KBH Industry News | June 2020
UPCOMING EVENTS

COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, July 6

CHAPTER OFFICER ELECTIONS
Self-Nominations Are Open
Deadline: July 17
ONLINE LEARNING WITH OUR
CHAPTER SPONSORS
 
While our in-person Chapter Meetings are on pause, you can still get together online . Sponsors are offering online courses. Check the newsletter each month or nkbamanhattan.org to see the offerings. Stay informed, stay current, and stay well!

Thurs, 6/25 @ 4:00 pm EDT
California Cooking with
Chef Jenny Messing, hosted by
Fisher & Paykel
Register here.

6/18, 23, 25, 30 @ 10:00 am PST and 1 pm EDT
Dacor Live Virtual Training
Join to win prizes each session!
More schedule details below right.
To join presentations, go here.

Ongoing
Monogram offers a video series called Pass the Salt
Monogram chefs share culinary inspiration, tips, expertise and recipes.
To watch the presentation on Salt, go to YouTube here .
ECO AWARDS—Inspiring Our Community Through Environmental Leadership
The Manhattan Chapter is pleased to announce this year we will be honoring our sponsors exhibiting best practices for environmental stewardship with our inaugural 2020 ECO Awards.
We look to inspire not only our sponsors but also our members to consider as well as reduce their environmental footprints. Check your email inboxes for submission forms this month. Deadline: 9/302020.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE ON THE MANHATTAN CHAPTER COUNCIL?

Are you interested in playing a larger role in your Chapter and serving on the Council? The positions of Membership Chair and Treasurer/Secretary are up for election for the 2021-2022 term.
For more info, email Recruitment Chair Charlotte Barnard at charbarnard@yahoo.com.
To self-nominate, go to nkba.org.
NOTE: To be eligible, to serve, you must be a current member of the Manhattan chapter and you must be available to attend Council meetings on the first Monday of every month.
EDITOR'S NOTE :

NKBA Manhattan Members: Do you have news to share with your chapter colleagues in the  NKBA Manhattan Newsletter? We'd like to hear from you!
Please send an email to Communications Chair  Charlotte Barnard, at chabarnard@yahoo.com. Member and sponsor news will be published monthly, space permitting.
LIFE DURING THE PANDEMIC
observations by Mimi Levitan
Editor's Note: This column is a new feature for the Chapter newsletter, to share experiences from our members as they cope with work and life during the Pandemic. If you'd like to share your own experience, email charbarnard@yahoo.com

