DEKTON Hot New Surface / Countertop Material

Cosentino's Newest Countertop Material / #KBIS2014 #BLOGTOURVEGAS

DEKTON STRATO Tech Collection

Dekton may be what I would consider the next big thing in countertops.  It is something new, has a great new look, texture, color and it is indoor/outdoor rated.  Dekton is available in 12 white, grey, black and natural stone hues and in three polished matte and slate finishes.  It is made in large format slabs measuring 56" x 126" slabs in three thicknesses - 1.2cm, 2cm and 3cm - this will allow for the ability to fabricate large surfaces with fewer seams. In the future, the collection will expand to include an impressive range of innovative aesthetics including wood, rust, concrete and oxidized metal as well as a variety of textures such as rippled, leather, denim, slate, brushed and coated.  This will open up entirely new doors as far as where it can and will be used.


I had an opportunity to see and touch it in person during my time with #BlogTourVegas at #KBIS2014.  It has a beautiful feel to it, the colors are fabulously natural and the ability to have/add texture and/or route out a pattern in it is spectacular.  
The #BlogTourVegas Group Admiring DEKTON during #KBIS2014

The fact that is is fade resistant and qualifies for outdoor use is quite an impressive feat and one to be looked at in terms of innovation in the surface material industry.  Dekton's superior technical characteristics provide unique UV resistance for color stability outdoors and exceptional strength and performance.  

Facade DEKTON STRATO Tech Collection

The product is highly resistant to impact, scratches and abrasion for use in high-traffic areas and has very low water absorption.  It also provides thermal shock resistance against heat, frost and thawing, enabling the product to be used outside in any climate.  Dekton will open a whole new array of possibilities for outdoor spaces that were once not considered due to extreme climate changes.  

Exterior Cladding with DEKTON Sirocco Natural Collection

Ok so what is it made of?  Here is the scoop for those of you who need the 411 on how it is made - Dekton is made from a mixture of inorganic raw materials found in glass, porcelain tile and natural quartz.
  
DEKTON Factory Almeria, Spain

The process by which it is made combines technologies from these three industries, resulting in a proprietary new advancement called Particle Sintering Technology (PST), developed exclusively by Cosentino's R&D team.  PST is essentially an accelerated version of metamorphism or the "change in form" that rocks and stone undergo in nature when subject to heat and pressure over thousands of years.  To manufacture Dekton, Cosentino has reduced this process to four hours with extreme heat and pressure resulting in an entirely new category of material - the ultra-compact surface.

The DEKTON Press
The press used in the ultra-compaction process has a capacity of 25,000 tons, six times more than what has been regarded as the world's largest press up to now.



www.dekton.com



Photo credit - www.dekton.com
Disclosure: This is a "sponsored post" The company/companies who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, all opinions written here are my own and I only recommend products or services I believe in. 

BLANCO Kitchen Sink is the ONE™



In keeping with their amazing style and their innovative functionality Blanco's new kitchen sink the ONE™ Collection is sure to be a show stopper ~ New Product introduction at KBIS2014.  As part of the Modenus BlogtourVegas team I had an opportunity to see the ONE™ up close and personal during our time at KBIS |IBS – Design & Construction Week.  It is everything it appears to be and a great addition to any kitchen with multifunctional accessories to meet everyone's needs. 

BLANCO introduces the ONE™ Collection– three spacious kitchen sinks + five innovative accessory kits = the ultimate individualized workstations The new ONE stainless steel sinks join personalized lifestyles with commanding functionality to create organized culinary and cleaning stations.
BLANCO, German innovator of extraordinary kitchen sinks and faucets, launches the ONE Collection with three new sinks and five innovative accessory kits that combine to form unique customized solutions for cooking, organizing and cleaning. 




    “By far, the biggest design trend that connects with both consumers and
    designers is the idea of individualization,” states Tim Maicher, Director of
    Marketing for BLANCO. “We have so many options in front of us each day
    – we truly believe that there is one product, made just for us and for our
    life. That is the inspiration for ONE. It’s a sink that lets you customize the
    features to create a personal workstation.”

    “If you have a family and are worried about keeping knives out of reach, if
    you are a foodie and you want a cutting board that lets you clean, cut and
    save space, if you are living in a small metro space and you don’t have
    counterspace to both clean and prep – there’s a BLANCO ONE sink and
    accessories kit just for you,” continues Maicher.



BLANCO ONE comes in three base model sizes: XL Single, Super Single and Medium bowls. Able to take on the challenges of daily life, these easy-to-clean 9" deep bowls are created from high quality stainless steel with BLANCO’s signature Satin Polished Finish. The accessories include a Magnetic Sink Caddy to hold cleaning tools inside the sink; a Workstation that holds knives and utensils; an  Ash Compound Cutting Board that fits to the sink to save space and protective Custom Grids. Exclusively for the XL Single bowl, the Multi-Level Grid.


