Meeting up with the NKBA friends to search for design trends while in Milan at the Eurocucina show

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Tamara Matthews-Stephenson is the creative talent behind Nest by Tamara, a captivating journal dedicated to interior design, history and lifestyle inspiration. With a passion for design and a keen eye for aesthetics, she shares her expertise and insights. Tamara has established herself as a prominent figure in the world of interior design and her design philosophy is rooted in the idea that a well-designed home can elevate the quality of life, combining beauty with functional everyday living. Her blog is a testament to her dedication to helping readers achieve this balance. Beyond her writing, She is also an accomplished interior designer who is known for her talent blending diverse styles which has earned her a loyal following and recognition within the interior design industry. She has worked on a wide range of projects- from luxurious urban homes to cozy beach houses. Additionally, she is the Creative Director and Owner of root cellar designs, LLC, an artisan line of textile and wallpaper sold exclusively to the design industry. She designs and manufactures her wares in the United States and sells her line through trade showrooms around the country. Connect with Tamara Matthews Stephenson through email at rootcellardesings@gmail.com and at nestnestnest.blogspot.com for weekly stories, or through her fabric and wallpaper designs at rootcellardesigns.com and embark on a journey to transform your living spaces.

Posted by Tamara Stephenson May 15, 2014

Meeting up with the NKBA friends to search for design trends while in Milan at the Eurocucina show

Getting a little philosophical

about kitchen and bath design --

keys reason to keep

yourself educated on current tends in design.

While in Italy we checked out the latest kitchen and bath design trends at the Eurocucina show in Milan

Blogtour friends Leanne Newman and Pamela Copeman with NKBA CEO Bill Darcy

and NKBA President John Petrie

While in Milan and visiting the Eurocucina (kitchen and bath show) I spent time with the NKBA folks (The National Kitchen & Bath Association). They were one of our very generous sponsors for Blogtour Milan. This is my second time getting to know the NKBA people who run the educationally-focused organization. We met when I was invited on Blogtour Nola at the KBIS exhibit in New Orleans last spring. I was immediately impressed with the team. NKBA President, John Petrie is an eloquent public speaker, spreading their mission to promote professionalism in the kitchen and bath industry though educating the public on the importance and value of working with qualified professionals. The organizations' CEO Bill Darcy has a clear vision for the organization, and the brand new President-elect for 2015, Maria Stapperfenne shows enthusiasm to be soon taking the helm in her new position. These folks don't waste opportunities to keep their finger on the pulse of what is current, valuable and enduring. So, together we hit the design trail leading us through a variety of showrooms and booths at the Eurocucina (kitchen and bath show) and Salone Del Mobile (furniture show) and showrooms throughout Milan. This begs a question as to why is it important to note trends? Certainly not to create trendy kitchens and baths. Let's be honest, these rooms cost too much money to consider the trendy, which could possibly be out of style next season. But, a well designed kitchen and bathroom should be of help to us, make our life more pleasant, easier to use. We want these products to keep on performing and hold up over time. Unlike trendy design, we look at worldwide trends to understand the latest state of the art technologies, to help make our day to day lives easier, and make our entertaining and cooking more effortless. It will be exciting to see if many of the distinct trends we spotted in Milan trickle into our local kitchen designs here in the States. I'd love to see more sleek design in kitchens with the appliances not as bright and shiny, and showcasing front and center. A kitchen that feels more like the other rooms in our homes, maybe with various cabinetry, and mixed with natural woods and together with antiques and modern pieces as we noted at Eurocucina. It's important to remember the job of design is in part artistic, therefore, we must look for inspirations in every corner, and sometimes we need to push the envelope and see the possibilities of design -- that is what Eurocucina did for me. The show opened my eyes about the possibilities for a kitchen, and to think outside the predictable white cabinet and marble counter top we have all become accustomed to in recent years. The next time I walk into one of these rooms to help with its design, I hope to channel the splendid state of the art designs we spotted in Milan....a girl can dream! Thanks to Blogtour Milan for keeping my eyes wide open, and thanks to NKBA for emphasizing what is important to the designers and the consumers. check out the Blogtour Milan sponsors

and page with their posts about our travels.

Happy Nesting

XO Tamara

Tamara's top 10 Kitchen/Bath trends

spotted in Milan,

and we hope to see more of here

in the United States:

1. ultra-modern oversized,

seemingly floating open shelves,

some with glass and wood.

2. greenery and potted plants and herbs in the kitchen. Plants wrapped in burlap, galvanized pails as planters, antique Japanese rice pots as planters.