By Dianne M. Pogoda
Company News
Kohler x Studio McGee Debuts: Kohler Co has partnered with designer Shea McGee, founder and creative director of Studio McGee, on six exclusive collections of faucets, fixtures, lighting and vanities for kitchen and bath. The collections are classic, inspired by Kohler’s vintage lines and drawn from the plumbing giant’s 150-year history. Studio McGee, founded in 2014, specializes in all facets of interior design and has a Netflix show, “Dream Home Makeover.” Learn more about the collaboration and the collection at Kohler here.
Fotile Introduces Combi Oven: Fotile, a global supplier of high-end kitchen appliances, has launched its built-in 24-inch Combi-Oven featuring five heating tubes, a platinum-allay temperature sensor and a 3D hot-air circulation system for consistent temperatures and faster cooking. It also has 10 preset cooking modes to take food from defrosting to proofing, baking, grilling and more. Learn more about Fotile and the Built-In Combi-Oven.
Lutron Adds Pico Paddle Remote: Global lighting giant Lutron Electronics has added the Pico paddle remote to its Caséta portfolio of smart lighting controls. The smart remote looks and feels like a classic paddle switch and matches the style and feel of the Diva smart dimmer, Claro smart switch and other paddle-style switches. The wireless devices can be placed on the wall, on a pedestal or controlled by hand, and do not require Wi-Fi, a hub, app or password to function. With its typical, 10-year battery life, little ongoing maintenance is necessary. Learn more about Lutron’s Pico paddle remote here.
People News
Zach Elkin to Retire: Zach Elkin, whose kitchen and bath industry career has spanned more than 40 years, announced his retirement from Beko Home Appliances USA, effective at the end of the year. Elkin, a 2022 NKBA Kitchen & Bath Hall of Fame inductee, started his career at Sears Holdings Corp. He served in executive roles at Bosch Siemens Home Appliances Corp., where he oversaw the Thermador, Bosch and Gaggenau brands, and he helped launch LG Electronics’ Signature Kitchen Suite luxury appliances, where he was general manager of SKS and LG Builder Sales. He joined Beko USA as president in 2020.
Cyncly Names Danner SVP: Chuck Danner has joined design software solutions company Cyncly as Senior Vice President of Financial Solutions. In his new role, Danner spearheads efforts to deliver payments technology into the company’s design software. He has more than 25 years of experience in the payment and financial technologies industry, including most recently as General Manager of Payments for Nextech Systems. Cyncly was formed in 2021 with the merger of 2020 and Compusoft design software providers. For more, go here.
Chapter News
Learning With Alabama: The Alabama Chapter will present its annual CEU Day, in which members may earn 0.4 Continuing Education Units, on Oct. 19 from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the Alabama Power Co., 600 18th Street North, Birmingham. Topics include Architectural Photography, Hardware Customization, Induction Cooking and Designing for Wellness. Breakfast and lunch, sponsored by Jennifer Thompson, are included. Registration is $10 for NKBA members and $15 for non-members; students are free. The current CEU cycle to maintain certifications runs through next June. More details here.
KBIS News
Early-Bird Rates Still Available for KBIS Registration: NKBA members still have time to register for KBIS at the discounted rate of $50 for a three-day expo pass through Dec. 14. The VFTI package, which includes expo access and all live and on-demand KBIS Voices From The Industry educational sessions is $575 for members. Non-members may register for the expo only for $100 and VFTI package for $775. For more registration packages and to sign up for North America’s most comprehensive show devoted to kitchen and bath design and construction, go here.
Industry News
Microwave Market Seen Exceeding $15 Billion by 2031: The global market for microwave ovens is seen growing at a compound annual rate of 4.6 percent between 2022 and 2031, hitting $15.6 billion, according to Allied Market Research. In 2021, the market was valued at $9.8 billion. Growth is driven by factors including consumers’ rising disposable income, especially in developing regions like China and India, as well as enhanced safety features and increasing demand for energy- and time-efficient cooking methods, the report said. More detail here.
Office Conversions Rising: In a post-pandemic world where many people are increasingly able to work remotely, developers and cities are exploring the glut of office space and how to convert these buildings to help mitigate a housing shortage. Observers say converting commercial buildings to residential use can be expensive, and would likely result in luxury units with numerous amenities to justify high rents or selling prices to make the project worthwhile. Whatever the cost, every one of those converted units will need a kitchen and at least one bathroom. Business Insider has more.
