Eisenberg is the creator of the swissmiss blog and founder of CreativeMornings, a free monthly breakfast lecture series for creatives, and Tattly, which produces fun, well-designed and funky temporary tattoos. She also co-created TeuxDeux, a to-do app, and runs StudioMates, a collaborative workspace in Brooklyn for designers, bloggers, writers and other creative types. Whew.

The talk was inspiring, revolving around eight principles by which she lives and which she hopes to teach her children. I don’t remember all eight, but here are some I still vaguely recall: 1. Do what you love; 2. When you feel the need to complain, make something; 3. Surround yourself with like-minded people; 4. Follow your intuition; 5. Collaborate with others; 6. Inspire others; 7. If an opportunity scares you, take it…and number 8? For the last principle and more from the night’s discussion, you can visit the Apartment Therapy website, where a video will be posted tomorrow.

Needless to say, when I got home, I decided to go to her blog to read and see a little. That’s when I came across this video, which I highly recommend watching until the end:

Oh, the evening kicked off with a short presentation of Blime, a DIY parametric decorative pendant designed by Alvaro Soto that comes smartly packed in a box smaller than, say, that in which checks are sent (random reference, I know, but I’m looking at one as I write this). The assembly may seem daunting to some, but the pieces are all labeled according to an enclosed diagram. Check out the video on Kickstart.

One such product is Moen’s MotionSense kitchen faucet, which comes with two sensors to allow for hands-free operation—a welcome convenience in the kitchen. Moving one’s hand over the Wave Sensor at the top of the faucet or placing an object within sensing range of the Ready Sensor at its base turns it on and off. A side handle provides control of water temperature and flow, as well as manual operation. MotionSense is powered by six standard AA batteries or AC power adapter and is offered on the Arbor pull-down faucet.

Here’s a video on the technology:

I liked the look of TOTO’s Wyeth faucet (below) and thought the Neorest Shower Booth was interesting.

But I guess what made my ears perk up—in addition to the announcement about its alliance with Villeroy & Boch—was its 1G, a gravity-fed 1.0-gpf ultra-high-efficiency toilet that incorporates the company’s Dual Cyclone flushing system as well as a proprietary water-propulsion technology. Yes, Niagara Conservation makes a 0.8-gpf toilet, but I like that the 1G comes with two nozzles—instead of rim holes—and SanaGloss coating to ensure the toilet bowl and rim stay clean and free of residue, stain and limescale buildup, even with the reduced water flow.

You may recall having seen Odin, a bath/powder room collection designed by Jason Wu for Brizo. I loved the finish and the way the handle manipulates, as well as the touch and touch-free functions, but I guess I wasn’t sure how I felt about its proportions. Interestingly, seeing the new additions to the line has made me better appreciate the original. These include a tall single-handle version for vessel sinks (below), three- and four-hole Roman tub faucets, bidet and shower fixtures.

I especially like the widespread model, whose starkly simple handles, along with their very blunt ends, vaguely resemble runes (which, I guess, makes sense), lending the design a primitive, earthy elegance.

In addition to the Fuse kitchen faucet, which has earned quite a bit of ink, Delta also showed Compel, a new bath collection that comprises lav, shower and tub faucets, as well as coordinating accessories and a bidet. The lav faucets are WaterSense-certified. All are inspired Mid-century Modern design, according to Allison McKinney, Delta brand product manager. For me, there’s something vintage aeronautical about the lav faucet (below).

Here’s my shot of the widespread:

And here are images of planes from the 1950s:

Don’t see it? Maybe it’s just me…

This first one is of Eric Corey Freed, principal of organicARCHITECT and contributor to this blog, who makes the urgent case for building sustainably and rethinking about how we build. Before you press play, however, you may want to download the visual presentation, which does not appear on screen.

For those interested in learning about all things social media, check out this bloggers panel:

And finally, Judd Lord, director of industrial design for Delta Faucet Co., discusses design process, inspiration and influences in this lively session. Again, the visual component to his talk does not appear, but I’m working on it.

Several other sessions are available for viewing on the KBIS homepage and on our website. Weekend viewing?

Have a great weekend!

You can probably see why. They’re of a collection designed by architect Oriano Favaretto for Mastella Design that I was fortunate enough to see in the flesh at the International Bathroom Exhibition, which is a biennial component of the Salone del Mobile or the Milan Furniture Fair.

This is probably obvious, but the Kalla pedestal sink and Kallaguan freestanding tub take their graceful forms from calla lilies—gorgeous, no?—and are made of Cristalplant. I was going to wait to incorporate the line into an online story about the bath show, but couldn’t. The faucets are Gessi’s Goccia.

