Jake Sandoval

More than 175 guests celebrated the opening of the Waterworks Scottsdale Showroom at the Scottsdale Design District earlier this month in Arizona. Guests, including Christopher Frederick (Organic Looms), Elliott Halem (Kravet), Eric Berkey (C.A.I. Designs), Richard Wilkinson (Town), Valerie Crosby (Crosby/Wright), Lauren Rosenberg (LR-PR), Erik Peterson (PHX Architecture), Nancy Brunkhorst (Nance Construction), Jeremy Meek (Desert Star Construction), David Miller (David Michael Miller & Associates), Andrea Anttonen (MMB Studio), Lori Carroll (Lori Carroll Designs), Heather Ryan (H. Ryan Studio), Holly Ogden, Patti Burdick, Scott Burdick and Jana Parker Lee (Wiseman & Gale), Marvin Wilkinson and Art Ellsworth (John Brooks), David Dick (David Dick Architecture), Robert Moric (Bulthaup AZ), Inga Rehmann (OZ Architects), Karol Nickel and Bobbie Akins (Phoenix Home & Garden), Donna Vallone (Vallone Design) and Tony Sutton (Est Est), and me, Susan Solliday (LuxePros) … and that is only a partial list of the who’s who in design at the opening … joined Peter Sallick, CEO & Creative Director of Waterworks, in celebration at the space. 

The Waterworks showroom has an industrial vibe with exposed ductwork and concrete floors and offers designers and architects a hands-on experience with Waterworks offerings in kitchen and bath vignettes displaying a stunning array of cabinetry, hardware, and fixtures. 

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You know what they say … you can’t win if you don’t play! Get your work out in the 2018 roster of awards opportunities for well-deserved acknowledgment.

The 4th annual INTERNATIONAL FURNISHINGS & DESIGN ASSOCIATION (IFDA) Take A Seat helps raise money for Military Assistance Mission while “Helping Heroes at Home.” Registration is now open to all industry professionals to create a one-of-a-kind chair for live auction on May 3rd at The Legacy Ballroom. THE COMPLETED CHAIRS ARE DUE by April 9. Register today to take advantage of IFDA Arizona chapter, Luxe Magazine and Scottsdale Fashion Square publicity up until the event! The applicants can use their design talents to create a chair, either new construction or upcycling of an existing chair, for live auction. No hold stops on these creative seats in support of our military. 

The ARIZONA NORTH CHAPTER OF ASID (AZ North) has opened its entry submission portal for its marquee design competition, the annual Design Excellence Award Competition. “Designers play a crucial role in creating spaces that not only inspire but also supports life safety and the quality of life of the people who occupy those spaces,” says AZ North chapter President, TABITHA EVANS. “We look forward to seeing the creative and skillful problem solving of our membership.” Categories include both residential and commercial options with winners announced at the Design Excellence Awards Gala on August 11, 2018. APPLY by March 31.

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Tuesday marked the 8th annual Independent Woman Luncheon held at the Phoenix Art Museum. The Independent Woman Luncheon has quickly become one of the Valley’s most beautiful and beloved philanthropic events. I had the privilege of being included amongst a sold-out crowd of the Valley’s premier design community as we came together in support of Phoenix Art Museum’s commitment to excellence in visual arts and education. 

Each year a keynote speaker is selected in the tradition of honoring a high-profile designer. This year we welcomed renowned interior designer, Amy Lau, to speak about her work. An Arizona native, Amy studied art history at the University of Arizona and later received a master’s degree in fine and decorative arts from the prestigious Sotheby’s Institute of Art graduate program in New York. Amy’s interiors are known for their expressiveness, impeccable attention to detail, and fusion of fine art and design elements. Her firm’s work has been featured in such notable publications as Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, NY Cottages & Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, and Luxe Interiors + Design.

Besides enjoying an array of stunning one-of-a-kind themed centerpieces created by the Valley’s top design firms, we enjoyed a delicious lunch of stuffed squash, light green salad, and bite-sized sweet treats.