ATTENTION, K-MART SHOPPERS!  OK, probably not too many in this group, but now that I have your attention, let’s discuss.... 
Where to start? First, certainly hoping that all of you out there in Covid-Land remain healthy, or at least have recovered from this dreaded virus. I sadly “know too many people who know people,” as I suspect that many of us do. Stay positive, my friends (not that kind of positive). This too shall pass, and as we gratefully find ourselves in this new normal, we will march on. We will move forward with more positivity, inner strength, and a stronger sense of what is important. 
The daily reality of our present state has been interesting, to say the least. My daughter, age 27, has been with me for over 3 months. Although she could go back to her place, she is not working and prefers my company. A blessing and a curse? I need a medal. I love her, and will probably love her more when I “shoo” her goodbye. One of us is OCD, the other, not so much. (I’m being kind.) One of us talks a lot, the other has been summoned to listen. All the time. I know, most of you are shocked that I am not the one doing all of the talking. I cannot be alone, a parent who became an empty nester many moons ago? It’s exhausting when they return home. Dare I discuss the mess in the kitchen??? Small NYC kitchens get very messy very quickly. I am cooking more (aren’t we all?) and getting healthy by not inviting pizza and ice cream into my home (to dare to dream). This constant cooking only strengthens my desire for take-out, and the anticipation of the outside dining 6 feet apart experience. Note...While viewing our dear Kent B’s FB food posts, I drool and will hold him hostage when we are out of this quarantine, to plump me up with one of his creations. I digress.... I am thankful. For my daughter (my son is in SF at the present time), good health, and the good fortune to have been holed up in 850 SF. Which has a crack in the bathroom ceiling (since when?) quite a 
few floorboards that are loose (really?) a slipcovered sofa (white) that now hosts several shades of food groups. Along with numerous other casualties that I have previously dared to live with and tried not to notice pre-Covid. I sense I need to hire a designer to take care of this nonsense. Oh, right, that might be me. I am starting to get a bit busy with projects, but curious as to why it now takes 8 hours to accomplish something that normally takes only 2. Luxury of time or minimal motivation. It won’t be easy getting back into the swing of things. I know that I am fortunate, and continue to remind myself that I work best with too much to do, in an organized yet frenzied fashion 
My sense of humor is not lost during this time (seems we need it most right now), but I really am enjoying this opportunity to regroup. I oddly and honestly look at this as a gift (a strange one, to say the least). Finally got my website updated. Not without a few choice words at the computer ...couldn’t be me, right? Speaking more on the phone with old friends, and other phone calls that nurture my newer friendships are extremely gratifying. Zooming or Facetiming with some that I might not ever. Passover Seder, though seemingly so long ago, was interesting and wonderful, all rolled into one. How fortunate that we can do this? And how fortunate that 27-year-old noted above helps her mother with technology (eye-ball roll included). 
We continue to look forward to both the little things and the big things. Manicure (I’ve managed). Pedicure. Help. Hair? Call of the Wild (though I am scheduled for this week...take pity on my hairdresser). I miss and look forward to lunch with my friends, a meeting with a contractor and a client. I oddly look forward to spending the day with the fresh paint on my shirt because I don’t pay attention even when told to do so. Construction dust on everything I own. Travel with friends, near and far (we are already daydreaming, passport up for renewal, and I have been told the car will be gassed up and ready to go). Missing the delightful smells of the city (sarcasm intended) mixed with the fresh smells of Spring from daily extended walks that don’t always happen often enough. I love the 7 pm sounds of clanging pots and honking of horns and clapping and woo-hooing from my neighborhood streets and windows. Though the noise is less than several months ago, it is still something I look forward to, and am very thankful to all of those that have sacrificed to keep the rest of us comfortable. I have made a new “friend,” the lady across the street in a second-floor apartment. We wave each day, we “thumbs up” as a signal that everything will be alright. 
It is close to 7 pm as I close this commentary. I am ready to start clapping at my window. I leave you with the anticipation that we will all see one another soon, that we will be deliriously happy to be reunited and filled with stories describing this time that we all share...at a distance in miles, but always close at heart. Stay safe, and countdown knowing we will be together again, very soon. Miss you, my friends! 
—Mimi Levitan, NKBA, IDS, IFDA, MJL DESIGN GROUP
President's Column | Toni Sabatino
Our hearts are heavy this month as we have witnessed so much horror. The pandemic stress has eased but we are now faced with the heightened realities of inequality, injustice and police brutality. We stand with those calling for justice and equality. We wish peace and love to win. To make that happen, we must ask ourselves how our thoughts and actions affect the good of all and, if they do not, we must change them. Now is a time to reflect and to act on behalf of the greater good. NKBA Manhattan realizes that the challenges of our times require sensitivity to more important issues than kitchen & bath design, but we will be here for those needing CEUs or other business support. We wish everyone safety as we collectively walk toward social justice. 
—Toni, President, Manhattan Chapter
HASTINGS INTRODUCES ROMA
Hastings Tile & Bath offers elegant and functional mirrors that pair beautifully with their customizable bathroom vanities line. The reflective world of mirrors has evolved alongside nearly every other major home appliance, adding smart features like anti-fog, dimmable LED lighting, and added shelving. From customizable features to sleek design, the mirrors of the future are here today.
“Roma” is an LED backlit mirror recessed in a glass frame that also acts as a shelf. It features an on/off sensor with dimmer and nightlight, and defogger with hardwiring to a wall switch. Roma comes in a 28 3/8" square or 37 7/8" x 28 3/8", 42 1/2" x 28 3/8", 47 1/4" x 28-3/8", 52" x 28-3/8", and 56 3/4" x 28 3/8" rectangles with custom sizes upon request. Light temperature is 4000K with 3000K or 6000K available by special order. For more information, visit here or 800-351-0038; info@hastingstilebath.com.
CONTESTS ARE CALLING!

SUB-ZERO, WOLF AND COVE 2019-2020 KITCHEN DESIGN CONTEST
Designers: Time to submit your best projects.
To get started,  Click here! or contact your local trade representative,  Bianca Olsson  for info.
Deadline: January 31, 2021.

DACOR 2020 STUDENT DESIGN CONTEST
Students can enter to win a $10,000 scholarship! First runner-up will also be awarded a $5,000 scholarship. Deadline is July 31, 2020.
For more information and to register, click here.

THERMADOR KITCHEN DESIGN CHALLENGE
Compete for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $110,000. To enter, write a narrative of no more than 300 words, and upload photos of your remarkable design including at least three Thermador appliances. For details and entry rules, visit  here. Deadline is extended to May 15, 2021.

THE NKBA DESIGN COMPETION
Deadline for submissions is July 3; entry fee for members is $129. 
There are over $60,000 worth of prizes available so take advantage of this opportunity to enter. We are looking forward to seeing your wonderfully creative designs.  Click  here  to enter. 
ROYAL GREEN NOW OPEN
BY APPOINTMENT

To all of our friends and family at the NKBA Manhattan Chapter...we wish you the best for you and yours as you make your return back to New York City.
Although our new way of interacting with one another will be much different, that will not change Royal Green’s love and support for all of our trade partners.
We will not be having any more “jammed packed” events any time soon, but we will get very creative on how to keep our networking party going...just in small groups at a time!  There is an old saying that “less is more” for a reason, right?
Royal Green has had many conversations with design professionals over these last months and some of the consensus is that once “the gates open” the kitchen and bath industry will become a tidal wave of business! Let us be hopeful that is the case and RIDE THIS WAVE TOGETHER!
We all need as much positive news as possible, so Royal Green is happy to announce that our showroom is open by appointment and we are getting busier and busier every day!
Enjoy this little clip “ Design Your Perfect Kitchen ” and Thank YOU for your trust over the years in helping you and your clients do just that!
LINEADECOR OPENS NEW SARASOTA, FLA., SHOWROOM

