What's Cooking?
Just back from the Milan kitchen show, WmOhs’ president and part owner Bob Cilli talks about a design trend toward a cleaner, transitional look. Simplicity is key, and the classic Euro designs of today’s WmOhs premium kitchens reflect that.
Founder Bill Ohs’ old-world style uses distressed finishes and rub-throughs (a worn effect accomplished by glazing as a finishing technique) in his furniture-like kitchen cabinetry.
Cabinets with interior fixtures and accessories, such as touch-latch motorized drawers and sleek new hardware, are coming on the scene. “The Europeans are always a light year ahead of us,” Cilli reports. “We saw prototypes of computerized bar coding of food that alert the cook as food supplies dwindle; in the future, speed ovens will cook programmed recipes.
WmOhs is currently seeing more condo renovations in the mountains, since they are more cost effective than “scrapes” (tear downs). The marble and granite countertops of ten years ago are moving aside for sealed and waxed sandstone that comes from Taos, New Mexico. Cilli is also seeing more manufactured stones and concrete.
“Our new line of cabinets is ‘green.’ Environmentally friendly woods with water-based finishes are available, although they are not as durable as conversion varnishes, which are lacquer-based,” explains Cilli. Fast-growing bamboo is appealing and very sustainable. Almost all of the exotic woods, such as the mahogany used by WmOhs, are eco-friendly, bought from distributors who are part of environmental stewardship programs. WmOhs has showrooms in Denver and Edwards.
Modern Kitchen Center (MKC) in Glenwood Springs sells the latest in Asko subzero refrigerators and Wolf cooking appliances. These award-winning Swedish appliances from Asko (www.askousa.com) exceed the Energy Star guidelines for eco-friendliness. There is a clothes dryer from Asko that includes a hanging drying system.
For countertops, president of MKC and certified kitchen designer, Robin Slattery, talks of the popularity of ground-up quartz, concretes, and natural granites that are very popular. The slab forms and soft look of matte surfaces intrigue people. MKC uses fiber reinforcement to stop the fissuring that is common in concrete.
Veneers are being used to achieve a contemporary look in cabinetry. Slattery is also seeing stainless steel, platinum, and carbon. A new “green” countertop material is recycled glass with a mixture of concrete and a product called ice stone with abalone shell for color.
“Our cabinetry is nearly completely formaldehyde-free, with less volatility in the glues used now,” says Slattery. “Stainless steel is actually the only 100% formaldehyde free cabinet and is used primarily in hospitals and commercial environments.”
There is dark chocolate cabinetry with pop colors like vibrant greens, oranges, and reds as accents. “They parallel the colors you find in the high-end clothing magazines,” says Slattery.
Modern Kitchen Center is located five miles south of Glenwood Springs on Highway 82.
Rob Hall of Kitchens Plus says that complete renovations to update a home or condominium might begin with retexturing walls with a skip trowel using Venetian plaster impregnated with color.
Flooring could be stone or a “look-alike” such as porcelain tile. Many products are Italian and use a process involving digital photos of real stone. The image is impregnated onto the tile, creating a true stone texture on the surface. The product is low maintenance and half the cost of real stone. Hardwood floors are dark with heavy distressing, says Hall.
“Green” materials are used to create durable countertops such as Cambria, the only quartz product made in the US.
For a more modern look, cabinets might be in knotty alder in a flush veneer or flat European laminate.
“Lighting is not a revelation,” says Hall. “In a renovation, the homeowner can rearrange can lights to accommodate new designs and adjust down lighting or task lighting under cabinets.” Up lighting is used for general ambiance.
At Kitchens Plus, “We can help clients lay out rooms, move walls, and create new space in-house,” says Hall. “It’s a one-stop shop.”
Kitchens Plus is located in Eagle-Vail’s Marketplace; owner/president Hall has been working with cabinetry since 1991.
Contact Information
Modern Kitchen Center:
www.modernkitchen.com
800-876-0075
Rob Hall’s Kitchen Plus:
www.robhallskitchensplus.com
970-845-0945
WmOhs
www.wmohs.com
970-926-1355
