Steam, Lighting and Laminate Design impacts lives #Designhounds 2017

Last Monday, I darted into the city to meet up with #designhounds to embrace what is hot on the New York design scene. I started off at a breakfast with Mr. Steam at the delicious Landmarc and then shot off to the ICFF, North America's premier platform for global design to meet up with Hubbardton Forge and Wilsonart. 

Breakfast with #designhounds : Catherine Avery, Amy Wax, Christine Kohut, Veronika Miller, Michele Alfano, Deborah Von Donop, Laurie Gorelick, Patti Johnson and Martha Orellana

I enjoyed my day and noticed some overlap from brand to brand. I saw how each brand explored how the intersection of materials, design and technology can impact lives on a day to day basis.

NEW-Mr. Steam Linear SteamHead

Martha, Mr. Steam's VP of Marketing spoke about how "wellness should be a way life." There are so many benefits of steam and how we designers can educate our clients to understand how steam can promote a happier and healthier lifestyle. Why not "feel good" on a day to day basis versus the sporadic 'treat yourself' weekend to the spa? 

I have previously met Martha on the Modenus -Blog Tour California where I viscerally experienced the steam experience with TALA clay all over my face. I walked away understanding that there are major health and beauty advantages to steam-bathing that can fit into a well designed life. 

Mr. Steam Blog Tour Cali Image Credit: Chasen West

You know how awesome you feel from a spa steam afterwards! Your pores open up and your skin feels smoother; your muscles loosen up and you unwind; your sinuses clear and you breathe easier. The release of toxins in your body from steam also helps headaches and joint inflammation...the potential of steam is tremendous! Steam is therapy.... 

Mr. Steam's intelligent operating system iSteam offers an array of options with easy touch screen navigation: add music, aroma (aromasteam) , colored lighting (chromasteam) and/or control the temperature in your very own shower. Mr. Steams online virtual spa system makes it easy. Get a simple system or all the bells and whistles. You can see the pricing on their website as you select your options. 

Now Light Benefits....

Not only steam but also light has the ability to transform one's life. Hubbardton Forge, a lighting manufacturer in Vermont USA showcased new lighting collections that incorporate crystals and color. From the ancient Egyptian times of King Tut to the modern masters of Cartier, crystals have been prized for their beauty and their healing and spiritual properties. Light passing through crystals start a vibration within the minerals and will resonate with the faceted patterns of the crystal. I really believe that this reflection and refraction can help us to restore balance and stress in our lives. 

The Artemis LED pendant 

I would say Hubbardton Forge lighting is synonymous with craftsmanship where crystal design is taken to the next level. Each design is specifically crafted to display crystals like they were jewels in a jewelry setting as shown in the Artemis LED pendant above. How beautiful, right?

Solitude LED Pendant

Each crystal in the Solitude LED Pendant rises from an LED light guide so light is reflected and refracted. This pendant can be hand crafted up to 18'-0" long. What a statement this fixture makes over a dining room table!!

Color too affects one's mood and how we feel in a space. I loved The Cumulus light fixture below, its fun, colorful funkiness has some kinetic movement too. Shown as a floor lamp. Go to my instagram to see the video: @michelealfanodesign

Now Laminate... 

Wilsonart, a leading manufacturer of engineered surfacing developed Wilsonart Challenges, an innovative Student Chair Competition celebrating laminate with a "borders, boundaries and mashup theme" for 2017. Each entry from the San Diego State University explores a resolution of life between extremes by using patterns from the Wilsonart Laminate collection. Grace Jeffers, a design historian and materials expert told us #designhounds that the program is incorporated into the students curriculum and there was a winner and 5 runner ups.

The competition itself fosters inspiration, innovation with a hands on opportunity where the students actually build their design.  We saw all the cool designs at ICFF! Besides the students learning and understanding the properties of laminate, they most importantly learned how material emphasizes a message. Design has a way of touching a nerve and impacting lives....

Here were some of my faves:

Megan Acera. Chair:Joyful Frustration. 

