Image by Thomas Moser

But, one thing that I didn’t expect to feel was a sort of emotional crossroads, an unexpected intersection between my personal Scandinavian heritage and my American roots. The two parts of me collided in a very surprising yet natural way as I became intimately acquainted with the Thos. Moser furniture.  

Those of you who know me know that I identify very strongly with Scandinavian design. It’s a design aesthetic that I grew up with and which, in later years, feel comfortable with in all its many iterations. Yet, I’m first a proud American and I am equally comfortable with and enjoy good American design.

Image by Thomas Moser The Thos. Moser brand, to my eye as well as to my heart and soul, features a stunningly original representation of a mid century design aesthetic with a wholly American point of view - for me, and I know, for many others - the best of both worlds. It’s uniquely American and American design at its best in terms of craftsmanship, simplicity as art and function and allowing the lines to speak for themselves in the most organic way. 

Image by Thomas Moser

I thought of Thos. Moser when I went to Denmark this past summer. Seeking out the furniture stores which sell authentic midcentury Danish furniture, it is always wonderful to see these historic pieces in their original finishes and materials. I thought how much English and French furniture styles saturate the American market. I thought how Thos. Moser focuses instead on design restraint - pure form and function - with the “less is more” philosophy of the Scandinavians. 

Image by Thomas Moser
That is the most difficult design objective of all - the use of restraint rather than the addition of ornamentation and detail to fill in perceived gaps. There are few American furniture manufacturers whose design directors appreciate the importance of design restraint, the beauty that comes from this philosophy and how pure function translates into beauty.

And NOW, again, fresh from my trip to Denmark, Thos. Moser has introduced a new collection, Cumberland, designed by Adam Rogers, Director of Design, inspired by Danish design. It is simply breathtaking. It is fresh and original. It is art and emotion. The finger joint detail in this furniture collection exemplifies the Scandinavian design aesthetic as function is on equal footing with form. Traditional materials, expert craftsmanship and modern design merge as the foundation of Cumberland in an exciting, new, way.

Image by Thomas Moser

Given the introduction of this wonderful new collection, I wanted to bring together my deep feelings about how Thos. Moser furniture touches me personally and also present the new Cumberland collection at the same time in this post. More images and insights soon from my time in Maine at Thos. Moser! 

In Laurie's words ...

I have a confession. Born and raised in New Hampshire (also known as “The Granite State”), it feels a little wrong admitting this, but I am not a fan of granite countertops and never have been. Even though there are many colors and patterns available in granite, the look is often a bit busy. I’ve recently been researching concrete countertops on Concrete Network, which has loads of amazing design ideas, and everything you need to know about concrete countertops.

Following the trends in Europe for some years now, engineered stone, tempered glass and concrete have been making their mark. With the popularity of granite beginning in the early 1990’s, it’s no wonder that homeowners are now interested in finding something new. When you consider durability and affordability, concrete is a real winner.

What about color? Many people think of concrete as a dingy gray material with a rough texture that would not be appealing to prepare an evening meal on. This is not what concrete can be today. There are thousands of color options created by mixing different pigments, stains and aggregate colors to make your countertop completely customized and unique to you.

Let’s take a look at some interesting concrete countertops to give you some ideas during your next kitchen remodel.

Customized shapes and features

Image Credit: Concrete Network, Design by Pourfolio Custom Concrete, San Diego, CAI love the space for soap and the architectural interest of this circular basin. These counters are sure to be a topic of conversation when entertaining.

Get the look of natural stone:

Image credit: Concrete Network. Design by Absolute ConcreteWorks in Poulsbo, WA

Concrete can replicate many stone products at a much more wallet-friendly price-point — and it’s easier to repair if damage occurs.  Want to show off your artistic side? The countertop above is unusual and has the feel of gorgeous natural stone. You might be surprised to know that this option also passes LEED certification and features a terrazzo finish with an inlaid Brazilian agate and acid-stained borders. Anyone can appreciate this stylish look!

Image Credit: concrete-countertops.orgDo you prefer a more traditional look?

Even though concrete may be considered a new and modern material for countertops, styles can be created for any taste profile. This is a more traditional style mold and the results on this island are simply stunning. I love the way the creamy ivory base contrasts with the warm beige that almost has a hint of copper that you see then repeated in the cabinets.

