SILGRANIT II Biscotti - THE new neutral.

BLANCO recently introduced Biscotti, a warm new color to its SILGRANIT II sink collection. Biscotti is an earthy, natural color that coordinates well with today’s popular solid-surfaced countertops and tiled backsplashes. It has a toasty indulgent, creamy look… an enticing and romantic sink wrapped in a delicious cookie color.

“Color is an important part of our environment, especially in the ways it’s used to remodel our kitchen,” says Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing for BLANCO. “The current trend leans to natural earth tones that give warmth. Biscotti is THE new neutral that is softer than the traditional caramel and complements a wide range of surfaces.”

What better way to demonstrate the true versatility of Biscotti than to ask our elite group of designers/bloggers what countertops they would match with it. It’s an interesting question that – as expected – offered up an even more interesting response. The designers varied in colors from lights to darks and in materials from Caesarstone, to wood, to slate. Scroll down to view the surfaces the Design Council specified.

Susan Serra, CKD, www.thekitchendesigner.org

“It’s a rich color, Biscotti! I’ll go the glam route and recommend one of my favorite surfaces, Black Lace slate. http://www.vermontstructuralslate.com/stones/slate/black-lace. It’s at once rustic and glossy, and the Biscotti surface is a perfect counterpoint, which makes each surface pop. This combination also offers an interesting cool/warm shade combination. The contrast of light and dark colors can be designed into surrounding decorative elements, perhaps varying the shades a bit.”

Black Lace, Vermont Structural Slate Company

Paul Anatar, www.kitchenandresidentialdesign.com

“I’d love to see a Biscotti SILGRANIT II sink paired with either Caesarstone 6350, Chocolate Truffle counter or a counter made made from Caesarstone 4120, Raven. The neutral tone of BLANCO Biscotti looks terrific when paired with another, near-neutral counter material.”

Chocolate Truffle

Caesarstone 4120, Raven

Leslie Clagett, http://kbculture.blogspot.com/

“I’d like to see a Biscotti-colored sink paired with a wooden counter fabricated of Edge Grain Burmese Teak from Grothouse Lumber.”

Edge Grain Burmese Teak, Grothouse Lumber

Cheryl Kees Clendenon, www.kitchendetailsanddesign.com

I love Casesarstone’s Buttermilk with the Biscotti sink,  although I have recently used with Antracite also. I usually pair the sink to the top and not the other way around!

Caesarstone Buttermilk

Designers check out SOLON at the auction table.

BLANCO participated in last week’s Third Annual Summer Social for the New York Home Furnishings & Design Organization. Over 200 of New York’s top designers braved the heat to attend this highly anticipated reception at Tribeca Rooftop, a penthouse venue with panoramic views of the Hudson River. The Summer Social represents an opportunity for members and guests to network and enjoy a festive evening of wine, music and food.

A Chinese auction along with the live auction hosted by George Oliphant, Emmy award winner and host of NBC’s Open House NY, featured donated items including a BLANCO SOLON compost system to benefit Publicolor, whose mission is to engage at-risk students in their education through a continuum of creative programs, starting with painting their struggling schools. Publicolor was able to raise $7,600 to assist in their programs locally.

The event is sponsored by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), New York Metro Chapter, The Decorators Club (DC), Designers Lighting Forum of NY (DLFNY). Executives Working in Home Textiles (EWHT), Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) NYC Section (IESNY), International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) New York Chapter and the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Manhattan Chapter.

Publicolor raised over $7,600 to continue their mission for at-risk students.

Here’s some of the latest news on BLANCO sinks from WIRED Magazine, Kitchen & Bath Design News, Interior Design, Phoenix Home & Garden and Better Homes & Gardens Kitchen & Bath Ideas.

Better Homes & Gardens features ARCON.

Phoenix Home & Garden spotlights RONIS.

Interior Design features RONIS!

KBDN announces the launch of SILGRANIT II Biscotti.

Wired's Kitchen issue featured BLANCO's MERIDIAN Semi-Pro Faucet.

MicroEdge Wins IDEA Award.

