Dear Readers,

Many of you know I lost my home in a fire last year on Thanksgiving. It’s taken 4 months of living in temporary housing before we found a new home which we moved in last month on April 1^st. Now, our new house sits near empty as we one piece at a time buy purchases to make our house a home. It was an air mattress at first, then they delivered the mattress for our bed – but we have to wait another 2 months before the bed itself is delivered. It’s not been easy and these 6 months since the fire have felt like an eternity. Perhaps it’s for this reason that my visit to New Orleans last month hit home more than I expected. It’s been 8, nearly 9 years since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August 2005 and yet many residents in New Orleans still do not have homes and/or are still living in unrenovated homes. One of the couples we meet in New Orleans on #BlogTourNola who particularly touched my heart was Joe and Gloria Robert of New Orleans.

~ Photo Credits: Linda Merrill of Surroundings ~

They were newlyweds looking forward to a bright future together when Hurricane Katrina hit. They had lived in their new home only one month before Katrina slammed the city and they lost everything when the levee behind their house was destroyed – one of 53 levees in the city breached by the storm surge – and canal water swallowed the home. The Roberts evacuated the city, staying with various friends and relatives. When the flood waters receded weeks later, Joe and Gloria moved into a pop-up camper in their driveway for a while, but they’ve also been staying with a family member as well.

Nearly eight years later, Joe and Gloria’s house is still uninhabitable. While a new house has been framed out, the building lacks essentials including electrical, drywall, flooring and plumbing. Because Joe is a contractor by trade, he has the skills to work on his house, but he has generously donated much of his free time to volunteering with St. Paul’s Homecoming Center , helping to rebuild other people’s houses. You’ve heard the expression about the cobbler’s children having no shoes? Well that’s Joe. He’s spending all his time and resources helping others.

Joe works on his home little by little, but is often derailed by setbacks such as having his house broken into and his tools stolen. Even though Joe was forced to save up until he could replenish his tool supply, he has not lost his faith in humanity and happens to be one of the most gracious, humble human beings you’ll find.

Fortunately, Joe and Gloria received some good news recently when Storehouse of World Vision selected the couple and their house for a rehab project. A few weeks ago Storehouse joined forces with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and St. Paul’s Homecoming Center to help rehab kitchens and baths in three houses as a lead-in to NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) which I had the opportunity to attend with #BlogTourNola on April 19-21 in New Orleans.

The Fund Raiser for Joe & Gloria is affectionately being called “Joe to the World”!

While Storehouse and NKBA partners have donated materials, appliances and labor for a new kitchen and bath in the Robert’s house, the rest of the unfinished home still needs lots of TLC. And that’s why World Vision has agreed to dedicate a page to Joe Robert and his story as well as a link to a fundraiser just for Joe. This donation page is coded so that all funds received on this link by May 15 will go to Joe Robert and the folks at St.Paul’s Homecoming Center.

Dear Readers, I ask you to join me in helping give Joe & his wife Gloria a home. You can make a difference in one person’s life – a person who has dedicated the last 8 years to making a difference in other people’s lives. Having lost my own home through a fire I can tell you recreating a home is healing – please join #BlogtourNola, NKBA, KBIS, Storehouse World Vision, and St Pauls Homecoming Center in helping to provide the basic necessity of helping to provide a roof over one’s head

More About Storehouse of World Vision

World Vision’s Storehouse network is comprised of six warehouses across the U.S. that receive corporate donations of new, top-quality goods made available to local community partners for distribution. Goods that are distributed include building materials, school supplies, personal care items, and clothing to over 2.2 million people in low-income communities annually.

More About the National Kitchen & Bath Association

Now celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS®). With nearly 60,000 members, the NKBA has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry since the association’s founding in 1963. The mission of the NKBA is to enhance member success and excellence, promote professionalism and ethical business practices, and provide leadership and direction for the kitchen and bath industry worldwide. For more information, visit the NKBA Press Room or

call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522). KBIS and NKBA are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

You can make a difference!

