Million Dollar Decorators: Episode 1

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Wz_pEPkeMcxsoUG-IbW7C7rZB_XB_ee6cBE-cIC-inetki950akRahVh-LfOCya909dSx0-QYSvrkgGW9NNorrW-yFnrPNVX9-NOUODVCWVuXBKMF6-BVpwKbd9ZPXGVUelhkZqiWsrl/s1600/Million+Dollar+Decorators+Season+1+-+Fully+Furnished+Sneak+Peek+-+Photo+Gallery+-+Bravo+TV+Official+Site_1306901545332.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Wz_pEPkeMcxsoUG-IbW7C7rZB_XB_ee6cBE-cIC-inetki950akRahVh-LfOCya909dSx0-QYSvrkgGW9NNorrW-yFnrPNVX9-NOUODVCWVuXBKMF6-BVpwKbd9ZPXGVUelhkZqiWsrl/s1600/Million+Dollar+Decorators+Season+1+-+Fully+Furnished+Sneak+Peek+-+Photo+Gallery+-+Bravo+TV+Official+Site_1306901545332.png" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mary McDonald and Nate Turner arrive for Kathryn Ireland's birthday party bearing quite a cake!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Okay, so my initial thoughts on MDD Episode 1: These designers all took an incredibly huge risk in doing this show. They risk looking unprofessional, ungrateful and unkempt. On the other hand, how many of us, when under considerable stress, would look and act great with cameras trailing around after us 100% of the time? When I blogged on Bravo's Top Design, the designers on those shows had relatively little public profile - the were all professionals, but not quite big names either. Twitter and FB didn't play a big role, but this time, the people tweeting and commenting are a highly professional and dedicated group of professional designers (some with as big, or bigger careers than those on the show). And, the initial commentary is a very mixed bag indeed.  Many negative comments were flying via public tweet and private message. These shows are produced because they are dramatic and there's big business in drama. Mix the drama with celebrity (Sharon Osborn plays a big role in epi 1) and million dollar budgets and <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/million-dollar-decorators/season-1/videos/coming-up-in-the-premiere-season">BravoTV</a> is in pig heaven. Professional designers all seem a bit leary - will this make the rest of us look bad? Will the long held negative stereotypes of our industry (stereotypes regarding blown budgets, overbearing decorators and clients not getting what they want) be reinforced? Or, will we see real people, warts and all, just trying to satisfy a demanding clientele? After all, Sharon O seemed completely unfazed at making Martyn Lawrence Bullard completely decorate a new apartment in a matter of days. And, one wonders, what other client's work was pushed aside in order to accomplish this feat? Time will tell. Would love to hear your thoughts. <br /><br />Meanwhile, here's a round up of places to go to hear what others are saying:<br /><br /><div style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><b>Tweet-a-palooza! </b></div><div style="background-color: #a2c4c9;">There were three tweet hashtags going on during episode one. A little crazy, but some of the best commentary comes in less than 140 characters. I highly recommend using <a href="http://tweetchat.com/">TweetChat.com</a> because it makes following all the aggregated tweets so much easier, plus, it appends the hashtag on automatically. </div><div style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #a2c4c9;">#mddbravotv (the one I use) <a href="http://tweetchat.com/room/mddbravotv">http://tweetchat.com/room/mddbravotv</a></div><div style="background-color: #a2c4c9;">#mdd  <a href="http://tweetchat.com/room/mdd">http://tweetchat.com/room/mdd</a></div><div style="background-color: #a2c4c9;">and </div><div style="background-color: #a2c4c9;">#milliondollardecorators  <a href="http://tweetchat.com/room/milliondollardecorators">http://tweetchat.com/room/milliondollardecorators</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieM8TBY67sgqJ6he6jF2ZeEl4h1phqAQFB997ObtenfktU1EFzd87Q_2caU-BgKcFsZSIrUfiLMqE0cGI_uVKkEAbtuLS3myAXPpcH_GuhS7rF6qL6jyfcKnYMSXY6DXhko6uvL4qGPPl1/s1600/Mdd1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieM8TBY67sgqJ6he6jF2ZeEl4h1phqAQFB997ObtenfktU1EFzd87Q_2caU-BgKcFsZSIrUfiLMqE0cGI_uVKkEAbtuLS3myAXPpcH_GuhS7rF6qL6jyfcKnYMSXY6DXhko6uvL4qGPPl1/s1600/Mdd1.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mary McDonald is shocked that her clients are getting a divorce and are selling the house that MM not only decorated, but also considers her own. