BACK TO EARTH

Dramatic eyes are in for spring
The Invitation
Before the Show
Photo by Jayme Thornton

 The Macy's Buyer. Photo by Nancy H


So here I am, at last, to give you the next chapter in the story of my dream time with Brizo in NYC.  The show was too amazing to be believed.  We arrived at Jason Wu's fashion show in limo-style.  We spied some really dramatic footwear while waiting for the doors to open. The venue was on Mercer Street in Soho, a big loft with exposed brick, arches and dramatic columns.
Photo by Jayme Thornton

Photo by Jayme Thornton
Check out just a few of the stunning pieces in the Spring 2011 collection.    I'm just exhausted today but what an experience!  Glad to be sharing it here with you.  Hope you don't mind that we digress from the world of kitchens.  But can you blame me?  I'm not done yet.  Up
next , Brizo Bath Design Contest.
Photo by Jayme Thornton

A NEW TWIST

Virage Faucet
Day one was spent learning about the Brizo fashion faucet product line and meeting some amazing and creative people from near and far.  Brizo's impressive design and marketing teams took us through the whole process from dreaming of an idea to the birth of a product which takes about a year to a year and a half to implement.  One of my favorite items was the Virage line of bath faucets.  Striking and beautiful in its simplicity,  it's a total "twist", literally.  If you look closely you can see it makes a complete twist from base to spout.
Barbes Restaurant
Trevor and Laura
Kurt and Jai  
Laura and guess who?
We spent the evening dining and getting acquainted at Barbes, a Moroccan restaurant where we received our official invitation to Jason's fashion show tomorrow!  I sat with Brizo's Ad Men, Kurt and Trevor of  Young and Laramore,  Brizo's Laura Brooks, Sr. Brand Manager  and Jai Massela, Sr. Channel Marketing Manager.  I got some great insight into how this luxury division of Delta faucets came about and how they came up with the name Brizo.  More later on that.
Some of the other people I had the pleasure of chatting with are Nancy Hugo of Kitchen & Bath Chatter   , Mike Welton of Architects and Artisans, and Bob Borson of Life of an Architect  .  Click on their names to find out more about them.   Day 2 begins with a design contest and it's countdown to the fashion show!  Stay tuned. 

I'M HERE! DAY 1

Pretty Private!
10:45AM

What a great beginning! Actually saw a rainbow on the way to the airport.  Made it just in time, without cutting it too close.  Even had enough time to buy a Vanity Fair (old September issue).  Will send pix upon arrival.  Can't wait to see what Brizo has in store for us today and to meet other attendees. 

1:40 pm
Riding STYLE
Stretching out, cause I can.
Great flight (crazy landing though).  I even got to stretch my legs out on two vacant seats in my row.  How often does that happen?  Limo arrived to pick me up, yes only me, and shuttled me to the ritzy 70 Park Avenue Hotel.  I could just imagine people wondering who that was in the stretch limo with the obligatory blacked out windows.  Inside I simply stretched out and enjoyed the view and reggaeton music (96.3FM) on the radio.  Just one glitch so far.  Upon landing, I discovered that my cell phone payment had not gone through, so no cell phone.  No cell phone for me, hubby, daughter or step-son.  Tackled that little BIG issue and phone is back up, running and paid two for months! Now let the games begin!!  More later.

THREE MORE DAYS TO GO!

Jason Wu and could it be Vogue editor Anna Wintour? telegraph.co.uk
When I arrived home on Friday a Fed Ex package awaited.  Brizo sent me a beautiful leather luggage tag and catalogs featuring their beautiful plumbing fixtures.  Also included was a matching leather document pouch containing information about Jason Wu, fashion designer and Brizo partner.  Here is a quote from his bio:
"The Jason Wu Collection is the manifestation of the eclectic and diverse background of its designer Jason Wu.  Wu combines modern lifestyle dressing with the spirit of detailing of haute couture in a way that is both innovative and romantically reflective."
Very wearable fashions  bandelle.com

He is all about silhouette which makes his vision compatible with a company that produces style in the form of faucets.  All faucets yield water.  Beyond that it's all design, form, silhouette.   I have also browsed a few blogs/sites of my fellow attendees.  One of my favorites is www.splendora.com, a blog about culture and style.  Everything from home design to make up, a radar for "hip" in all its forms.  Stay tuned for more about my journey to Fashion Week with Brizo!

 

LET'S HEAR IT FOR NEW YORK!

Ok so I promised a run down on the first modern kitchen, which is exciting but I have something MUCH BETTER to share with you this beautiful Friday!  I am going to New York for fashion week courtesy of Brizo!  (You remember Brizo from my August 26th post, don't you?) Turns out a group of us bloggers are invited on an all expense paid trip of a lifetime to the BIG APPLE during, wait for it, FASHION WEEK!  We will be attending, not only Jason Wu's fashion show, but also the following cocktail party and viewing of The Showtime House.  Spanning three exclusive condos, this second annual multimedia showhouse creates modern living spaces- featuring Brizo products- designed by notable designers and inspired by these award-winning , original Showtime series: Nurse Jackie, Dexter, Weeds, Californication, The Borgias and The Big C.  I invite you to come on the journey with me starting NOW.  The countdown starts today.  

 Between now and when my plane takes off on September 9th I will introduce you to the other fantastic bloggers and report all the juicy details of the big event as they unfold.  Since I just can't seem to get JZ and Alicia out of my head I'm going to share it with you too.  So click here, hit that "full screen" button, turn up the sound and celebrate this little bit of luck and sing along with me!

"...these streets will make you feel brand new.  Their lights will inspire you.  Let's hear it for New York!"

LET THERE BE KITCHENS

It doesn't get much more basic than this! www.williamrubel.com

As I explore and research the concept of the intuitive kitchen for my new book I find myself wanting to start from the very beginning.  What were the first kitchens like and how did they evolve?  The obvious answer is that they  developed to better suit the needs and lifestyles of our ancestors. The first kitchens consisted of only one essential element which is fire.  When that fire was located indoors the first kitchen was born.  These fires  were not only used to cook but to heat the home, or at least main living area.  It was truly the warm heart of the home.  As cultures advanced and segments of it became more affluent, kitchens were located away from the main living areas to keep smoke and cooking odors at bay and to keep the help out of sight! (I would have thought "help" would be a sight for sore eyes!) I remember touring a southern plantation which housed a free standing kitchen.  The guide explained that the threat of fire also motivated building a separate structure for the kitchen. Should it burn down, hopefully, it would not take the main house with it.

The hand pump was used in the US even in the 1940s!  

The second essential element to come into the kitchen was, of course, water.  At first manual pumps brought water indoors not to be followed by modern plumbing until the late19th century. Why is this important to my kitchen today, you ask?  The reason is because this brings us back to the most basic essentials, your cooking appliances, sink and faucet.   

 

This sink and faucet combo is by Kohler and the modern day hearth features a Viking range. These represent state-of-the-art "basics" and a good place to begin planning your kitchen.  If state-of-the-art is not in your budget, no worries, today's competitive market offers many beautiful, quality products at more consumer friendly price points.  Just make sure to do the research, especially when purchasing on line.  Check warranty policies and never hesitate to contact a kitchen professional before you spend any amount of money.  A simple consultation could be your best investment.  Next post- The First Modern Kitchen