Looking Forward to Designing in 2011

Happy New Year to all…2011 is off to an excellent start…we have seen a big surge in showroom traffic and several of the pre-new year project commitments have already been realized.

On January 6th Gales Steve’s noted speaker, author of Right-Sizing Your Home as well as other books, and expert on home organization and space utilization visited MCK+B and met with my colleague, Hany Gerges and me to discuss trends in kitchen design with a focus on aging in place technology. Researching the very relevant topic for her latest upcoming book, she chose MCK+B particularly to reacquaint herself with the product offerings from Rutt Cabinetry, a company we love for their quality and style, that Gale is familiar with and says she has turned to in the past for storage solutions.

We were happy to report to her that the change in the real estate market and subsequent drop in “flip renovating” has led to nicer better equipped kitchens that folks plan to live in long term. For us that equals more client input, and more requests for extras in the way of LED under cabinet lighting, Drawer inserts to pre-dedicate storage, and additional storage areas in the home that tie in to the kitchen such a wall units, desks, and mud room storage etc.

Specifically relating to aging place, we are seeing a commitment to full access storage, where every cabinet has a roll out function, or other purpose, and upper cabinets which are equipped with pull-down shelving, so nothing is lost. Additionally these kitchens will have function in their toe kicks space, everything from platter storage to the step ladder needed to retrieve anything that is beyond easy reach, or to clean taller cabinets and the kitchen window. If you are looking for more information on aging in place there are designers who specialize in it, some are certified, one knowledgeable person in our industry who is a  great resource, and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist or CAPS is Andie Day,  talented Interior Designer who runs her company out of Boston.

Our urban easy living attitude has again seen a further drop in use of granite and a rise in the use of quarts, particularly Caesarstone, counter surfaces. Clients asking for the differences are thrilled to learn of the anti-microbial properties of the Caesarstone, and the fact that it requires no sealing for the lifetime of the product.

The irony is that my best selling granite right now is a stone that looks more like marble; it seems everyone is willing to try something new these days. That said, our line of engineered veneers has captured a lion’s share of our contemporary slab business, everything from deepest Ebony, to Rift Cut White Oak, to Quartered Zebrano, to Ribbon Sappele, the natural color palette is intriguing and inviting at once. With the advantages of using material from managed forests, knowing that you are doing something that is natural, beautiful and Green it has been an easy choice for many.

We have added new displays for 2011 and I am thrilled for the public reaction I’ve been getting. We have one more new display going in this first quarter, and it promises to cause a lot of excitement!

2010---What It Was---Personally

There weren’t as many 2010 chapters as I’d hoped for written in the Life and Times of this kitchen designer . But I can tell you, I lived this year to the fullest! Writing has been slow as my girls and I have adjusted into the hustle and bustle of my new New York life.

Yesterday morning I walked from 89th and Park Avenue to a new kitchen job I accepted on East 72nd at the East River. I was bundled up against the cold; it was a brisk morning with temperatures in the 20’s and a biting New York wind. The sun was just creeping up over the buildings to cast a trickle of warm sunlight down on me as a I walked past some of the most prime real estate in New York City.  I passed buildings wherein live members of my newly expanding client family. I thought to myself “how lucky am I?” I am happy and healthy, and too busy to worry about the next kitchen, there are so many right now, the city is alive with business.

I work in the nicest neighborhoods, lucky to be welcomed and wanted in New York for something I do naturally with passion and an acquired knowledge. Lately I look at the yellow line on the subway platform as my personal Yellow Brick Road...how lucky am I?

Sometimes when I’m working, clients become abruptly demanding and border on rude, sometimes they cross that border, wanting 27 technical answers from me in an instant…and I think “am I a machine?” Then reality sets in, I try never to let them down, they have come to rely on  and expect instantaneous expert advice from me, to them that is what I am, a creative machine, and my ability to provide this service and smile and never sweat, that keeps me in this position, where I want to be…so fire away I say!

