Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.
Issue link: http://kitchenbathdesign.epubxp.com/i/432557
Top Knobs has introduced the Holland series within its Mercer Collection of decorative hardware. The contemporary pull is available with one knob, four pulls and two appliance pulls in 12" and 18", in Brushed Satin Nickel, Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel, Sable and Umbrio. Circle No. 187 on Product Card December 2014 ForResidentialPros.com | 45 from the darker fnishes, such as oil-rubbed bronze. "Satin stainless steel is still a classic, timeless look and is always in demand because of its universal appeal and comple- mentary nature," says Peele. "Efectively blurring the lines of a traditional look and feel with a modern, clean-lined aesthetic, stainless steel puts a contemporary spin on even the most rustic designs. Even with a splash of color throughout in a modern de- sign, stainless steel still manages to settle right in and enhance the vibrant colors with its subtle, yet sophisticated presence." Vecchiolla says that his frm's most popular fnishes are satin nickel and polished chrome. At the same time, the company has been experimenting with matte fnishes, antique or vintage looks, and crystal. And though he agrees that oil-rubbed bronze was on a downward slide, he says, "We are seeing a resurgence in all things retro, so we are launching new collections with these handcrafted fnishes for this year." There's also some demand for a more natural look to the fnish. "We are seeing a renewed interest in more organic de- signs and textures. We have also seen a swing in our polished silicon bronze, which has more of an organic brass feel," says Pfau. She adds that while a classic bronze dark fnish is still popular, she's also seen an increase in the lighter polished or brushed fnishes. UNIQUE APPLICATIONS When it comes to applications, innovation is the name of the game, and manufacturers are constantly fnding new ways to use hardware to enhance the design and utility of a room. McPeek says that lighting-specifc hardware should be con- sidered in the kitchen. "As people request more lighting and electronic cabinet components, the next logical trend will be to specify lighting hardware that works in conjunction with the cabinet," she says, citing Tresco Lighting's Oval Door Sensor Controller, which turns on an interior cabinet light automati- cally when the door is opened, as an example. Vecchiolla says that technology to accommodate aging in place, including LED lighted drawers and pantries, will become the new standard moving forward. Peele notes, "Integrating power options into kitchen coun- tertops or islands ofers a huge convenience in areas otherwise devoid of accessible power. In fact, the sparse location of wall outlets can dictate assigned areas of food prep stations that may not be conducive to the user." Solutions such as the PCS34 kitchen power grommet from Doug Mockett & Co. allow access to power anywhere, he points out. Unique drawer and door options are also becoming more in demand, say manufacturers. Hirasawa is seeing greater adop- tion of systems like the frm's LIN-X hinges for cabinet doors, a lateral swing system that allows doors to swing open in a small radius. Another European trend that is beginning to catch on in the U.S. is metal wall drawer boxes replacing traditional dovetail wooden drawer boxes, says Van Wyk. "This is partly driven by technology advancements that ofer integrated drawer slides and drawers with superior performance and durability. But it is also being driven by this increasing trend to integrate European-style infuences into American kitchens," he notes. Fitzpatrick says that some of the newer door trends call for thicker doors, smaller reveals and larger overlay capacities. "To achieve this, you must have functional hardware that can ac- commodate these requests," she states. There is also a growing interest in sleek, slim drawers that ofer high functionality in movement, like the Vionaro drawer system from Grass. "The concept provides hardware that has an elegant look and can expand beyond the kitchen and bath into furniture applica- tions," she concludes. Handmade in the U.S., the Motif Collection of decorative hardware from Soko by Jaye Design is fashioned from bronze or high-grade stainless steel. The knobs and pulls feature a rugged, hand-wrought look, and are available in 10 fnishes. Circle No. 193 on Product Card Rev-A-Shelf's Soft-Close Double Door Mount Waste Containers is a brushed aluminum system with Rev-A-Motion Soft-Open/ Soft-Close slide technology that provides smooth operation under heavy loads. The base works with 35-qt. and 50-qt. containers. Circle No. 188 on Product Card R. Christensen has introduced the Spectrum Series' Dash Collection of decorative pulls. The Dash Collection combines clean lines with a pop of white, black, orange or lime green color accents. The Spectrum Series' Dash Collection consists of four 96mm pulls in a glossy polished chrome fnish. Circle No. 189 on Product Card Siro Designs introduces its new Duotones collection. This collection ofers a variety of handles and knobs that showcase a duo of colors by combining fne brushed nickel or bright chrome with black or white resin, or wood accents. Circle No. 191 on Product Card Dynapro, the concealed undermount slide system from Grass America, now ofers a depth adjustment option providing four- dimensional adjustment. The depth adjustment is an add-on piece to the cabinet member, and provides up to a range of +4.5m forward adjustment. The soft-close slide has a carrying capacity of up to 132 pounds. Circle No. 190 on Product Card French Foundry's 18" refrigerator pull is available in Rustic Patina. The refrigerator pull matches the other pulls in the line, as well as many knobs and back plates. Circle No. 192 on Product Card The SLS-ELAN from Sugatsune America employs soft-close, free stay and lift assist for upward opening doors. To prevent slamming, the SLS-ELAN is equipped with the patented Lapcon damping system. Circle No. 194 on Product Card Blum Inc. has added the Aventos HK-XS stay lift door to its line of Aventos lift systems. The stay lift door allows for maximum useable interior space in the cabinet, and works well for wall cabinets above a refrigerator or pantry. Circle No. 195 on Product Card