Thursday, June 20, 2013

Capital Cook -off at DOD


2nd Annual Dwell on Design Cookoff!


That's right I said cook-off and I'm one of the designers 'bout to take this fun challenge .  If you happen to be at the Dwell on Design show this weekend (
Saturday, June 22 – 2:00 p.m PST  )
 stop on by and cheer me on (&  my designer friends too) as we turn from designing kitchens to showing off our cooking skills !  I'll be at Capital Booth – #1331
For more info on the cook-off and who's turning up the heat...click here .  

Friday, June 7, 2013

Silestone by Cosentino - A KBIS 2013 Favorite


One of the best things about Modenus' Blogtournola is the connections you make and the products you are introduced to.  Sure I knew about Silestone (by Cosentino) and have used them several times on projects, But I didn't  really know them.  I was so impressed by this company.  There is so much to love about them.  For starters, they are a family owned business , who doesn't love that? They take SO much pride on their products and it shows as they are a world leader in quartz, natural stone, and recycled surfaces. 

Una de las mejores cosas de Modenus 'Blogtournola son las conexiones con las empresas de los productos que realice. Claro que sabía de Silestone (by Cosentino) y los he utilizado varias veces en los proyectos , pero ahora conosco mas de ellos que antes. Estoy muy impresionada por esta empresa. Para empezar, son una empresa familiar, quien no ama eso? Ellos toman mucho orgullo en sus productos y se nota, ya que es líder mundial en el cuarzo, piedra natural y superficies recicladas.

This year at KBIS, Cosentino introduced Silestone Suede finish, an exceptional matte finish with a distinctive design aesthetic that sets it apart from the traditional high‐gloss appearance of many natural stone surfaces. The elegant texture is smooth to the touch, giving the surface a softer appearance with little reflection.

Este año, en KBIS, Cosentino presento un acabado que se llama "Suede" parte de Silestone, un acabado mate excepcional con un diseño estético distintivo .  La textura es suave al tacto, dando a la superficie un aspecto más suave con poca reflexión.

With designer Kim Lewis at Cosentino Booth KBIS2013


Also Debuting was Nebula!  LOVE THIS new product.
También debut fue Nebula! Me encanta este nuevo producto.


Why We Designers LOVE Silestone! : 
Made of Natural Quartz, the 4th hardest mineral found in nature
The only countertop with built-in antimicrobial protection
Scratch-, stain- and scorch-resistant
Low maintenance - cleans with soap and water; never needs sealers
Offers 15-year manufacturer’s warranty


Hecho de cuarzo natural, el cuarto mineral más duro encontrar en la naturaleza
La única encimera con una función de protección antimicrobiana
Arañazos, manchas y quemaduras resistente
Bajo mantenimiento - limpia con agua y jabón, nunca necesita selladores
Ofrece la garantía del fabricante de 15 años


Cosentino also introduced four new colors of their Eco line which I LOVE!
Lastly , Cosentino previewed the highly anticipated new ultra-compact surface, Dekton by Cosentino, at KBIS for the first time in North America.  The revolutionary new product, which can be used for both indoor and outdoor architectural applications, is UV resistent, and comes in large format, extremely thin slabs and will officially launch in North America later this year.  I was not allowed to take photos of product , but let's just say.... it is pretty fabulous!  I was able to take picture of the key attributes :)


Por último, Cosentino enseño la nueva superficie muy esperado ultra-compacto, Dekton de Cosentino, en KBIS por primera vez en América del Norte. El nuevo y revolucionario producto, que puede ser utilizado para aplicaciones de arquitectura de interior y al aire libre, es resistente a UV, y viene en gran formato, placas muy finas y se lanzará oficialmente en América del Norte a finales de este año. No se permitió tomar fotos de producto, pero les puedo decir.... es bastante fabuloso! Solo tuve la oportunidad de tomar la foto de los atributos clave :)

Monday, June 3, 2013

TOTO - People .Planet. Water.

I Love TOTO!  They have always been one of my favorite companies for bathroom products and my plumbers LOVE when I specify it for renovations.  It's really a no brainer to use them.  Their product is innovative, functional and they have something for every design style.

At this years KBIS , I saw some amazing products, and TOTO was one of them.

Toto's Air injection technology is pretty amazing.  You can't feel too much of a difference with a regular shower head, BUT you can SEE the difference in how much water is saved with TOTO's air injection technology.  TOTO had a great display demonstrating just that.  Here (photo below) I am testing it out with the Modenus BlogtourNola team.






The TOTO Shower Systems’ overhead rain showerhead uses patented air injection technology to increase the volume of water in each droplet by innovatively drawing air in through the showerhead and pumping it into the water droplet – enlarging and increasing their volume. To further enhance the showering experience, the overhead water falls in short, pulsating intervals.


TOTO’s products, technological innovations, operations, and policies demonstrate a clear commitment to sustainability that dates back to its incorporation in 1917 when “environmental stewardship” was one of the company’s founding missions. Respect for the environment is embedded in the culture at TOTO. Whether it is engineering high-efficiency toilets, faucets, and showers or implementing a closed-loop paper-recycling system.


People. Planet. Water.

Water Conservation Advocacy
TOTO plays a significant role in leading the sustainability movement in the plumbing industry. In fact, its active role in advancing policy and leading certification organizations demonstrates how its products and practices to help ensure environmental responsibility:

  • TOTO USA is the only plumbing manufacturer to receive the EPA’s Water Efficiency Leader Award 
  • TOTO is the first plumbing products manufacturer to have employees become sustainability experts by gaining LEED Accredited Professional status 
  • TOTO is the first major plumbing products manufacturer to join the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and is a founding member of the Alliance for Water Efficiency. 
  • TOTO partners with the EPA to help develop the language of the WaterSense program and to help establish the testing criteria to validate the integrity of the high-efficiency product performance.

Besides all the wonderful innovative features, TOTO offers really great looking products.  New this year at KBIS was this Wyeth suite.  It is timeless and a must have on my next project.


 AIMES Suite happens to be one of my Favs!  Can you see why ?


















What's Your Favorite TOTO Suite?