Sarasota Bathroom

Eurotech WINS ANOTHER

EuroTech’s Tracey Scalzo, CKD, CBD took an Honorable Mention Award in the Large Bathroom Category of the 2008 National Kitchen and Bath Association Design Competition. The winning entry is an elegant Master Bath in a Sarasota bayfront high-rise condominium. Tracey worked closely with the homeowner, EuroTech’s owner David Asher and interior designer Anne Folsom Smith.

The awards were presented April 10th 2008 at a special luncheon in Chicago at the annual NKBA Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference (K/BIS), the largest event dedicated to the kitchen and bath industry.

The winning bath design features a subtle, monochromatic palette of light colors. Multiple mirrors maximize the natural light. Hand-carved moldings, onlays, arches and keystone details were used throughout the space adding rich detail and visual interest. Drawer banks were fabricated to the exacting dimensions of the client to maximize storage of cosmetics and other toiletries. An arched top storage unit with sliding doors maximized the space available for linens, etc. Dutch Made cabinetry in a custom finish was matched with Breccia Oniciatta vanity and tub top surfaces and 18” X 18” Crema Marfil floor tiles. Emir Joanides of European Marble of Sarasota was in charge of all the stone work.

The 2008 design competition received 579 entries from across the United States and Canada. Ten different categories of the competition include kitchens, baths, other rooms and showroom displays, each offering four awards. Each entry was judged on visual appeal, creativity, the elements and principals of design, professional presentation, safety and ergonomics.

Tracey and David have both been honored with multiple design awards over the last decade and a half. Their awards span several categories including kitchens, baths, showroom displays and “other rooms” for several custom furniture installations. EuroTech has been honored with design awards in 15 of the past 16 years.

Having vacationed with family on Longboat Key for over a decade, Wendy and Ross took a seasonal rental in the winter of 2006 to escape the northern winter. They loved the location directly on the beach, lush landscaping and fabulous sunsets. Curiosity led them to “just look” at an available unit, and before you know it, the wheels were turning and a deal was done- well, almost. While the location and view are spectacular, the condo unit itself left quite a bit to be desired.

Ross has a gift for being able to visualize possibilities. Ross shared his vision with Sally Trout and Jenn Grein of Sally Trout Interiors, who then enlisted David Gruber of Floors by Design and David Asher and Tracey Scalzo of EuroTech Cabinetry. The entire design team focused on achieving a fun, accessible aesthetic that utilized a variety of natural, organic shapes and colors to transform the unit from a boxy, garden-variety late 70’s condo to a welcoming and stylish seaside retreat.

Gone are the tired floor coverings and the teal and shell colored walls that once segregated the kitchen from the adjacent living areas. The kitchen was redesigned as an integral part of this major renovation overlooking the living room and the gulf-front beyond. The granite countertops and splash add visual texture and striking color contrast to the custom cabinetry by ArtCraft Kitchens which was selected for the unique “pillowed” door design in an appropriately named “Driftwood” finish on white oak veneers. The stainless
appliances and dramatic pendant lighting add some contemporary sophistication.

As you might imagine, there were some construction constraints and mechanical challenges in opening up the kitchen. One of the custom columns in the kitchen, fabricated by EuroTech, camouflages a vent stack running through to units above and below. Another serves as a conduit for electric outlets and switches. The undulating, free-form soffits house necessary mechanical elements while adding visual interest and beautiful, but functional lighting..

Sally and Jenn renovated both baths as well. Ross and Wendy liked the figured English Sycamore in a natural finish that Sally chose for the vanities as well as the Avonite “Antique glass” counter tops. A variety of materials, textures and colors were utilized that visually expand the space while maintaining maximum functionality and fun!

