Stikwood
Getting the look of wood planking has never been easier than with Stikwood: adhesive reclaimed and sustainable wood planks designed for interior applications. Lora Deller of York, Pa.-based Red Oak Remodeling called it a “cool product … to use on walls for accents.” Stikwood is 100% real wood, available in more than 20 natural varieties as well as several graphic printed options and can be installed on any interior surface, including doors and ceilings. Planks are available in a 5-inch width; reclaimed wood planks are 3⁄16-inch thick and sustainable hardwood planks are 1⁄8-inch thick. The adhesive is rated for 10 years.
Hestan Outdoor
Along with deluxe grills, premium appliance manufacturer Hestan Outdoor now offers a new line of outdoor living suites. Grills are available in built-in (30-, 36-, and 42-inch widths) and freestanding (48-, 54-, and 60-inch widths) models, while the customizable outdoor islands measure 8 to 12 feet. Elliott Pike of ELM Construction called the products “possibly the most beautiful, unique, and well-designed grills on the market today.” Hestan uses a durable stainless steel design and several patent-pending features, including high-performance tubular burners and motion-activated under-hood lighting. Hestan grills are available in 12 signature color finish options and come with a lifetime warranty.
Marvin Windows and Doors
The large-format Ultimate Multi-Slide Door from Marvin gets an upgrade with its new Sliding Door Automatic Control. Using a mounted wall switch or a remote control, homeowners can open and close the large-format doors with the touch of a button. The system is compatible with the door’s uni-directional, bi-parting, and center stacked configurations, and is available on units as large as 12 panels. Praised Jamie Briesemeister, Integration Controls, “It is a great solution for large doors/spaces.”
Lapitec
Sintered stone slabs from this Italian company are available in the largest formats available on the market and can be used in various applications, such as flooring, countertops, and interior or exterior cladding. Said Anne Harvey of Fresh Kitchen and Bath Design, “Each color is available in a variety of finishes and textures, giving great flexibility in how and where you use the stone.” Lapitec also emphasizes the surface’s durability: It’s non-porous, weatherproof, and abrasion resistant. Harvey noted, “In the exhibit kitchen, they had a cooking demo running in which wine, oil, and acidic foods were sitting on the product and the chefs chopped and cut food directly on the surface. Cleanup required only a wipe with a wet paper towel.”
Cook-N-Dine
Pike also took notice of Cook-N-Dine’s stainless cooktops, admiring the options for “Teppanyaki-style social cooking brought home.” Cook-N-Dine offers built-in, portable, and table-style grills, which use high-quality electric heating elements to divide the surface into a cooking center with surrounding warming area; table models also include a dining area that stays cool. The company’s patented shallow-dip technology causes the center of the surface to dip slightly when on, keeping juices in the middle of the surface. Built-in cooktops are available in round or rectangular models of various sizes, and can be routed into or sit on top of countertops.
Kohler
Both Briesemeister and Thom Pitschke of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based remodeling firm TraVek took note of Kohler’s new Real Rain shower. Pitschke was impressed by the way the product “is actually designed to mimic a rain shower.” Real Rain’s nozzle geometry mimics rainfall by adjusting the size of water drops, as well as the rate at which they fall. The intensity of the spray grows throughout the shower, and users can choose to enable the Deluge feature, which releases water gathered in the shower’s reservoir. Real Rain uses a minimalist, ceiling-mounted 19-by-19-inch square panel, and has a flow rate of 2 gpm.
TopZero
Deller loved TopZero’s seamless sinks and the fact that the product is available in stainless and porcelain. Sinks are available in various shapes, sizes, and single- or double-sink models. Using patent-pending technology, TopZero’s rimless sinks are designed to be undermounted to a solid countertop, where the edge meets the surface without any visible edges. The system uses welded sink brackets and a knife-grade epoxy to seal any voids and keep the sink watertight. TopZero sinks can be installed in kitchens and bathrooms and is compatible with any solid surface, including natural stone, wood butcher block, and engineered surfaces.