The Antiques Diva®
(seen here with BlogTour Friends)

Image via http://www.graziadaily.co.uk - a must read blog for all things style

After over two years and six BlogTours to fabulous design destinations like London, New York, Cologne, Amsterdam and New Orleans we’re now excited to announce our first back to back tour this fall.

BlogTour London will see a select group of International design bloggers at London Design Festival from September 18-23, 2013 and immediately after that in Los Angeles for WESTedge from October 1-6, 2013.

Something that is very important to us, is that the bloggers we invite are genuinely interested in the destination we’re bringing them to. We want the city’s culture and local design scene to be a good fit for your blog so that you can make the most of the experience.

So, this is easy – tell us in comments below or via email at talktous@modenus.com why you should be selected to travel to either London or LA. That’s all.

Planning to attend our “Design Around the World” event at ICFF in New York and at KBB London, on May 19? Perfect!

Anyone who has submitted their comment/email AND attends the event will be entered in the drawing at the show and secure the first spot on either of the tours.

This is my month for attending awards shows! In my last blog post I was telling you about the Young Guns competition, today it’s NKBA – The National Kitchen and Bath Association’s annual award ceremony. While in New Orleans (in my mind you’re reading that with the appropriate southern drawl) as part of #BlogTourNOLA, my interior designer and design blog friends and I were lucky enough to be invited to attend the KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) when NKBA announces the winners for the Best Kitchen and the Best Bath during their annual NKBA Design Competition.

Given this was an event for interior designers DESIGNED by interior designers, you can imagine the venue was simply to die for – the coup de grace of the raw warehouse space of Republic was the clustering of crystal chandeliers hanging above center stage and just opposite our dedicated #BlogTourNOLA table in the gallery overlooking the stage. We moved & shook with other design professionals and when the winner for the 2013 Best Kitchen design was announced to be Wendy F. Johnson our #BlogTourNOLA crowd erupted into a roar of applause. A few days later some #BLogTourNOLA friends and I found ourselves dancing at the Spotted Cat with Wendy and I must tell you this girl dances with as much passion as she designs!

As a newbie to the world of Kitchen & Bath Design, I quizzed my friends about the NKBA. While I work with a lot of interior designers in my profession leading antiquing buying tours and offering buying services for interior designers and antique dealers (as well as non-trade, mere shopping mortals) I don’t know much about how the Kitchen and Bath Industry works. While sitting at our table at the awards, I asked my friends (many of whom are NKBA certified as well as interior designers), “When you’re ready to remodel your kitchen or bath, don’t a lot of people just hire a contractor and hope for the best?” My friends nodded, “Yep – and that explains a lot of the poor kitchen design we see. What you should do is have your builder work together with a NKBA designer – the result will be the most beautiful and functional kitchen or bath for your home!”

When doing a kitchen or bath, always consult an expert. Choosing the right design professional is an important decision for your project’s success. By selecting an NKBA-certified designer, you will be working with a professional who has demonstrated comprehensive knowledge in kitchen and bath design, as well as construction, mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems. These are designers who adheres to a strict code of professional conduct. NKBA designers recognizes the importance of consumer health, safety, and welfare in kitchen and bath design – and best of all the NKBA provides training and tools specifically for their members so their designers can meet their clients needs and wants and creating designs that meet and exceed these requirements.

In fact the NKBA website has a great video which highlights why one should work with an NKBA designer.

I love pouring through Pinterest and getting inspiration – but for Kitchens & Baths I’ve discovered something better than Pinterest or Houzz!! The NKBA website has a slew of kitchen p*rn!! Hundreds of photos of dream kitchens designed by their own NKBA professionals.

If you’re considering a Kitchen or Bath Remodel, why don’t you reach out to the NKBA using their online resource for finding an NKBA professional near you.

Ta Ta For Now,
The Antiques Diva®

The system uses 20% less water than a conventional shower, which we love, our only problem with that is that with this new system we would likely remain in the shower 20% longer.