Recently as the work began to pile high on my desk, I said to an architect, someone who brought me a wonderful project, Tom Hut of HS2 Architecture, “we have a lotta work to do here in a short time, let’s get the pleases, excuse me’s and the thank you’s out of the way up front, we know we mean them, but they are killing us ion time”…he agreed…and cutting to the chase has tidied up the relationship and gotten the job done. I'm on the edge of my seat to see the final product! ans at one time I thought architects only came to my showroom to steal my ideas. (Shh...I might have said it once or twice, I might have said it to you) How wrong I was, and thank you Steve Naphtali for holding my wine while I ate crow...

When I go home my kids tell me everything I don’t know…apparently the older they get the more I don’t know! It’s a great system they have to make sure my head never swells too much. This year one of my daughter’s changed her name. Imagine,  the second thing I gave her, right after life, didn’t make the cut…she doesn't like the clothes I buy her either, but I know for a fact she is mine, she had too much hair to confuse with any of the other babies in the nursery.

On my walk yesterday, I passed several designer dogs, out for their daily constitution and many wearing nicer sneakers than any ones my 12 year old has. Lucky dogs! I thought to myself how far we have come as a family this year! Kendall’s sneakers are really fine, and these cutbacks we have experienced have given us a chance to regroup and appreciate board games, long walks, and four weeks at camp with no Facebook, Wii, or texting. And I beamed with pride over them and their strength.

Just then I passed a man as I walked from the Subway at Union Square headed towards my office. He was no more than 25 years old, quite good looking, and on his feet as "shoes" he wore paper bags, folded over many times and tied to his feet with twine. He was indescribably dirty, and on the brink of losing his toenails and I did mention how cold it was, in the 20’s? I stopped and swallowed hard, and though he wasn’t begging, I turned to go find him, but he was gone in the crowd. Where was his family, how did he end up like this, and was he given too much or not enough growing up, where was the love?

I used to only donate only to established charities,  heeding the official warnings that people in the city will rob you if you give them money. After nearly a year here, I can say I have changed my thoughts on that. I am considerate of who I give money to, but I just can’t ignore daily the poverty and sadness that walks quietly among the wealthy and splendid of New York. There is suffering here, and I always think, how did this young person become this way, how can I help. There is a young man, who is often in the Columbus Circle or Lincoln Center Subway stations, he has no arms, he politely stands with a pack attached to his chest, and I cannot pass him without giving him a dollar or two if I have it. But there must be more I can do.

This year we took in a kitten, she was too young to eat on her own and was fed through a dropper. When she tried to eat from a bowl, her back legs would scoot forward and she would fold like a card face down in her milk…we would perform the daily rescue and put her back on the bottle…now she is as vigorous and resilient as they come, and I guess since no mommy ever taught her to squawk, she doesn’t make a sound, she can mew, she just doesn’t. She doesn't have sneakers, but it’s 2010, so she does have her own Facebook, you can friend her there! She’s has a few other friends,  our neighbors dog…also on Facebook.

I’ve never felt like I had less after I volunteered time, money or food to someone in need… in fact it always makes me feel like I have way more…2011 should be a year of giving back. Last week, I went home to find my daughter has joined a community group of young volunteers who will help the elderly or those in need with household chores and snow removal etc., what a gift for me to receive, that my daughter will have the spirit of volunteering! It just goes to show you are never too old or too young to make a difference, to care about a stranger as you would for someone you love.

Be rich with the spirit of giving, no contribution is too small to make a difference. Cheers to a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2011! Remember to Love thy neighbor as thyself.
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Task Lighting In Your New Kitchen

When you're designing a new kitchen, getting the most important decisions right is crucial for the long-term contentment with which you will come to regard your new room. Lighting schemes is one such decision and it should be made prior to the construction of your kitchen. Many people leave the lighting until after the kitchen has been built and then wonder why they can't see properly when preparing food. It's worth getting hold of a kitchen planner to help you make the most important decisions while planning your new room.