Frustration from one's desires results in a happy resolution as evident in her fragmentation and color choice

Matthew John Bacer -winner of competition. Chair:A piece of Tlaltecuhtli.

He reflects on the use of appropriation of a famous stone monolith in Mexico city. The use of and color of laminate looks like real stone.

Anna Karreskog- Chair Waves- using her engineering knowledge, she celebrates the endless succession of San Diego's ocean's waves. 

Thankyou to Veronika Miller of Modenus and #designhounds, Mr. Steam, Wilsonart and Hubbardton Forge for a great day!!

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Miele and Mr.Steam Buzz: Cooking and Bathing with STEAM

Miele Combi Steam Oven | Mr. Steam

It's always hard coming back from a trip. Laundry, phone calls, emails, stacks of papers, family stuff and deadlines awaiting... oh my, but it was well worth it. BlogTourCali was AWESOME!  Hand picked by Modenus, I was one of eleven designers who experienced what the notion of "Living Well" is all about and how to fully integrate the elements of wellness into life with good food, good wine, good design and some mindfulness.... all compacted in five days. 

BlogTourCali doing Yoga at the Bacara Resort & Spa

In the coming weeks, I will be sharing with you my observations, and participation in what was the most amazing trip across the coast of California. Thank you Veronika of Modenus. Muah!  I learned so much, especially how we must nurture and engage our body, mind and spirit in-order to live a more fulfilled life. The tour proved that all areas such as design, health, food, nature, etc overlap and we as designers can help our clients achieve a Well-Designed Life.

Steam was the buzz word on BlogTourCali!  The power of steam has the ability to transform one's life.  I not only experienced what steamed food tastes like at Miele's showrooms in  Los Angeles and San Franscisco; but also what steambathing feels like at the Bacara Resort & Spa sponsored by Mr. Steam!

Miele Combi Steam Oven

For the foodies: Miele has taken cooking with steam to a new level with their Miele Combi Steam oven. If you think steamed food is a dieters way of making a meal...its totally not. Let me assure you. I tasted it firsthand. On day 2 of the trip, we went over to Miele's Los Angeles showroom for brunch. There they have an open kitchen set up with professional chefs who cooked up the most visually beautiful and tasty meal all made in their Miele Combi Steam oven. All with fresh ingredients and cooked without oils and fats.  My God,  look at the cous cous and beet salad below......all made with steam!

Miele Professional Chef Lupi
image credit: Chasen West

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Steam cooked food is some of the best food I have ever eaten! I was excited by Miele's technology and how easy the interface is. There are fewer steps and less mess too! So, if you want amazing flavor, texture and  color combined with all the health benefits, we all need to be preparing our food with steam!! 

For spa lovers: When you are on vacation, is the spa one of your destinations? Why can't you feel like you are on vacation at home? Your bathroom can be your spa, your sanctuary.

"Feel Good," is Mr. Steam's belief and that is why they came along on BlogTourCali to explore "the Well Designed life." On our drive to the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara,  we laughed all the way with Martha, Mr. Steam VP of marketing. She educated BlogTourCali on all the benefits of steam with her Wellness Wheel. We all won tons of prizes!!

Martha, Mr. Steam VP of marketing and her Wellness Wheel

image credit: Chasen West

We finally arrived at the Bacara Resort & Spa. What a beautiful place! Ahhh! There we experienced a little yoga, a yummy brunch and the ultimate steaminess.....

Bacara Resort & Spa

I learned that its not all about sweating. With gobbs of TALA lava clay all over our faces (new product launch from Mr. Steam), we steamed in the resort's eucalyptus steam room. The thick mask had to dry before going in and it was steamy in there. We sat in the steam about 15 minutes and after only about 5 min., the mask started to drip. After wiping away the entire mineral enriched mask with a cool towel, my skin never felt softer. It was glowing the next day. Love that glow after a spa experience! 

This TALA stuff is amazing. 

What is TALA? Its the fountain of youth packaged in a jar. No joke.  Its a mineral based clay from the mines of the Moroccan Fez region. Its supposed to help reduce redness and unblock pores. Martha from Mr. Steam found this clay at an actual Hammam in Morocco and brought it back to the States. 