Let’s have a look at TOTO’s sleek new designs:

The aforementioned Gyrostream, can you feel it? Almost sinfully sexy and something,we feel, should from now on be included on every BlogTour.

A rain head shower with extra features is the hallmark of this design with pulse function and air injection. If it did nothing at all, we’d still love it – clean simple lines without trying too hard, appeal to the purists in our office.

This handheld was love at first sight. Why? Because the lines border just enough on transitional that we can see the design in combination with more clean lined fixtures like TOTO’s rain head or allow a slightly more traditional angle. Sleek but with just enough going on to make it very sculptural, don’t you think?

And finally, since you can’t write about TOTO without mentioning what are arguably the best designed toilets in the industry, Neorest, in black, made us do a double take at the show.

We love the look and were thrilled to hear several BlogTour members tell us that they never specify anything but TOTO toilets.  TOTO can, of course, go into much more detail regarding the feature set on Neorest. “This is an ultra high-efficiency dual flush, inclusive height model. It offers TOTO’s eWater+ system. After each flush, the NEOREST 700H mists the bowl with electrolyzed water, which has a slightly acidic pH value, to keep the bowl fresh and clean longer. eWater+ technology reduces the need for harsh chemicals during cleaning, which benefits the planet and saves consumers money on cleaning products.”

When a company has the common sense to combine style and superior functionality with a convincing effort to protect our environment, they have our undivided attention. TOTO, we’re listening!

So the questions arises, how does this love for a rich past, transition into today’s requirements and desires for modern styles, clean lines and spaces where function dictates form? How does traditional architecture support a modern life? What is inside these traditional homes, in New Orleans and around the country, that helps connect two worlds?

BlogTour sponsor Poggenpohl’s “Kitchens Unmasked” presentation during our visit to New Orleans enlightened us and showed the beautiful juxtaposition between traditional exteriors and modern interiors.

This first, New Orleans’ based, home is the perfect example of “old meets new”. The charming bungalow strikes a positively modernist note as you enter, with the generous Poggenpohl kitchen, unapologetically, assuming the lion’s share of the living space.

A nod to the color scheme of the home’s exterior connects this spacious modern kitchen to its Houston Texas based home’s Southern Traditional style but aside from that it clearly sets a different tone. We love that, despite a distinctly modern feel, the space is warm and inviting and underlines the style of the home without competing against it.

Our final example shows how well a modern kitchen system can integrate into not just traditional but even rustic design. The neutral white cabinetry beautifully emphasizes wood flooring, rustic beams and soap stone counter tops whilst connecting to the modern country exterior. If you would like to see the full project under way, head on over to This Old House who has featured this home.

Congrats Barbara!

Our friends at Duverre Hardware create cabinet knobs and pulls that truly are functional objets d’art, little pieces of sculpture. The precision die cast collections are made entirely of recycled aluminum and are hand finished, allowing slight variations that only enhance the beauty of the designs.

We’ve been big fans of Duverre for many years and having them support BlogTour and the bloggers we invite, is an honor and an important part of BlogTour’s mission to connect bloggers and their audiences with brands large and small.

Our most recent tour to New Orleans was one of the most architecturally inspiring tours we’ve ever organized and we felt that ironwork, moldings, carved architectural detailing and sculpture in the Crescent City would be a wonderful way to convey the vision and inspiration of Duverre.

The BlogTourNOLA Duverre Hardware Pinterest Challenge – help a blogger win!

Each of our bloggers has been tasked with creating a Pinterest board with photography from BlogTour NOLA and the team is now asking you, our readers, to “like” images on their boards. The participant with most “likes” by 5pm EST on April 26 wins an IPad Mini 16MB.

