Kitchen Design and Trends

As promised although a bit tardy in this posting, I wanted to talk about Kitchen Design. When I saw the movie Julie & Julia, I was inspired by this blogger who daily wrote about her trials cooking through each recipie appearing in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. With that said, let's move onto THIS blog and talk about Kitchen Trends and what's new in today's Kitchens.

1. Earth-friendly: Bamboo is the natural choice for kitchens. Whether it be a countertop made out of this material and used as a butcher block or if it's floors. This is a renewable resource. You won't find this in a lot of choice colors only because bamboo is such a dense material that using dyes is almost impossible. So, cleaning up after a wine spill, isn't going to be a problem.
Check out: http://www.teragren.com/

2. High-tech: This is where high-tech goes green. Bosch makes a great line now of dishwashers that not only have 'E" or evironmental settings that control temperature/energy, but also have settings for 1/2 loads. At prices that won't break the bank, this is how high-tech can help you in your kitchen plan. Like TV? Siemens' created a multi-media hood that features a 17-inch LCD screen with the options for watching television and DVDs or listening to music. TV dinners couldn't be better. LG even makes a television outiside the door of the refrigerator. Ice on one side, Oprah on the other.

3. Colorful: I have never seen so many options for kitchens now. As part of its Preference collection, Dacor recently introduced 24-inch dishwashers in an array of colors. A floating glass front panel is available in six colors: anthracite gray, sterling gray, titanium silver, blue water, slate green (shown), and black. BlueStar produces a gas range, available in 190 colors. How's that for cooking up some color?

4. Healthy: Copper's natural antibacterial properties make Native Trail's offerings especially alluring. The Farmhouse Duet recycled copper sink with a double basin and exposed apron front. Who'd know that copper not only looks great, but is good for you too!

5. Convenience: Convenience and making sure that everything is in reach and organized is the key. Making sure that everything is stored with everything from garages for all that stuff like mixers to ones for recycling and garbage. Storage makes a good look, a clean look, and it makes life a lot easier when everything is in it's place.

Reinvention of Design Guy University

Greetings!
I had been really busy and had all but abandoned this blog, but when I saw the movie Julie&Julia this weekend, I was completely inspired to reinvent and continue with this blog about design. Later this week as I return from vacation, I'll be talking about kitchen design in honor of Julia Child herself. I was recently at the Merchandise Mart and want to share what I found.

Also, I want to talk about Design Guy University. I've developed a fall class which I think will be spectacular and interesting to all of you. With that, the website has taken on a new design and will be uploaded within the next few weeks. I'm really excited about it. And, I have two announcements already: We will be going to the Merchandise Mart again in late September and visiting some great new vendors I've used recently and we'll be visiting some old friends and see what's new for them.

On the docket for that Chicago trip is Holland&Sherry (they're not just fine suit makers anymore), the brand new Donghia showroom that will absolutely knock your socks off, Brunschwig & Fills, Scalamandre and a few other surprises that will be in store~~!! Even I can hardly wait.

So happy Summer... the best of design and continuing your degree in design confidence is on it's way!

Regards,
Scott Tjaden

Welcome to the second year of 

Design Guy University!
I can’t believe it!

Design Guy University Classes -
New for March. 24th - April 21st.

March 24, 2009
Color 101: Color for 2009.
Learn what new colors are in store for the
year from the leading color resources and
the Color Marketing Group. 

Centennial Commons, 7210 Olive Boulevard, 

UCity, 63130; 314.862.2037.

March 31, 2009:
Big Design, Small Spaces.
Learn how even the smallest péid-a-térre
(like mine of only 150 square feet) and
small spaces don’t have to be difficult with
just a few hints. Centennial Commons,
7210 Olive Boulevard, UCity, 63130;
314.862.2037.

April 7, 2009:
Design History 101:
The history of interior design via the
design of chairs. We’ll look at the earliest
chair known from the Metropolitain Museum of Art 

(Egypt 4000BC) to present-day designer Phillipe Stark.
Centennial Commons, 7210 Olive Boulevard, 

UCity, 63130; 314.862.2037.

April 14, 2009
Construction 101.
Real costs revealed as you see what’s
involved when adding on or building a new
home. Learn how Green design can save
you money down the road.
Boa Construction Company, 8417
Chapin Industrial Dr., Saint Louis, MO
63114, 314.524.0203
Feb 10, 2009

April 21, 2009:
Design & Detail.
We’ll go to this two-year-old showroom
located in Maplewood where we’re in for a
show of Osborne and Little’s new fabric line.
Design & Detail, 2731 Sutton Blvd
Suite, 100, St Louis MO; 63143;
314.781.3336

Note: Maps to Boa Construction and Design
& Detail will be given out the first day of class

along with your folders and the ever-popular Design Guy pencils.