I certainly walked away from the experience that there are major health and beauty advantages to steambathing that can certainly fit into a well designed life. Martha gave us all our very own TALA gift box. Yahoo!  I promised myself that I would #SpaSunday with TALA and take a moment to nurture my body. 

TALA faces - BlogTour ladies 

image credit: Chasen West

Why wouldn't I want to have my very own spa experience at home? Next renovation, I'm getting a steam shower!! And so should my clients!!  Mr. Steam's intelligent operating system iSteam offers an array of options with easy touch screen navigation - add music, aroma, lighting and/or control the temperature in your steam room. Mr. Steams online virtual spa system makes it easy. Get a simple system or all the bells and whistles. You can see the pricing as you select your options.

So if you are remodeling, think about making it relaxing, healthy and luxurious with Steamtherapy technology by Mr. Steam. Whatever your preference, steam is personalized therapy!!

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BlogTour Cologne- Two Brands, One Vision: Steam

The buzzword on BlogTour Cologne was Steam, oh glorious steam.... Why so catchy in the middle of snowy Cologne, Germany? Well, two of our sponsors, Miele and Mr. Steam both use steam to promote living a happier and healthier lifestyle. Miele advocates its new steam oven, the perfect product for healthy cooking at home and Mr. Steam avails its therapy system to relax your muscles, clear your sinuses and hydrates your skin. Who knew that steamed salmon and a steam room could have so much in common?

 

Miele’s MultiSteam oven offers some amazing features:

    *Uses “fresh steam” to cook. Steam is heated outside the oven delivering a superior balance of heat and moisture

-   *Fits four stainless steel trays where an entire meal can be prepared all at once. You can cook meat, vegetables and desert simultaneously. Yes! Pressurized convection steam separates flavors. Talk about efficiency!  

*Besides cooking a whole meal at once, the Multisteam technology cuts down on heating time by 30%! Great for a family with hungy kiddies!



At imm cologne, we were able to watch all the chefs work and taste first hand all the wonderful dishes from the steam ovens. Below are some images from one of Miele's Better Living event in San Franscisco.

The Steamy Result: 

* Miele's SteamOven maintains foods mositure, freshness, and valuable nutrients, in turn promoting wellness and healthy living!

(I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Miele and ask him some questions. Stay-tuned for the interview)

Mr. Steam : “Wellness is a way of life”

* Miele's SteamOven maintains foods mositure, freshness, and valuable nutrients, in turn promoting wellness and healthy living!(I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Miele and ask him some questions. Stay-tuned for the interview)  Mr. Steam hosted us to an evening at Claudis-Therme spa, truly believing in the power of steam to improve and maintain good health and beauty. What a wonderful evening! We experienced steam in their steam room, weightlessness in their floating pool, enriched with salt from the Dead Sea and fed an amazing 4 course meal in bathrobes! 

(source)

 

I was in pure heaven in that outdoor pool that whips around the whirlpool tub. The smell of snowy air embraces your head while you float within a forced circular current. You have no control but all I could do is smile and appreciate the experience! It was pure ahhh!

If you ever spent time at a spa or in a steam room, you know how awesome you feel afterwards. Your pores open up and your skin feels smoother; your muscles loosen up and you unwind; your sinuses clear and you breathe easier.The release of toxins in your body from steam also helps headaches, and joint inflammation... The potential of Steam is tremendous. 

(source)

Mr. Steam’s steam shower offers some cool features to enhance the experience:

*AromaSteam with aromatic oils system

*ChromaSteam with mood lighting system

*Music therapy speakers

*Integrate seating

*Towel warmers are key. Embrace yourself in a comfy cozy warm towel! 
Click HERE for more info. 

*No space is too small! Mr. Steam offers a virtual tool. In 5 clicks you can budget the steam shower of your dreams! Click HERE.

Thank you Miele and Mr. Steam for sponsoring our incredible trip to Cologne and Germany! 

Steam is certainly our future!

                                       

(all pics courtesy of Miele, Mr. Steam & Claudius Therme)