So help a blogger out and, while you’re at it, take a closer look at Duverre Hardware. Here are all the entries:

The Daily Basics: http://pinterest.com/thedailybasics/new-orleans-insprirations-for-duverre-hardware-blo/

Elza B Design: http://pinterest.com/elzabdesign/duverre-hardware-nola-sculpture-pinterest-challeng/

Rebecca Reynolds Kitchen Design: http://pinterest.com/RRKitchenDesign/duverre-hardware-sculpture-contest/

Leslie Fine: http://pinterest.com/lfine/the-du-verre-hardware-nola-sculpture-pinterest-cha/

The Decorating Diva: http://pinterest.com/carmennatschke/duverre-hardware-nola-sculpture-pinterest-challeng/

Kelly Morisseau:  http://pinterest.com/kellymorisseau/duverre-hardware-nola-sculpture-pinterest-challeng/

Linda Merrill: http://pinterest.com/linda_merrill/the-duverre-hardware-nola-sculpture-pinterest-chal/

Gloria Graham Sollecito: http://pinterest.com/creativeglo/the-duverre-hardware-nola-sculpture-pinterest-chal/

Nest by Tamara: http://pinterest.com/nestnestnest/the-duverre-hardware-nola-sculpture-contest/

Erica Islas: http://pinterest.com/ericaislas/the-duverre-hardware-nola-sculpture-pinterest-chal/

Arne Salvesen: http://pinterest.com/arnesalvesen/duverre-hardware-nola-sculpture-pinterest-challeng/

French Quarter:

Aleaxander Beard - 712 Royal Street

Alex Beard is a renowned author and artist and creator of a series of impossible puzzles that many of you may have spent hours over already. This is a chance to see his shop, learn more about his work and maybe even meet the man himself. Recommendations by Nicelle Herrington, Angel Robinson and Courtney Price.

A Gallery for Fine Photography - 241 Chartres Street

The eponymous “A Gallery for Fine Photography” would be a perfect fit in New York City with its incredible collection of vintage photography from talent like Cecil Beaton, Berenice Abbott, Ansel Adams and many others yet the owners chose New Orleans for their location.

Moss Antiques - 411 Royal Street

Arguably the two antique shops with the most mentions from locals were Moss Antiques – we’ll have to stop by and look at their collection of Oyster plates – and..

Lucullus Antiques - 610 Chartres Street

.. Lucullus Antiques, a shop known for vintage kitchen objects,tableware or as they say: ” ..the perfect complement to the grand pursuits of dining, cooking and imbibing”. No shortage of those in New Orleans – we get it.

Need a break?

Cafe Amelie
912 Royal St
have the Amelie or Pim’s cup

Croissant D’Or
617 Ursulines
stop for coffee

Uptown/Magazine Street/Garden District:

NOLA’s Garden District mansions are legendary and we will be taking a walk through antebellum grandeur as we head to Magazine Street but, for our architecture buffs, we highly recommend spending a bit more time and taking in every detail. For questions about this part of town, feel free to get in touch with Courtney Price and check out her coverage of the area she used to call home.

Perch Home - 2844 Magazine Street

A clear favorite on every local’s list of shopping favorites is Perch Home, with its fabulous collection of vintage and new, art and home furnishings.

Hazelnut New Orleans - 5515 Magazine Street

Further Uptown, Courtney pointed us towards Mad Men actor’s Bryan Batt’s Hazelnut New Orleans. That’s right, a real live tv hunk right there on Magazine Street. We’re told he’s on a photo shoot the day we’re there but certainly worth a try during time off, eh?

More refreshments?

The Columns
3811 St Charles St
drinks in the evening

Bouligny Tavern
3641 Magazine St

Cure
4905 Freret St
very cool, yummy mixed drinks. It’s a cab ride but apparently well worth it.

There’s so much more, so NOLA aficionados, weigh in and point BlogTour NOLA #timeoff in the right direction.

To tell the truth, we were a tiny bit worried about that too. Until we began to dig into the culture of New Orleans. Not just skimming the surface but really digging deep, talking to locals and getting their thoughts on the Crescent City. Maybe it’s true for all cities but we noticed it more here than with any of our other city research. You ask ten New Orleans natives their three “must sees” and you end up with 30 answers.