While the design team and contractor Tony Girard of Anthony Girard Specialties deserve a lot of the credit, Wendy and Ross remained intimately involved in all stages of planning, selection of materials and the execution of the project right down to the selection of the curvaceous cabinet pulls. Aside from the kitchen, they are particularly pleased with the tile work specified by Sally and Jenn and installed by Floors by Design. (Note the insets in the tile used throughout the central living areas and the colorful palette employed in the master bath tile.) Best of all, now all rooms enjoy magnificent views of the Gulf making even a rainy day as fun as “a day at the beach”…

Over 90% of our work is from referrals or repeat clients. 2. 96% of our jobs are delivered on time. 3. We have been recognized and received design awards in 15 of the last 16 years. 4. Our designers have an average of 25 years experience. 5. Our installation technicians have an average of 23 years experience. 6. All of our projects are designed and/or reviewed by 3 members of our design team. 7. Our work has been published 52 times in both local and national publications. 8. Our reputation goes beyond the local area; we have completed projects totaling more than $3,300,000 outside the Sarasota market. 9. Some of our products are warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for as long as they are owned by the client.

The Gibraltar Homes models at Legends Bay are open and they are gorgeous. Gibraltar Homes interior designers, Laura Strelser and Melissa Long did an incredible job putting these two models together. According to Jerry Blumberg, co-owner of Gibraltar Homes, attendance at their recent Wine Fest was excellent as were the reactions to the model homes. Floor traffic through the models has increased and Gibraltar Homes has moved forward with two “designer ready” inventory homes. Blumberg says “The homes will be completed on the exterior with pools and landscaping. The interiors will include cabinetry but flooring, wall treatment, counter tops, appliances, plumbing fixtures and the cabinet hardware will wait for purchasers actual selections.” This concept enables the homeowner to have a brand new home, customized with their selections, in 45-60 days as opposed to the typical 10-12 month planning, permitting and construction process. Legends Bay is just west of the IMG Academies and Golf and Country Club in southwest Bradenton. There are plans for 152 Villas with garden views, lake views and preserve views, 60 Coach Homes and 37 Bay Front homes. For more information, call Gibraltar Homes at 342-1442.

Tracey Scalzo and David Asher, both from EuroTech, have both been honored with multiple design awards over the last decade and a half. Their awards span several categories including kitchens, baths, showroom displays and “other rooms” for several custom furniture installations. EuroTech has been honored with design awards in 15 of the past 16 years.

Having vacationed with family on Longboat Key for over a decade, Wendy and Ross took a seasonal rental in the winter of 2006 to escape the northern winter. They loved the location directly on the beach, lush landscaping and fabulous sunsets. Curiosity led them to “just look” at an available unit, and before you know it, the wheels were turning and a deal was done- well, almost. While the location and view are spectacular, the condo unit itself left quite a bit to be desired.

Ross has a gift for being able to visualize possibilities. Ross shared his vision with Sally Trout and Jenn Grein of Sally Trout Interiors, who then enlisted David Gruber of Floors by Design and David Asher and Tracey Scalzo of EuroTech Cabinetry. The entire design team focused on achieving a fun, accessible aesthetic that utilized a variety of natural, organic shapes and colors to transform the unit from a boxy, garden-variety late 70’s condo to a welcoming and stylish seaside retreat.

Gone are the tired floor coverings and the teal and shell colored walls that once segregated the kitchen from the adjacent living areas. The kitchen was redesigned as an integral part of this major renovation overlooking the living room and the gulf-front beyond. The granite countertops and splash add visual texture and striking color contrast to the custom cabinetry by ArtCraft Kitchens which was selected for the unique “pillowed” door design in an appropriately named “Driftwood” finish on white oak veneers. The stainless appliances and dramatic pendant lighting add some contemporary sophistication.

As you might imagine, there were some construction constraints and mechanical challenges in opening up the kitchen. One of the custom columns in the kitchen, fabricated by EuroTech, camouflages a vent stack running through to units above and below. Another serves as a conduit for electric outlets and switches. The undulating, free-form soffits house necessary mechanical elements while adding visual interest and beautiful, but functional lighting.

Sally and Jenn renovated both baths as well. Ross and Wendy liked the figured English Sycamore in a natural finish that Sally chose for the vanities as well as the Avonite “Antique glass” counter tops. A variety of materials, textures and colors were utilized that visually expand the space while maintaining maximum functionality and fun!