School Bells Ring in the New Year With Design Guy University

School bells ring in the new year with this semester’s choice course list from Design Guy University. Colors for 2009 top the list with topics covering big design for small spaces, construction basics, interior design history, and the latest with the new products available at a new showroom to-the-trade. Taught by local interior designer D. Scott Tjaden, Allied Member ASID, at University City’s Centennial Commons and on location. Design-divas, style-mavins, cable-home-decorating addicts, and anyone else wanting to hone their interior skills will benefit from the Winter offerings. Starting January 20th until February 17th, every Tuesday your choice from either 2-4pm or 7-9pm, the class list is available on the website at www.designguyuniversity.com or by calling 314.761.5740. RAH! RAH! RAH! See you in class! (Sorry, rowdy towels not included).

tjadeninteriors@yahoo.com
314.761.5740 for more information and to reserve a spot.

Checks make out to: Scott Tjaden Mail to: Design Guy University, 2433 McNair Avenue, St.Louis, MO 63104

Classes all 5 for $98, 2 hours each at either 2-4pm or 7-9pm on days listed below.

Class listing:


1. Jan 20, 2009: Color 101: Color for 2009.

Learn what new colors are in store for the year from the leading color resources and the Color Marketing Group. Centennial Commons, 7210 Olive Boulevard, UCity, 63130; 314.862.2037.



2. Jan 27, 2009: Big Design, Small Spaces.

Learn how even the smallest péid-a-térre (like mine of only 150 square feet) and small spaces don't have to be difficult with just a few hints. Centennial Commons, 7210 Olive Boulevard, UCity, 63130; 314.862.2037.



3. Feb 3, 2009: Construction 101. Real costs revealed as you see what’s involved when adding on or building a new home. Learn how Green design can save you money down the road. Boa Construction Company, 8417 Chapin Industrial Dr., Saint Louis, MO 63114, 314.524.0203; http://www.boaconstruction.com/



4. Feb 10, 2009: Design History 101.

The history of interior design via the design of chairs. We’ll look at the earliest chair known from the Metropolitain Museum of Art (Egypt 4000BC) to present day designer Phillipe Stark. Centennial Commons, 7210 Olive Boulevard, UCity, 63130; 314.862.2037.



5. Feb 17, 2009: Design & Detail.

We’ll go to this two-year-old showroom located in Maplewood where we’re in for a surprise of new products available. Design & Detail, 2731 Sutton Blvd Suite, 100 St Louis MO; 63143; 314.781.3336; http://www.designanddetailstl.com/

Happy New Year from Design Guy University

Thanks to all of you for making Design Guy University's first year a success. Wishes for a prosperous and happy 2009!

WHITE HOUSE INTERIORS

With the election behind us, I thought this week I'd share the acquisition of some rare interior shots of the White House during the renovation of the White House from the Theodore Roosevelt administration in 1904. These glass color plates are property of the Library of Congress and show the grandeur of the 'modern' American interior. What you may NOT know is that the interior of the White House was heavy Victorian and decorated by the likes of Louis Comfort Tiffany and other well-known artists in vogue at that time. The need for redecoration to something less heavy at the turn of the century resulted in these lush rooms.

Enjoy these rare shots, I certainly did.


The East Room, 1904. I think anyone would love to throw a party in this place.

The Blue Room. WOW. Look at that floor and the scale of everything. Elegance.

The State Dining Room. 1904. Wow. Look at that GREEN. Classic. And look at that ceiling decoration. Amazing.



Green Room. 1904. Love this. 'Nuff said.

President's Office. 1904. Remember this pre-dates the oval office. Now the office is I believe another bedroom. (is it the Lincoln Bedroom??)



White House Lobby. 1904. WOW. Simplicity, yet complete complexity in terms of the moulding and understated elegance.


Another View of the East Room. 1904. 

The Red Room. I could certainly enjoy a drink at the end of the day reading or receiving my out-of-country dignitaries in this room. No problem.

New Class: Decorating for the Holidays

Perplexed elves and others in desperate need of holiday cheer can face the upcoming season with new found confidence by enrolling in the latest class offered by Design Guy University: Decorating for the Holiday Season.

What's included:

* Brief overview of the history of decoration for winter and holiday
* View photographs of beautifully decorated homes
* Go inside the area's second-largest private home to see how I decorated the public spaces for the holidays
* Learn techniques used by professionals.
* View and learn about unusual choices of plants and greenery (live samples) for your home
* Learn the correct way to light a tree
* See the latest in artificial and permanent materials available
* How to use containers correctly

All registrants get a special holiday gift from Scott, the Design Guy.

TIME: 9am - 11am
DATE: Saturday, Nov.15,
LOCATION: The Heman Park Centennial Commons Building in University City, 7210 Olive Street, University City, MO 63130
COST: Only $39 per person

Make Check out to: Scott Tjaden

Mail Check or Money Order to:

Design Guy University
2433 McNair Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63104