Why stop at a countertop?

Image credit: Concrete Network Design by: Eycon in Myersville MD

Creating a unique backsplash by adding embedded objects adds texture and style.  Perhaps you have precious mementos you would like to incorporate? I think children’s handprints would be a sweet reminder of afternoons baking with your little ones. If you are thinking of something more refined, perhaps a marble carving from a family vacation to the islands or even a few stones you picked up on a special trip through Europe? The options are really endless. Embedding these items into concrete is easy and can make your kitchen much more personal which is not an option you usually have.

Consider concrete, a new and cutting-edge material to use as a design option in your next remodel. It is an economical, sustainable, and easily repairable option with endless customizable finishes. Would you consider concrete countertops? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Laurie Laizure is the founder of the largest online community for design pros, Interior Design Community. Laurie’s work has been featured on various cable networks such as Bravo and HGTV as well as top publications in the interior design world such as Country Living magazine. 

What I didn't expect was that the entirety of the event would be one soulful experience after another which blew my mind, and I'm very serious, so this post may be a little emotional, expressive, and whatever else comes out into text.

I'm here to tell you that Miele, that precision engineered, sleek, elegant, highly designed, upscale brand, has a whole lot of soul not so far underneath its sleek and buttoned up exterior.

And, that's nice to see.

FYI-do not miss the slideshow of my images below!

As mentioned, the centerpiece of the event in Seattle was to cook with Miele appliances, particularly with their new Combisteam oven, a very versatile appliance that cooks foods to their optimum level of taste. Of course, taste is subjective, but Miele has the foundation built into the Combisteam oven to allow you to follow their lead or to use the oven controls as a take off point toward your own adventurous cooking path. Cooking with moist and dry heat in different combinations, to me, provides nothing less than a creative cooking experience - a little bit of soul purposely built in, I'd say.

There will be another post on the lengthy cooking session that we had at the Miele Seattle Center, but first, a little about the activities before we began cooking.

The first evening was a wonderful dinner at Altura, Seattle's famed open kitchen restaurant. So, right from the start of the event, the cooking process was there for us to witness in all its chaos, tastes, textures, creativity and always, the extremes of the cooks - uber patience mixed with that crazy/breakneck speed/pressure cooker factor which is so entertaining!

The next day started with a tour with a guide who was the essence of cool, hippie, hipster and comedian all rolled into one. The vibe was perfect - the tour was relaxed and focused around Seattle's Public Market, which, if you have not been to it before, it is an indoor farmer's market times a million.

We stopped at quite a few small markets, sampling teas, meats, baked goods and moremoremore. We had mini lessons with purveyors of the shops in how and where their food items are grown, insight on sustainable growing methods and small batch distribution of their food products.

We walked through the entirety of the market. Here's the thing - for these several hours of the tour (it was a long tour) we were happily assaulted with wonderful visual stimulation, often based on plain and simple values where many shops' handwritten signs told a story of what items were in season, just arrived, unique, on sale or another such message. It gave me a feeling that there was no compromise or substitute for the honest, hard working and passionate commitments of the shop owners.

Other visual stimulation was clutter, but an organized clutter (sometimes) and lots of it! An abundance of colors, textures, sounds, tastes and well, this place not only touched all of the senses, but attacked them in the most pleasurable way!

So, we shopped for our food we were to cook later, we quickly got to know one another in this invigorating atmosphere, and I, for one, could not help being "all in" as I took one step after another on this tour. After the tour, there was even time for us to go out on our own before we were to head to the Miele Center.

Note: Please click on the full screen icon - the difference in the slideshow from small to large is incredible!!

Miele put an enormous importance on this part of the event. The proof is in the pudding - we spent more time outside of Miele's showroom throughout the entire event than we did in it, quite a bit more. That surprised me, which speaks to a stunning commitment by Miele to the global experience of the process of food preparation.

Next post will be on the cooking session at the Miele Center. Can you visualize it? After this very soulful day, going on to work with these beautiful ingredients, socializing, and creating delicious foods was multi dimensional - soul, creativity and science colliding in a big way!

