LATEST PRODUCTS TAKE THE STAGE

I’m finally feeling better, thank you, after being laid low by a vicious virus last week. You know the one, right? I won’t bore you with the details. Suffice to say, while I was out going viral (and not in the way I would wish) here’s what’s been happening far and wide.

DREAM20 Features interactive displays showcasing the latest technology from Delta Faucet Company

Delta Faucet Company unveiled its flagship DREAM2O(SM) showroom, located in Chicago's Merchandise Mart, during a private grand opening event on Thursday, May 5.   (You’ll remember my amazing experience with them last year in New York.  If not, click here for a flashback.)  The new 3,097 square-foot design center is a hands-on, interactive environment where architects, designers, and homeowners can experience more than 90 fully-functioning faucets and fixtures from the Delta® and Brizo® brands.  What makes this showroom unique is not only the fact that it is the first and only showroom of its kind, but also the innovative displays which are just a perfect way to showcase their cutting-edge products. Read more about it here.

Silgranit Truffle sink paired with new Culina faucet

 

If you’re in  NYC this weekend you can visit the International Contemporary Furniture Fair or ICFF held at  New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center  through May 17^th.  Sink manufacturer extraordinaire, Blanco (another flashback here) is officially launching two new collections including the Silgranit II Truffle Sink and the Culina faucet.

Italian style, courtesy of Scavolini May 16th

 

Italian kitchen cabinet manufacturer Scavolini is introducing the new quartz surface Santa Margherita on May 16th from 6-9pm in their Soho gallery.  If you'd like to attend contact Daniele Busca  212-209-0910 as this is an invitation only event.

SILGRANIT SETS THE STAGE

Here's where they make 'em

If the kitchen is the "heart of the home" then certainly the sink is the heart of the kitchen.  Think of how many things happen in and around your kitchen sink.  We wash dishes, we clean and prep veggies, we wash hands and even tiny babies in our sinks.  One of the best kept secrets in the "sink world" is the Silgranit sink by Blanco.  The use of granite as a sink material is not a new one and was used hundreds of years ago.  Silgranit, however,  is a new breed and is a mixture of 20% acrylic (yes just like the fake finger nail material) and 80% ground up granite.

This is where the acrylic action takes place

This is the granite sand that gets mixed with the acrylic

On my recent trip to Toronto I had the pleasure of visiting the only plant in North America manufacturing granite composite sinks.  Blanco, a privately owned firm based in Germany is the leader in this technology possessing 6 of 7 patents on the process.  Our gracious hosts at Blanco walked us through the process from mixing the acrylic with granite sand, forming and heat setting the mixture on nickel sink molds.    The result is a Silgranit sink that is indestructable.  I kid you not.

These stains had been setting for 48 hours

Same sink moments later

We were taken into a quality control lab where they had a WHITE Silgrant sink stained with tea, ketchup, mustard, red juice and red wine, all the worst offenders, right?  One wipe of the sponge (no soap) and rinse with water and the sink was once again pristine! The sink could not be scratched either.  A couple of us went at it rather vigorously with a fork.  The metal shavings of the fork were left on the surface and were easily wiped off with a sponge.  How about dents, you ask?  No dents either, a steel ball dropped into the sink had no effect.    Hot pots won't burn the surface either.  These sinks also come in 7 different colors.  Anthracite black is the most popular followed by my favorite, Cafe Brown.  Blanco unveiled their newest color offering, Truffle, at the Interior Design Show 2011.

Truffle anyone?

It's a taupe-grey color and they made sure we wouldn't forget that by supplying us with a matching EYE SHADOW!  How cool is that?  Are there any downsides to this Silgranit stuff?  My research tells me that grout and maybe hard water could create a film, just as on any surface.  There are solutions ranging from vinegar and baking soda to the handy dandy Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.  I can hear you thinking "so how much is this magical space age sink gonna set me back?"   Most models are available in the $500-$1,000 range from plumbing retailers such as Next Plumbing (See listing on LOCAL RESOURCES page) in West Palm Beach.  FaucetDirect.com has them available in the $300-$400 range.


Don’t forget to enter your chance to win a free Orgaline drawer organizer by leaving a comment on any post between now and February 15th! Click here to read January 14th post for details

TORONTO HERE I COME!

Yes, it's true.  I'm off again on another great adventure this time courtesy of  Blanco.  As you'll remember, last September I had the pleasure of attending design week as a guest of the uber edgy Brizo Faucets.  Click here.  Now I will be able to give you the low down the on  Blanco sinks you can pair with the amazing products at Brizo.

[caption id="attachment_499" align="alignleft" width="216" caption="The Precision sink by Blanco is all about clean square geometric shapes."][/caption]

This Blanco press release says it best.

"Morning, noon, and night, the sink is the most frequently used area in the kitchen. From early morning, through a hectic day, an evening meal, and the solitude of late night, the sink serves as both hard working companion and fashionable focal point.

For more than 80 years, BLANCO has been a world leader in quality, innovative design and unsurpassed attention to detail. The company pioneered the use of stainless steel for kitchen sinks and was the first company to introduce hard composite materials such as Silgranit^®.

Today, BLANCO has the most extensive line of premium quality kitchen sinks offered in North America, continuing to lead the evolution of the kitchen sink area with functional concepts, striking good looks, and innovative solutions, sure to personalize the most frequently used area of the kitchen."

[caption id="attachment_500" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="The Blanco signature Silgranit Sink is 80% granite!"][/caption]

...And that's not all.  I will also have the pleasure of touring IDS11, Canada's largest contemporary design fair.  My press release will take me who knows where and you can join me here at Kitchens for Living.  The fun starts January 26th.  The countdown begins now!

Don't forget to enter your chance to win a free Orgaline drawer organizer by leaving a comment between now and February 15th! Click here to read January 14th post for details.