Our home has become our sanctuary, not just a shelter to protect us from the elements. It is a place that can nurture, heal, support and inspire occupants. With thoughtful universal design features and material selections, a home can do all of that and more – through all stages of life. 

As the adoption of biophilic design has shown, our physical and mental well-being are directly impacted by our physical environment(s). To that end, it is important for designers to create remodel and new construction project designs that deliver intrinsic value via UD – regardless of the age and/or health of their clients. You never know when you are going to need a grab bar, zero-threshold shower or bidet-style toilet … no one plans to have an accident or serious medical issue.  

The kitchen appliance sector was well represented at EuroCucina/FTK at Fiera Rho Milano. Although the total percentage of appliance manufacturers displaying at EuroCucina that serve the US market is limited, there was much to consider for design professionals with US clientele. The noteworthy trends seen at the show included a wide spectrum of colorful finish options from matte black and matte white to blue, yellow, green and more, integrated (view-saving) downdraft ventilation systems, Wi-Fi connectivity, ‘burnerless’ induction cooking surfaces that track pot movement in real time, integrated infrared/AI sensors that take the guesswork out of cooking and food preservation and sleek, compact outdoor cooking equipment.

Ever been asked by a client what they should expect to spend on a kitchen or bathroom remodel? If you are like me, the answer is a resounding yes! However, what a project costs is not actually relevant. What is relevant is what resources the client can allocate for a remodel project – with a few constructive parameters. The following are some tips to share with clients to help them establish a realistic project budget.

The Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association’s (DPHA) annual three-day summit took place at the Houston Hyatt Regency with 344 attendees and 48 exhibitors representing 62 manufacturers. The event was a fabulous mix of serious fun and serious business with a product awards ceremony; a dynamic keynote session with futurist Crystal Washington, who adeptly tailored her presentation to the attendees; and the Product Showcase where premium and luxury products, not frequently seen at other trade shows, were on display and accompanied by brand representatives and product designers.

The 42nd annual International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile show, Cersaie, was recently held at the Bolonga, Italy, Exhibition Center. This year’s show expanded to 16 halls comprising more than 1.5 million square feet of display space with 627 exhibitors from 30 countries representing tile, tile glazing and tile installation tool manufacturers. Almost 100,000 design, real estate, media and student visitors attended with approximately 52% of the total coming from Italy and the other 48% from around the world.