Having just returned as a guest of Tile of Spain, after attending Cevisama, held in Valencia, Spain, one of the largest tile industry shows, I have compiled a list of tile trends you will want to know about NOW. Just a note - have you seen Tile of Spain's website? It's GOOD - filled with information, quick ship products and easy and fast to navigate. Worth a mention and a visit.

Fresh Traditionals

New Elegance

Retro Rules

I took this image at the end of my time at Cevisama. It captured the essence of the show for me - tile as a natural, emotional, and yes, warm, element

Urban Craft

Home Craft

....................

Metallics

Rustic Wood

Nordic Light Flooring

Multi Stone Mashup

Disruptive Innovation

....................

Dimension Defined

Photo Stories

Tile as Paper, Fabric, Mirror

Large Format in Situ-How To Use

Concrete Zen and Grays

To experience Spain in this 360 degree way allowed me to connect the dots from historic art and tile to modern, quite incredible architecture, to innovative food still grounded in tradition, to stunning, modern tile design and impressive technological advances in tile, all of which has shown me that there is a great energy and spirit for design across many disciplines. The desire and commitment for excellence has always been a source of pride, justifiably, for this beautiful country.

Aparici Showroom

I took just about 3,300 images of Spain in all its glory. We toured both Madrid and Valencia, led by at least three architects who lived in the region. I think, quite simply, that Spain's commitment to and achievements, today, in design and design innovation may well be under the radar of many who appreciate good and intelligent design.

What I have seen in this, my fourth visit to Spain in four years, was more of the same - truly stunning design and architecture, which includes the Spanish tile industry. There is no question in my mind that Spain is a leader in tile design and development. I've seen endless installations of Spanish tile in showrooms and at Cevisama, have spoken to owners and employees of factories and have walked the factory floors. Noteworthy form and function is everywhere.

It's more than a cottage industry in Spain - it's a sophisticated strategy to produce tile for the world that is beautiful, useful, of good quality and sustainable. It is fairly recent that Tile of Spain has begun their campaign to create awareness of their natural strength in tile design and manufacture, and from my firsthand look, it is exciting to see so many people passionately dedicated to producing smartly designed tile products. Below is a bridge overpass designed for a modern mosaic mural.

As this is more of an overview post, I will aim, via these images, to communicate a feeling of awe inspiring design and architecture which includes the new, the old, and sometimes mixing both to create a modern experience.

To talk trends (next post) you really need to see Spain from this vantage point, so I hope you can see that you are in for a treat!

I'm a typical stressed New Yorker-type, as I sit in front of my 3 monitors in my home office, all of which I use (and could really use a fourth), travel frequently and juggle too many balls. Yet, I'm also at an age, 59, where I understand the importance of relaxation and have the luxury of relaxing when I wish to - putting my feet up, having a glass of wine, things like that.

In our other house we moved from nearly 5 years ago, my husband and I had a hot tub. We used it quite a bit over the years. It required constant maintenance, required setting aside time for my husband and I to use it (neither of us used it alone for some reason) required appropriate clothing to walk outside, shower after, and we could only use it about 6 months during the year because it was best suited for use in cold weather. Nonetheless, we loved it - it was so relaxing.

My world changed when I experienced a steam shower last month! But first, a little note:

Mr. Steam is one of the sponsors of BlogTourLA, presented by Modenus, which makes it possible for designers to greatly broaden our horizons in regard to design and culture in the city we travel to. In exchange for this incredible opportunity, we are asked to write about the sponsors and it stops there. Opinions are completely my own.

So, I had my first steam shower last month, as part of BlogTourLA and here's what changed for me: it was a similar feeling of complete and utter relaxation as the hot tub. I instinctively closed my eyes, became used to breathing in a steam environment, and found my muscles relaxing little by little. Ultimately, I felt this "new" sort of feeling which is hard to describe.

It was a relaxed feeling, yes, but more than that, it was an entire body, mind, and soul experience which organically blocked out everything else that was happening in my life at that moment, which encouraged a state of quiet bliss - those are the words that come to mind for me.

Steam therapy has many other benefits which you cannot necessarily "feel". What I DID feel affected my entire being, translating to an "experience" and one which I would like to repeat - like, multiple times a week! And I will own a Mr. Steam product within the next year. I need that type of relaxation - year round!

