KitchenAid Mixer-A Kitchen Classic

One thing I find in most kitchens is a KitchenAid stand mixer. Sitting proudly on the counter or shoved in the back corner of a pantry, this classic has seen it all. The iconic stand mixer was introduced in 1919 and is the single most popular item on bridal registries today. In the early days, the wives of company executives were testing early mixers and one of the women exclaimed, “I don’t know what you call it, but this is the best kitchen aid I’ve ever had.” And the brand name KitchenAid was born. Their showroom in Chicago has a beautiful display of all of the mixers ever made. 

The first mixers cost nearly $200 (almost $3,000 in today’s dollars) and weighed 65 pounds. In 1937, industrial designer Egmont Arens, the art editor for Vanity Fair, created the current streamlined bullet silhouette. The mixer now comes in more than 86 colors. Some of the newest finishes are matte Avocado Cream, Black Violet, Ink Blue and Milkshake.

In 2016, KitchenAid introduced a downsized version, the first time since 1962. The new mixer is 3.5 qt, 20% smaller and 25% lighter than standard models. It is large enough for dough of 5 dozen cookies versus the 8-12 dozen cookie dough capacity of the larger mixer.  The mixer can have many attachments including vegetable slicers, ice cream makers, grain mills and pasta rollers. Discontinued accessories such as the can opener, knife sharpener, pea sheller and silver polisher still work with today’s mixer. If you find one of these at a yard sale or Grandma’s attic, you’ve found a treasure.

Is your mixer tucked in a deep dark corner of the pantry? Pull it out, polish it up and proudly display your national treasure. Maybe then you will have the opportunity to use it more often. Do you have a KitchenAid mixer? What is your favorite thing about it? I’d love to hear. Email me at Jessica@webbercoleman.com

Sherwin Williams 2018 Color of the Year & Color Trends

Sherwin Williams just released their Color of the Year for 2018 and other color trends. SW6496 Oceanside is the winner! They call it a collision of rich blue with jewel-toned green, a color that is both accessible and elusive.  Oceanside's multi-dimensional, marine-inspired look can create a welcoming statement as a lively color for a front door. Its green-meets-blue tone can also boost creative thinking and clarity of thought in a home office, or invite meditation and introspection into a bedroom or reading nook. Oceanside is universal when it comes to design style from mid-century modern to Mediterranean-inspired, traditional to contemporary. I actually painted my front door this color last year!

Sherwin Williams also selected 3 other color palettes for as their predictions for 2018.

Sincerity: Less is more as we’re de-cluttering, moving more possessions into the cloud. Silence is no longer empty, but instead rare and rich with possibility. Our notions of what’s authentic are

being complicated. We’re celebrating the unfiltered, yet captivated by the artfully processed. Blending in is the new standing out. Flaws are treasured. The hushed tones of this score play out in sand, complex grays and hazy botanicals.

Unity: Nationalism and globalism are in flux, challenging terrestrial boundaries. We’re remapping our sense of community. Optimism persists in the form of boundary-breaking skyscrapers and commercial space travel. Even landlocked cities are becoming global hubs of crafts and gastronomy. We crave security and adventure in equal measure. Airbnb, car sharing

and e-learning have created a culture of everyday nomadism. The bright folklore of this story

is told in memorable pops of peacock color.

Connectivity: We’re each moving to the beat of our own algorithm. From choosing a dry cleaner to choosing a college, data powers nearly every decision we make. In Silicon Valley, Austin, Berlin and Beijing, techies are the new hippies, full of breakthrough ideas and utopian ideals. A generation is waving the flag of color freedom, and Instagramming every moment. This high-tech palette is pixelated in orange, violets, digital greens and high-def yellow.

Look for these colors not only in the homes and interiors sector but also in clothing, cosmetics and food. I really love the colors in the Unity and Sincerity palettes. How about you? How will you incorporate some of these colors into your home and life? Learn more at www.swcolormix.com. Email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com