My Rookie Trip to Vegas For KBIS DMMas a Design Hound - Part Two

Okay, back to all things KBIS for part two of our Vegas shenanigans. We had a lot to soak in over four days but there were some distinct themes we noticed: a focus on wellness as a key element of design, the innovative use of traditional materials like sculpting quartz into a tub. The use of smart home technology to make things life at home as stress-free as possible - think WiFi operated ovens, remote temperature-controlled wine closets, remote control screens to bring the outdoors in and to pop televisions from the ceilings, a remote control to turn on a fireplace. 

Our sponsors Control 4, elevated the smart home by showcasing so many ways technology can make life at home soooo much easier. 

Like this television that with the push a button on a remote control, tucks away in the ceiling when not in use; connecting the outdoors to the indoors with remote controlled screens and a wine room that's temperature controlled remotely. Genius and I need one. 
 

There was also a great emphasis on the kitchen as furnished space with modular cabinets, creative storage and negative space as a design element, not something detrimental or overlooked in the design process as highlighted here in the kitchens showcased by Nobilia. The German brand is available locally with a 6-8 week lead time, and prides itself on stylish yet modern and functional cabinets that are easy to assemble and install.  

I was obsessed with the lighting along the edges of these base cabinets. So much so we are incorporating this in two modern kitchens we are currently working on. 

I also loved this mix of open storage paired with cabinets from Nobilia, emphasizing again that the kitchen can be a great place to showcase art/accessories as well as the functional items needed for a kitchen.

One of the most refreshing moments as a Design Hound was to experience a steam shower and spa experience courtesy of Mr. Steam, the 100 year-old company that's arguably the leader in all things steam. Imagine, sitting or standing still in an enclosed shower and allowing steam, to seep into your pores and relieve the stress of the day. The benefits of steam, which can be supplemented by adding your favorite essential oils, are endless - Detoxing our system, reducing inflammation, breathing easier to name a few. While adding steam capabilities to your bathroom will add roughly another 25% to your overall budget, the long term benefits are clearly worth the cost. Environmentally, a 15 minute steam shower only uses 2 gallons of water, while we use an average of 40 gallons of water for a standard tub bath - holy what! 

Steam us all you want! Design hounds soaking in the benefits of steam and a moment to relax. 

Thankful to our gracious hosts from Mr. Steam. 

Just an FYI: Designers love to eat and drink and admire all things design/archictecture. A lot. So kudos to our sponsors for indulging us every step of the way...

Loved the opulence at the Bellagio Hotel, where we had dinner with the team from Mr. Steam. 

Loved the moody vibe of The Cellar, a restaurant at the Nomad Hotel. 

Ultimately, the most resounding theme during this experience was friendship. Running a design business as an entrepreneur is an often lonely adventure. So spending quality time with like-minded individuals, who understand the joys and struggles, and having curated sessions to offer tips on how to grow our respective businesses was the added bonus from this trip. 

So thankful to Veronica, Florence, Sarah and the entire Modenus team for bringing us all together for such an exceptional experience. 

Loved the DMM Talks Lounge chats curated by Modenus and Design Milk. 

 

Cheers to the amazing sisterhood forged in Vegas!