Bosch Appliances + BLANCO = The Perfect Couple

The two German brands, Bosch and Blanco, came together logically and flawlessly throughout the new Bosch, Thermador, and Gaggenau showroom in Irvine, California. I was invited, along with others from the media, to attend the opening of this big, beautiful, state of the art showroom.

The reception area of the Bosch/Thermador/Gaggenau showroom

Two words: German Engineering. It's immediately apparent how perfectly these two brands go together aesthetically, not to mention their beautiful, precise, engineering-the fit and finish is superb. 

But, here's the thing -  although the Bosch portion of the showroom is quite minimalist and of wholly modern design, if you look past that, it's easy to see that both of these brands' products (most of them) can transition easily and logically to a range of kitchen design themes, from modern to traditional and beyond. Some faucets are more clearly suited to one style or another. Others play very well in a variety of styles.

For the price point, you get a WHOLE lot of style, substance, precision and performance. More pretty pictures from this fabulous showroom...

Did you know that Bosch has a slide in range? Allows the design of a clean backsplash

Note the sink cutout - it's interesting to see the sink section. I like that look.

Blanco and Bosch are the happy couple!

Sleek, simply designed built-in appliances

Note the small stainless sink detail surrounding the countertop cutout - cool

My absolute FAVE combination of Blanco faucet finishes and I love Blanco's silgranite sink-talk about performance!

Perfection in the details

Try this combination - Truffle (color) and a traditional Blanco faucet

I always love a cooktop and under cabinet oven combination-so elegant

Note the lower divider in the sink and the rich, beautiful, faucet finish

A combination kitchen/display area for multiple appliances

Yes, Blanco does a stainless apron sink + the beautiful, sculptural Culina faucet

Can you see the quality shine through in these pictures?

Crossville Tile - Kitchen Luxe

Crossville Tile invited me to view their tile in the kitchen of a fabulous designer showhouse, designed by Ulrich Kitchens, deep in the (highly desirable, trust me) woods in New Jersey. The show home, "Hidden Acres Estate" is part of the Traditional Home 2012 National Showhouse Tour. 

I don't normally associate Crossville tile with being a luxury tile brand, so it was with a good dose of curiosity that I attended this small but prestigious event.

While I love quality and I love beautiful things, I am always open to good design whatever the cost. Good design does not need to be expensive. Creativity does not need to come with a large price tag. Good design comes by way of making smart design choices regardless of cost (in this case, being open to lower cost products) and being a snob about seeking "the best" in every product or material is not always best for the design.

Sometimes more is less and usually, less is more. So, I'm a designer who has adopted an openness to a high/low price strategy in my design projects and particularly in my home long before the concept made an impact in design publications online and in print. I don't look down at it, I applaud it. Geez, this turned out to be a policy piece! Now for the pretty pictures! Comments below...

Below: I do like the strong continuity of the horizontal lines, but I think I would have brought the upper line up and around, then down, inside the hood section while leaving the lower horizontal line as is. The inside could be left as is or designed with another motif of some sort, tile or a decorative object(s) hung in that spot. 

Below: I do love the white grout used in the mosaic tile. This appears as a classic look and it's a smart design choice to use this middle shade of gold/brown which looks great with the granite and cabinetry. Charming!

Below: A closer look at how a well priced, simple, tile complements exquisite and formal accessories. High/low done well.

Below: A good look at this different pairing of mosaic and subway tile which just may skirt a "trendy" look - time will tell

Below: Clearly, a formal yet modern look that works

Below: How gorgeous are these chairs??

Below: A lovely arrangement at a gracious entrance from the kitchen to a nearby room

It was a lovely day!

Bosch Appliances - Cooking Up A Storm!

I just returned from the fabulous new Bosch showroom in Irvine, California, a beautiful facility that includes state of the art appliances and beautiful kitchen vignettes which showcase the full line of Bosch appliances. 

There is a hallway describing and celebrating the Bosch commitment to precision engineering and sustainability, specific areas for training purposes including a theatre with chairs one can take a nap in easily, and the centerpiece...a huge (huge) kitchen outfitted with Bosch appliances including an amazing wall mounted herb garden. One can test appliances...and then clean up using the gorgeous BLANCO sinks and faucets, seen throughout the entire showroom.

The Bosch central testing kitchen

The kitchen images will follow in my next post with lots more good information on Bosch appliances, but I think you'll understand that my instinct in writing this first post follows with my wanting to show you the result of all of these precision and user friendlly appliances - the food!!! Let's go there first. Below are Carmen Natschke and Andie Day hard at work!

Carmen Natschke from Decorating Diva and Andie Day from Lifestyle blog

Together, we all (members of the media invited for the very first look at the Bosch showroom, flown in from around the country) cooked lunch together and wow, many types of food were cooked fast and with precision. It was an incredibly delicious lunch - after all, that's what the appliances are all about: performance, ease of use, and we need the fun factor in there too that operating great appliances bring to the party!

An upward look at a floating, nearly floor to ceiling herb garden

And, below, this is how a good number of us cook....

Oh yes, I do love to go to these brand retreats - I come back wiser (most important) and definitely well fed! More soon on Bosch appliances and BLANCO sinks and faucets AND gorgeous kitchen shots from this beautiful showroom.