But why hear it from me! I invited my table-mates to chime in and this is what they said:

“This was my first time attending the luncheon.  I really enjoyed going around and looking at all the different Tables. Coming from a fashion background I couldn’t help but admire all the fashionistas! Women and men all architecturally different coming together for a wonderful cause and passion we share.” – Lori Clarke, Lori Clarke Design. Lori and her team have been transforming spaces and coming up with new ways to recreate your favorite spots since 2010. 

“The Independent Woman Luncheon is leaving a legacy while setting the stage for the Valley’s most talented Interior Designers to engage our talents to create beauty and support the Phoenix Art Museum’s educational opportunities for children in our community. Each year the room is filled with interpretations of design that are completely unique and yet endlessly connected. This year’s event was equally spectacular and truly highlighted the color and life that Amy Lau represents in her designs. It was an honor to participate and attend.” – Jackie Funkhouser, Scottsdale Interior Design Group, where interior design is their passion and client satisfaction the inspiration.

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With the first part of 2018 coming to a close, the forward arc for the rest of the year becomes a little clearer, and we begin to get an idea of where these next eleven months will take us. It’s important to keep an eye on design trends in particular, of the many shifts in taste which are occurring; keeping just ahead of the style curve is essential to having a home that is trendy, presentable, and marketable, and not one that’s merely imitative and full of old news. Here are a few of the in-vogue looks we’ve picked up on so far.

Velvet

 Via Shoproomideas

The recent craze for the plush shimmer of velvet isn’t only reserved for the display windows of department stores—it’s creeping its way into the home, as well. Although it’s hard to tell how long this trend will last, there is a classic appeal to the indulgent luxury of this material. You can make an impact by going bold with a brightly colored sofa or set of armchairs, or you can also let the material speak for itself by choosing more muted and neutral tones.

Mixed Metals

Via Elements of Style

2017 saw a mass demand for rose gold everything: decorations, appliances, lamps, personal items, and more. This pink metallic soon oversaturated the market, rapidly making the transition from trendy to tired, and in its wake we find a taste for a more diverse cast of characters. After the uniformity of a rose gold coordinated lifestyle, today’s design sensibilities seem to favor a mix of various metals instead. Brass accents alongside stainless steel appliances, polished copper next to aged bronze—anything goes! Customize your kitchen to your heart’s content this year with no need to worry about making every knob and handle identical.

Make a Menagerie

 

Via NearAndDeer on Etsy

Deer-related motifs are an ancient trend that has been coming back to the design forefront over the past couple of years, mostly due to the striking silhouette of antlers, but in 2017 and into 2018 it looks like a whole host of other creatures will be joining them. Animal-inspired furnishings—from decorative figurines to whimsical wall art— can either make a room statelier or more playful, depending on the designer’s or artist’s interpretation. Regardless of which direction you go, the dynamic, organic shape and naturalistic feel of animal furnishings will be the perfect complement to any contemporary home.

Natural Elements

 

This year we expect to see a continuation of the move toward more raw and natural resources that started in 2017, with an emphasis on stonework and organic wood shapes. As people become more interested in discovering and supporting locally made artisan goods, that awareness is also entering the conversation when it comes to furnishing and sourcing materials for your home. Not only are these natural elements often more durable than their artificial counterparts, they only gain texture and story with time, helping your to home develop its own unique character.

Maximalism

 Designed by Alex Papchristidis. Via HouseBeautiful

One of the most exciting tendencies taking hold this year is the gradual counter-trend of maximalism to last year’s minimalism. While the simple appeal of unadorned white interiors with their few, carefully selected decorations is far from out of fashion yet, people are beginning to abandon that restraint in favor of a more eclectic approach. This year is all about experimentation and rebellion—let yourself have fun in your space and try mixing and matching until you find something that works! There can be artfulness in creating an assemblage of eras and styles in one space that all complement each other while still making their own individual impact. If you’re torn between making your living room farmhouse chic or seventies retro, try both. No one is truly defined by one style and one style only, so don’t limit yourself!

Luxe Pros news inspires exquisite design through access, excellence, and inspiration. Find Luxury Pros connects you with premiere luxury professionals.

