Lumicor Online Design Studio

Lumicor has launched an interactive custom surfaces designer to create custom architectural panels. Users can create their own custom combinations of colors, textures, and surfaces from the Lumicor Design Studio, and preview their sample before emailing it or placing an order. You can even save your designs to come back to later, or browse other custom designs.



Website: www.lumicor.com

Elica Hoods ... Italian design soon to be available in the U.S.!

Leave it to the Italians to once again take a utilitarian item and turn it into a work of art ... this is exactly what Elica has done, and their ventilation hoods are amazing!



The Elica Star hood looks like a chandelier! A cleverly hidden "magic wand" controls all of the operations of the hood with a flick of the wrist. These hoods are not just pretty looking, they are also highly engineered and quality driven, as explained in their literature where they discuss the pioneering behind Perimeter Aspiration:

Perimeter aspiration represents an alternative aspiration technology. The product functions in such a way that the airflow is moved from the central area to the external perimeter of the hood, a technique that not only does not overload the motor power but in fact reduces energy consumption and noise.

We sure can't wait until these are available here! Until then, you can browse their website at : www.elica.it

All-In-One Washer AND Dryer -- The End to Sour Wash Loads?

There are many great things about living in Hawaii, and I would not live anywhere else in the world. However, living in a tropical environment means you will at one time or another forget to put your wet laundry into the dryer in a timely manner, resulting in the dreaded sour wash load. You all know what I am talking about -- you get home from work, open the washing machine to throw your towels into the dryer, and you are hit with a foul stench and the sinking realization that you need to wash the towels all over again. Some of us just don't have the time or the luxury to compete with the humidity -- until now.

Asko's combination washer dryer is a front loading, all-in-one machine with a stainless steel interior. It's also a great space saver, as you can use the area once occupied by a separate dryer for storage, and it features a super-efficient condenser (non-vented dryer), meaning it's easier to relocate or install in condo buildings without exterior dryer ventilation. And just because it is a compact appliance doesn't mean it skimps on features -- pre-wash, extra rinse, 3 different spins speeds, and multiple wash programs are just a few of the features included. Available from Susan Palmer Designs.

Learn more about the combo washer and dryer at askousa.com

Highlights from Eurocucina Milan '08

Once again, Pedini received rave reviews of their new prototypes at the Eurocucina furniture expo in Milan this year. Among some of the new designs and materials introduced was the concept kitchen series "Dune". Dune takes the concept of the curved kitchen that Pedini pioneered with the Artika series, and goes one step further. Organic shapes mingle with integrated fixtures and appliances to create a truly unique freestanding kitchen.


The Dune display also previewed a new material, Walnut, as pictured above. High gloss lacquer was also on display as pictured below:





Inserts to match the interior of the curved drawer fronts keep everything in reach, while maximizing space for a clean and efficient cooking experience that blends form with function perfectly.



Another exciting concept previewed was the special edition Lamborghini Island kitchen, as seen below in Ostrich.

Thanks to Amir Ilin of kuche+cucina for the images. To learn more about Pedini, visit susanpalmerdesigns.com and www.pediniusa.com

Wovin Wall from 3form

Wovin Walls from 3Form is a series of interlocking tiles available in different materials and colors that snap together to create interesting textures for your walls. These new shapes are available in most of the standard 3form ecoresin colors and textures. Another advantage to these? They are only as permanent as you want them to be - tiles can be changed to suit your mood, season, or decor in your home or apartment. The resin is not only a recycled "green" product, but is resistant to mold and mildew too, while providing quick and easy cleaning. Wenge and White Gloss Laminate pictured below. Photos from 3form website.

the New Kohler Karbon Faucet - WOW.

Kohler unveiled their newest, and possibly the most advanced and versatile, faucet for the kitchen. The Karbon™ Articulating Kitchen Faucet seems like something that stepped right out of a sci-fi movie -- you can almost hear a robotic voice commanding you to finish the dishes!

There are quite a few cool things about this faucet - first, the faucet is "task configurable" -- the faucet was designed with pivoting joints to allow positioning based on the specific task. If you want a high-arc faucet for filling pots or cleaning in the sink, the faucet can be configured into an arched position.


This faucet can also be configured as a pot filler, allowing you to fill pots with water for pasta either on the stove or next to the sink.



Want to fold your faucet up into a neat compact shape? Now you can -- great for those who want the power of a commercial faucet but still want to keep their view when the faucet is not in use.

With all of these configurations and more, the best part is that it also has a spray faucet head too!

Images and video below of the Karbon Faucet from Kohler.com

New hoods from Miele

Miele has announced they are coming out with a new line of hoods which will be available towards the end of the year. One of the hoods that we are really excited about is the motorized retractable island hood, pictured above.

The height-adjustable hood can glide up, out of the way, or down, closer to the cooktop when needed with a touch of the button, allowing for a perfect elevation to remove smoke and odors, or for a more ergonomic level for the cook. A quiet, high performance motor is controlled by two push buttons that lower or raise the canopy. Another benefit that the height-adjustment offers is for those who don't want to block beautiful ocean views with a bulky appliance, yet still want powerful ventilation.

New Blog Feature!

Hi Everyone!
I am so happy to now have a blog where I can share information about new products for the kitchen and bath, new trends in design, and a place to answer some common questions about design!

We are all excited about the new blog here at Susan Palmer Designs, and if there are a few bugs, please be patient! We'll work them out!

Thank you!

-- Susan