BLANCO MicroEdge is a 2010 International Design Excellence Award (IDEA Award) Finalist. The prestigious IDEA Award is a celebration of the year’s most inventive and creative products presented by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). BLANCO MicroEdge is one of the most awarded sink innovations on the market today and has been recognized by the following: The Good Design Award, Interior Design’s Best of Year (Winner), Professional Builder 100 Best New Products Award, and K+BB Product Innovator Award. The coveted 30-year-old IDEA competition draws hundreds of entries each year from over 29 countries around the world. This year’s winners included stand outs from Method, Samsung, Herman Miller, Microsoft, OXO, Panasonic and more. For more information visit: www.idsa.org. “It is a genuine honor for BLANCO to be acknowledged by the International Designers Society of America’s IDEA competition,” expresses Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing for BLANCO. “The field of entries is one of the largest we have been up against and it’s a remarkable compliment to win. When we launched MicroEdge, we never imagined that the technology would be so widely accepted by designers and would accumulate so many honors in such a short time. The industry was truly waiting for a new innovation like this – it’s the right product at the right time.” About MicroEdge MicroEdge represents the first breakthrough in stainless steel sink design since the introduction of the undermount sink more than 10 years ago. MicroEdge is a sleek overmount sink technology that creates the illusion of an expensive flushmount installation. Designers and homeowners can now achieve the highly coveted flush look for less time and money as MicroEdge can be installed over virtually any counter material. MicroEdge’s unique ultra-fine (1.25 mm) rim gives this sink its near seamless edge – a precision finish so demanding, only BLANCO could make it a reality. The MicroEdge top-mounted sinks can be positioned easily and secured with mounting clips or alternatively, can be installed as a traditional flushmounted sink by an experienced solid surface specialist.

Healthy Home Television shot a live demo of the SOLON™ composting system and RONIS™ entertainment sink at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Chicago a couple of months ago. For those who want to see how RONIS cleverly offers 360 degrees of integrated prep and serving functionality as well as how SOLON revolutionizes the placement of composting for ultimate convenience – this is a great video clip.

Healthy Home Television has a handle on SOLON for composting in style.

Healthy Home Television takes RONIS for a spin.

BLANCO receives a prestigious IDGA for its SOLON Compost System. The award is presented by New York House magazine at GreenBuildingsNY (held in June at the Jacob Javits Convention Center) and honors the greenest materials and most sustainable innovations in every category, from soft goods to lighting, appliances and building materials.

According to Nancy Meyer, Editor for New York House, “BLANCO’s SOLON Composter was selected by a panel of independent judges as outstanding among all the many entries in the “other products” category. They really felt that composting is crucial and that this product makes it easy for consumers.” The panel of five experts from architecture and design vetted the international field of entries and debated the environmental impact and issues surrounding each product. The panel agreed that composting is an important practice that needs to be brought to consumers’ attention, and that BLANCO’s SOLON is not only functional and convienient – it actually encourages composting.

The Blanco SOLON compost system is comprised from the highest grade recycled stainless steel. SOLON effortlessly collects organic waste below the counter and its stunning design allows homeowners to beautifully incorporate green living into their kitchen.

“We are honored to receive an Innovative Green Design Award for SOLON,” says Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing for Blanco. “The SOLON Compost System is an eco-friendly way to bring the beauty of BLANCO from the kitchen to the garden and we are thrilled to be recognized for this.”

Lori Dolnick accepts the IDGA for BLANCO from New York House's Nancy Meyer.

BLANCO introduces the stunning LEVOS pullout faucet. BLANCO’s award-winning STEELART designers push their craft and techniques to the utmost limits – inspiring designs that can’t be replicated anywhere in the world. LEVOS is a pure iconic contemporary faucet that is a functional work of art. Utterly unique – LEVOS offers impossible zero radius edges alongside soft arching curves. The juxtaposition of hard and soft edges not only make a bold design statement in the kitchen, they also harmonize with both modern and transitional elements.

“One part award-winning design. One part handcrafted precision. That’s the BLANCO LEVOS Pullout Faucet from STEELART,” says Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing for BLANCO. “It’s a true work of art, right in the heart of your home.”

The modern design of the BLANCO LEVOS works in perfect harmony with BLANCO’s handcrafted STEELART portfolio of sinks, including the FLOW^™, ARCON^™, PRECISION^™ MicroEdge^™ and PRECISION^™ 16” Series.