When at their desk dreaming about the coming weekend, many Arizonians visualize sitting out on the patio enjoying a chilly evening in front of a warm fire with a nice bottle of wine. Nothing quite says luxury like dipping into your own wine cellar reserve to find that perfect bottle to uncork.

Many homeowners have the luxury of a gorgeous stone lined underground grotto at their disposal for tasting and storing some of the finest. If you are not one of these lucky few, great news! You don’t have to move or send your child off to college to reclaim square footage to elevate your wine experience. A wine cellar needs far less space than you think.

With the soaring popularity of entertaining at home and wine collecting, wine storage options continue to grow and become more creatively implemented.  Small living enthusiasts can now maximize home space by converting areas such as closets, staircases coves, or walls into practical wine storage alternatives and great conversation starters.

The Outside

When selecting that sweet spot for your upground cellar, stay away from exterior walls. An interior room or wall will make for a more stable environment for the wine and cut down on cooling costs. The well-shaded side of the house also works well. Ideal conditions for a wine cellar are cool and dark, ranging from 55 degrees to 65 degrees. This becomes important because unlike a below-ground cellar, where the average temperature naturally ranges from 55 degrees to 65 degrees, you’ll have to insulate your cellar and of course add refrigeration to achieve the same results. Gary Sullivan, The Wine Enthusiast director of sales, explains in the Wine Spectator magazine that a vapor barrier “goes on the warm side — which is the exterior of the cellar, the interior of your living space.”

Refrigerating your new wine room certainly adds to the expense but there are numerous options ranging the gamut of price. From simply placing a wine cooler refrigerator in the room, kits or systems that can be inserted into the closet space or turning the entire room into a refrigerated environment.

When looking at inspiration photos of converted closets or rooms, you will see projects with many options for doors, including French doors or doors with glass panels. Whether refrigerated or not, have a door that keeps the light low so the temperature inside remains consistent. If lighting shines into the glass panel from outside the closet, use low-heat lights such as LEDs rather than heat intense halogens.

What’s Inside Counts 

Assuming you are going to display your wine a little more ceremoniously than the stacked boxes at Costco, lining the interior with plywood gives you a great surface to affix mounting shelves. Moveable shelves will provide the flexibility needed to adapt as your collection grows. 

There are many options for shelves and racks ranging from cleverly using recycled wooden wine crates to custom shelving or wine racks. Closet Wine Cellars manufactures an innovative patented wine racking system. It is designed to maximize any given space (closet, wall or room storage). The system showcases wine bottles in the desired neck down position. Leaving bottles artfully displayed and wine labels readily viewable for easy retrieval. 

But every good wine lover knows that an empty cellar or closet is no more fulfilling than an empty glass. Rather than simply dashing off to the local wine boutique, not that convenience is bad, wine selection like wine consumption is better enjoyed as an experience. Take the time to enjoy the journey by visiting local wine festivals to brush up on wine speak and varietals as well as stock your new wine closet.

A perfect opportunity is looming up this weekend at the Grand Wine Festival featuring Heritage Square reds, whites, and roses, oh my! Did you know we have four wine growing regions in Arizona? The festival highlights the growing business of varietals with a fabulous taste of 30 different wineries, showcasing more than 150 wine varietals. Try by the glass and take home a bottle or case of your favs. 

To solidify the experience, the event will feature music, a small selection of vendors, and an auction to be held on Saturday.

Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Starting at $15. Arizona Wine Growers Association.

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Last week, we talked about how to rejuvenate your home for 2018, but sometimes the answer isn’t something new, but something old. The demand for vintage and antique items has been constantly climbing over the past few years, and the small business owners of Phoenix have risen to answer that call. Here are some of our expert tips for finding the best of the best in pre-loved goods.

Come Prepared

 

Before you do anything else, make sure you have accurate measurements, a phone chock full of reference pictures, and sample material and paint swatches if you have them at your disposal. It’s all too easy to get overwhelmed by the array of knick-knacks and unique pieces on display, become taken with a beautiful piece, and bring it home only to realize it is not quite the right shade of gold or the decorative motif clashes with your upholstery. It is important to take your time and be discerning in your choices—if you don’t have the time to assess your options properly, then it’s better to wait than to make a rushed decision and be stuck with an unsatisfactory item you now have to get rid of.