This multi-functional sink meets the needs of many types and styles of users and is fitting of the name the  ONE™.  Well done Blanco!

 Photo and video credit - www.blancoamerica.com

Disclosure: This is a "sponsored post" The company/companies who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, all opinions written here are my own and I only recommend products or services I believe in. 


Headed to #KBIS2014 ~ Kitchen and Bath Industry Show

BlogTour Vegas | KBIS | IBS | Design and Construction Week | 2014 


I am headed to LAS VEGAS for the inaugural Design & Construction week!


For the first time both KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) and IBS (International Buidlers Show) have joined together to create one show in one place at the same time ~ Design & Construction week!  This is sure to be an epic event combining all aspects of the construction and design in home building, construction and the kitchen and bath industry.  You've heard the saying "Everything and the Kitchen Sink"? Well this is it!  



The exciting part of this trip is that I will be experiencing the show as a member of BlogTourVegas.  I am one of 15 designers and design bloggers from the U.S. and Canada selected to be a member of BlogTourVegas.  We will spend four days at the inaugural Design and Construction Week in Las Vegas spotting the latest trends, seeing the newest products, networking with industry peers and reporting back to our blogs and social media audiences.   

The BlogTourVegas Bloggers...


Carmen Christensen, Time2Design  | Ken & Grace Kelly, Kitchen Designs blog | Vanessa Francis, Décor Happy | Meredith Heron, Sashay | Lisa Mende, Lisa Mende Design | Rita Catinella OrrellDesignythings  | Christine Da Costa, The Glam Blog | Sarah Sarna, Live The Life You Dream About , | Marilyn Russell, Design Magnifique | Cristin Bisbee Priest, Simplified Bee Blog | Rhonda Knoche, Rhonda Knoche blog | JB Bartkowiak, BuildingMoxie.com | Tina RamchandaniLife in Sketch | Stacy Naquin, Stacy Naquin blog




In addition to the BlogTour meetings, greetings, networking and tours the Blogtour team has been asked by KBIS management to judge not only the newly revamped Best of KBIS Awards but the first ever Booth Innovation Award as well. This is sure to be four days filled with inspiration, information and fun times and I look forward to sharing my experience with you along the way and when I return.  


You can follow BlogTour Vegas on Twitter using hastag #BlogTourVegas, and view my live updates by following my Twitterfeed or you can also keep up with me on my Instagram or Facebook

BlogTour Las Vegas is sponsored by: KBIS, Blanco, Poggenpohl, Sub-Zero, Cosentino, Mr Steam, Top Knobs, Wood-Mode, Formica Group, Walker Zanger and TOTO USA.

Small Change, Big Result - Bathroom Renovation

Are you thinking about remodeling your kitchen or maybe your bathroom.  You don't always have to knock down a wall, you can make a change by simple changing the cabinetry color.  Like this example we resurfaced the cabinetry and finished them in white.  This simple change created a whole new look and feel to this space. 


Heirloom Quality built with Pride ~ Thos. Moser


#MaineEvent ~ Inaugural Apprentice Event

What an honor it was to be one of 8 designers selected to participate in the Inaugural Thos. Moser Maine Event.  We were flown to Maine to learn first hand how to build a piece of furniture and become immersed into Thos. Moser. 


First off a bit about Thos. Moser and the history ~ 



So now let me tell you a bit about my time and my experience at Thos. Moser.  Shortly upon arrival to their factory in the small town of Auburn Maine, it was abundantly obvious that the people that work at and for Thos. Moser are dedicated and proud members of the Thos. Moser Family.  I say family and not company because the people who work at Thos. Moser are like a family.  In fact there are numerous employees who have other family members working along side them at Thos. Moser, and many have worked there for ten years or more. 


After a few introductions and a quick tour of the factory we got right to business, there were eight of us so we were divided up into groups of two to build four different pieces of furniture.  We would each be building our own individual piece in teams of two with a Thos. Moser master cabinet maker. 
Here are the four pieces selected for us to build.


I was paired with my new friend Lira Luis and we had the pleasure of joining Teke Gronros, Master Cabinetmaker, at his workbench.

We set out to build our piece of furniture.  I am sure Teke had no idea what he had gotten himself into, nor do I suppose he was used to such lively workbench mates.  He was a total professional, a fabulous mentor and superb teacher.  By the end of the first day our new mentor and shopmate Teke aka “Teak” was sharing his space with Lira aka “Cherry” and myself (Carmen) aka “Walnut”, our newly self appointed shop names.  We had some good laughs, learned so much and immersed ourselves into the Thos. Moser way of life. 