In the end, the challenge was not finding things for BlogTour to share with its audience but to select from a treasure trove of history, architecture, style, design and cuisine and to come up with a four day schedule in a city where even juxtapositions have juxtapositions.

BlogTour NOLA will, as do all our tours, share design inspiration and trends but it will also go deeper as we learn about the continued effort to rebuild many parts of the city and hear stories of how people have coped with the emotional and physical devastation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The mere fact that this is still a topic today, eight years later, made it clear that BlogTour needed to share the latest with its readers.

We hope you’ll follow the tour on Twitter at #BlogTourNOLA and BlogTour-at-a-glance on Modenus.

Day 1 – Arrive in style:

A warm welcome awaits the group at Renaissance Arts Hotel in NOLA”s warehouse district. Surrounded by art galleries and some of the city’s finest restaurants, this part of town is quickly becoming a hot spot for lovers of art and food alike.

A quick stroll through the French Quarter will bring BlogTour to it’s first of many culinary experiences.

Meet SoBou!

Day 2 – A (design) walk to remember:

Image via http://louisianatravel.tumblr.com/

A full day is planned with an old fashioned street car ride along St. Charles Avenue, a stroll through the midst of the Garden District and some serious shopping on Magazine Street. Thank you to Angel Robinson of Write Robinson for taking the time to explain the many different ways of seeing the city – the streetcar was an absolute must.

Before we get started however, we need nourishment to face the big day ahead and what better place to start the day than at Chef John Besh’s Luke . A scrumptious champagne brunch will be served courtesy of KBIS and if you can say “fried soft shell crab, poached eggs, and jalapeño cheese grits” without salivating you may not be human.

Next stop on our busy itinerary is the venerable Magazine Street. The street houses many of the city’s most formidable design shops and with a length of over 7 miles, was one of those challenges where we had to pick one area, despite feeling like kids in a candy store.

We will be meeting Shaun Smith of Shaun Smith Home who has graciously offered to be our design guide for the afternoon and share his favorite shops and studios on Magazine Street. Thank you very much Courtney Price for making the introduction!

BlogTour will have part of the late afternoon to explore the nearby Garden District, please see what Courtney Price writes about this stunning part of town that she used to call home, or take some time to relax before we’re off to meet Miles Redd, yes THE Miles Redd, the master of glamorous interior design,  at the Ogden Museum. Miles is in town for a signing of his latest book, The Big Book of Chic.

Our evening will be spent with one of our most engaging sponsors, Mr. Steam. Luxurious and innovative steam shower solutions notwithstanding, Mr Steam have mastered the way of conveying their company mission without really having to mention their product at all. It’s about feeling good and taking time for yourself. Past BlogTours have seen Mr. Steam sponsored events at a spa in Germany, brunch in London and a fabulous boat tour in New York and this time we’re being treated to a wonderful dinner at SoBou which is South of Bourbon Street.

Day 3 – Making It Right in many ways:

Image via http://gardenandgun.com/article/southern-lights

We begin our day early, with beignets & coffee at Bevolo, iconic lighting manufacturers who, to this day, are located in the heart of New Orleans on Royal Street. A factory tour hosted by Chris Bevolo himself will explain the process, designs and the rich history of Bevolo lighting.

And then it’s time to switch gears.  We could spend several more days marveling at French Quarter architecture, the colors, tastes and sounds of the Vieux Carré but our time is limited and there’s so much more to New Orleans. The people and the projects that are putting NOLA back together again.

Joe and Gloria Robert

Our Silestone USA sponsored bus tour will bring us to Gentilly in the north of New Orleans. Gentilly was one of the hardest hit areas during hurricane Katrina and many families lost everything they owned. Three families are now able to move into their newly remodeled or rebuilt homes through the help of The Storehouse of Worldvision which supplies building materials to over 2 million people in need, annually. The Storehouse project is supported by many great corporate sponsors and manufacturers of building materials and home products, including BlogTour sponsors the NKBA and KBIS.

We are proud to be amongst the first to tour the completed homes and share more about this important project.