Lineadecor, a leading international kitchen furniture brand, manufactured in Turkey and designed with Italian gusto since 1991, is pleased to announce the opening of its Sarasota showroom located at 6156 Clark Center Avenue. Fibrocon, a home design and building materials partner, will represent Lineadecor as the exclusive dealer of the brand in the state of Florida.
“We are thrilled to be expanding our U.S. footprint with a new showroom.” said Arzu Ertas, Director of U.S. Operations. “We have been in the U.S. market for over a decade now and have seen demand grow for our products and we look forward to working with consumers, designers, and developers, giving them the full Lineadecor experience in our new Florida showroom.”
In addition to a wide selection of doors in the standard catalogue, it offers the opportunity to customize for both multifamily and single family residential projects. The Sarasota showroom is designed to provide all services required to achieve the best customer experience through Lineadecor’s vision, as a worldwide brand known for increasing people’s quality of life by creating luxury kitchens through the best customer experience.
In many aspects of design and quality, Lineadecor is parallel to major European brands, by offering modular design, fully integrated into the Imperial System and in compliance with ADA and TSCA Title 6 regulations in the United States.
DACOR HOSTS TRAINING IN JUNE
Dacor is offering a series of 45-minute Virtual Training Sessions, conveniently scheduled for both coasts at 10 AM PST and 1 PM EDT. Join to win prizes, too! No advance registration is necessary. Go here to participate through video or call 404-410-4502; meeting ID: 472 009 758
MEMBER IN THE NEWS
Manhattan Chapter Programs Chair Julie Schuster was featured in Forbes on "Feng Shui's Potential Health Benefits." In the article, Schuster says feng shui, the ancient Chinese practice of harmonizing your home with nature, is gaining popularity as people become more interested in the connections between their homes and their health. This is certainly a timely topic , as millions of Americans spend more hours indoors, helping to flatten the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Wellness design includes technology integration, better food preservation, improved lighting design, living in place design and better, more nurturing energy in our homes,” says Schuster. She sees feng shui playing a role, in creating that nurturing energy. Read the entire article he re .
OUTDOOR COOKING WITH WOLF

‘Tis the season for outdoor cooking! For many, the kitchen is the heart of the home —the place where life happens. This season, open the door to more life and more moments worth savoring with Sub-Zero and Wolf outdoor kitchen appliances.
Built into every outdoor Wolf product is a belief system. The central tenet: that your ideas and preferences, not the limitations of your equipment, should determine how your meals turn out. Like its indoor counterparts, a Wolf outdoor grill puts precise control in your hands, so that the dish you have in mind will be the dish you bring to the table.
Outdoor kitchens come in all sizes. So do the Wolf outdoor gas grills—30", 36", 42" and 54". Each size can be built in, or optional carts are available for 30", 36", and 42" models. For cart models, you may specify an optional side burner for warming sauces and sautéing side dishes. All Wolf outdoor gas grills come in natural gas or LP. For more information, visit  here  or contact the  Manhattan Showroom  to set up a virtual appointment!
NEW USES FOR UNDERCOUNTER REFRIGERATION FROM THERMADOR

Consumers are creating personalized rooms for focus and self-care—whether that’s a space to apply a facemask, or a relaxing room to stretch in after a difficult day. In a yoga space, the  24-Inch Under Counter Double Drawer Refrigerator   can be outfitted with cold eucalyptus towels and fresh bottles of matcha, while in a “cloffice,” a refrigeration unit may be filled with temperature-sensitive face creams or serums.
Clients are also opting to include pet spaces in their homes. While consumers love their family pets, they often don’t want to keep their companions' fresh food in the same area as their own. The Under Counter Double Drawer Refrigerator provides the perfect solution as a large footprint is not required. For more information, visit here .
And how are appliances inspiring you outside of the kitchen? Tell us about it on social:  www.facebook.com/thermador ,  @Thermador @ThermadorHome .
NEW VIDEO SERIES FROM MONOGRAM FEATURES CHEFS

Monogram announces the introduction of a new video series today called "Pass the Salt" featuring all four of the Monogram chefs as they share culinary inspiration, t ips, expertise and recipes . This week's subject is the essential ingredient—salt. To watch the presentation, visit YouTube here . And don't forget to pass the salt!
Be sure to check out news from National at the all-new NKBA.org
THANK YOU to the sponsors of NKBA Manhattan Chapter:

GOLD LEVEL
SILVER LEVEL
The National Kitchen & Bath Association is the ONLY professional organization that solely supports kitchen, bath and hardware with over 60,000 members in North America!
Learn more about the benefits of membership at nkbamanhattan.org/nkba-membership .
NKBA Manhattan Chapter | nkbamanhattan.org
The mission of the NKBA is to inspire, lead and empower the kitchen and bath industry through the creations of certifications, marketplaces and networks.