpaper.  Be sure to hire a professional installer that will save you headaches and time down the line should you decide to change your paper.  Are you bold enough to do a daring pattern throughout a room in your home?

3. Add Color and Spunk with Paint

Color can dramatically change the atmosphere in a room and can create some of the most memorable interiors. I am certainly not afraid of testing the waters with paint and love the variety it brings.  A bold color can work really well in a small space!

For kitchens, we’ve seen trends for the past few years of all-white kitchens all over social media, and personally, I love bringing a unique touch to my kitchens. I love mixing with both wallpaper and paint to create one-of-a-kind rooms that my clients love. If you haven’t already, check out my recent Colors for Kitchens blog to see the techniques I use to utilize paint and color in my kitchen designs!

4. Bring the Green in with Biophilic Design!

Biophilic design has become quite the buzz in the interior design community.  This is the concept of increasing the homeowners’ connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, such as plants and florals, and more accessible outdoor living spaces.  It also relates to bringing in indirect nature which is why we have seen such an increase in the beautiful botanic patterns in fabrics and wallpapers. 

With a growing demand for products that contribute to our health and wellness in the wake of the pandemic, it’s easy to see why the biophilic trend has taken off.  Live plants help to circulate oxygen and purify our air and the botanical imagery helps create a sense of peace and tranquility (unless of course, you’re going for that big dramatic statement like we created above!).  There are so many other great ways that an interior designer can actually help you create an environment that is focused on wellness.  Be sure to check out my earlier blog on creating a healthy home here.

5. Bring on the Jewelry by adding Artwork and Accessories!

Sometimes a room, just like an outfit, needs just the finishing touches to pull it all together.  And like jewelry, we like to bring in artwork, accessories, lamps and more to help really create a well-dressed room.  We’re lucky to have our new beautiful 5000 square foot design studio where we have lots of great options to bring out to our clients.  Or you can come in and shop with us at the studio.  The perfect lamp, accent pillow or sculpture can go a long way to polish off a space!

Coping with the Supply Chain Woes

Supply chain constraints have certainly impacted the interior design industry and caused major delays for designers and builders being able to complete projects in a timely manner. If you’re considering a renovation or new construction project, be sure to start researching the materials that you want to include early and check into their availability.  This is certainly where retaining an interior designer can help you sort through the quagmire of finding products and alternatives.  We have definitely become experts at the pivot over the past year!  Our renovation and new construction projects are certainly taking longer these days from start to end, but it has allowed us to weave in some smaller projects in between.  So, while we’re waiting on windows for a renovation, we can help you find some fun wallpaper or you’re your bookcases. 

Now could be the time to do your research on what exactly you want to include in your renovation plans. Certain materials will be much more costly because of the shortages. For example, if you are wanting to install a quartz countertop for your kitchen island, will you be okay with opting for granite instead if it means a faster or less expensive alternative? Would you like to begin a full-renovation now and accept a lengthier waiting time or do you want to wait a little longer until the supply chain starts to return to normal? Is your budget solidified and reasonable? These are all things to consider during this time, especially as the holidays and new year arrives.  It’s all about planning because the industry experts are predicting that we’ll be enduring this supply chain crunch through 2022 and possibly into 2023. 

Regardless, with the five pointers we’ve shared above, we hope you have gained some ideas on how you can revamp your home in the meantime. Until next time, we hope you’re enjoying the cooler weather and these longer cozy nights!