Kelly's Kitchen Sync

Saturday Inspiration

I’ve been sidelined by a 3-day migraine and eyestrain which is probably the result of all the good things on my plate at the moment. But I’m back with a few goodies for this morning.

Someone asked me lately what I do for inspiration and lately that has been online with the two new projects:

 

PIN + INTEREST = PINTEREST

 Pinterest is a type of online corkboard you can use for anything that interests you:

My Pinterest Boards

You follow others who have boards you like and you can re-pin their photos to your boards.

Inspiration can be anything from…well, my inspirations vary from the future of home design to dream vacations.

It’s been a great device for inspiring me and seeing what others are inspired by as well. Pinterest is in its infancy stage and you need an invite to join but as there are so many folks on it, you shouldn’t have trouble getting one.

The only moral dilemma I have with Pinterest involves copyright and crediting the original source. Technically, permission is required prior to using copyrighted photos. At the very least, crediting the source has become the (not legally correct, but polite) standard. What I’ve been seeing (not so much in the design industry but elsewhere) is that the photos have been added so many times that the original site has been buried or used without original credit.

(Disclosure: Media background. Take a broadcast law course and see how nervous you get about adding anything that isn’t yours to the internet without due credit)

I know I would feel bad if I spent four figures (which is what a typical kitchen photography session costs, not including my time – just the photographer’s) only to see it used elsewhere for free without anyone knowing who’d created it in the first place.

 

OLIO + BO-- (oh, forget it) OLIOBOARD

I’ve also been playing with Olioboard, a type of online corkboard…for designers and weekend designers. *grin* They call themselves a “mood board” but to me it looks like a good old designer sample board.

Olioboard is different, as they’ve paired up with some manufacturers and, in this case, I’m thinking that the manufacturers will want people to see their products.

This is also good for inspiration, interior design style. You’re designing rooms, using furniture, lighting, and paint.

For those of you who are working on secret and non-disclosure projects, I might offer some caution in the form of their fine print, which states:

“…you hereby grant us, our affiliates, and our partners a permanent, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sub-licensable license to use, reproduce, create derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, transfer, transmit, distribute, and publish the boards you have created using the Website…” 

For other projects and for those planning your own interior design, it’s pretty shiny.

A sample of a finished Olioboard: To California with love – by Olioboard user charisantonio

 

Tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to a bunch of new designers (to me, perhaps not to you), who will be attending the Architectural Design Show in New York with me, courtesy of Modenus and BlogTourNYC .

You be the judge: Wall cabinets by the window

QUESTION O' THE DAY:

Wall cabinets: Do you design a double-door wall cabinet next to a sink window as shown to the right of this window?

  

Arguments FOR:

“The cabinet is wider so you can store larger plates.”

“You design with one less cabinet, which makes it less expensive.”

“It looks nicer to have the handles or knobs side-by-side.”

Arguments AGAINST:

“Can’t reach inside if standing at the sink.”

“Unable to unload dishwasher from one side.”

 

…or design two separate cabinets so that each can swing away from the window like this one?

 

Arguments FOR:

“Dishes aren’t usually stored there, but glasses are, so you don’t need a big cabinet.”

“So much easier to reach for something when standing at the sink.”

“Can unload the dishwasher from both sides.”

Arguments AGAINST:

“Looks choppy.”

“Doesn’t provide usable space, especially if the cabinets are framed.”

 

Okay, now we add this:

There’s no real argument if the cabinet doors already swing wide – standing at the sink, one can easily open the door all the way and access the cabinet. The challenge is that most don’t…unless you order a 170-degree hinge for the door next to the sink.

So now what are your thoughts?*

 ***

*I joke with other designers that some of our kitchen dilemmas are the equivalent of which way to hang the toilet paper roll  – over or under? There is no right answer, and it all depends on the layout and folks using it.

Doesn’t stop us from having an opinion, though. *grin*

New York BlogTour 2012, here I come!

Apologies for the lack of multiple blog posts this week, but your intrepid designer has seen a lot of wonderful things this January on her plate. Some of the things I can't discuss quite yet, but this I can tell you --

Welcome to BlogTour 2012!

Because yours truly will be attending the fabulous New York Architectural Digest Show March 22-25, 2012 thanks to  Modenus. 14 bloggers were selected from a pretty inspiring list from Europe and North America…and luckily for me, I was one of them! (Yes, I don’t know either. I got lucky, but don’t tell them. Shh!) 

 

This is the second BlogTour for Modenus, the first one being a successful tour in London last year. This year’s tour of New York looks to be every bit as promising.

 

 

Tours like these wouldn't be possible without the generous support of the Tour’s sponsors. Yes, I’ll be singing for my supper; however, given who the sponsors are, I’m entirely delighted and feel like I’m in good hands. Here's a quick introduction:

Miele USA Miele is a German manufacturer of high quality domestic appliances and machines for commercial applications. The company was founded more than 108 years ago in 1899 by Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann and has always been a family-owned, family-run company. 

Du Verre Hardware  Du Verre Hardware is a leader in quality and original design for cabinet hardware. Working with highly respected designers from all aspects of the design world, Du Verre has created unique design-driven collections of knobs and pulls for fine furniture and interiors. Our precision die cast hardware is manufactured entirely from recycled aluminum and is an environmentally friendly choice for professional and consumer alike. 

Poggenpohl US Founded over 110 years ago as the first German kitchen brand, Poggenpohl is now the best known kitchen brand in the world – present in more than 70 countries around the globe.

Scholtes America Scholtès embodies professional excellence. It creates truly innovative, perfectly designed appliances for custom kitchens – technologies and designs that enhance cooking, preparation, storage, washing and entertaining. 

Samuel Heath  Established in 1820, Samuel Heath is a English manufacturer that has become internationally renowned for innovation and quality.

Integrity and provenance are the foundations of Samuel Heath. A bedrock which has been in place since 1820 when the company first began to manufacture the finest pieces of solid brassware from its premises in Birmingham, England.

Spirit of Sports Their motto is: Bringing the world of sports to art and the art of sports to the world™

Sports, athletics and play are the original art form. And Spirit of Sports is the world's largest online gallery of non-licensed artwork and gift items dedicated solely to the subject of sport. A place where fine artists are the only professionals being placed on pedestals; finding and buying artwork is less a spectator sport than a full-contact consumer experience; and customer satisfaction never comes in second.

Blanco America Family-owned since 1925, BLANCO’s humble beginnings included making copper galvanized parts for cookers and hot water bottles with a team of 30 loyal employees. Today, our company has produced more than 40 million sinks, and is recognized as a world leader in quality, innovation and unsurpassed service. 

Some of these companies I’ve known, respected, and specified for years; others are new to me, with an opportunity to learn more.

The added bonus is that you and I will be meeting an amazing group of design bloggers over the next few months, and I hope you can make some time for extra blog reading as I introduce you to their blogs and we both get to know them.

It is going to be a stellar opportunity to share the latest in design with you, so I hope you’ll follow along!