Kate Flaherty talks about Luxe Home kitchen and bath open house

September 30, 4:12 PMHome and Living ExaminerAndrea Campbell

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Luxe Home is open to the public!  A top-notch overview of upscale products for Kitchen & Bath. In honor of Kitchen and Bath month and the Chicago Merchandise Mart, we welcome Kate Flaherty, Vice President of Special Projects for MMPI.

Q.: For Home and Living Readers who don’t know you, will you tell us something about your background?

A.: I am the vice president of Building Products and Special Projects for MMPI and am in charge of all kitchen and bath business at LuxeHome at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago and the Architects & Designers Building in New York City.
 
16 years ago I developed the one-stop shopping concept for home-owners interested in remodeling their kitchens and baths.Today, the public can shop the best brands in kitchen, bath and building products at LuxeHome all on one floor at The Merchandise Mart. LuxeHome boasts more than 100,000 square feet of space with 30 boutiques that feature the finest kitchen and bath products for luxury home building and renovation. In addition to the extensive lineup of manufacturers, each boutique offers knowledgeable designers who are available to assist with all phases of each design project.
 
Q.: Tell us about The Merchandise Mart please.

A.: The Merchandise Mart is the world’s largest commercial building, largest wholesale design center and one of Chicago’s premier international business locations. Encompassing 4.2 million gross square feet, The Mart spans two city blocks and rises 25 stories.Today, The Merchandise Mart welcomes more than three million visitors each year to its retail shops, LuxeHome® boutiques,11 floors of permanent showrooms for gift, residential, casual and contract furnishings,10 floors of office space, dozens of trade shows and a myriad of special educational, community and consumer events.

The epicenter for high design and luxury goods,The Merchandise Mart is located in the heart of a city that is home to prestigious fine art institutions, world-class museums, award-winning architecture, professional entertainment venues and diverse restaurant offerings.
 
Q.: What is special about National Kitchen and Bath month?

A.: Established by the NKBA in 1982 and celebrated annually, National Kitchen & Bath Month is the perfect time to highlight all of the latest products in the kitchen and bath industry, as well as showcase some of the emerging trends including sustainable building, high-tech gadgets, innovations in tile, etc.
During National Kitchen and Bath month we host an Open House at LuxeHome on Saturday, October 3, 10am-3pm, which is free and open to the public. This year we are featuring a keynote presentation by famed HGTV host of Red, Hot and Green, Nicole Facciuto, guest appearances by Nationally renowned design experts, over 50 new product introductions, the opening of the newest boutique at LuxeHome, Porcelanosa and gourmet hospitality in all 30 luxury kitchen and bath boutiques. Our Open House is a great way to show consumers the innovative and exciting products available for them to shop at LuxeHome.
 
  Q.: LuxeHome, what a great name. Please tell us about LuxeHome and the Open House event?

A.: LuxeHome boasts more than 100,000 square feet of space with 30 boutiques that feature the finest kitchen and bath products for luxury home building and renovation from the most recognized and respected manufacturers worldwide. Open to the public, as well as interior designers, architects and custom builders, LuxeHome displays the widest selection of products to fit all lifestyles, from modern European to classic American to traditional English. In addition to the extensive lineup of manufacturers, each boutique offers knowledgeable designers who are available to assist with all phases of each design project. LuxeHome's boutiques are open for shopping Monday through Saturday.
 
This year’s Open House features a keynote presentation by HGTV’s host of Red, Hot and Green, Nicole Facciuto, celebrity appearances by renowned design experts, new product launches, guest lectures, design consultations, cooking demonstrations and gourmet hospitality in over 30 participating boutiques. New this year, as part of Traditional Home’s yearlong 20th anniversary celebration, the magazine is proud to partner with LuxeHome Open House. The magazine will unveil its 20 Icons of Design which include: Anthony Baratta, Barbara Barry, Mario Buatta, Nina Campbell, Dan Carithers, Clodagh, William Diamond, Jamie Drake, David Easton, Charlotte Moss, Vicente Wolf, Mariette Himes Gomez, Albert Hadley, Ralph Lauren, Margaret McCurry, Oscar de la Renta, John Saladino, Michael Smith, Robert Stern, Kelly Wearstler and Bunny Williams. Additionally, Traditional Home and Ann Sacks will host a special event at the open house where patrons can meet one of the magazine’s editors and view new accessories for the bath.
 