BLANCO LEVOS is made from the highest quality materials available. Offered in Polished Chrome or Stainless Steel – its stainless steel body construction anchors the finely tuned inner workings, from long-lasting ceramic disc cartridges to the flexible and convenient pull-out spray hose. LEVOS is AB1953 Lead Free and retails from $795 (Polished Chrome) to $1,695 (Stainless Steel). Matching soap/lotion dispensers are offered.

-       2.2 GPM flow rate

-       True stainless steel construction body

-       Inspired by STEELART’s BLANCO FLOW award winning design and STEELART’s hand crafted R10 PRECISION series

-       Limited Lifetime Warranty

-        Reach 8-1/4″; Spout Height 10-1/2″; Faucet Height 11-3/4″

Battle On the Block is a new HGTV hit reality series that features three neighboring families who have three days to battle it out for the best designed room, bragging rights and $10,000. BLANCO sinks were featured in two kitchen battles – the season opener in Jacksonville and Cortlandt Manor. BLANCO PERFORMA Sinks were selected by the set designers as well as the BLANCO BRIDGE and BLANCO GRACE faucets. Click below to enjoy the episodes. Especially Cortlandt Manor where one exhausted contestant almost steps into the sink to finish painting the kitchen trim – much to the horror of her husband and the construction crew. But isn’t that what reality TV is all about? Real people in unreal situations. For those of us in the cyber social world – we’ve noted many designers protesting TV shows that set unrealistic expectations about design projects. And of course – one shouldn’t expect a kitchen to be done from scratch in three days’ time. But that’s exactly what makes this show so much fun to watch. Perhaps HGTV needs to add disclaimers that tell people not to try this at home… ( or no satin polished sinks were harmed in the filming of this episode, etc.)

Bennett Friedman, Principal of AFNY and PURA VIDA Photographer Tasja Keetman

Throughout the New York Metropolitan area, AF New York (AFNY) – the select division of the AF Supply Corporation – is recognized as one of the premiere showrooms for kitchen and bath products, tile and architectural hardware. This past month at ICFF in New York, AFNY thrilled designers with its PURA VIDA book launch. PURA VIDA is a conceptual artistic endeavor – a photographic essay of  human scars, tattoos and their stories as interpreted by photographer Tasja Keetman. We had the opportunity to speak to AFNY Principal, Bennett Friedman about AFNY and the book launch.

Bennett, AFNY is a landmark in New York’s design community. Tell us a little about growing up in this third generation family-owned business? “My grandfather had a solid vision when he founded AF Supply that included ethical, hard work – taking care of customers and business. Those things haven’t changed in 88 years. My dad is 91 and only semi-retired. He still keeps an eye on the business from his kitchen table. My brothers are also smart, passionate and caring. And not just about our customers – but about our vendors too. We treat vendors as true partners. Growing up, the warehouse was summer camp for us. We had all kinds of sports including washing bathrooms and shelving products. My father firmly believed we needed a background in business. We weren’t coddled. All of us had a stint in business through college and high school.”

How does AFNY differentiate itself? “AFNY is a brand – a culture that is about innovation, change, service and a philosophy to provide greater value to our customers through our extensive knowledge and selection. We offer value to clients in practical ways that differentiates us from traditional venues, ecommerce, home centers, etc. We are an SAP run company. Same as large multinational companies. But it’s not about using technology. It’s the culture. We are proactive in an industry that’s reactive. We employ over 200 people – but our family values haven’t changed.”

Photographer Tasja Keetman signs copies of PURA VIDA.

How did you become involved with the PURA VIDA project? “All year long we do events at the AFNY showroom including brand launches, CEU credit presentations and more. Over the past 7 or 8 years at ICFF, we’ve coordinated an outside event for designers that would be fun, cultural and a destination. Our AFNY brand and our image is a fusion of art and design that appeals to a more sophisticated customer. Events like the PURA VIDA launch extend our brand image, offer an opportunity to interact with our audience and make us a must-see stop on the ICFF event circuit.”

