Kitchen Confidential

Arclinea San Diego

Lisa Wilson-Wirth, owner

What is the coolest kitchen feature you've got right now?
Arclinea excels at putting technology to the service of the everyday. This includes elements like our LED greenhouse or electronically controlled faucet systems, and technologies like hydraulics that make it possible to raise and lower a dining table from eating height to working height and vice versa. It includes applying technology to the manufacturing process, which enables us to offer recessed door handles and new door finishes at a standard few rival--from our elegant Italia door handle to our new textured Lignum door with vertical staves in plantation-grown larch or mahogany woods.

Any design trends you're fond of?
Increased availability of kitchen appliances that allow us to cook and prepare foods quickly and healthfully. From built-in steam-convection wall ovens to in-counter griddles and countertop rice cookers, a wealth of new culinary appliances make it possible to enjoy and utilize our kitchens in new, innovative ways.

What trend would you love to see gone?
"Greenwashing" and massive kitchens with little thought for work flow or how socializing, dining and cooking can coexist in harmony.

What is the one question homeowners should ask their designer or showroom manager?
I would ask, "Do you cook?" It's like dining with a chef who doesn't eat--to be a good kitchen designer, one really needs to be passionate about cooking and the role of the kitchen in the home. Whether it's understanding your needs for convenience and being able to recommend the best appliances to reheat purchased foods, or being able to provide a design (and the tools within it) that will enhance your love of cooking together as a family--the ideal designer brings culinary passion to the table.

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San Diego Kitchen & Bath

Sam Cribbs, designer

What is the coolest kitchen feature you've got right now?
We have drawers that pop out just by touching them. We have blind-corner pullouts that allow you to use 75 to 80 percent of the space. And we also have pull-down shelves for people who aren't tall. They are upper cabinets that go on spring-loaded systems--you grab a handle, pull down the unit, and the cabinet lowers to 48 inches off the floor.

Any design trends you're fond of?
I like the new, sleek lines that designers tend to be going for. I see a lot of glass going in kitchens and baths. We are also doing a lot of green products today, such as panel doors made out of bamboo.

What trend would you love to see gone?
I don't like it when people buy inexpensive kitchens out of places like Ikea, and then the kitchens fall apart 10 years later.

What is the one question homeowners should ask their designer or showroom manager?
I would find out if the showroom is full-service. At San Diego Kitchen & Bath, we can teach people how to cook and use appliances. We hold cooking classes here, so we can literally show them!

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Design Studio West

Karl Utzman, designer

What is the coolest kitchen feature you've got right now?
What's getting a lot of attention are the environmental and eco-friendly products, such as a product line that's low in formaldehyde, and eco-friendly countertops and tiles. Vetrazzo, for instance, is made from 85 percent post-consumer recycled material. The line features a countertop that has recycled polished glass in it. It's a little on the wild side with a splash of color. People are tired of granite and marble.

Any design trends you're fond of?
One thing I love is large steel tiles on backsplashes. Instead of doing lots of mosaics, I like seeing larger ceramic stone tiles in a backsplash area. It eliminates a lot of grout lines.

What is the one question homeowners should ask their designer or showroom manager?
I would be realistic and ask about the time frame. People are shocked when they come in the showroom and I tell them that the average kitchen takes between 12 to 14 weeks to design and install. They just don't think of all of the parts and components that go into that.

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Kitchen Expo

Richard Fakadej, designer

What is the coolest kitchen feature you've got right now?
A granite backsplash appliance garage. It's a hidden component you wouldn't realize is there unless you walk up to it. It holds coffee makers, toasters, food processors and countertop appliances.

What are customers looking for in today's kitchens?
Innovation is the biggest thing--customers want the latest and greatest. We see this [in trends] from utilizing blind corners to having a 4-inch-wide cabinet for car keys.

What is the one question home_owners should ask their designer or showroom manager?
When you're working with stained woods, the questions that many people don't know to ask relate to the wood-finishing process. A lot of the local cabinet shops do on-site finishes, meaning it's not a controlled environment. That affects the overall longevity. It's better to have the wood finished in a factory with a controlled oven. I would also ask about the components of the wood finish. What materials are being used?

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MPLA

Christopher Tisca, designer

What is the coolest kitchen feature you've got right now?
We have a new fluorescent lighting system with a clear gloss inside the bulb as well as at the bottom.

Any design trends you're fond of?
I really like designs within the glass on cabinetry. Instead of everything being wood, you can do glass and incorporate any color, any shape, even a stamp design, which makes it really unique.

What are customers looking for in today's kitchens?
Customers want to incorporate open space. We're moving away from doing the technical kitchen in the gourmet areas; everything is functional but in one, open area. If it's possible to remove a wall, we will, because clients are incorporating the living room and kitchen.

What type of customer best fits your showroom?
Our clients are more high-end and contemporary. We use clean lines; we really don't do traditional designs.

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