While the design team and contractor Tony Girard of Anthony Girard Specialties deserve a lot of the credit, Wendy and Ross remained intimately involved in all stages of planning, selection of materials and the execution of the project right down to the selection of the curvaceous cabinet pulls. Aside from the kitchen, they are particularly pleased with the tile work specified by Sally and Jenn and installed by Floors by Design. Best of all, now all rooms enjoy magnificent views of the Gulf making even a rainy day as fun as “a day at the beach.”

EuroTech’s Tracey Scalzo, CKD, CBD took an Honorable Mention Award in the Large Bathroom Category of the 2008 National Kitchen and Bath Association Design Competition. The winning entry is an elegant Master Bath in a Sarasota bayfront high-rise condominium. Tracey worked closely with the homeowner, EuroTech’s owner, David Asher, and interior designer Anne Folsom Smith.

The winning Sarasota bathroom design featured a subtle, monochromatic palette of light colors. Multiple mirrors maximize the natural light. Hand-carved moldings, onlays, arches and keystone details were used throughout the space adding rich detail and visual interest. Drawer banks were fabricated to the exacting dimensions of the client to maximize storage of cosmetics and other toiletries. An arched top storage unit with sliding doors maximized the space available for linens, etc. Dutch Made cabinetry in a custom finish was matched with Breccia Oniciatta vanity and tub top surfaces and 18” X 18” Crema Marfil floor tiles. Emir Joanides of European Marble of Sarasota was in charge of all the stone work.

The design competition received 579 entries from across the United States and Canada. Ten different categories of the competition include kitchens, baths, other rooms and showroom displays, each offering four awards. Each entry was judged on visual appeal, creativity, the elements and principals of design, professional presentation, safety and ergonomics.

The awards were presented April 10th at a special luncheon in Chicago at the annual NKBA Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference (K/BIS), the largest event dedicated to the kitchen and bath industry.

Highlights of Using EuroTech:

-      Over 90% of our work is from referrals or repeat clients.

-      96% of our jobs are delivered on time.

-      We have been recognized and received design awards in 15 of the last 16 years.

-      Our designers have an average of 25 years experience.

-      Our installation technicians have an average of 23 years experience.

-      All of our projects are designed and/or reviewed by 3 members of our design team.

-      Our work has been published 52 times in both local and national publications.

-      Our reputation goes beyond the local area; we have completed projects totaling more than $3,300,000 outside the Sarasota market.

-      Some of our products are warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for as long as they are owned by the client.

Trends

As with any industry, the popularity of materials and styles grows and wanes over time. As we publish this blog post, here’s what’s hot and what’s not in Sarasota kitchen remodeling:
WOOD SPECIES

Exotic veneers are very hot in Sarasota kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling. Rift-cut white oak, zebrawood, figured maple and lace wood, are all popular. Here in Florida we are still seeing an increase in cherry and mahogany. Maple continues to be strong although slowing a bit. Birch is picking up while red oak, ask, hickory, and pine remain flat.
For custom-built furniture, we are beginning to see a lot of Wenge, Sapele eucalyptus, and Purple Heart, Bird’s Eye maple, Figured maple continue to be a factor as well as plain sliced maple (still popular for paint and glaze and stain and glaze finishes).

STYLE AND DESIGN

Contemporary design is coming back strong in Sarasota kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling and as furniture additions. Exotic veneers, simulated wood laminates, metal laminates, and trim are all very popular right now. Sleek, clean lines, floating shelves and floating base cabinet are all a part of this trend. Zen design, incorporating natural materials such as stone, metal, and wood, is also very popular now and can be a beautiful mode of contemporary design. Another idea in current contemporary design is the running of wood grain on flush cabinetry horizontally as opposed to vertically. Instead of accentuating height, running the wood horizontally helps make smaller spaces appear larger.

A new design idea from Europe is the combination of cabinetry with and without hardware. As opposed to incorporating the hardware-less “channel” throughout the kitchen, the channel is used just below the countertop only (At the tops of all doors and top drawers). All other drawers have a piece of hardware that compliments the color of the channel.

WHAT’S NEW FOR COUNTERTOPS?

