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
Publisher Paul DeGrandis Publisher Emeritus Eliot Sefrin Editor Janice Anne Costa Managing Editor Anita Shaw Group Editorial Director Patrick O'Toole Contributing Writers Kim Berndtson Joe Dowd Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS Elizabeth Richards Denise Vermeulen Columnists Ellen Cheever, CMKBD, ASID, CAPS Hank Darlington Leslie Hart Bruce Kelleran, CKD, CPA Stephen Nicholls Ken Peterson, CKD Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, CAPS Sarah Reep, CMKBD, ASID, CMG, CAPS, IIDA Bryan Reiss, CMKBD Eric Schimelpfenig, AKBD Art Director John Sidor Media Production Rep Connie Wolf Editor, ForResidentialPros.com Andrea Girolamo Web Site Manager Thamaraj Udomwongyont Circulation Manager Mike Serino Reader Service Manager Jeff Heine Administrative Assistant Marie Snow Sola Group Inc. Copyright © 2014 by Sola Group Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be produced in any form, including electronically, without written permission from the publisher of Kitchen & Bath Design News . ® December 2014 ForResidentialPros.com | 5 Facebook.com/KitchenBathDesignNews @KBDN Editorial { Janice Costa, editor } D espite my ski-loving friends' best efforts to convince me other- wise, I've always maintained that the only "good" winter would be one spent living in a beach-front house in Hawaii. Unfortunately, neither I nor any of my friends own such a vacation home, so I generally spend the winter drowning my sorrows in hot chocolate, and counting down the days until spring training. That said, it's hard not to like December. The last month of the year is invariably flled with holiday cheer and unex- pected surprises; a chance to look back on the year's events and accomplishments, and the opportunity to look for- ward to the promise of a new year. It's a warm and fuzzy time when you can refect on the best of the past year and indulge in fantasies of what's ahead, blending old and new with both hope and nostalgia. It's also a great time for planning – whether that planning focuses on new marketing or social media strategies, upcoming trade show agendas, or simply how to be more organized in your business and home life. But as Dave Patters sug- gests in his DPH Perspectives column (see story, Page 20), a big part of planning for what's ahead is also know- ing what's in your rearview mirror – whether that's com- petition from the Internet, changes in your consumer base, shifts in the economy or new technology coming down the pike. And taking the time to look back will help you up- date your business model, not only to address future chal- lenges, but to build on the lessons from the past as well. KBDN's December issue provides another interesting juxtaposition of old and new, as we review a year's worth of 2014 products, pinpoint- ing the products that you, our readers, expressed the great- est interest in (see related story, Page 30), while simul- taneously previewing some of the coolest new products to be displayed at next month's KBIS and IBS in Las Vegas (see KBIS coverage, Page 46). Indeed, both of these product collections ofered some interesting surprises. When revisiting the products of 2014 that drew the highest number of reader requests, it was a countertop extrava- ganza, with everything from thin glass tile, custom wood countertops and quartz to wood-look laminates, spe- cialty surface options and countertops that mimicked the look of granite. With the economy still recovering, we expected a focus on budget- friendly essentials, yet there were plenty of high-end sur- prises, including customized refrigeration, distinctive wall- mounted wine storage and striking iron corbels. As for what's going to be hot at KBIS and IBS, from what we're seeing so far, it's all about smart technology – in appliances, in storage and interior fttings, and even in plumbing products. And look out – crazy custom colors are coming back! If a plethora of products isn't enough to shake those winter blahs, the spa-style baths showcased in this month's bath spotlight pro- vide some fantasy escapes (see related story, Page 36) perfect for recharging. It's not a Hawaiian vacation, I'll admit, but these bath havens are sure to inspire design professionals in myriad ways, whether creating a client's dream bath space or merely looking for a little bit of zen that's not covered in snow. December is also a good time to sweep out the old, physically as well as mentally. For the KBDN editorial team, that task has been more in- tensive than in years past, as we sort through decades of old pictures and papers and issues and memories and pack up our fles in prepara- tion for a move to our new ofces (which are sadly not in Hawaii either!). Efective with this issue, our editorial offices have moved, so be sure to check out our new contact info on this month's masthead (see Page 9). As the year draws to a close, we all undoubtedly have much to refect on, and many new plans for jump- starting the New Year. Here's hoping you all have a won- derful holiday season, and a happy, healthy and proft- able 2015! Build on the Past For a Great New Year As the year draws to a close, it's the perfect time to refect on the past year's accomplishments and events, look forward to the promise of the New Year – and consider how the two interrelate. "Taking the time to look back as well as forward will help you update your business model, not only to address future challenges, but to build on the lessons from the past."