The dedication and pride were evident and expressed all around us.  I started to notice these signs and then I realized it wasn’t just a saying but a way of life in the Thos. Moser factory, these people were living this truth.
 

And so the building began, we started out learning that each piece of furniture that is built at Thos. Moser has its own unique set of drawings and specifications on exactly how each individual piece of furniture is to be built.  Thru the guidance and skill of Teke’s and with his immense patience we immersed ourselves into the building our piece of furniture. 
 

First up was selected the raw wood slabs that would become the top of our tables.  They then had to be glued together, left to cure for an hour or so and then we took those slabs and passed them through a series of planers and sanders.  With our tops made we had brought them to the CNC machine where they were cut to size and the edge detail was cut. 

After this we were back to the bench for more sanding, sanding and more sanding of all the individual pieces.  There is nothing like the smell of freshly cut or sanded wood.  I have to share with you what a truly personal experience this was for me from selecting of the specific pieces of wood and then the hands on sanding, it truly generates a tactile connection to you (me) the builder and the piece that was being build.



The amount of sanding was both time consuming and intense.  In those moments a deep connection is formed between the wood, as it transforms into a piece of furniture, and the builder.  When the actual assembly and building of the table began, putting the pieces together, it was amazing how each piece fit together perfectly and the table began to take shape.


Through those three days we learned the techniques and craft necessary to build and create these amazing pieces of heirloom quality furniture.  The attention to detail and the quality of each piece that is created is amazing to see and experience.  We leaned that what was taking us three days to build, Teke explained he builds in a day.  It was in that moment we truly realized the true talent that surrounded us in each and every Thos. Moser team member.  The amazing craftsmen, their talent and the true love and dedication that goes into every piece of furniture they build.  No matter how big or small.



Once we had completed our piece we were told there would be a “Signing Ceremony”  where we and our instructor would have an opportunity to sign and date our piece the same way each and every piece of furniture that is built at Thos. Moser is signed and dated by the cabinetmaker who built it. 
 
We, along with all of the Thos. Moser employees, gathered at a special area for the “Signing Ceremony”.   This would be and was the culmination of the whole experience where we would stand proudly by the piece we made and be recognized as we signed our own Thos. Moser piece of furniture. 

As we were getting organized we were told we would be introduced and have an opportunity to say a few words about our experience.  Yikes!  What? What? My mind went blank and I immediately went into a sort of panic, and I wasn’t sure how I would be able to stand before this now large group of people whom I had come to know, spent a few days with and whom I truly admired and explain to them what an amazing experience this was, and I wondered how I would ever be able to accomplish that without being overcome with emotions.  

And so it began, there we all stood next to the piece of furniture we had built and the introductions began, my mind raced as I listened to each one before me give a very eloquent and thoughtfully spoken words of gratitude about their individual experience, the whole time my mind was scrambling to put something together…and as my turn arrived and I was introduced, I stepped forward and all I could hear coming out of my mouth was blah, blah blah blah...I was babbling on, and I am sure I made absolutely no sense because I found myself overwhelmed with this unexpected emotion and I knew I had to wrap it up or I would be a crying mess and not be able to say anything.



I was quick to say thank you, I think I mention what a great time I had and who knows what else came out of my mouth, I just kept it short and sweet and got done as quickly as I could as the tears welled up in my eyes and before I lost complete control I said thank you and quickly stepped back.  In retrospect I realize I didn’t adequately express or explain how my time had effected me.  I was truly touched by the whole encounter and found it to be such a rewarding experience.

Those few days at Thos. Moser, spending time in their factory, touring the facility, having this hands on experience, seeing and learning how much care and dedication goes into each piece of furniture, and most especially meeting and learning about the people who work there, hearing their stories, what brought them to Thos. Moser and what keeps them there was truly a gift.  It is this type of quality and dedication that will give anyone who owns a piece of Thos. Moser furniture a real sense of pride and honor in their home.  A true heirloom built with pride!

 Thank you so much and a special shout out to The VanClan!!!


Kitchen Remodel ~ Change is Good


This kitchen remodel took place over the course of 4 weeks, from start to finish.  The update and change began by removing the old kitchen cabinetry, countertops, backsplash tile and those awful kitchen soffits.  


The layout remained basically the same with the following exceptions ~ the upper cabinets went from 30" high to 42" high, the new pantry cabinet is larger and has interior roll-outs, the island is now one large surface instead of the raised high bar and a pull out trash bin was added.  In addition the new granite countertops look great with the new undermount sink and the new smart touch faucet. 

By removing the soffits, this kitchen feels much more spacious and it gives great height to the space.  And removing the high-bar countertop and making the island one large countertop makes for a fabulous work space and opens the kitchen up to the adjoining rooms.