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outdoor use. Chances are, their designer has selected an outdoor-rated model for the newest outdoor projects. Increasingly attractive outdoor furniture, like the new line released by Jamie Durie of TV fame, can complement casual indoor furniture in the adjoining room. LED lighting can illumi- nate an outdoor kitchen, just as it can an indoor project. Outdoor cabinetry can coordinate with outdoor furniture by lines like Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens. Designers can even custom- ize the side panels with personalized signage – something designed for hospitality clients but likely to be popular with homeowners who entertain on a large scale. (Why not offer clients the option of having a poster of their favorite team displayed at their next Super Bowl party, swapped out with their favorite candidate at an election year fundraiser?) A Los Angeles show wouldn't be complete without a celebrity tie-in. Jamie Durie filled the bill quite well with his infectious energy and expansive outdoor furniture line, but he wasn't alone in being represented. Your eye couldn't help but land on a flashy orange Hestan grill used by chef Thomas Keller at his famed French Laundry restaurant. He wasn't there himself, but your clients can now have a Keller outdoor cooking connection. (If orange isn't their new black, other finishes are available.) NEW SURFACES AND FINISHES The industry has been looking at alternatives to stainless steel's and brushed nickel's silver tones in recent years, and Dwell was no excep- tion. Rose Gold and Copper glittered on faucets across the show floor, and in handsome accents on Ronbow's deliciously decorative Amora van- ity. Stainless-alternative appliances got a race car-style luster in True's Pearl Slate refrigerator. One wishes they made other appliances to create a sexy kitchen suite. New surfaces were also in evidence, with Dekton's popular and expanding line and a new material entirely from Italian laminate manu- facturer Arpa Industriale. Its new offering to the countertop category is a surface called Fenix NTM. NTM stands for nanotech matte materi- al, for the acrylic resin blended into the paper core. Imagine Corian and Formica having a gifted child together and you get a sense of Fenix's potential. Like Corian, it's soft, smooth and repairable. Like Formica, it's reasonably priced and versatile. It can be used in wall ap- plications, as well, but be sure to speak to your fabricator about its properties and limitations, as you would any material. The manufacturer's U.S.-based representatives say it's available here now through its distributor network and can be installed by any laminate fabricator. LAST WORDS Dwell may be too far for you to attend, but it's definitely worth checking out new and different design shows in your area. Some have local furniture makers whose artisanal skills can enhance a room you're designing in unexpected ways. Others show off what homeowners are excited about, which may expand your definitions of design trends. At the very least, a day exploring design away from your desk is never a bad thing. ▪ Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS is an independent designer in San Diego, the author of New Kitchen Ideas That Work and upcoming New Bathroom Idea Book (Taunton Press), and a blogger, design journalist, seminar developer and industry consultant. Outdoor continues its upscale trend with celebrity chef-associated grill. Ronbow's decorative new Amora vanity gets warm gold trim to complement new faucet trends. A new Italian surface weds acrylic and laminate into a repairable matte finish countertop or wall covering option. New stainless-alternatives include True Refrigeration's Pearl Slate finish with lustrous depth. Photo: Courtesy of Hestan; Distributed Through Purcell Murray Photo: J. Gold Photo: Ronbow Photo: Fenix NTM/Arpa Industriale 32 Kitchen & Bath Design News • September 2016 TREND SPOTTING