Buh Bye 2009 - Hello 2010!

Go here tomorrow, from 5:50 pm EST:

Watch live streaming video from 2010 at livestream.com

2009 was my best year and my not-so-great year for various reasons. The best part of 2009 was the birth of my first grandchild, Chloe, a bundle of joy from my precious daughter, Kelly.  Everyone can just stop having babies now, ok? Chloe has broken the mold for the most perfect baby ever. Done!

The not-so-great year was because, well, who wants to talk about that when we're ringing out the old and ringing in the new? In FACT, I'd say looking at 2010, I can tell you that some VERY wonderful things are going to happen in my world, a couple of which will be big surprises when I share them with you - that's all I'll say!

I have great excitement, hope, and positive expectations for 2010. I feel poised more than ever before to contribute positively to my industry, an industry I truly love working in every day, and to all of my readers who look to me for insight and information on all things kitchen design-related. My passion for the work that I do in its various forms, is stronger day by day.

I feel I am now, and for the foreseeable future, at the best place possible in my career. I have many years of well-rounded experience as a Certified Kitchen Designer and sole proprietor of my business. I'm, by definition-my family would attest (and groan)-a constant deep thinker, an observer of people, of where we are now, where we might be going and of the tools we choose to use along the way which define who we are and how we aspire to live. I look for the "profound" in the "simple." The meaning.

I travel to design shows during the year, have relationships with allied professionals in the kitchen and home furnishings industries, I read each and every press release that enters my inbox (nearly daily)...and save all of them! I answer interviewers' emailed questions fairly frequently which takes time, attend as many press events as I can in New York City (how wonderful is that?), and visit beautiful showrooms. I read and read and read, using Evernote.com to save and categorize great online information and read my favorite blogs with the assist of netvibes.com (which is so pretty to look at!)

My 3 large monitors at my desk assure productivity, although I do (productively) lollygag more than I should. And, of course, I design kitchens and do phone consultations in between all of this busyness, not to mention monitoring my Twitter account, 2-Facebook accounts, blogging and guest blogging duties. If my updates here are not as frequent as they should be, that's why. I would love to change that and post more frequently. I have ramped up my knowledge/product/design-seeking activities relating to kitchen design since I started blogging nearly 3 years ago, and this year, my pace has dramatically quickened in an enthusiastic effort to take it all in! 

I need to say this...SO often, I'll be somewhere, seeing something interesting and think, I have to share that, I have to write about that! Sometimes I do, and often, other duties intervene and I just do not get to it. The point is, this blog is a little piece of my soul, it really is, and that is because the kitchen is where life happens...the soulfulness of food, its loving preparation, made for one-enjoying solace and thought at the table, or for a boisterous family. The process, which ends in finding one's favorite seat, or gathering around a table, is what rejuvenates our bodies and spirits.

I could write two paragraphs easily on meaningful activities that take place in the kitchen and the profound impact these activities have on an individual or a family, but I'll save that for another time. Suffice to say, the kitchen is a special place for me. I know it contributes good, nurturing, and nutricious things for our well being and I know you feel a similar way. Isn't it great to share our thoughts about this fantastic, seemingly utilitarian space in our homes? It's not so simple as being defined as a place to prepare food. Trust me. 

It's all good...really good. I had NO idea I'd be writing this lengthy piece. I just wanted to say Happy New Year and show you where I went last night! But, it's fitting to elaborate at the year's end, and I wanted to let you in just a bit on how I think, how I work, and how I love working in this segment of the design industry. Plus, as I said, I'm feeling VERY positive about 2010 and wished to share that with you too.

So LOOK where I went yesterday! I went to the top of 1 Times Square where the fabulous (12 feet wide!) handcrafted, Waterford crystal ball is going to drop on Times Square, illuminated by Philips LED colored lights. Waterford Crystal hosted the event and the glasses in the slide show below are Waterford crystal. The representative from Waterford wants everyone to use their crystal every day...it's strong! Follow the 6 1/2 hour broadcast and interact with other revelers around the world via Twitter and Facebook. Me, I'll be checking into this party, absolutely, but first, I'll be strolling down (probably in the rain and/or sleet) from my apartment on the upper west side to Dizzy's, one of my very favorite places in New York, and back again to settle in after the set. When fireworks erupt loudly in Central Park at midnight, we'll go down to the street, look upward to see the show, and be thankful for a wonderful first moment of 2010!!

I wish a wonderful first moment in 2010 for you too, and many, many more! Thanks for hanging out here with me! I have SO much to tell you about...coming soon! Don't miss:

HERE'S THE SLIDE SHOW OF THE BALL UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!!

From my family to yours...Happiest of New Years! Oh, and let me point out the redhead in the back who, when I asked each person permission to use this image, said, "sure, go nuts with it." Taco night...last Saturday night...baby Chloe is sleeping!

Kitchen Design & Floorplan - Holiday Edition

We still have one more huge holiday to go this week, but for those who are just fresh from hosting visiting family and friends in your home or for those who endured challenging kitchen floorplans (sounds like a therapy session topic) tell me the following about functioning or visiting in your kitchen, or any kitchen you were in over the holidays:

what did you love?

what did you hate?

what must you change?

what worked surprisingly well?

what was a mistake?

what was frustrating?

what was the best idea?

These questions are purposely very open ended. Pick your kitchen issue (whatever it is-traffic, appliance placement, dish storage, etc. etc. and expand as you wish.)

Answer any question or questions you like, tell me all about your likes/dislikes, and add more answers over this weeks' experiences and New Years' weekend as well.

Image of Ina Garten's kitchen from House Beautiful.