Although ambient lighting and accent lighting need special consideration, task lighting is perhaps the element of your kitchen lighting scheme that can make or break the effectiveness and functionality of the room as a whole. Task lighting, for those new to kitchen design, is focused lighting that provides illumination for the areas of your kitchen in which you perform daily tasks, including the sink, cooktop/range, and kitchen worktops. When you're planning your task lighting, consider the following elements:

Under cabinet lighting: Without task lighting under your cabinets, shadows from the ceiling illumination in your room will make food preparation both tricky and dangerous. There are many styles and shades available nowadays, particularly compared to the limited range available even just ten years ago. Using this sort of lighting is an energy-efficient way to illuminate your kitchen, as the sort of slimline fluorescent lights used last a long time and don't use too much electricity to function.

If you want to introduce a slightly more futuristic feel to your kitchen, you can pick lights that provide a garish blue tone to your worktops, whilst a more traditional country-kitchen feel can be achieved by less clinical tones. Underhood lighting for your oven is also a sensible investment, as it provides additional illumination when cooking food on the cooktop or taking heavy and boiling hot items out of the oven.

Track lighting: Track lighting can be used to direct light towards the work surfaces and areas of the kitchen that you use more regularly than others. For example, the sink and kitchen worktops on which you cut your vegetables require more light than other areas of the room. One advantage of this sort of lighting is that one track can be left off while another is illuminated, meaning that it's an easy way to save both energy and money.

You can choose between free track, fixed track, and barewire track when picking your track lighting, with the first option allowing greater flexibility for those who want to reposition and move lights on a regular basis. The fixed track option, meanwhile, comes with the light fittings already in place, so provide slightly less flexibility. However, these are cheaper and the lights can be angled so don't write this option off too readily. Finally, barewire track lights make use of a pair of tensioned cables between which lights can be repositioned.

Downlights: Downlights are another option that can provide additional light to the areas of your kitchen you deem to be most important. You can buy them in a wide range of finishes depending upon the colour scheme and style of your kitchen. Downlights look particularly good in modern kitchens but bear in mind that this sort of lighting isn't particularly energy efficient, so take this into account if 'going green' while saving cash is a real concern of yours. You can buy low energy downlights but these options have their critics, with some people believing there isn't yet a viable alternative to the energy-zapping version that matches the standard downlights for price and quality of illumination.

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The Illuminated Kitchen

One of the many things that sets MCK+B apart from the other kitchen showrooms in New York City is that our kitchens are live working displays. How great is it to be in an exciting diverse city with access to all the latest greatest kitchen technology? and to be able to invite clients in on a daily basis to explore the newest technology "hands-on"? Well this month we took it one step further by inviting the public in for a live cooking demonstration every week!

Introducing Chef Jonathan “Lumino” Jamison, trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY; and private chef to notables around the globe. Chef Lumino will be at Manhattan Center for Kitchen and Bath at 29 East 19th Street between Broadway and Park, every Wednesday from 4pm-6pm. He will be mixing up seasonal dishes using fresh organic produce, meat and dairy from the Farmers market at Union Square and cooking to perfection in the live SubZero/Wolf Kitchen with Cabinetry by Rutt and Counter tops by Caesarstone, featuring Concetta.

These delicious demonstrations will become a weekly “Webisode” cooking show on MCKB’s YouTube channel starting in November. Clients and interested folks are welcome to stop by and become part of the fun. This week lucky by-tasters will sample pan-seared ostrich, fresh greens and an apple cobbler with locally grown apples.
So if you are in the city stop by and catch a live taping of the show titled THE ILLUMINATED KITCHEN at Manhattan Center for Kitchen & Bath. Wednesdays at 4pm.

