By Dianne M. Pogoda
Company News
Liebherr Launches New Refrigerator Storage: Liebherr, a global pioneer in advanced refrigeration technology, has introduced a new storage system for one of its residential column refrigerators: the OpenStage drawer system. This replaces traditional refrigerator shelving with fully telescopic glass and metal drawers. Food is clearly visible (reducing the likelihood of food being lost in the back of the appliance) and easily accessible with the full-extension drawers. The refrigerator that comes with the OpenStage drawer system is Wi-Fi enabled, and its BioFresh cooling system ensures optimum freshness and food preservation with temperature and humidity control. Learn more about OpenStage here.
IDG Acquires Trajus Surfaces: Trajus Surfaces, parent of legacy brands European Granite & Marble and Marva Marble, has been acquired by International Designs Group (IDG). The acquisition will stretch IDG’s operations to more than 50 locations in the Eastern U.S. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. KBB has the story.
Go Touchless With Olympia: Olympia Faucets has introduced a sensor spray head that converts a standard pull-down kitchen faucet into a touchless spigot. The new spray head is easily activated, and features a three-minute auto-shutoff and a rechargeable battery with a standard USB plug-in (cable included). It’s compatible with all Pioneer and Olympia pull-down kitchen faucets and doesn’t require an adaptor. More info at Olympia Touchless Spray Head.
Tulip Names Two: Tulip Cooking, known for its gas and induction cooktop systems, named two executives to its leadership team. Amir Girgis is now Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, and Elizabeth Nussbaum was named Regional Sales Director. Nussbaum held executive roles in sales and business development for Waterworks and Renovation Angel. She also served as a senior sales associate and designer at Ann Sacks. Girgis was president and owner of Better Distribution, the Canadian distributor for Tulip Cooking and other brands, and he brings a deep understanding of sales network development, brand management and strategic marketing campaigns. He was also Director of Sales & Marketing at Integrated Appliances Ltd. in Toronto and Managing Director of Sales & Marketing at Diva de Provence. Learn more about Tulip Cooking here.
SieMatic, Miele, Cosentino Selected in Miami: A new luxury condo being built in Miami’s North Bay Village has chosen SieMatic cabinetry, Miele appliances and surfaces by Cosentino and Dekton to furnish its 54 units. The 21-story tower is being developed by Pacific & Orient Properties and was designed by architect Juan Azulay. The apartments are corner units, including four penthouses, and offer panoramic views of Biscayne Bay. Custom cabinetry from SieMatic’s Pure collection in sterling gray will define the sleek open-plan kitchens. Units start at $2.2 million and the project is scheduled for completion in early 2025. KBB has more.
Cyncly Names Heydet SVP of Sales: Ashley Heydet was named senior vice president of sales for North America for Cyncly, a design software solutions provider and parent of 2020 and Compusoft. Heydet was a regional sales manager at ADP — Automatic Data Processing — and has extensive experience building and leading successful teams, pioneering new markets and scaling organizations. Part of her new role at Cyncly will encompass the expansion of Cyncly’s North American client portfolio, with emphasis on the Enterprise segment. Learn more about Cyncly here.
Register for FREE for KBIS! Registration is open for KBIS 2024 in Las Vegas, Feb. 27-29. NKBA members can register for free during September. Also take advantage of early-bird rates for the Voices of the Industry (VFTI) conference and reserve your choice of show hotels. Register at kbis.com.
Industry News
Black Interior Designers Conference Set for LA: The Black Interior Designers Conference will take place for the first time in three years in Los Angeles, Sept. 20-23. The event will be held at 1 Hotel West Hollywood, and feature more than two dozen speakers talking about their career journeys and experiences in the interior design industry. Featured speakers include Justina Blakeney, Jungalow; Michel Smith Boyd, SMITHBOYD Interiors; Ron Woodson, Save Iconic Architecture; Monet Masters and Tavia Forbes, Forbes Masters; and many others. Tickets are $995 per person and include all programming from Wednesday night through Saturday afternoon, plus breakfast and lunch Thursday through Saturday. Sponsors include Kohler, Material Bank, Monogram, Zephyr, Genesis Motor America, High Point Market Authority, The Shade Store, Design Leadership Network, Benjamin Moore and Plant Daddies. More info here.
Chapter Updates
Kicking Off Design Chicago: The Chicago Mid West Chapter will host a kickoff event for Design Chicago on Sept. 26, 5:30 to 8 pm, at sponsor Middleby Residential, 222 West Merchandise Mart Plaza, Ste. 100, in Chicago. Attendees can network, meet NKBA members from around the region, and enjoy food and drink on the evening before Design Chicago (Sept. 27-28). They can also listen to design competition award winners Doug Walter, CMKBD, and Gina D’Amore Bauerle, as they share top tips in their CEU presentation, “How to Enter and Win Design Contests.” Registration is $25 for NKBA members, $35 for non-members and $10 for student members and students enrolled in a design program. More info and registration here.
Carolina Heads to Biltmore: The Carolina Chapter is hosting a two-day event in Asheville, NC, home of the Biltmore Estate, on Sept. 27-28. The festivities start Wednesday evening at 5:30 pm with a wine tasting at the Ferguson Bath Kitchen & Lighting Gallery at 30 Bryson Street, led by a professional sommelier and co-hosted by LIXIL. Thursday morning, breakfast is at the Courtyard Marriott hotel in Biltmore Village, courtesy of Blum Hardware, followed by in-depth Roof Top guided VIP tours of the Biltmore Estate. Dinner is at the Fig Bistro in Biltmore Village, cohosted by Best Tile and Schluter Systems. Pricing, registration and more details here.
On the Links with Northern New Jersey: The Northern New Jersey Chapter will host a day of golf and dinner on Oct. 2. Taking place at the New Jersey National Golf and Country Club, 579 Allen Road in Basking Ridge, NJ, the day begins at 10:30 am with registration, contests, raffle tickets and a putting qualifier. Golf starts at 11:30 am with a shotgun tee-off, and dinner begins at 6 pm. Registration for golf and dinner is $400 for individuals or $1,600 for a foursome, with dinner-only guests at $150. For a foursome plus a hole sponsorship, the cost is $1,800. The registration deadline is Sept. 30. More info here.