4. The PURA VIDA book is pure art. To describe it for our audience. Imagine a book of up close scar images. The embossed title is itself a scar on the cover. The binding is open with a visible, scar-like red thread running through. The pages are perforated together so you are forced to physically tear the book open to read it. Scarring your own personal copy of the book from inception. But the book is not meant to shock. It’s human stories told by the scar-bearers themselves. It is about healing and the spirit of renewal.

Bennett, tell us why projects like this are important to you and to AFNY. “PURA VIDA is about life. Scars are landmarks in our life. The ability to be injured, healed and to grow. Over 2,000 people volunteered to be photographed for the book including myself. We achieved over 1,500 images which were narrowed to 62. There’s no commercial message behind the book launch. PURA VIDA gives our clientele a view of our culture – it’s about innovation and design – about being perceived as on the leading edge. It’s not a typical book, just as we are not a typical company. It took nearly 4 years to complete this project and we have several more art and fashion projects in the making.”

Tell us a little about the BLANCO portfolio of products at AFNY. “I think BLANCO is recognized as an innovative company. We like to associate with companies like BLANCO where the quality of company is instilled in the culture and product ingenuity… and in the quality of their people.”

A study of functionally stunning circles, its integrated accessories save counter space and offer effortless 360 degree performance for food preparation.

With its unique round shape and versatile accessories, it’s easy to see what makes BLANCO RONIS the ultimate culinary entertainment center. Perfect for any party, this generously sized one-piece sink features BLANCO’s innovative MicroEdge technology, which gives the sink a seamless, flushmount look, and includes an accessory tray which effortlessly floats in the inside rim of the sink, a glass cutting board with non-slip rubber feet and two round stainless steel bowls. The integrated accessories rotate in a complete 360 circle to allow for limitless preparation options.

Winner of the prestigious international iF award for product design, RONIS offers a strikingly steep bowl wall in combination with a concise base radius and large bowl diameter. All of this impressive technology adds up to an extra-large usable space, even for bulky items – a highly unique feature for an attractive round bowl.

“The RONIS is the ultimate party companion,” states Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing for BLANCO. “This is a sink without limits. A real entertaining sink for real people. It has so much more depth and functionality than your average bar sink offers. In a small apartment – it could actually be the kitchen sink for people who have a passion for entertaining. It’s large enough to accommodate everyday use, and the integrated cutting board and bowl bridge saves precious counter space when prepping for a party or just for dinner.”

RONIS is a highly efficient preparation station: the integrated accessories offer a wide variety of uses because their position can be rotated 360 degrees as needed. This applies to the glass cutting board as well as the functional bridge with two stainless steel bowls which can be placed underneath. (One stainless bowl is solid and the other is perferated, so it can double as a serving bowl or colandar.) Both accessories are suitable as beautiful serving pieces outside the sink.

Details

-       Bowl Depth: 6-5/8″, Required Outside Cabinet: 24″, Cutout Size: 20-1/4″

-       Features MicroEdge™ technology, coordinates with entire MicroEdge Collection

-       The following accessories are included with the RONIS: Glass Cutting

-       Board, Stainless Steel Bowls with Accessory Tray

-       304 Series Stainless Steel – 18 Gauge Stainless Steel, 18/10 Chrome-Nickel Content

-       Satin Polished Finish

-       Limited lifetime warranty

-       Price: $1,395.00

About MicroEdge – the most award-winning sink technology!

MicroEdge represents the first breakthrough in stainless steel sink design since the introduction of the undermount sink more than 10 years ago. BLANCO MicroEdge technology is now the most awarded sink technology of the year, having also won recognition from the Good Design Awards, iF Awards, Red Dot Design Awards, Interior Design’s Best of Year (Winner), Professional Builder 100 Best New Products Award and K+BB Product Innovator Award.

MicroEdge is a sleek overmount sink technology that creates the illusion of an expensive flushmount installation. Designers and homeowners can now achieve the highly coveted flush look for less time and money as MicroEdge can be installed over virtually any counter material. MicroEdge’s unique ultra-fine (1.25 mm) rim gives this sink its near seamless edge – a precision finish so demanding, only BLANCO could make it a reality. The MicroEdge top-mounted sinks can be positioned easily and secured with mounting clips or alternatively, can be installed as a traditional flushmounted sink by an experienced solid surface specialist.