1. SUBTLE STYLE Spanish company Gentiles’ porcelain-tile collection, Cover, brings subtle style to the kitchen. Pictured here, the Cover Acero hue in both a plain and a decorative version with hints of blue. The large-format tiles come in square and rectangular shapes. Available in the U.S. through Tile of Spain. tileofspainusa.com; geotiles.com
2. PIZZA TIME Create the perfect slice in your own kitchen with GE Monogram’s new 30-inch pizza oven. LCD controls allow the cook to select from a variety of pizza and roasting settings. With an interior ventilation system, it requires no special installation. Available through Appliance Distributors Unlimited. adu.com; monogram.com
3. IN THE OVEN Bertazzoni’s 30 4-Induction Zones, Electric Self-Clean oven unites an induction-heat cooktop and an oven with nine functions including convection, baking, roasting and warming. It also features a quadruple-glass door and pyrolytic easy-clean oven linings. us.bertazzoni.com
4. TURNING JAPANESE The word “Ki” means both bowl and wood in Japanese—making it a perfect name for this collection of melamine containers and wood shelving for the kitchen, designed by Japanese studio Nendo for Scavolini. The Ki collection works with a range of kitchen layouts; the shape of the containers is echoed in the sink and hood designs. Available through Scavolini in Georgetown. scavolini.us
5. CONTROL TOP Miele’s Gas on Glass cooktop boasts a sleek, black-glass surface designed for even heat distribution and easy cleanup. Stainless-steel knobs on an electronic control panel operate the burners without the necessity of holding the controls down. The 24- or 36-inch-wide cooktop features removable, dishwasher-safe grates. Available at Miele’s showroom in Tysons Corner. mieleusa.com
6. WINE ROOM True’s under-counter 24-inch Wine Cabinet stylishly stores up to 45 bottles behind stainless glass or overlay glass doors. LED interior lighting comes in 14 color options, and low-E, double-pane glass protects against UV light, temperature fluctuation, humidity and vibration. Available in a single or dual-zone version through M&M Appliance. mandmappliance.com; true-residential.com
7. MOVABLE FEAST Poggenpohl’s +STAGE is a storage unit designed and named for a particular location and function—for example, bar, office, breakfast or kitchen. Equipped with slide-in doors, the units come in different heights and colors. The breakfast unit (above) offers shelving, a mini-fridge, drawers, handy surfaces and more. Available at Poggenpohl in Cady’s Alley and Chevy Chase. poggenpohl.com
8. KITCHEN SINK The IKON Apron Front Single Bowl sink from Blanco brings modern style to the traditional apron-front basin. Made of SILGRANIT, an engineered product by Blanco, it is resistant to extreme heat, scratches and stains. Available in Anthracite, White or Café Brown (pictured) and with an optional floating grid accessory. blanco-germany.com
9. DEFT DESIGN An indented design gives Rohl’s commercial-grade Single Bowl Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink improved function and a fresh look. The indentation holds convenient accessories including a cutting board, grating kit, colander and dish rack, while insulating “quiet coat” technology muffles the clanging of pots and dishes. rohlhome.com
10. RETRO COOL Big Chill’s vintage-style appliances come with an energy-efficient, up-to-date performance. The Retro Microwave, above in bold purple, offers 1,200 watts of cooking power; non-sensor reheat, cook and defrost cycles; a recessed-glass turntable; and sensor cooking. Available with or without legs, in 200 custom and nine standard colors. bigchill.com
11. LOW PROFILE The sleek Wolf contemporary gas cooktop maintains a low profile, sitting flush with the countertop for an integrated look. Control knobs can be mounted to any cabinet panel. The cooktop, which boasts Wolf’s most powerful dual-stacked burner with a total BTU output of 20,000, is available through Fretz Corporation. fretz.com; subzero-wolf.com
12. CHIC COLLECTION Top Knobs’ extensive Barrington Collection of decorative cabinet hardware is divided into five series: Edgewater, Brookline, Somerdale, Channing and Glass and Crystal Knobs. The collection is available in a range of complementary shapes and sizes, and in six finishes. topknobs.com
13. HANDS FREE The K2005 touch-free swivel faucet by Cinaton blends spare, modern style with cutting-edge technology. Infrared sensors control temperature and water flow, among other functions; features include a 150-degree spout rotation, preset functions to be determined by the user, and a pause function. Available in a brushed or polished nickel finish. cinaton.com
Bethesda interior designer Marika Meyer has channeled her fine arts background and love for antiquities into an eponymous brand of custom textiles that are modern interpretations of the past.
