If you didn’t attend the International Builder’s Show or the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, then you have most likely missed the new hoods from the Best Sorpresa Collection.

Best is calling this new batch of hoods Generation II. The Sun, Sphera, Intrigue and Fusion will round out the first nine hoods to bring the total collection to 13 pieces of “functional art.” Their official release will be this June and not at KBIS as you might expect.

I tried to take photographs of the hoods but they did not turn out well at all so I am using stock photography from Best.

The Sun is a wall mounted range hood that can be ducted or non-ducted. The Sun has perimeter induction technology that Best states allows the hood to better collect smoke and odors. The Sun features a round polished stainless disk (the sun) and comes with a white or black glass backdrop. An optional stainless flue is available for ducted applications but I think it looks better without it.

The Sphera is a recirculating hood that looks like a kitchen light. It is offered in either black or white. An optional remote control is available with this island hood. This hood is ideal for remodeling, and two hoods installed side by side can increase the exhaust functionality while looking stylish instead of toobcommercial.

The Intrigue is another wall-mounted hood that can be ducted or non-ducted. However, the ability to paint this hood makes it quite unique. The top portion (flue to chimney) can be painted allowing it to blend into the wall or pop if that is your preferred aesthetic. I like that this hood has a shelf-like appearance.

The Fusion hood has a yin-yang connection and is a balanced hood of brushed stainless steel and mirror glass. This wall hood can also be ducted with the option flue, like the Sun. In my opinion, this hood looks good both ducted and non-ducted.

The Best website has a useful tool called the Sorpresa Visualizer that lets you envision your hood selection in a range of kitchen styles from Arts and Crafts to European.

—Ann Porter

Do you suffer from social networking fatigue? I know I do.

For many, the fatigue comes from doing all the work of posting content and thinking up new content only to see no results.

If you feel like you’ve been posting the same thing over and over again on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin, you are probably not alone. I’m sure many readers feel that too much content is rehashed and repackaged.

Is your content boring?
Print out your last 20 posts and after a while take a look at them from a reader’s point of view. Are they dull? Do you say the same thing too many times? Fortunately, this problem can be fixed fairly easily.

Too many platforms?
Do you rush to join the newest social networking site only to lose track of who is in your network? If you don’t know who is in your network then how do you know what they want from you?

One-sided engagement?
Do you neglect to reply to comments other leave you? Do you post weak comments on other blogs and fan pages just to leave a link to your page? If you are not interesting, people will not click through.

I’d love to know if you are experiencing any social media fatigue and why you think that is. Leave a comment so I can know someone read this post and feel a little happier on the inside.

I’ll even post a few more questions to get the conversation started:

Do you think marketing contributes to the fatigue or does it feed your growing appetite for information?

Do you enjoy hearing from companies and brands you are a fan of? Are you dropping brands because they are cluttering your information stream?

—Ann Porter

When I attended the HD Boutique show in Miami Beach recently I took a look at the Perlick shallow-depth series.

The 18-in. depth is an industry first for 24-in.-wide undercounter refrigerators, Beverage Centers and Wine Reserves and will probably be a lifesaver for many designers and architects.

The units are designed for maximum storage and meet ADA design guidelines for 34-in. countertops. You can select solid stainless-steel doors, glass doors or convert the units to wood fronts for a more custom appearance.

The full-extension, adjustable-height shelves make label reading easy. The Wine Reserve will hold 20 bottles. The Beverage Center will hold 10 wine bottles on two wine shelves and comes with one adjustable pullout shelf.

—Ann Porter

When I was in College my design class was fortunate to go on a tour of Milliken in Georgia as part of a Design Bus Tour the school put together. It was really eye-opening for me as a young designer.

Milliken is once again impressing me with their new website www.inspiredinspiring.com, which aims to share amazing images and spark the inspiration we Designers need.

Whether you are looking for images for a Mood Board or seeking Inspiring colors and textures, their site will have it all for you to discover.

Add it to your bookmarks and share what you like about their site.

—Ann Porter