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><b>Some of my favorite tweets: </b></div><div style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><a class="mention" href="http://twitter.com/amandawaas" target="_new">@amandawaas</a>: Here's a tip: never let anyone with the word "teen" in their age plan a party. All you'll end up with is a bag of Fritos and tears. <a href="http://tweetchat.com/room/mdd">#mdd</a><span class="smallTxt"> -11:21 PM May 31st, 2011</span></div><div style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><br /></div><div class="tweet-row" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><span class="tweet-user-name"> <a class="tweet-screen-name user-profile-link" data-user-id="261305325" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/whitwestbrook" title="Whitney A. Westbrook">whitwestbrook</a> <span class="tweet-full-name">Whitney A. Westbrook</span> </span> <br /><div class="tweet-corner"><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons"> <div class="extra-icons"><span class="inlinemedia-icons"></span> </div></span> </div></div></div><div class="tweet-row"><div class="tweet-text pretty-link" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><a class=" twitter-hashtag" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23MDD" rel="nofollow" title="#MDD"><span class="hash"><b>#</b></span><span class="hash-text"><b>MDD</b></span><b></b></a><b></b> Yay! Looks like real design stress in upcoming episodes! When I saw the antique tile being destroyed, I threw up a little. Good sign.</div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"></div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><div class="tweet-row"><span class="tweet-user-name"> <a class="tweet-screen-name user-profile-link" data-user-id="67338726" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/ErikaatBluLabel" title="Erika Ward">ErikaatBluLabel</a> <span class="tweet-full-name">Erika Ward</span> </span> <br /><div class="tweet-corner"><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons"> <div class="extra-icons"><span class="inlinemedia-icons"></span> </div></span> </div></div></div>Ok, so Sharon Osbourne is the highlight of the show. They should bring her back next week, no? <a class=" twitter-hashtag" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23MDDBravotv" rel="nofollow" title="#MDDBravotv"><span class="hash"><b>#</b></span><span class="hash-text"><b>MDDBravotv</b></span></a> </div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"></div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><a class=" twitter-atreply" data-screen-name="vickinoe" href="http://twitter.com/vickinoe" rel="nofollow"><span class="at">@</span><span class="at-text">vickinoe</span></a> I AM having a cocktail while watching this <a class=" twitter-hashtag" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23mddbravotv" rel="nofollow" title="#mddbravotv"><span class="hash"><b>#</b></span><span class="hash-text"><b>mddbravotv</b></span><b></b></a><b></b>. Much easier to watch that way <a class=" twitter-hashtag" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23mddbravotv" rel="nofollow" title="#mddbravotv"><span class="hash"><b>#</b></span><span class="hash-text"><b>mddbravotv</b></span></a></div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"></div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link"><div class="tweet-row" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><span class="tweet-user-name"> <a class="tweet-screen-name user-profile-link" data-user-id="64594049" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/karidesigns" title="Kari Fisher">karidesigns</a> <span class="tweet-full-name">Kari Fisher</span> </span> <br /><div class="tweet-corner"><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons"> <div class="extra-icons"><span class="inlinemedia-icons"></span> </div></span> </div></div></div><div class="tweet-row" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><div class="tweet-text pretty-link">at least amongst the silly decorator personalities, they are showing the hardworking design assistants <a class=" twitter-hashtag" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23MDD" rel="nofollow" title="#MDD"><span class="hash"><b>#</b></span><span class="hash-text"><b>MDD</b></span><b></b></a><b></b> <a class=" twitter-hashtag" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23madlovebehindthescenes" rel="nofollow" title="#madlovebehindthescenes"><span class="hash">#</span><span class="hash-text">madlovebehindthescenes</span></a></div></div><span class="hash-text"><b></b></span></div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdu1lsO5GKyLZGXx6IkOM_BN7UFUPySSq9o3O8uGXcNsffIoh6dSKfxYNbZurQVd6rA06eO4tUnb8x6PokQtrNV9-xz7vthQgBS0UeJ7xuT-FsdPehDnhas46FXpiJfzx5lNAbrQ3xBax/s1600/mdd2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdu1lsO5GKyLZGXx6IkOM_BN7UFUPySSq9o3O8uGXcNsffIoh6dSKfxYNbZurQVd6rA06eO4tUnb8x6PokQtrNV9-xz7vthQgBS0UeJ7xuT-FsdPehDnhas46FXpiJfzx5lNAbrQ3xBax/s640/mdd2.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Ross Cassidy (JAM's bf and assistant) and Jeffry Alan Marks disagree on a Martyn Lawrence Bullard fabric. </span></div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Textiles flying and eyeballs rolling!