Also, Porcelanosa, recognized as a global leader in the innovation, design, manufacture and distribution of Tile, Kitchen, and Bath products, will unveil its 7800 square foot showroom showcasing their unique tile offerings in suite 149. This renowned brand endeavors to be the industry leader by providing trendsetting cutting-edge designs of unparalleled beauty and refinement, uncompromising quality, technologically superior products and dependable services to its clients.
 
Q.: What are you most excited about in terms of new trends for this upcoming season?

A.: There are some amazing innovations in tile. Porcelanosa, our latest boutique at LuxeHome has a couple new tile introductions including Yakarta, which mimics the look of a natural wall covering. It’s slightly satin finish helps to create a soft atmosphere in your home. Their Eidos Oceano tile creates the illusion of mosaic with multi-hued squares. Hastings Tile and Bath are launching the Matouche Croco series features durable porcelain tiles that mimic patterns and textures found in nature. Artistic Tile is introducing the Tropique collection, a line of decorative inserts and liners made from authentic mother of pearl. These specialty pieces are hand-made in Southeast Asia and pair beautifully with ceramic and natural stone, among other materials.
 
I have also noticed a lot of sleek, contemporary kitchen cabinetry products from brands like Poggenpohl, Ernestomeda and Studio Snaidero. KUBE, the new kitchen cabinetry line designed by Giovanni Offredi for Italian manufacturer Snaidero, has a clear-cut “architecture” of dynamic and smooth contemporary forms. Its streamlined design is built around the interplay of volume and space. The contrasts of shapes, materials and colors define clearly distinct functional areas which coexist harmoniously. Poggenpohl will showcase its new mineral inspired cabinetry finishes including Cubanit, Oxid, Curit, and Flourid, which provide an iridescent shine. These metallic finishes and reflective, high-gloss acrylic cabinetry are inspired by the automotive industry. With aluminum frames, the doors add subtle color and shimmer to kitchen. Ernestomeda’s “Elektra Vetro” is an evolution of the best selling line Elektra now available in Glass and paired with a stunning island in walnut and stainless steel.
 
Q.: Looking through the images of new design, I am most blown away by the sleek lines of cabinetry and the gloss finishes. Has this by any chance been influenced by the linear looks and metallic craze in the fashion industry?

A.: Fashion has always been a major influencer in home furnishings. Fashion colors, textures and finishes impact kitchen and bath design with normally a one to two year delay. Colors such as grey, brown, and white are now very popular for the kitchen and bath. These colors were hot in the fashion industry a year or two ago. Metallic and glass finishes as seen in fashion are extremely popular in the luxury tile industry.
 
Q.: How soon will these home products and innovations filter down for the regular consumer?

A.: LuxeHome offers cutting edge styles and products and are available year round for consumers. The best thing about LuxeHome is the wide variety of products available-whether your style is traditional or contemporary, there is something available for everyone.
 
Q.: In your opinion, how has the economy impacted the design industry?

A.: The upscale homeowner is taking more time to make major purchasing decisions as a result of the economy. People are seeking out and demanding quality products and high level of service to accompany the brand name. We believe sales are generally down 25% as a result of the economy in the luxury market, although there are a number of companies that have continued to thrive despite the global recession such as Clive Christian, Poggenpohl, Ernestomeda, and de Giulio kitchen design.
 
Q.: Is there anything else you would like to tell Home and Living Readers?

A.: We hope everyone will check out the LuxeHome Open House on October 3 at The Merchandise Mart. If you can’t attend this event, www.luxehome.com has a Product Locator tool that allows you to search all of the products available in our boutiques.