Notes on a Kitchen Design Career

I received this email yesterday and thought it interesting to respond here...

I live in Canada and am looking for a direction to get into a specific field like kitchen and house design. I have always wanted to get into design/arts, something obviously more creative. Can you tell me what you like, dislike, would do differently....I need some words of wisdom for my future direction.  I am over 50 but do not see that as a roadblock, in fact I am looking at how to create an exciting future for myself by making good decisions now.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,  D

Hi D! Of course, your age is not a roadblock, but I'd also want you to set out a clear plan. First, I'd like you to think about this: what does an "exciting future" as you note, look like to you? What does success look like? Please visualize what that truly means and that will be one important piece, a guide to your future and to the path you might want to take. How much time are you willing to take for education? How much control over your destiny do you want (work for yourself or someone else?) Do you want to focus on a particular segment of design? You say "house and kitchen design." It is unlikely that you can be an expert in both of these disciplines. You must go to nkba.org or asid.org to start your path if you are interested in design, as becoming affiliated with a national association will give you many benefits, including, directing you toward various types of educational institutions, their own, included. These are questions to ask/answer yourself, you need not answer them here. This is meant as a brief overview. 

What do I like? I LOVE, absolutely love, the kitchen and bath industry. This is an industry that merges analytics as well as aesthetics, which is the number one reason why it attracts me. I'm an analytical sort (kitchens to the 1/8 of an inch)...and love to explore design and aesthetics as well. Is that you too? In addition, there are so many smart and talented people in the kitchen and bath industry as well as manufacturers who are constantly innovating. For me, it's all good, every day. 

What do I dislike? I dislike those "designers" who are production oriented and are only interested in doing the minimum, with speed, executing the same signature/tired designs over and over and taking along unsuspecting clients with them. That annoys me. Every kitchen should be taken seriously, doing one's best work for each situation. When a homeowner does a kitchen once, maybe twice in their life, I think we designers need to remember that and design accordingly-with enthusiasm and care.

What would I do differently? I have diverse experience in low end builders' volume kitchens, middle end kitchens, the very high end luxury market, kitchens of every size from tiny to huge, urban/suburban/rural kitchens, kitchens for those physically challenged and spec kitchens. It's been a privilege to have had experience in designing so many different types of kitchens and I would not change that. I recommend that. I honestly like the track my career has taken for its diversity, don't think I'd change a thing!

I hope the answers to this very preliminary question have helped you and others considering this path!

Holiday Cooking

Holiday Cooking has everything to do with flexible kitchen design. Flexibility in kitchen design, as I define it, is having the foresight to plan adequately for multiple lifestyle scenarios such as holiday cooking...as simple as that. Foresight is security!

I do a lot of thinking and observing in and immediately around the borders of my kitchen, both as the action is happening and in later reflection. I am nearly always taking a fresh as well as an analytical look at what happens in my own kitchen. I'd like to share some thoughts about what happened in my kitchen over last weekend which was very revealing.

My husband and I hosted a dinner for our friends, just one other couple. I chose the menu, not for the number of pots and pans to be used, but for the food I wished to serve. Nothing unusual about that. I have a 36" gas cooktop in my kitchen which I inherited when I moved to this home a year ago.

A question: Is there anyone who feels that a 36" five burner cooktop is truly useful? If you find this cooktop useful, please comment, I'm waiting to be enlightened! Me, I'm convinced it's not useful beyond four burners and has few advantages over a 30" size cooktop...and this weekend was my final realization of that. The small extra space between the side burners is of little advantage. That said, it's a completely subjective statement, I know.

Needing numerous pieces of cooking equipment in the course of preparing the main course, I found myself stacking one pan on top of another as dishes needed to be removed from the heat and/or replaced with another pot since the surrounding countertop was only partially available. It felt like, and was, near chaos, as I think back.  It was the antithesis of enjoyable, and I love to cook.

This past weekend's cooking experience surely illustrated the importance of countertop space! But, in giving thought to how a kitchen can be, perhaps, more orderly and efficient during the cooking process, flexibility came to mind. One flexible solution? A portable induction cooktop. I'd like to share two good brand name portable induction cooktops with you. Let's also compare a few of the more important specs. 

Viking Portable Induction Cooker and Fagor's Portable Induction Cooktop

POWER:

• Viking: 1800 watts
• Fagor: 1300 watts

Comment:  Be aware that the watts of a typical induction burner on a cooktop is in the area of 3000. That said, even at 1800 watts, it may not be the best idea to keep a dish cooking on that level for extended periods, given the likelihood of a lack of exhaust ventilation where the portable cooktop is placed. Think about how much power you need...is it for low heat/simmering which could be very helpful, or to boil that pot of water, or both?

SIZE/WEIGHT: 

• Viking: 12"x15" 17 lbs
• Fagor: 12"x14" 7 lbs

 CONTROLS: 

• Viking: Knob with six power levels including simmer/infinite settings between levels
• Fagor: Touch Pad (with timer, counts down from 180 minutes) Has six power levels beginning at 190 degrees

Don't forget that cooking equipment used with induction cooktops will hold a normal household magnet as a test of its suitability. If it does not hold a magnet, it will not work with induction. Leave adequate space around a portable unit too so it does not overheat. Take a look to see if there is a particularly good spot in the kitchen that could be a designated "second cooking" area when your cooking is under pressure. Amazon has more portable induction cooktops for sale, but I know these two appliances as good, reliable, brands. 

Had I had a portable unit, I think I would have been very much more organized in the kitchen and felt more in control. Portable induction cooktops have a viable place in many kitchens truly offering the ultimate in flexible cooking. Being in control feels goooood.

First image from Fagor, second...Viking.