Chicago Interior Designer, Jordan Guide

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show 2010

This year KBIS made another return to Chicago’s McCormick place to present the latest and greatest in Kitchen & Bath products and trends.  I scanned over dozens of vendor booths and came up a handful of notables.  Of course when entering KBIS, Kohler always wins my immediate attention considering their booth is so predominantly located.  To view their sparkling new bathroom trends, it would be easiest to visit their website directly.

Ann Sacks, part of the Kohler Interior Group has emerged with a gorgeous new wood tile called Indah Carved Teak in three designs “weave, circles and fingerprint.”  Although they are safe for the bathroom, I more so envision these 12 x 12 panels for use in main living and entry areas of a home.  They are stunning up close and personal.

Ann Sacks Teak Wall Tiles

Glass 2 is a new glass line that is 99% recycled.  It is anti-microbial, scratch resistant, heat resistant, colorfast and currently has 10 beautiful colors to choose from (9  translucent, 1 semi-translucent).  For purchasing or questions, please inquire on through my contact page.

Glass 2 recycled glass surface

I love the idea of building out the side shower walls to incorporate these rails for soaps and misc. shower products.  The boxy recessed niches are a thing of the past.  They have also included coordinating decorative trim banding on the walls and used schluter on the corners to finish the edges out for a clean designer look.  It is about time we evolve!

Integrated Shower Wall Rails

As much as I love to visit trade shows for the obvious reasons, I also pay attention to the creative designs and ideas used within each vendors booth.  These contemporary aluminum sticks can be used as interior room dividers or better yet, as outdoor decor that would make a soothing clacking noise in the wind.

Powder-coated Aluminum Decor Sticks

Shredded hanging fabrics from the ceiling caught my eye.  I have seen string curtains used before, but these large strands of fabric would make for a great room separator, informal door or dramatic ceiling treatment in dark fabrics.

Strips of Lightweight Fabric Borders A Booth from Above

I especially love this wire water display surrounding the MAAX booth.  It was custom designed for the show and is completely ingenious the way the water neatly falls from the above opening and trickles down each strand of metal wire into the lower basin.

Wire Fountain Display

Richelieu Hardware is a company that offers almost anything from fixtures, specialty hardware, decorative hardware and lighting.  Naturally, I gravitated towards the light… flexible RGB LED lighting that is!  Professional hard wiring is required for the transformer, but the rest of the lighting strips are literally a snap to install.  I also like that these strips have an adhesive backing for easy application and they can be bent in every direction.  I had to test it out. so with permission I did just that.

Flexible & Sticky Backed LED Strip Lighting

Another flexible material that caught my eye was Hanex Solid Surfaces.  This material can be bent and shaped during fabrication as seen in this shower display, and it also comes with a list of  additional advantages.  78 rich colors and textures,  inconspicuous seams, scratch and stain resistant for easy maintenance, durability is stronger than stone, resists heat, mold, chemicals, pollutants and bacteria, environmentally friendly,  renewable and repairable… and the list goes on.

Flexible Solid Surfaces by Hanex

There was also a very special find of a Spanish contemporary cabinetry company looking to expanded its distributorship to the States. We are currently in talks to launch their brand in the U.S. via my upcoming online furniture showroom!  It is a very exciting product line of kitchen cabinetry, kitchen accessories, solid surfaces and closet door systems that meet the mark in quality and affordability.  For purchasing or questions, please inquire on through my contact page.

New Contemporary Cabinetry Line Coming Soon

New Contemporary Cabinetry Line Coming Soon

MAAX is another bathroom company specializing in unique bathtubs, showers and medicine cabinets.  They have a very interesting collection ranging from ultra contemporary to glitzy traditional.

Maax Viaggi Freestanding Bathtub

Maax Roman Freestand Bathtub

KBIS was a wonderful way to kick off the trade show season.  KBIS will be held in Las Vegas in 2011, and back at Chicago’s McCormick Place in 2012!

2010 KBIS Lobby Opening Day

Jordan Guide Luxury Interior Designer

Ritz-Carlton Residences, Chicago blog contributor, Jordan Guide, ASID, NCIDQ No. 021998 of Jordan Guide Design is a high-end luxury interior designer based in Chicago.

Varied Stripe Thickness

Fun and flirty, dramatic and sexy… stripes are proven to be one of the most known patterns used in decorating our homes and textiles throughout the ages.  So much in fact, that a book was recently released by Michel Pastoureau titled The Devil’s Cloth, A History of Stripes.  The book is more in tune with the fashion world of stripes, but that was most likely the method in which we acquired the idea to begin decorating our domains with it.   Pattern breathes life and character into the surfaces that they cover.  Regardless of how we wear them or place them in our homes, stripes and all patterns alike are essential in the world of decor and self expression.

Eclectic Multicolored Stripes for the Bathroom

Staggered Stripes often work best in larger spaces since they can handle a break in room flow… they also make for great optical illusions!

Blow Up Hall 5050 Hotel Staggered Floor Stripes

Bold Staggered Wall Stripes

Staggered Striped Rug

Bold statements can be made in the home office or corporate setting.

Handsome Horizontal Home Office Wall Stripes

The LEGO Group Striped Conference Room

Mark Hotel NY - Rectangular Striped Lobby Floor

Take it from celebrity designer, Todd Oldhams own home in the UK.   His personal (and somewhat quirky style) allows stripes to serve as a playful  backdrop to his dining room.  Nice touch!

Todd Oldhams Home feathured in UK Elle Magazine

Can you ever have too many stripes?  They even covered the baseboards!  Brave.

A Hallway Covered in Stripes

Whether you have chosen to introduce stripes into your life through  paint, rugs, tile, fabrics, artwork, wallpaper or clothing, you have  boldly contributed to the history of pattern and vitality of design.  Cheers!

Jordan Guide Luxury Interior Designer

Jordan Guide, ASID, NCIDQ No. 021998 of Jordan Guide Design is a high-end luxury interior designer based in Chicago.

ADA Universal Design Kitchen

I’ve recently stumbled upon a blog called Rolling Rains Report who did a nice write up about the ADA project that I had received the ASID Design Excellence Award in the Universal Design category in 2007.  Apparently, many people have read the Chicago Tribune article that appeared in the House & Home section on Jan. 18, 2009!  – Jordan Guide Design

http://www.rollingrains.com/2009/01/collaborative-design-of-a-lifestyle.html