We're taking better care of ourselves in the kitchen, eating in a healthy manner and are using safe, non toxic, materials in kitchen design. In the bath, we are taking the opportunity to slow down, even for a short period of time and care for the body, mind and soul before taking on the world once again.

This conept, above, has been confirmed to me recently by one of the largest U.S. brands of residential plumbing fixtures during a recent presentation, at which Mr. Steam's iSteam control product was mentioned as addressing the needs and desires of today's homeowners. It is not often that one brand of plumbing fixtures mentions another's!

Beyond relaxation, Mr. Steam is a natural detox system, and offers "aromasteam" to stir the sense of smell in different ways depending on the mood you want to create (imagine - your eyes are closed in the steam bath and aromas become a lovely focus.) "Chromasteam", using color as a mood creator and "audiosteam" uses music to gently stimulate with sound. Following is my Google+ post, take a quick look and if the post is not shown just below, then you can see the Mr. Steam video I shot here :

But the BEST news is the ease of installation. Regardless of your limitations, there is a Mr. Steam product for you. Mr. Steam provides "clean steam ... every time" to further the wellness performance properties. Slope your ceiling to allow for steam to run off properly. A shower seat is recommended.

I KNOW I need a method by which I can enter a "zone" that is a dimension other than "sleep". There's no doubt that I became enlightened from my experience with steam. Have you considered steam therapy for your busy life?

Our group traveled to the south of Spain where the headquarters of Cosentino is located. Situated in a desert landscape lies a huge factory dedicated solely to the production of Dekton. I'm not sure how far we walked in this building (a mile or two?) but the factory's size, the newness of every piece of (custom designed) machinery, the organization, the endless technology, extremely long/innovative production line and product samples we observed made it clear that we were witnessing an unprecedented commitment by a brand which knows that Dekton is a gamechanger for surfacing materials.

Dekton is manufactured in a way unlike any other surface material, with new technology, new state of the art machines, and new formulas created by the scientists at Cosentino. Every step of the entire process is truly innovative. Using extreme heat and pressure, the result is a surface with exceptional strength and performance, high resistance to impact, scratches and abrasion. It is suitable for use as exterior cladding and interior surfaces with extremely low water absorption.

For today's interiors and exteriors which are often connected visually, Dekton is a beautiful and functional design solution. Dekton will withstand 1200 degree temperatures. The slab sizes are 126" x 56" with thicknesses from .8cm to 3cm.

For an interactive description of the performance properties of Dekton, see this very interesting page on the Dekton website. A very informative pdf brochure with a full explanation on aesthetics, function and the engineering of Dekton can be found here.

Dekton encourages a new way of thinking for designers in the kitchen and bath industry. Dekton's performance and aesthetic characteristics are such that it should be considered for use in the following ways by designers:

countertops and backsplashes

flooring - customized, large format sections

wall treatments - an understated, elegant look

any application in the bath - coordinating walls, flooring, shower as required

outdoor kitchens

creatively blending floor and wall treatments interiors and exteriors

quiet, sophisticated colors to accentuate form and design flow

As restraint in design is more understood and desired in today's contemporary interiors in conjunction with a continuing desire for warmth, the understated beauty of Dekton becomes a top contender to express interior design in a very lovely way. Dekton colors - simple and elegant.

• task lighting
• accent lighting
• general lighting

These lighting concepts will bring dimension and layers to an entire space, a featured area, with the option to use multiple effects for aesthetics, function or both, depending on time of day or use. As you can see, lighting fixtures have the ability to transform the entire perception of a space. It will take time to get to that special, transformative place, but it's well worth the effort, and of course, design professionals can add creativity, knowledge and experience to make all lighting elements work in concert together.

Lamps Plus is one of the sponsors of BlogTourLA, presented by Modenus, which makes it possible for designers to greatly broaden our horizons in regard to design and culture in the city we travel to. In exchange for this incredible opportunity, we are asked to write about the sponsors and it stops there. Opinions are completely my own.

