Beyond the Bar: Inspiration for the Kitchen from ICFF

Today Decorati Guest Blogger Susan Serra, author of The Kitchen Designer blog, goes beyond the kitchen at ICFF to find inspiration in unlikely places.

As a kitchen designer, I always go to KBIS. Each year I go to the ICFF too, among other interior design shows…not to search for kitchen products, per se. I go to interior design shows to seek out “alternative” products for the kitchen. Products that were largely designed to be used in rooms and spaces other than the kitchen.

Looking at these wonderful, interesting products at the ICFF helps me, as a designer, get outside of my “kitchen bubble” and stretch my creative wings. It helps me develop new ideas for products to incorporate into my clients’ kitchens. I hope it provides inspiration for you too.

Take a look at these beautiful panels by Precious Pieces above. Rather than seeing the panels on a wall, I absolutely see these panels as backsplash material or surrounding kitchen windows in a kitchen, perhaps behind clear glass. So chic and made of sustainable wood products.

A new take on the usefulness of wine glasses transforms these colorful objects into a wonderful chandelier.  Ali Siavoshi, part of the Contemporary British Design contingent, never ceases to entertain and amuse, especially with this latest work.

John Reeves‘  collection of outdoor furniture is made of 100% recycled aluminum. I see this outdoor furniture as perfect for indoor dining as well, whether in the dining room or breakfast room. This neutral, beautifully textured gray table can coexist with nearly any aesthetic in the home.

From Umbra, a charming piece of furniture. I can absolutely see this on a kitchen wall with decorative Le Creuset pots, cookbooks, bowls, dishes, and so on. Beauty, and furniture, have a place in the kitchen.

Artistry created with salvaged materials is wonderfully executed by Brandner Design. A rolling cart, in that industrial aesthetic is a perfect metaphor within the kitchen. A mix of timeless industrial strength and contemporary design, its abundant texture stimulates!