The Price is Right (But Could Be Better)

 

Don’t be afraid to engage in a discussion over the price of the items you select! Haggling is an expected and accepted part of the antiquing world, in particular when it comes to temporary situations such as flea markets or seasonal antique shows. Unless the price tag has a specific indication that the price is non-negotiable—common markers include “firm” or “ND,” meaning no discount—then it is a worthwhile effort to pursue a lower cost. If making your own offer right off the bat seems intimidating, you can also try for a “best price” to get the ball rolling instead. Not every seller is willing to negotiate, so don’t get discouraged if you are turned down the first few times; with more practice, you’ll start to learn how to recognize what a vendor is willing to come down on, and you’ll get better at talking prices.

Think Outside the Box

 

Antique frames from the Reves Collection at the Dallas Museum of Art

It is always important to keep an open mind when antiquing; while you want to stay focused and make sure you achieve what you came in for, you never know how the perfect addition to your home may come from an unexpected place. If you’re on the hunt for wall decoration, don’t limit yourself to fingering through posters and art—take a look through the smaller pieces and baubles, and keep an eye on the frames, even if you don’t always like what’s inside them. An empty frame around some mounted oddities can make for a unique, three-dimensional conversation piece. If you have your heart set on decorations for the study, then keep an eye out for old machinery and outdoor tools as well as the more standard shelf décor. The joy of antiques is in their singular identity and anachronistic appearance in our modern life, so feel free to highlight that by taking things out of their expected environment.

 Where to Look

  

Displays at monthly market Sweet Salvage

The greater Valley has a thriving small business community, and that includes those with a taste for the older things in life. You have plenty of options waiting to be explored, but a great place to start is the Sweet Salvage event on every third Thursday-Sunday. Each month, North 7^th Ave becomes a mecca for vintage enthusiasts for four full days, and even that may not be enough time to cover everything this market has to offer! Sweet Salvage also welcomes artisans and creators alongside antique sellers, making for a fantastic diversity in goods and pieces. 

If you like the set-up of being able to jump from stall to stall, then the best place to try next is an antique mall. While you may not always be able to talk with the individual sellers directly, they are a great way to see a large number of antiques of various periods and types all concentrated in one place—and most of them are large enough that you can take several trips before you discover all of the stalls. Antique Gatherings on Indian School and Call it New / Call it Antique are both expansive and well-run, and you’re sure to find something to fall in love within at least one of their many booths. 

If you prefer a more closely curated experience, then the next place to stop is the string of vintage shops in the trendy Melrose area along 7^th Ave. Zinnias at Melrose, Retro Ranch, Twigs & Twine, Melrose Vintage, Rust & Roses…and that’s not even all of them! You can hop from one shop to another and enjoy the specialty and singular taste of each space, traveling from the mix of custom furniture and modernist finds at Twigs & Twine to the 60s/70s wonderland of Retro Ranch.

Whatever your preferred flavor of history, there is no lack of places to meet your every need—somewhere out there is someone’s abandoned junk destined to be your next statement piece. On with the new year and in with the old! 

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As we continue our love affair with open floor plans and sleek lines, the home chef relies on clever conveniences to make kitchen space function well.

A shared openness relies on built-ins to blend appliances seamlessly into the cabinetry or to tuck away in hidden storage. Each year manufacturers scramble to introduce new products to keep residential consumers well equipped.

The annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show which took place this January in Orlando, Florida boasted the best of these new kitchen and bath products all pushing the boundaries of design, technology, and innovation. 

Modern Design in the Home

Kitchens are Getting Sexier

We saw “affordable terrazzo-look porcelain tiles to high-octane hues on professional ranges, we can’t help but be bowled away by the eye-popping designs on display” reported Interior Design. Referring to the Italian manufacturer, Bertazzoni’s, new Professional series of ranges. 