</span></div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link" style="background-color: #a2c4c9; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="tweet-text pretty-link" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"><b>And the designers own Twitter handles</b>: <a class=" twitter-atreply" data-screen-name="MARYMCDONALDINC" href="http://twitter.com/MARYMCDONALDINC" rel="nofollow"><span class="at">@</span><span class="at-text">MARYMCDONALDINC</span></a>  <span class="tweet-user-name"> <a class="tweet-screen-name user-profile-link" data-user-id="172501174" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/MartynBullard" title="M. Lawrence-Bullard">@MartynBullard</a> </span>  <span class="tweet-user-name"> <a class="tweet-screen-name user-profile-link" data-user-id="272105360" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/jeffreymarksinc" title="Jeffrey Marks">jeffreymarksinc</a> </span> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/kathrynmireland">@KathrynMIreland </a> @nathanturner and <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/NTurnerDesign">@NTurnerDesign</a>  </div></div><br /><div style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><b>In others' words: recaps from the blogosphere: (this section may be added to throughout the week, so check back!)</b></div><div style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><a href="http://www.designblahg.com/blahg/recap-million-dollar-decorators-episode-1.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">Design Blahg</a> - THE funniest captions<br />Raina Cox on <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2011/06/01/episode-one-the-osbournes-party-pad-divorce-and-snotty-guacamole.php">Curbed</a> offers her designers' eye and knows the difference between Eames and van der Rohe, unlike a certain $$$$$$$$$ decorator  <br /></div><br />Will you be back for Episode Two?<br /><br /><br /><form action="http://poll.pollcode.com/7WT1" method="post"><table bgcolor="#eea994" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Who is your favorite designer so far? </b></span></td></tr><tr><td width="5"><input name="answer" type="radio" value="1" /></td><td><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kathryn M. Ireland</span></td></tr><tr><td width="5"><input name="answer" type="radio" value="2" /></td><td><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mary McDonald</span></td></tr><tr><td width="5"><input name="answer" type="radio" value="3" /></td><td><span style="font-family: Arial;">Martyn Lawrence Bullard</span></td></tr><tr><td width="5"><input name="answer" type="radio" value="4" /></td><td><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jeffrey Alan Marks</span></td></tr><tr><td width="5"><input name="answer" type="radio" value="5" /></td><td><span style="font-family: Arial;">Nate Turner</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><br /><center><input type="submit" value="Vote" />  <input name="view" type="submit" value="View" /></center></td></tr><tr><td align="right" bgcolor="white" colspan="2"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">pollcode.com <a href="http://pollcode.com/"><span style="color: navy;">free polls</span></a></span></td></tr></tbody></table></form>  <br /><form action="http://poll.pollcode.com/Aa3w" method="post"><table bgcolor="#eeeeee" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Who was your favorite non-designer charachter?</b></span></td></tr><tr><td width="5"><input name="answer" type="radio" value="1" /></td><td><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ross Cassidy (JAM's bf and assistant)</span></td></tr><tr><td width="5"><input name="answer" type="radio" value="2" /></td><td><span style="font-family: Arial;">4 pug dogs (Mary McD's) </span></td></tr><tr><td width="5"><input name="answer" type="radio" value="3" /></td><td><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kathryn Ireland's French Housekeeper </span></td></tr><tr><td width="5"><input name="answer" type="radio" value="4" /></td><td><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kathryn Ireland's sons</span></td></tr><tr><td width="5"><input name="answer" type="radio" value="5" /></td><td><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sharon Osborne</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><br /><center><input type="submit" value="Vote" />  <input name="view" type="submit" value="View" /></center></td></tr><tr><td align="right" bgcolor="white" colspan="2"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">pollcode.com <a href="http://pollcode.com/"><span style="color: navy;">free polls</span></a></span></td></tr></tbody></table></form><br /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: #d5a6bd;">If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Million Dollar Decorators: Episode 1

  Mary McDonald and Nate Turner arrive for Kathryn Ireland's birthday party bearing quite a cake! Okay, so my initial thoughts on MDD Ep...

