If you’re like me, the kitchen is the dream room, the place where it all happens. So every time I see a new kitchen design I fantasize about someday having it! I renovated my kitchen about 11 years ago, and though I still love the design, I secretly wish I could transform it with some of these additions. So I present you with some kitchen ideas to lust over. If you are due for a kitchen makeover, please take advantage of them.
Officine Gullo
It seems you can’t beat the Italians when it comes to kitchen design. Based in Florence, Italy, the Officine Gullo designers can create a custom kitchen for you based on vintage Tuscan models of the 18th-19th centuries. Not only are the cabinets accented by a handsome edge of metal, their integrated appliances are geared to impress. Ranges get up to 34,200 BTUs and come with unique features like griddles, pasta cookers, deep fryers. Options for ovens come with steamers or as combination microwaves. Best of all, everything—including the kitchen sink—matches perfectly together, in their unique style.
With these stunning elements, it’s easy to create a masterpice. Officine Gullo’s cabinetry comes in an array of gorgeous colors, it may be hard to settle on one. For those not afraid of color, there’s a sensational selection of blues: Pacific Light Blue which is a light, powder pastel, Ocean Blue has a touch of turquoise, and Sapphire Blue is bright and bold, Pigeon Blue dulls the tone down a bit. For more subte approach, look at their neutrals with Milk White, Pearl White, Soft Grey, Avana Pearl, Champagne, or Beige Gray. Stainless Steel, Coffee and Jet Black are for those who love drama.
The metal trims accent the colors beautifully. Burnished Brass offers an antique feel. Satin Nickel is the softer, more neutral approach. Brushed and Polished Chrome keeps things sharp and fresh. Do check out the gallery online, for views of kitchen magnificence.
To see it all in person in NYC, head to the showroom located at 67 east 11th St, between Broadway and University. officinegullo.com
Walker Zanger Byzantium
In keeping with an Italian theme, I came across the Byzantium Collection, marble tiles set in intricate designs that once graced the walls of Imperial Byzantium and Rome. Walker Zanger has taken those patterns as inspiration, and re-interpreted them to suit modern and contemporary interiors. Color pallettes of an icy blue and white accented with black give a certain serenity, as opposed to the rich brown and grays. Some styles come with dramatic accents of silver or gold leaf, for those who like things flashy. From $18 to 75.60 per sq ft. walkerzanger.com
Gaggenau 400 Cooling Series
The 400 series feature a fully integrated, modular family consisting of refrigerators, freezers, fridge-freezer combinations and wine storage units that can be matched in a multitude of ways. The 400 series refrigerator features a handsome interior made with a combination of stainless steel, clear glass shelves, and dark anthracite aluminium elements. Food can be housed beautifully, bathed in warm-white, glare-free LED lights. Smart technology includes handleless doors that open with a light push, and an ice/water dispenser with a sensor that activates the light and touch keys as you approach.
The 400 series wine storage unit features telescopic rails, so shelves holding the bottles can fully extend. These fridges preserve your wine perfectly with low vibration, regulated humidity, and a charcoal filter to protect wine from odor contamination. You can set three separate climate zones allowing the part of your wine collection for long-term storage to be hosted in cellar-like conditions. There are also five lighting scenarios, which you can adapt to show off your best bottles.
The new Vario Cooling 400 series is available in the US starting January 2019. gaggenau.com
Inox Laser Art
From Inox, a creator of sleek hardware, debuts Inox Laser Art, which offers personalized engravings on their hardware in four options: black, white, color and copper reveal. Customers can provide line art or their choice, and the laser is capable of copying the design on any of their door hardware up to 30 inches across. The three processes include engraving, where the laser removes material and creates a black depression to which colored oxides can be added to accentuate the design. An annealing effect is created by tuning the laser frequency yielding layers in different colors. In the copper reveal, coating layers are removed to expose the base material. Think about adding an initial, or lovely overall pattern, as seen in the photo. inoxproducts.com
New Ravenna Legend
There’s nothing like a mosaic design to give a place a sense of history. These new patterns from New Ravenna feature a collection of seven mosaics inspired by ancient textiles. Designed by Sara Baldwin Design and Paul Schatz, the subtle palette is determined by the different tones in the natural stones that have been tumbled, polished and hand-chopped.
Photos: top left: Rimini, shown in hand-chopped tumbled Cashmere, Afyon White, and Saint Laurent. Top right: Augustine, shown in hand-chopped tumbled Calacatta Tia and Nero Marquina. Above left: Omar, a hand-cut and waterjet stone mosaic, shown in polished Calacatta Tia and hand-chopped tumbled Cavern. Above right: Kuba, a hand-chopped stone mosaic, is shown in tumbled Calacatta Tia and Nero Marquina. Any pattern may be customized, and work indoors or out, on floors or walls. www.newravenna.com
Valcucine Genius Loci
Here’s a set of cabinets that offer up something a little more interesting than just a minimalist appearance. This innovative design offers an accented streak of drawers that make a singular statement. Designed by Gabriele Centazzo, the drawer concept is inspired by antique desks, which often contained a secret space to conceal personal objects and memories. These drawers will appeal to the consummate cooks who love to organize their utensils and tools in designated spots, just so. The surface of the drawers can be customized in various treatments—think inlaid wood, or intricately carved fronts, additions of marble, and finished in copper, alumimum, or antique brass.
The entire base unit is restructured to accommodate a slimmer countertop, thus increasing storage capacity by 15%—which really comes in handy in NYC. The tall cabinets come with a sexy, back light and doors that glide open and disappear into side pockets. It’s a perfect way to have total function, then close it off and make it all go away. Appliances can be hidden away on pull out drawers, and easily accessed when ready to employ. To see and experience the thrills head to Valcucine’s showroom at 66 Crosby St in NYC, or find the one nearest you. valcucine.com
Walker Zanger Bera & Beren
For those who love simplicity, the Bera & Beren collection features neutral toned porcelain flooring tiles that match perfectly with their more scuptural ceramic tiles. The collection mimics fine-grain Portuguese and Spanish limestone which features a subtle variation, giving it a more natural look. Available in standard and large sizes, Bera & Beren can work in both indoor/outdoor projects. From $7-11 per sq ft. walkerzanger.com
Walker Zanger Duquesa Cement
I love the subtle tones of these durable tiles. The Duquesa Cement Collection takes Walker Zanger’s most popular hand painted wall tile designs, and turns them into hardy concrete tiles. Influences are global in nature—Moroccan mosaics, Portuguese tiles, and Chinese decorative screens. The tiles are hand-crafted and use a combination of cement, marble dust and mineral pigments that help the color last. The matte finish and natural durability of concrete makes these tiles a great choice indoors or out. I envision them next to a pool, or in an outdoor shower. 8”square tiles $21 per sq ft. walkerzanger.com