Its stylish yet functional temperature gauge inspired by chronograph watch dials and automobile-grade finishes in vibrant hues of orange, red, and yellow and classic favs of white and black, will make any sleek kitchen sizzle.

Grays and whites still flourish but we are seeing a strong trend toward blues and black in cooking spaces. The two-tone will quickly become a must-have in color and in mixing of material palettes. 

In love with metals? KBIS didn’t disappoint there either. We saw a variety of metals but dominating the field were flat black, copper, and brushed golds in plumbing fixtures as well as cabinet hardware.

Laura Eagen, Estrella Cabinetry, and Showroom, recently returned from KBIS. She said one of the first things she noticed was that encaustic tiles are huge. 

Ann Sacks

Encaustic tile patterns are based typically on Moroccan patchwork designs and they have seen a popularity over the past year.  What has changed is that the color is settling down from what we have been seeing and the focus is on the pattern. Traditional encaustic tiles consist of pressed clay on a concrete base and are quite expensive. Luckily there are many less expensive encaustic effect tiles on the market to make this an affordable addition to many homes.

Probably attributable to the waterfall edge craze on islands, edges on all surfaces are generally thickening. Although not featured much at KBIS, Laura is seeing a surge in the specification of this type of edge. “Instead of a 1.5-inch edge on the countertop, the norm is quickly becoming 2.5 inches.” If looking for such an edge on your future countertop, she states to “Look for a mitered edge so the pattern flows seamlessly and appears as one beautiful thick 2.5 slab.” Steering away from a laminated edge as the pattern will not flow properly. 

Kitchens are Getting Smarter

Over the past several years we have seen products with compelling new features popping up such as refrigerators with interior cameras to help with grocery shopping lists and motion activated faucets. Manufacturers are always on the hunt for new technologies to improve the quality of the home when catering to busy lifestyles.

Samsung Win Best of KBIS 2018 Awards across two categories for its QuickDrive™ and FlexWash™ + FlexDry™ systems at KBIS this year. A major step forward in laundry innovation. Equipped with enhanced smart capabilities, the new washer takes the guesswork out of doing laundry from your mobile device. Simplifying the washing cycle with intuitive features and smart features keeping both you and your washer operating at optimal performance.

According to Laura, although cell charger stations have been out for a while, clean-lined simple varieties were featured and were a bit hit with KBIS-goers 

And who just doesn’t love more gadgets to deal with those unsightly wires.

Nothing is probably as unsightly as a shower drain. But happy to report they are working on other options to streamline the look to complement curbless showers and large format tiles.

Anything that keeps me from shuffling through stacks of pots and pans rises to the top of my fav list; carousel inserts for cabinets guaranteed to make you happy and entertain your kids for hours.

As well as using interior organizers to stash and hide clutter. Richelieu’s Straightline modular unit in birch and walnut includes a combination of wood trays, utensil dividers, knife blocks, plate holders, spice racks and boxes in every drawer or pullout shelf. You can easily rearrange the layout as often as needed. 

Windowless kitchens rejoice! ATI Decorative Laminates’ LumiSplash combines art with lighting in a durable and ultra-thin laminate. The material is suitable for most vertical and horizontal applications, such as backsplashes, countertops, tabletops, walls, and casework. Can think of so many applications for this!

Resiliency of Materials

Thanks to the layer of the company’s LuxCore FRP surface, this product is not only fabulous but it has impact-, scratch-, chemical- and abrasion-resistant properties. 

Other notable surfaces were Cosentino’s modified Silestone product. N-BOOST improves the water resistance and liquid repellency properties of Silestone at a molecular level. 

Also entering the easy-care surface category is Bosch with its introduction of the new Black Stainless Steel Kitchen suite to simplify life in the kitchen. Its “Invented for Life” surface helps guard against scratches and fingerprints. The line of resilient appliances includes cooktops, dishwashers, refrigeration units, and ventilators. 

All designed to give you more time to enjoy your beautiful, organized, clean kitchen or to spend more time keeping the kids away from the pot carousel.

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All other images sourced from KBIS