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Million Dollar Decorators premiers tonight!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR8m-4bfVZRlJumQ4v_OqKwbE6Qjw7QbEbRyWvFUhPhzq5TAUD6e77cAm6bxnDU-JCV9Gzdc0hKBqYIScu-FpG_51bUNQWS1e-DJglqLrPiGad3JHRv8QBZNWCN69Y9TTpyXQrBWY2-xf/s1600/mdd+poster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR8m-4bfVZRlJumQ4v_OqKwbE6Qjw7QbEbRyWvFUhPhzq5TAUD6e77cAm6bxnDU-JCV9Gzdc0hKBqYIScu-FpG_51bUNQWS1e-DJglqLrPiGad3JHRv8QBZNWCN69Y9TTpyXQrBWY2-xf/s1600/mdd+poster.png" /></a></div><br />Join me TONIGHT on Twitter #mddbravotv  ( <a href="http://tweetchat.com/room/mddbravotv">http://tweetchat.com/room/mddbravotv</a> ) to chat about this new series featuring the crazy lives and businesses of designers Kathryn Ireland, Mary McDonald, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Nathan Turner and Jeffrey Allen Marks. I'll be interviewing each of the designers throughout the 8 week season, so stay tuned for that. Editor at Large has already done a series of interviews, which you can read <a href="http://www.editoratlarge.com/articles/1274/behind-the-scenes-with-bravo-s-million-dollar-decorators">here</a> and <a href="http://www.editoratlarge.com/articles/behind-the-scenes-with-bravo-s-million-dollar-decorators-cont--2">here</a>. <br /><br />I've seen the first episode and it's fast paced and eye opening. The entire series looks like a hoot and I think professional designers will really be fascinated, appalled, jealous and sympathetic to the real world of high-budget and high-stakes decorating. And "civilian" viewers will likely be astonished by the dollars that can be spent on decorating. This isn't your mother's HGTV, that's for sure!<br /><br />So, join me on Twitter, 10PM EST tonight and every Tuesday throughout the season to share your thoughts on the show, it will be fun! Twitter hashtag #mddbravotv<br /><br /><div style="background-color: #d5a6bd;">If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Million Dollar Decorators premiers tonight!

Join me TONIGHT on Twitter #mddbravotv  ( http://tweetchat.com/room/mddbravotv ) to chat about this new series featuring the crazy lives an...

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Five Trends to Watch at the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)

By <a href="http://web.mac.com/ldolnick/iWeb/my%20website/Welcome.html">Lori Dolnick</a><br /><br />The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, NV was a leaner exhibition – a reflection of the economy and home building sales no doubt. But traffic and designer interest was brisk for the exhibitors present – hopefully a positive sign for the future. KBIS is one of my favorite shows. Homeowners really invest in their kitchens and KBIS is the place to see what’s new, what’s trending and where the kitchen of the future is going. Here are some of the trends I saw and hot new products coming out this year.<br /><br /><b>1.    Transitional or New Traditional</b><br />Transitional or New Traditional is here to stay - a real style in its own right. From <a href="http://www.totousa.com/">TOTO</a>’s new Vivian faucet<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93ywoVfVmgc2oWANi8mfpnImls5KuLt8nVW0WgJ1P_9CIWSK7Xj6e4xxz0Jlba17iSgzOQmocgl_8U2b5eEIGin9dRFF5KDUEAD6s9EpO2ryQPqfeeRY4Ymj4IsqouLawMVWOrqAdp1ku/s1600/vivian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93ywoVfVmgc2oWANi8mfpnImls5KuLt8nVW0WgJ1P_9CIWSK7Xj6e4xxz0Jlba17iSgzOQmocgl_8U2b5eEIGin9dRFF5KDUEAD6s9EpO2ryQPqfeeRY4Ymj4IsqouLawMVWOrqAdp1ku/s400/vivian.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/Vivian%20Widespread%20Cross%20Handle%20HEF%205x7%20Horizontal.jpg?derivative=medium&source=web.jpg&type=medium&ver=13049419950001" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><br />to <a href="http://www.hardwareresources.com/">Hardware Resources</a>’ Lyn Design Bath Vanities in Chocolate – what’s old is new again.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/VAN080/web.jpg?ver=13049367920001" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/VAN080/web.jpg?ver=13049367920001" /></a></div><br />Today’s Traditional offers cleaner lines, less ornamentation and a more updated, sophisticated feel. <br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>2.    Personal Style</b><br />We’re not designing for resale value. We’re designing for ourselves – for the long haul.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/Trevi%202/web.jpg?ver=13049364800001" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/Trevi%202/web.jpg?ver=13049364800001" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.topknobs.com/Default.aspx">Top Knobs </a>launched their unique new Passport Collection at KBIS – inspired by global landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, Victoria Falls, Sydney Opera House, Tower Bridge and the Great Wall of China. What could be more personal than decorating with a souvenir from somewhere special? It’s what we all do when we travel, but now you can get a free sample shipped to your home without going anywhere at all. Design meets destination.