Hi Everyone!
We wanted to let you know that due to KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) that we skipped having a chapter meeting this month. Who went to KBIS and will share some of the excitement with us?
Till next time, check back with us…
Humans are quite inspired in the kitchen and we are affected by colors, smells, and tastes. The kitchen is a great canvas for us in all these areas. As many of us are designers, why not use the kitchen as an art gallery?
I was looking around on Pinterest today and this kitchen photo really affected me. “Wow!” I thought. “I would love to sit at this eating bar and look at the kitchen and the artwork that the homeowner, or the designer, placed on the wall.” it is very moving and makes a statement. I must also add that I am puzzled by the lights on either side of the painting. Are they heat lamps? Hmmm.
I thought I would share it with you…What do you think?
Have a fabulous day!
-Angie Lawrence
Source: Uploaded by user via Caesarstone US on Pinterest
We had our March Chapter meeting on Thursday, March 28th and it was awesome!
It was held at Builder’s Appliance Center’s (BAC) fabulous showroom and what a great turnout we had: over 70 people! Many learned quite a bit about designing outdoor kitchens as well as the usual fabulous social time with all the members and friends that they see at these meetings.
Attendees commented that this was perfect timing for them as they are currently in the midst of designing outdoor kitchens. Everyone got good hints on getting the best kinds of data for their designs for instance:
I think that anyone who loves the outdoors, especially our friends and clients in this area, would benefit from the best ways to design outdoor kitchens that our speaker, Don Sivesind presented. Personally, I love these events as I get to interact with all the talented and warm people that attend.
Till next time, have a wonderful day!
Having a great time at the chapter meeting!
For those designers who are in the Denver area and plan to participate in the CKD/CBD exam at KBIS on April 18th, 2013. The deadline for the application is January 11th, 2013!
For more information on the KBIS exam, and application form information: CKD/CBD Exam
The date for the Spring Prep Course is will be March 16th, 2013, location TBA, please contact Nowell for more information:
Nowell Vincent
970.204.8170
Our Membership Committee has increased our membership with new members and has brought back lapsed members. Theresa Collins, as Membership VP, really outdid expectations with introducing new member breakfast meetings, having her committee call lapsed members, and running a very successful first half of our membership drive.
Sadly for us, Theresa accepted a position with Sub-Zero in Dallas, TX. For Theresa it was a truly positive move – she has an improved position with Sub-Zero/Wolf at a new distributor showroom and is now living close to her mother. Good Luck Theresa!
Penny Morrow, CKD, stepped up to be our Membership VP for the remainder of 2012. Thank You, Penny!
As President, I set out to meet personally with each member business owner. I have met with many of you. In the next week or so – maybe this has already taken place – I am sending out a survey asking some dozen questions that will help your chapter better meet your needs and expectations. I sincerely hope you will take the time to complete the short survey so our Chapter Executive Committee can work more effectively in meeting needs and expectations!
Many dealers and designers often take the other membership categories for granted. Without manufacturers, suppliers, mfr. reps, distributors, builders/remodelers, cabinet shops, fabricators, decorative plumbing and hardware, and installers, dealers and designers would not have the products or services needed to fulfill the design experience. The next time a manufacturer representative, supplier or distributor wants to discuss their offerings, take a moment and ask them if they are NKBA members – and if not, ask them to consider joining. Our vendor showcase brought a record number of attendees and those who were showcasing their products and services benefitted from their association with NKBA. I personally find it more fun to do business with chapter members since we see each other more frequently at chapter meetings and have some time getting better acquainted.
Some members of your Executive Committee took on the experiment of having a booth at the Fall Home Show at the Denver Convention Center over the three days of September 7th, 8th, and 9th. The experiment was to determine whether having a booth to promote our NKBA chapter was a valuable experience based on expense, manpower and consumer reaction. Granted, most of those that volunteered are designers; however, when we talked to the consumers that visited our booth, we discussed the value of working with NKBA member professionals and the wide category of members. We did garner some consumer leads and then contacted members who live nearby the consumer to follow up and assist them. Based on the experiment, the chapter Executive Committee determined to proceed and participate in the Home and Garden Show to be held in February 2013, again at the Denver Convention Center. I personally took on the task of organizing and overseeing this event. PLEASE contact me if you want to participate – see my phone or email contact information on our Executive Committee webpage.
Michael Luzier, CKD – 2012/2013 Chapter President
NKBA Rocky Mountain Chapter
Does anyone else feel as sad as I do about this?
The Art Institute of Colorado announced in August that they were “… no longer offering Kitchen and Bath Design, effective immediately.” That means that the program many of us in the local chapter worked very hard to get up and running is now going away. AIC management say the program was a victim of declining enrollment. I feel the real issue is that this program was an orphan with no champion on the AIC staff.
I love being part of the kitchen and bath industry and, yes, I like knowledge. I do have lots of letters after my name. I have been in the kitchen and bath industry for over 30 years and I don’t know about my audience here, but in my view the kitchen is often a secondary consideration to the rest of the house, even though, in practice, it is almost always a center of family activity. My experience with new home construction is that builders typically invest a disproportionately small amount of money in the cabinets and the kitchen. I mean, come on now! We are talking about the heart of the home and this is how it is viewed? Leftovers? It may be different now, but I don’t think so. The Art Institute decision is just another variation of the low importance given to kitchen and bath design by the industry. Why didn’t anyone fight for the kitchen and bath program?
I eagerly volunteered to be an advocate for the program back in 2008. I waved my hands and said, “Let me! Let me help and be a voice!” Now it is over. I feel sad there will be no more kitchen and bath classes at AIC; no more 20-20 classes; no more kitchen design or bath design classes based on NKBA guidelines. We put a fantastic program together and educated many young professionals who have become superb additions to the industry. Now we’ll return to cabinet salespeople with less knowledge of design or functionality.
I am happy to be assisting the last two students in the program along their way with classes that will help them get their AA in kitchen design. It is fun teaching them and they are two very bright young ladies who are working hard to complete the program in the remaining time AIC has allotted. Good for them. At least the Art Institute will ensure they get to finish their degrees.
I do feel grateful for that.
Angie Lawrence, MA, CMKBD has been in the kitchen and bath industry for over 35 years, is a faculty member of the Art Institute of Colorado, and has been teaching 20-20 design software for over 10 years. angie.lawrence@3dinteriorimages.com Web site: www.3dinteriorimages.com
The annual NKBA Rocky Mountain Chapter Vendor Showcase brings together in one location, the newest products, services and solutions from manufacturers and suppliers. Everyone connected to the Kitchen & Bath Industry needs to attend. Keep up-to-date with the newest trends. Learn more…
