Meeting a Kitchen Design Great

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Chicago with 2 colleagues to spend some time with world renowned kitchen designer, Mick De Giulio. Mick has been designing kitchens around the world for over 40 years. He has written 2 books on kitchen design and designed many products for major kitchen and bath manufacturers. He is constantly dreaming and creating something new.

One of our stops on the trip was a recently finished appliance showroom that Mick had designed the over 11,000 square feet of kitchen spaces for. Incredible. The attention to detail and creativity was beautiful to see. After that stop, we had a chance to visit his design headquarters in Willmette, Illinois. We had the chance to sneak a peak at some new designs he is working on. Mick was so gracious to sit and talk with us about what we are seeing in the industry, what our clients are asking for, the challenges we encounter and what we are looking forward to. His humble beginnings remind me of my own journey and encourage me to keep working hard.

I’ve found it’s important to step away from the every day, get out of town, listen to someone further down the road and see something new in order to stay fresh and energized. It’s a tough and draining business and it’s important to be recharged.  I’ve come home with new ideas, more energy and a renewed thankfulness that I get to do what I do. Now, who wants a new kitchen?!?!

To learn more about Mick De Giulio, visit www.degiuliodesign.com Questions? Email me at Jessica@webbercoleman.com

Don’t Seal Your Grout for 20 Years!!!

We’ve started using a product in our grout that has some amazing properties. It’s ProSpec ProColor Stain Guard Grout Additive. This magic liquid is mixed with the powdered grout instead of water and has some pretty great benefits. Let’s explore. Per the manufacturer it:

1.      Eliminates the need to seal the grout

2.      Creates stain, mold and mildew resistant grout

3.      Has a 20 year warranty (I actually called the manufacturer because that sounded too good to be true. They said, yes, indeed, you do not need to seal the grout again for 20 years.)

So you’ve decided to invest in this for your next tile project. What kind of special maintenance does it require? While ProColor Stain Guard Grout Additive helps repel dirt and increases the stain resistance of cement grout, routine cleaning is highly recommended. Use a pH neutral cleaner for day to day cleaning and an alkaline cleaner for grease and soap scum. Since damp mops may deposit residue in the grout joints, remove any excess water from the joint prior to drying.

This is an extra expense in the overall project cost but one that I feel is well worth it. This grout additive can be purchased from Traditions in Tile. It’s perfect for floors, showers, backsplashes and really every tiled area. Questions? Email me at Jessica@webbercoleman.com