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/Hands_Cups/web.jpg?ver=13049417190001" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/Hands_Cups/web.jpg?ver=13049417190001" width="320" /></a></div><br />Another example… someone at the show told me to visit the <a href="http://www.scotsman-ice.com/?xhtml=xhtml/sct/us/en/homepage/default.html&xsl=homepage.xsl">Scotsman Ice Systems</a> booth because they love to chew ice. You can’t get more personal than that! Me – I like the big cubes in my water. But if someone needs them small and chewy – this would be the system for them. Personal taste is a trend that is hot right now.<br /><br /><b>3.    Personal Luxury</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/Image_INAX_SATIS_4d.jpg?derivative=medium&source=web.jpg&type=medium&ver=13049408960001" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/Image_INAX_SATIS_4d.jpg?derivative=medium&source=web.jpg&type=medium&ver=13049408960001" width="400" /></a></div><br />If KBIS is any indicator – toilets are the next hot new must-have gadget. <a href="http://www.inax-usa.com/">INAX</a>’s latest offering, for example, plays music, lights your way at night, heats the seat, offers a personal cleansing massage plus automatically opens and closes. Plasmacluster technology cleans the air with antibacterial ions. Never mind its advanced flushing technology, green features and sophisticated design. So when I was asked would I pay $4,800 for a luxury spa toilet, my answer was simple, “it shuts the seat?” Worth the price of admission for me!<br /><br />My kids did ask if it knows to open for a boy or a girl. The INAX representative told me it opens the lid for girls. Sorry fellas, you’ll have to lift the seat on your own. <br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>4.    Design Matters</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/DCT365S%20angle%20environment%20oct10.jpg?derivative=medium&source=web.jpg&type=medium&ver=13049354520001" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/DCT365S%20angle%20environment%20oct10.jpg?derivative=medium&source=web.jpg&type=medium&ver=13049354520001" /></a></div><br />From Michael Graves’ teapots to Poggenpohl’s Porsche kitchen, branded design partnerships are not new. Design and Designers matter to homeowners. And the elements do not have to be expensive to offer high performance or design. <a href="http://www.dacor.com/">Dacor</a>’s new Distinctive 36” cooktop was created in partnership with BMW Group Designworks USA and is a perfect example of an accessibly priced appliance that has name plate designer status attached. <br /><br /><b>5.    Green as a Greens Fee</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/Slide13/web.jpg?ver=13049368970001" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/Slide13/web.jpg?ver=13049368970001" width="320" /></a></div><br />OK, I’m a golfer. To me a “greens fee” means something you pay just to play. And in today’s marketplace, you need to be green to play. While it’s still not high on the consumer’s punch list, designers, architects and manufacturers recognize that they must be environmentally friendly. Products like LED lighting from <a href="http://stonelightingdesign.com/">Stone Lighting</a> and<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/25CS906_d/web.jpg?ver=13049512600001" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://gallery.me.com/ldolnick/101195/25CS906_d/web.jpg?ver=13049512600001" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.staron.co.kr/staron/eng/products/introducing.do">Samsung’s Radianz Quartz</a> with recycled content, demonstrate that the building community has embraced green as a long-term necessity that won’t go away like gas rationing in the 70’s. Let’s applaud the design community for creatively leading us to be environmentally responsible instead of waiting for us to ask. <br /><br /><br />Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to <a href="http://www.chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/">::Surroundings::</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-G11330_7QNVy5SnscQ0RYOZ6pOKtzY2uJgw3mtjb3Hh3tkKur1ThM9-0P6AEH3tsayMg9dMzGkEXYkFGlJwgiUvQdxO5wZJ1jr1UDAIcAMFnE_DvoeQ1lehnBabAhlCtfyPr8UmdQrO/s1600/loripic2SML.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-G11330_7QNVy5SnscQ0RYOZ6pOKtzY2uJgw3mtjb3Hh3tkKur1ThM9-0P6AEH3tsayMg9dMzGkEXYkFGlJwgiUvQdxO5wZJ1jr1UDAIcAMFnE_DvoeQ1lehnBabAhlCtfyPr8UmdQrO/s320/loripic2SML.jpg" /></a><br /><br />See all Lori's posts <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/search/label/Lori%20Dolnick">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Five Trends to Watch at the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)

By Lori Dolnick The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, NV was a leaner exhibition – a reflection of the economy and home buildin...

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