A picture is really worth a thousand words. But sometimes, you need more than one picture to tell the whole story.

Take Häfele’s SmartCab, whose true coolness was lost on me when I first saw its press release and image. Designed for 15-in. and 18-in. base cabinets with a drawer above, it’s a pullout system comprising a variety of interchangeable inserts and options that allow you to customize and maximize storage in what is often under- or ill-used space. Installation is easy, requiring just four screws to mount the unit to the base of the cabinet interior, and yes, soft-close runners are included.

Simple enough, right? And the image above is effective, I suppose. But I have to confess, it took a meeting with Häfele’s PR person (thanks, Kara!), during which I saw the following images, to make me understand, ah, the intelligence and versatility of SmartCab. (Of course, it could have just been me.)

Just wanted to mention that I’ve uploaded the last photos taken at the Milan Furniture Show to our Facebook page.

I spent part of my last day trying to snap some “make-up” shots at Eurocucina and FTK, which is the appliance pavilion, and the bulk of my time at the International Bathroom Exhibition (also occurring biennially), which offered plenty to see and occupied two halls. The last few hours I spent roaming the aisles of SalonSatellite, which features the work of young designers from all over the world. Fun, energetic and seriously abuzz, it’s definitely worth a visit if you ever find yourself at the Salone del Mobile.

A note of caution: I haven’t labeled all of the photos in this last album, as they were formatted and uploaded last night and I need to go through my notes to see if I can remember/figure out the ones that are currently anonymous. In any case, the products speak quite well for themselves, no?

The above and bottom images were taken in the Duomo area on my last evening in Milan, which I had the good fortune to spend taking in a bit of the city and dining with designer Lisa Wilson-Wirth—a lovely ending to a rather high-octane, mind-dizzying trip!

In the March and April issues of K+BB Magazine, the Road to KBIS column introduced readers to the five consumer lifestyle profiles (read about them here and here), representing four generations, to be featured in the UNcontained exhibit at KBIS. The exhibit comprised 20-ft.-long shipping containers outfitted to reflect the attitudes, values and aspirations of each profile.

For those of you unable to attend the show, following are some very unprofessional photos I took.

First up is Forever Fit, which offers a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the Zoomer/Baby Boomer (ages 45-65) set. For this driven generation, staying fit and active is a priority and having a home where they can retire and welcome family, especially grandchildren, is important. According to research done by Sphere Trending, “luxury is wellness in design” for this group of movers and shakers.

Unfortunately, I only took one photo of the New Hip Home, which takes on the urban Gen Now (ages 15-34) single. The newest members of the workforce, this group is completely wired, having grown up with the Internet and digital technology as a fact of life, and have enjoyed much opportunity, thanks to achievement-oriented yet indulgent parents. Being limited in income and space has not prevented these youngsters from expressing themselves in their home, which, for many, is in a city and tends toward the industrial in aesthetic.

The Caregiver display was inspired by the Prime Timers (ages 66-plus), who are moving in with their children and grandchildren to help care for the latter and receive assistance from the former. They, too, are an active bunch, pursuing hobbies (such as gardening), connecting with friends and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The Family Mixologists container addresses the life of the Gen-X blended family, which is often headed by former latchkey kids who want more for their children. Consequently, their home and lives bustle with activities (games, camping, videos, sports) that promote family time and strengthen relationships. To keep themselves healthy, they frequent farmers markets, are members of the locavore movement and can their own food.

The last display, Culinary Curators, was inspired by those in Gen Now who enjoy fine wine, gourmet dining and entertaining. Though their homes may be limited in square footage, they have devoted much time to design ideas and solutions that showcase their love of all things culinary and make them better hosts and hostesses.

—Alice

This year at Coverings in Florida, the photo imagery tile was on display in full force.

While we in North America may prefer to specify natural products, Europeans are facing a short supply and are very conscious of cradle-to-grave sustainability.

For those of us in the kitchen and bath industry, this will provide some really strong applications for us. How many of us have directed a busy young family away from wood in the kitchen or marble in a child’s bathroom because of the maintenance and wearing issues? With digital imagery on porcelain, we’ll now have the option of the look with the durability and easy care of porcelain.