Quartz surfaces such as “Cambria” and “Caesarstone” are approximately 95% stone and 5% pigment and epoxy. They have a granite look, but don’t require nearly as much maintenance as granite and have a more consistent pattern than granite. Lots of colors/patterns are available and you can see them on display at our showroom. Quartz surfacing is becoming more popular as the popularity of solid surfaces (Corian, Avonite) is declining.

APPLIANCES IN SARASOTA KITCHEN REMODELING

In the area of appliances, built-in coffee/espresso makers are becoming part of more and more kitchens. They are very attractive and convenient, in that you can brew just one cup at a time. Steam ovens will become more popular as consumers move toward healthful cooking. Warming drawers, which have been around a long time, are now becoming as much a standard as microwaves. We seem to be putting one or two in almost all of the Sarasota kitchen remodeling we do. Another great convenience item is a pot filler, a faucet installed close to a large professional-style range, used specifically for filling large tall pots. Finally, we will start to see “smart appliances” such as Internet refrigerators with the screen built into the refrigerator door. It won’t be long until our appliances and computers are networked together!

Sarasota Cabinet

Awards
EUROTECH WINS TWO FIRST PLACE AWARD Sarasota,FL,2-19-04 – EuroTech Cabinetry has been awarded First Place in the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) 2004 Design Competition’s “Open Kitchen” category – as well as winning the James H. Foster,Jr., CKD Memorial Award for overall excellence, which is chosen from the first place winners in all 11 categories of the competition. This year, the competition received 334 entries from throughout the United States and Canada. EuroTech produced the winning design for a client of Anne Folsom Smith Interior Design. The space, designed by Tracey Scalzo CKD CBD with co-designer David Asher,was a combined kitchen/breakfast area/family room. Material and color selections were directed by Anne Folsom Smith.

In the past 10 years, EuroTech has received 9 awards at international design competitions. The awards have been for kitchens, baths,bars,family room entertainment units and even a kid’s fantasy room with trees,a swing,a slide and bunk beds. Only a select handful of kitchen and bath companies across the country have been as consistent as EuroTech Cabinetry,Inc. in receiving these design awards. The NKBA Design Competition provides national recognition to kitchen and bathroom professionals for their exceptional ability to design award-winning kitchens,bathrooms and other spaces. A panel of 12 NKBA Certified Members judged each entry based on a safe, functional use of space, innovative design solutions, professional presentation and overall aesthetic statement. The NKBA is the largest trade association in the kitchen and bathroom industry. It provides top quality training to member firms in the area of business management, design and installation. It is also the proud owner of the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference (K/BIS), the largest event dedicated to the kitchen and bath industry. The 2004 Design Competition awards will be presented April 1,2004 at K/BIS in Chicago,IL.
EuroTech has been published numerous times in local,state and national publications and their designs are almost always featured in homes that have garnered awards for interior designers. Having worked with the best interior designers in town – as well as for prominent authors, politicians and sports figures – EuroTech’s creations can be found in all of Sarasota’s most prestigious homes and neighborhoods. They have installed as much as $1,500,000 worth of cabinetry and furniture in a single residence. Reaching beyond the Sarasota area, EuroTech has installed projects in New Hampshire, Ohio, Washington, DC and throughout the state of Florida. EuroTech specializes in the design and installation of complete kitchens and bathrooms. The firm also designs and fabricates all types of custom furniture including bedrooms, libraries, home offices and entertainment areas. EuroTech maintains a showroom at 1609 DeSoto Road in Sarasota that features full kitchen, bathroom and custom furniture displays in a variety of styles featuring the latest in equipment, accessories and design ideas. The showroom is open 8:30AM-4:30PM Monday through Friday and 9:30AM-2:30PM on Saturday, and you are invited to visit and inspect these outstanding displays. For further information about the awards, contact EuroTech Cabinetry at (941) 351-6557.

Sarasota Cabinets

Project Spotlight THE VARANO RESIDENCE

This completely remodeled bay front pent-house was quite the challenge.  The entire condominium was broken up into small spaces with very little flow from one space to the other.  An Architect friend of the Varano’s had the idea of introducing an angle wall and tucking in a shower bath behind it with a small bedroom where the breakfast room and part of the kitchen had been.  This would allow for a larger common area combining the kitchen, living room and dining room into an open plan.