Meyer drew inspiration from ancient cities to create patterns such as Roman Fig, a play on a Roman temple pediment, and Pompeii, which pays homage to wall paintings in Herculaneum ruins. “For some designs, I have a specific client in mind, while others are part of a universal collection,” she says. “Fabrics evoke an emotion. In our printing format, the patterns can all be custom-colored, which drastically changes that mood.”
Marika Meyer Textiles are available through Evans & Sheldon by appointment. marikameyertextiles.com; evansandsheldon.com
FAST TRACK BMW’s 2017 740e xDrive marries power and sustainability with new technology that integrates a four-cylinder gas engine and an electric machine. This plug-in hybrid’s greenhouse potential is 30 percent less than that of a gas-powered 740i. All-wheel drive ensures maximum traction, directional stability and agility in all weather and road conditions. Optional features include a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System. Arriving in the U.S. in August 2017, the model is priced from $89,100. bmwusa.com
DEEP-SEA SHOTS Body Glove’s Optrix kit turns an iPhone into a durable underwater camera. The case is waterproof up to 33 feet; the kit comes with two interchangeable lenses. $170. optrix.com
VINYL VIBE Moore & Giles and Crosley Radio have partnered to create the Commonwealth Collection C10 Turntable. With a low-vibration motor and shock-absorbent feet, it delivers high-quality sound. Available in mahogany or birch, the turntable is topped with leather laser-cut with a map showing the region between Lynchburg and Louisville, where the companies are based. $840; mooreandgiles.com
PERSONAL TECH Jade J, Inc., recently released JadeBud headphones, which feature a built-in microphone and volume control, and the PowerBoost, a 3,000mAh power bank that gives any smartphone at least one full charge. Both are available in five colors with metallic accents; $50 and $60, respectively. jadej.com
Window walls—sliding glass systems that completely open a room to the outdoors—add a sense of drama to any home on the water. Not only do they provide uninterrupted views, but they also seamlessly expand living spaces onto decks, terraces and more.
As architect Leo Wilson of Annapolis-based Hammond Wilson says, “Being able to open up a wall and literally bring the outdoors in adds a new level of flexibility to otherwise conventional spaces.” He advises consumers selecting a window wall to “look for products that have a solid feel and operate smoothly.” He also recommends visiting a project where a system has been installed to get a sense of how it performs. Following are a few of the latest options:
KITCHEN TRANSITION This new product designed for kitchens is available as a folding or single-track sliding system. It combines windows that can be installed above countertops (pictured) and door panels; the windows and doors can be opened and operated independently or together. nanawall.com
ULTIMATE MULTI-SLIDE DOOR An automated control system is now available on Marvin Windows and Doors’ four Ultimate Multi-Slide Door configurations—both pocket and stacked—and in sizes up to 47 feet wide. Users can open and close the panels via a wall switch or remote. marvin.com
SLIDE & STACK GLASS WALLS When installed in an exterior application, this handle-operated system includes a thermally enhanced frame with a barrier preventing temperature transfer year-round. The walls incorporate a wide range of glass types, including energy-efficient LowE glazing. solarinnovations.com
Most trends circle back around—and some actually improve with age. Building with wood is one of those trends.
This fall, the National Building Museum hosts an unconventional exhibit, “Timber City,” that is sure to dispel popular notions about wood construction. Curated and designed by architects Yugon Kim and Tomomi Itakura of the Boston-based firm ikd, it will showcase recent innovations in timber technology, presenting wood projects and conceptual designs from around the world.
The exhibit highlights the recent boom in domestic and worldwide timber construction and illustrates how the industry gives manufacturing companies in rural America a needed boost. Two installations—a 63-foot vertical panel in Douglas fir stretching from the ground to the third floor and a horizontal pine-and-spruce panel 40 feet wide—will be the focus of the museum’s Great Hall. Visitors will discover that, aside from its beauty, wood brings unexpected benefits—from strength to fire resistance and sustainability—to projects using present-day building technology.
“Timber City” runs from September 17 through May 21, 2017. It is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and is adapted from an exhibit that ikd designed for the Boston Society of Architects. nbm.org
