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The vast majority, about 90% of kitchen cabinets sold in the United States have face frames. And what is worse, with few exceptions, they all look pretty much a like. In fact, I recently had the honor of sitting in a press conference with Peter Kl…
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High Pressure Laminate (HPL) is showing up in more places and applications than ever before, and for good reasons. In addition to superlative performance characteristics, advances in printing technology have made for unlimited design possibilities.…
Although underlying trends transcend geographical boundaries, location influences design. In general, European markets tend to be more open minded to color, metallic finishes and abstract/ geometric designs. The North American market, particularly…
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Strange Furniture ??
Added by Suzanne VanGilder
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Why not frameless kitchen cabinets?
Started by Suzanne VanGilder in Design Mar 4.
2010 Buyers Guide
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HPL, the Expert Imposter
Started by Suzanne VanGilder in Design Feb 24.
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World of Wood 2010
April 28, 2010 at 8am to April 30, 2010 at 10pm – Eden Roc, A Renaissance Beach Resort and Spa
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View the 2010 Buyers Guide - A guide to sourcing and specifying composite panels and decorative surfaces
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Blog Posts
Call to Action for BCAP Subsidy
Member Action Needed
In the recent weeks, CPA members and staff have been contacting members of Congress to present industrys position, and so far this has been well received. With Congress reconvening this month, it is critical that CPA members (re)contact the Representatives and Senator where you have offices and facilities, both in person and by email. You should request their direct intervention to suspend the BCAP program until a well-considered regulation can be developed by USDA that amen… Continue
In the recent weeks, CPA members and staff have been contacting members of Congress to present industrys position, and so far this has been well received. With Congress reconvening this month, it is critical that CPA members (re)contact the Representatives and Senator where you have offices and facilities, both in person and by email. You should request their direct intervention to suspend the BCAP program until a well-considered regulation can be developed by USDA that amen… Continue
Posted by Suzanne VanGilder on January 13, 2010 at 11:23am
Eye Candy Images and Innovations in Metallic Sheen
Check out these clever images. www.kevinvanaelst.com A FB friend shared this link. So much of innovation is looking at traditional things in non-traditional ways. I like all the scientific reference in this artist's images, and I also like his use of the mudane to represent, in certain cases, some of humankind's most inspired discoveries.
Speaking of inspired discoveries (weak segue, I know) I have been working through back issue of National Geographic and found a great piece in the April 2008 book entitled "Designs From Nature." The article is about biomimetics. Researchers in this field study designs found in nature as a means of advancing modern technology. Many innovative designs have organic roots, for example cockleburs inspired velcro.
Another example that caught my attention had to do with creating dazzling color and metallic sheen. As a nerd, I have always been enamored with color. Wavelengths, photons, perception etc. etc. etc. It is amazing that different fundamental materials can achieve the same color function, and also that perception is such an important component of experiencing color (quiz: is a photon a particle or a wave?) As a person who thinks about decorative surfaces from many different viewpoints, including things like fashion/design and the technologies used in manufacturing surface materials, I am always interested in the science behind the visual. Biomimetics folks like Andrew Parker, an evolutionary biologist and contributor to the NG feature, carefully examined tropical birds and beetles to find out how their dazzling colors and metallic sheens have been optimized by millions of years of natural selection. What he discovered is that the visual effect is not derived from pigments, "but from optical features: neatly spaced microstructures that reflect specific wavelengths of light." Such structural color is more brilliant than pigment and fade-proof, making it very valuable for commercial development.
Part of what I love about my work is learning. It seems like looking carefully into almost anything reveals an amazing story. When you find something that makes you think "wow," do me a favor and send it my way.
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