Kitchen Design Thought Leadership | 437 | Seven Creatives Define the New Concepts in the Next Generation of Kitchen Design

I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. Following is another installment of the Wellness & Design Thought Leadership Series presented by ThermaSol. In May, 2023, a special gathering took place at the Friedman’s Home Experience showroom in Long Beach, California. This gathering presented an opportunity to get some of Southern California’s most dynamic and creative designers together for a conversation about kitchen design. Our group engages in an open forum about how the kitchen has changed in form and function since the pandemic began in 2020. This idea started as an exploratory look at what has changed, but developed into an overarching dialogue about what it means to be a designer today. Further, how the design community has learned to lean in on each other for support, direction, inspiration and in the case of showrooms like Friedman’s Home Experience, how to provide designers and architects with opportunities to discover new product and specify with confidence to best serve the client. Designer Resources ThermaSol - Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman Moya Living -  Beautiful, durable powder coated kitchen, bath & outdoor kitchen cabinetry Design Hardware - A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! The Oasis Alliance - Providing design to those in need. ICAA Southern California - SoCal is Southern California's preeminent resource on classical architecture and the allied arts. You are about to listen in on a real workgroup discussing the issues designers, architects and builders face today. The following conversation is between 7 creatives and at times, it gets complicated, just like conversations in the real world. The conversation was not intended for you to blow through while multi-tasking. There is a great deal of material here and it is intended to be listened to over time and re-listened as well. It is worthy of saving and. added to your resource library.  Before we listen in, I thought you would like to meet the participants:  Long Trihn - Managing Director of Friedman’s Home Experience - @friedmanshomeexperience Panel ready Pops of color Coffee systems Under-counter wine units and columns Induction increases over gas Refrigeration integrated look NEW - Countertops as the full cooking surface with embedded induction elements Lea Biermann - Principal, Lea Biermann Design - @lbkbdesign The joy of coffee systems Adding secondary color Backsplashes that pop Maximizing spaces for experiences Resale considerations The in-home coffee bar experience is here to stay Cheryl Kaye - Principle, Cheryl Kaye Design Studio @cherylkaye Hospitality, front of house focus Kitchenette for commercial projects including hospitality Visual arts are given and now the ‘function’ and artistry is in meeting client lifestyle demands Dining areas away from tables and more on islands Exposed kitchens, not just functional but decorative and artistic Wet bars for juicing now so they are taking on a different vibe More outlets and charging stations Kitchens more as work spaces   Paul Fernandez - Principle, @kitchenkoncierge Look to new, unexplored appliances Speed Oven: Microwave + Convection Steam ovens Steam oven + oven in lieu of the double oven to maximize functional opportunity Cooking with moisture Refrigerators with cameras, use the app to aid with shopping What is next in countertop materials? What is the most durable material?  Custom options in wood products. This is an incredible time to be designing kitchens! John Feldman - Owner, @ecocentrix Discovering the opportunities in outdoor spaces What is possible in an outdoor kitchen How a project can maximize function through discovery of untapped space unlike inside the home where walls define spaces Working with better educated clients (product)