When I entered the Lamps Plus store (one of more than 40 superstores throughout the western U.S.) I went with those lighting concepts in mind - layers, function, pure aesthetics. Lamps Plus has EVERYTHING in their store, including lamps you can custom spec. Take a look at some of the beautiful light fixtures I discovered in this video I made:

This is why I love getting immersed in a brand, because you would think that Lamps Plus only has lighting, right? No, far from it. Lamps Plus has in-home lighting consultations, in-store tutorials, and offers installation services from licensed electricians, but that's still only the beginning! How about home furnishings?

A sister company of Lamps Plus is 55 Downing Street, an online destination for home furnishings, always on sale. Events are limited, allowing for a revolving collection of brands and styles of home furnishings. There are literally thousands of products to choose from and, taking a look at the contemporary rug collection, as one example, revealed a very broad collection of designs that were both sophisticated in design aesthetic and reasonably priced. The value is clearly there in my opinion.

Like any store, shop or even boutique that has endless items for sale, it's important to take your time during the hunt on the Lamps Plus online store. Here are some tips to make your shopping experience the most efficient it can be:

• narrow the results as much as you can
• read the specs which are very detailed and very helpful
• add to a wish list
• review your favorites several times to be sure of your choice
• watch the ship date
• take advantage of the low price guarantee
• read reviews
• see color and bulb options

I was quite surprised at the breadth of the products I found. Look carefully, and you'll find that gem.

Google Helpouts launched last week and I am proud to announce that I am the first kitchen design professional vetted by Google and invited to become a charter expert on Google Helpouts. You'll find my kitchen design listings here.

For those who could not otherwise afford a professional kitchen designer, or who prefer to do a DIY kitchen project, Helpouts are the answer. Helpouts are also a great solution for those who need a second opinion from another kitchen design professional.

Homeowners, interior designers, allied professionals or anyone needing information on any aspect of kitchen design can now get answers FAST. I would not be surprised if a smart phone app is on the horizon. At the tile store? Login for a Helpout with me on the spot! I expect that to be launched soon, although I have no advanced word on it. 

I've done several Helpouts, and here are some tips to get the most information from your Helpout.

• Message me in advance and tell me what you would like to focus on.
• If you have a plan or images, send them along and the Helpout form will allow you to add images and links.
• If you'd like to show me your kitchen and you have a laptop or tablet, at the time of our Helpout, you can certainly move the laptop so that the camera captures your kitchen. That's exactly what my first clients did, complete with having granite samples on hand.

The prices are so affordable for all of the Google Helpout experts, it will cost more NOT to engage in a Helpout, risking costly mistakes.

Google Helpouts has just changed the course of the kitchen and bath industry, giving instant professional information to anyone at extremely affordable prices. It's a new day - and a GOOD one for so many homeowners!

Gessi is one of the sponsors of BlogTourLA, presented by Modenus, which makes it possible for designers to greatly broaden our horizons in regard to design and culture in the city we travel to. In exchange for this incredible opportunity, we are asked to write about the sponsors and it stops there. Opinions are completely my own.

Here is a quick look at Gessi!

As I look over my images of a great many Gessi products that I was able to see, touch, and use and after speaking with Gessi representatives, it is apparent that Gessi is committed to (obsessed with?) capturing the entire experience surrounding their products. This means not just good, but superb, design, quality, functional control, and endless options for how one would like to interact with water. Take a look at this dramatic shower...

gessi goccia ceiling mount washbasin spoutDo you know that you can have a ceiling mounted washbasin spout? I think it's one of those products that is a true original in the luxury bath marketplace. If you only have room for a small mirror behind it, it could get tricky when using the mirror. Planning in advance for optimal use of your bathroom mirror is essential-including an oversized mirror or second mirror are the solutions. But, this is clearly a sculptural look - the end of the spout is in the design of a water droplet!

The collection of kitchen faucets is small, but the designs are elegant, scuptural, and functional. Both modern and transitional designs, and one stunning chef's faucet, I can report that the quality of the fit and finish that I took a close look at is top notch.

An impressive note, beyond the beauty and quality of Gessi products, is the manufacturing process. Every product component AND production process is done in house, following green practices, in Gessi's manufacturing facility in Gessi, Italy.

I think if you are seeking designs that are truly unique, highly stylized, and which will actively communicate beauty and quality, Gessi is a brand to look at. I'm very glad that I had the opportunity to spend the time to learn about Gessi.