After the concept was born, the next challenge was dealing with the structural column that fell in the middle of everything. The Varano’s request was for a contemporary space that felt like a New York pent house.  Judy decided to clad the structural column with stainless and worked off of it. Instead of trying to hide it she made it a focal point with another shorter column interlocking it at a tangent.  This smaller column became one side of the support for the glass breakfast bar, which tied to the island.  The island also wrapped the structural column.  This unity made the island become sculptural and a center anchoring the open plan. As with most remodels, especially condominiums, the challenge didn’t end there. The HVAC ducting needed to run through the kitchen.  Judy was able to create a pattern with this drop area that made it appear that there was a dropped soffit over the entire kitchen to accent the shape we had created.  In the entry we popped the ceiling up in a tier and lit it’s perimeter with starlight’s. We repeated this detail on the outside of the kitchen area.

After completing the space planning we selected warm brown tones with metallic accents.  The open floor plan had the added advantage of 2 complete walls of glass overlooking the Bay front Marina and the new Ringling Bridge.  With the Varano’s excellent taste, we were able to make the space extremely contemporary yet very warm and inviting using an earth tone color palette as unity throughout the open space.

SARASOTA – In the “good old days” of 1974, kitchens were cramped, even in an Essex House penthouse overlooking the bay.

David Asher’s EuroTech Cabinetry took up the challenge of transforming the kitchen and opening it to the main rooms. The resulting contemporary kitchen won both its category (small kitchens) and the overall “best Kitchen in North America” awards at the National Kitchen & Bath Association 2005 Design Competition this week in Las Vegas. Asher and lead designer Judy Adams Hunt were there to collect the same honor that EuroTech won in 2004 for an open kitchen design on Longboat Key by Tracey Salzo and Asher.

“It has never been done two years in a row. We were up against competition from across the country and Canada – about 460 entries,” Asher said. “It was a tremendous challenge because we had to move interior walls and deal with a structural column and duct work.”

The 30-year-old, Essex House condominium was broken up into small spaces with very little flow from one space to another. An architect friend of owners Marty and Lottie Varano suggested introducing an angled wall and tucking in a bath and small guest bedroom behind it.

The EuroTech team, including Rachel Wronowski, worked with this concept and did the space planning for the entire condominium, providing the best possible spacing for the kitchen.

The angle wall allowed for a larger common area, which includes the kitchen, dining and living area, while capturing the best bay and marina views.

The next challenge was dealing with a structural column that fell in the middle of the open plan.

Sarasota Kitchen Remodeling

“Our client’s request for a New York penthouse feel helped with the decision of what to do with the column,” designer Hunt said. “We clad it in stainless and made it a focal point to work off of instead of trying to hide it.”

An interlocking shorter column set at a tangent became the support for one side of the floating glass breakfast bar. The other side of the breakfast bar is tied to the island, which wraps the structural column. The sculptural feel and unity of the island became the center anchor for the entire space.

The HVAC ducts needed to run through the kitchen, which meant dropping the already low ceiling. The EuroTech team created a pattern with the area that needed to be dropped to make it look like an accent for the kitchen. At the entry that is adjacent to the kitchen, the ceiling is popped up and a small tray added with accent starlights that are repeated on the perimeter of the drop.

For colors, they selected warm brown tones to add richness to the woods and contrasting stainless accents. They anchored the sink wall with a tall stainless clement at each end to hold the design together and compliment the stainless column.

Sarasota Kitchen Remodeling

As few glass doors and the glass breakfast bar add sparkle. With the client’s complimentary accessories, the kitchen, dining and living area “are extremely contemporary, yet warm and inviting,” Hunt said. “It’s a wonderful place for lively entertainment as well as peaceful respite.”

Asher has brought home National Kitchen & Bath Association design awards in 11 of the past 12 years. EuroTech was runner-up for “best overall” in 2003 before taking the two straight top honors.

“The tremendous difficulty and the amount of creativity and space planning made the difference this time,” Asher said.

Visit EuroTech’s website at http://www.eurotechcabinetry.com/