Cork Flooring for the Kitchen

as seen on Apartment Therapy

Here is the quick how and why on cork flooring...I get so many inquiries, but few buyers...
People want to know:

"is it really a green product?" YES
"can it be washed?" YES
"Is it easy to install" YES

· Cork as a material, is harvested from the bark of living trees, so the resource isn’t diminished by the process, in fact it seems that it encourages more rapid growth. Additionally the material we offer at MCKB is made from 100% recycled material procured from the wine stopper industry.
· The composition of the material, little air filled pockets, is what makes cork naturally quiet, dent resistant, sound absorbent, and also warm.
· The cork can be installed over existing flooring, concrete or plywood
· Anti-allergenic
· The finish is applied after the floor is installed and should not need a secondary application for 5-7 years under normal residential use.
· Recommended cleaning is regular vacuuming, occasionally should be cleaned with hardwood  floor cleaner.
· The VOC measure on the product is considered negligible
· Some manufacturers offer  a 25 year warranty with limits on finish
· Expected lifetime of 25+ years.
· Qualifies for Leed points based on the following considerations:

1.  recycled content
2. rapidly renewable material
3. low-emitting materials

All in it's a look you have to love, not for everyone... but certainly worth checking out and available in dozens of colors!

Exciting Neighborhood Happenings and a 10 Year Anniversary Close to my Heart!

I suddenly feel like spring is in the air all over again! We have long talked about the end of this recession/economic slowdown...I don't want ot use the "D" word! But last week, sitting with my friend having lunch at Angelo & Maxie's on the corner of  East 19th and Park Avenue NYC, CNN reported that all data  supports the conclusion that the recession  ended in June of 2009, and we have been recovering steadily and incrementally ever since. WOW!

It was enough to make a girl go back to work and sell three new jobs...and that's exactly what happened.

Walking to the train that day, I passed through the brand new pedestrian walkway that was just plunked down clear in the middle of Broadway right  on Union Square where just a couple of weeks ago you had to watch your step as cars went whizzing around the square. This is only six blocks south of a similar arrangement of bistro tables and plantings in the shadows of the great Flatiron Building, it's  quaint, inviting, free,  and a great place to relax and read, drink a latte and soak up New York...what did they do with the cars though?

To add to the little hustle and bustle just across from the Flatiron on Broadway and 23rd a slpendid new shop "Eataly" has just opened offering all sorts of delicious ready to eat gourmet fare, flavors from all over the map and of course for New Yorkers--exotic delicious varieties of freshly brewed coffee right at the front door of the shop. Although I will say the store can get quite crowded, YUM! I can't wait till the line is short enough that I can run there at lunchtime!

And in that famous blink and you miss it New York timing, I was walking to work yesterday and realized that a previously boarded/papered up building was gleaming as I passed. It was open and un-intimate as a dress shop window, but filled with tables, and bright decor, clean, fresh, and inviting, only to look up and see it's the sister of Hill Country Barbeque Just a block away...but chicken, does that make it a sister or a cousin??? Bring it on, we needed a little more hub-ub.

Near and dear to my heart, and someone who inspired me in the early years I began specializing in kitchens 10 years ago is Steve Naphtali, acclaimed Kitchen Designer, featured on HGTV, and an attorney by trade. This weekend his company Kitchen Expressions of Short Hills is celebrating 10 Years in Business! This is an accomplishment in any market, but with tough economy that has faced New Jersey over the last three years, this is a testament to his staying power, his customer loyalty and dedication to his clients. Kitchen Expressions is a full custom shop that offers installation and contracting services, but will work with any contractor or architect the client wishes. Here's a shoutout to Steve, Richard, Annette and Leah, they are a fun creative animated team of professionals and I wish them so much more success, as we all watch for business to grow again! Stop in today and celebrate with them until 5pm.

Jeff Lewis Designs this Years Kitchen of the Year in Rockefeller Center

I just wanted to say a special thanks to Jeff Lewis, Designer of this Years House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year in Rockefeller Center. Last night he took time out to stop and speak honestly about a range of topics from personal to professional.

I was fortunate to be in the kitchen last night, a  more intimate setting than it had been previously this week.  KraftMaid had taken over the venue and was hosting architects and designers as well as the company's own top executives. It was a great opportunity open every drawer, push buttons on the JennAir  appliances, and truly appreciate the minute details of the kitchen.

But the highlight of the evening was the personal time Lewis took to share a little bit about himself, growing up with two brothers, living in LA, and what drives him to success!  His 4th season of his show "Flipping Out" returns to Bravo on August 10th, I don't think he needs luck, he's obviously got what it takes and works hard for the succes he enjoys.