Here are some of the examples I saw at Coverings:

Until next time,
Kelly

First, you must understand that the show is huge. Even though regulars, such as Maxine Laauer, founder and CEO of Sphere Trending—with whom I had the great pleasure of having dinner on my first night in Milan—noted that many of the companies have reduced their booth size this year, Eurocucina still occupied four halls. And because the majority of the floor space is dedicated to cabinet manufacturers, the booths each house multiple fully appointed vignettes, which means there is a lot to look at, touch and feel. One moment you could be marveling at the finish on a cabinet door or wondering if a cool texture on a countertop might be a pain to clean and the next you’re distracted by a cluster of pendants made from—whoa!—odd-sized pots and pans

or by the dozens of brown eggs artistically placed in the center of a dining table or the fleet of cute birdhouses adorning the entrance to a booth or the super-tall ladders being used as a towel rack.

And then there was all the greenery displayed throughout the show, be it in pots placed on a shelf or in the rear of a countertop or in oversized planters and more inspirational arrangements to lend the booth a more back-to-nature feel.

In fact, Mother Nature seemed to be enjoying a fair bit of attention and celebration at the show but perhaps this is but a continuation from the last edition of Eurocucina. Regardless, one could boil this love down to two messages: Respect nature because its resources are limited and therefore precious, and, well, respect nature because it is good, healthful and wholesome.

Hopefully after some time, I’ll be better able to process all the images in my head and on the press CDs I collected and come up with a coherent article. In the meantime, here are some photos I snapped on the show floor. I apologize for them being so out of order (there are two albums—one for April 18 and another for April 19).

While the home we designed in the East Bay (which is due to be the first LEED platinum home in Piedmont) is under construction, it is great to check in with people on the team to learn from their experiences. Today we check in with Alex Hodgkinson, of McCuthcheon Construction, the builder of the project.

Me: What are some elements of building a sustainable home that you are most excited about?
Alex: Building sustainably has the incredible advantage of being interesting and good for the planet, both at the same time. There are more challenges than conventional construction in some ways, since sustainable projects usually require us to learn some new things. But learning new things is also incredibly stimulating. Also, clients and architects who are deeply interested in sustainable building tend to be forward-thinking and innovative, which makes working with them a whole lot more interesting and consequently more fun.

Me: What are some of challenges of remodeling a green building?
Alex: Remodeling is inherently green, because we are, in a real sense, recycling buildings. Giving new life to an older home is a great satisfaction. If we do it right, and truly take advantage of the opportunities present when we have the house torn apart for remodeling, we can create a snug and comfortable home that will serve several more generations well into the future.

Some of the challenges are due to the changing structural requirements—for example, existing unreinforced concrete will usually not meet modern engineering requirements. Another set of challenges is in design—older homes typically do not have the kind of open and welcoming floor plan that modern families crave. They also were not well connected to the outdoors. Since they were designed in an era when energy was cheap, we see single-pane windows, minimal insulation, antiquated and inefficient mechanical equipment, etc. On the other hand, it does not take much to make great improvements. Just updating the toilets to modern HET units can save an enormous amount of water. Improving the insulation and weather-stripping saves energy. Adding energy efficient appliances, lighting and mechanical equipment is a no-brainer. There are many such basic improvements that reduce the environmental “footprint” of the home while also saving money and giving more comfort and better health to the occupants.

Me: What would you recommend to homeowners who are interested in building or remodeling a green home?
Alex: 1. Start with efficiency first. Grab the low-hanging fruit of better insulation and weather-stripping, for example.

2. If you really want to do energy work correctly, have a home energy audit to identify and prioritize all the opportunities.

3. Don’t forget to include water conservation as well, for example, specifying water efficient fixtures throughout.

4. Right size the home. Only add square footage if you really need it. Make every square foot count.

5. Spend time and money on good design, which will give the most long-lasting results and save the environment by not having to be re-done for a long time

6. Hire a qualified contractor who is experienced with green building—certified by an independent organization

7. Hang in there—remodeling can be challenging!

8. Get the help of a good team of architect and contractor to help you navigate the process.

Me: What items should builders and home owners consider when going through the LEED process?
Alex: 1. Documentation is a big key—it’s not enough to do the right thing, you have to be able to prove it in writing and photographs.

2. Hire a good LEED consultant to help oversee the process to make sure you get all the points you need and want

3. Plan for extra points, so if you can’t get the all the points your expected on one item, you can still get the points somewhere else.

Me: What are your favorite sustainable aspects of this project?
Alex: 1. We have a great client who is truly committed to building a showcase LEED platinum project, which is a really fun challenge

2. We have a great architectural team which means we will have a beautiful and timeless home which will provide genuine satisfaction for many years to come.

3. The water conservation aspects are extensive, with graywater and rainwater systems at a high level of sophistication

4. I believe this is the first LEED platinum home remodeled in Piedmont, which we hope will inspire others to do the same.

5. It’s exciting to finally see LED lighting coming into its own.

McCutcheon Construction
Piedmont Project

—Michelle Kaufmann