After The Storehouse Project we’re headed to a quick lunch at Mondo in Lakeview. Chef Susan Spicer’s restaurant was written up by Epicurious as a great local place and we’ll report back and let you know our thoughts.

Via Mocoloco

Our second tour that afternoon is Brad Pitt’s Make It Right foundation. Now, we’re pretty certain we won’t be getting a glimpse of Brad, Angelina or even just Angelina’s left leg but we will be getting a tour of an amazing architectural project that has, thus far, produced over 80 homes and involved many local architects in addition to industry icons  like Frank Gehry. We’re thrilled to be part of this tour that is sponsored by Silestone by Cosentino, a key partner of Make it Right.

Homes are modernist in design and have met controversy in the past but local residents are said to embrace the new look and our very own NOLA expert Angel Robinson says: “It’s all about the juxtaposition. The Antebellum mansions in the Garden District, the bungalows and shotgun  houses around town, the french inspired architecture in the Vieux Carré and now these modernist designs, are all New Orleans. It’s a town in love with its history heading skeptically, but excited, into its future.”

Our evening will be spent with many peers at The Republic, another NOLA hot spot, where BlogTour sponsor The NKBA will get together to celebrate and bestow awards upon the industries most talented designers. We’ll be sure to live tweet  the winners.

Day 4 – KBIS here we come:

Thought we’d slow down already? Not a chance.

This is the day we’re headed to the opening of KBIS – The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. The day is filled with media tours of the most important highlights and includes our sponsors Silestone and TOTO and we can’t wait to share our finds via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and every other social media platform that will hold still long enough. So, expect BlogTour NOLA to be trending on Twitter, ’cause that’s how we roll.

Via Epicurious.com

Kick off that day will be our Beignets & Bubbly Meetup, sponsored by Mr. Steam and Blanco America, with key industry folks and lots of social/digital/traditional media having a chance to meet and mingle at KBIS Design Studios powered by QuEX. You can learn more about KBIS design studios here but to summarize – if you love design and want to learn from highly published kitchen, bath and interior designers you simply have to include presentations by Susan Serra, Meredith Heron, Chery Kees Clendenon, Corey Klassen, Carmen Christensen, Tyler Wisler, Lori Gilder and Andie Day.

Still more? Sure!

We will end this day of design with dinner at Poggenpohl’s New Orleans showroom at Nordic Kitchens with our sponsors Blanco, Poggenpohl and Silestone and a selection of the industry’s best design pros and media.

Whew!

Day 5 – a perfect ending:

Yes we know, “You don’t know how we do it ” , we get that all the time. BlogTour is all about passion for design and learning about local culture and it’s what keeps us going. Besides, we can sleep on the plane, right?

Cool, because we’re headed for a fantastic breakfast with BlogTour sponsor TOTO. We’ll be treated to a sumptuous meal at chef Donal Link’s Calcasieu’s private dining rooms. So yes, we may be just a tad spoiled but you love us anyway.

BlogTour has the rest of the day to peruse KBIS exhibitors they may have missed the day before, catch some of the NKBA conferences or sit in on the many industry presentations on the show floor. One of those presentations being BlogTour Redux, yep that’s us, with a curated kitchen, bath and interiors trends report from our tours to London, New York City and Cologne.

Then most of BlogTour will head home and some to Highpoint to continue their quest for great design.

Very special thanks for helping us with the tour:

Angel Robinson of Write Robinson

Courtney Price of Courtney Price Design

Cesar Rodriguez at Make It Right

And to our sponsors:

KBIS

The NKBA

Mr. Steam

TOTO USA

Blanco America

Poggenpohl USA

Silestone USA

Duverre Hardware

We are proud to be collaborating with KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, which will be held in New Orleans this month. KBIS is an important industry event in that it provides a great platform for everyone to connect, exchange ideas, learn and discover new products and technologies.

With Modenus being a web based platform that prides itself in its real life engagement we were thrilled to be asked to spearhead a brand new concept on the show floor – KBIS Design Studios powered by QueX, a virtual design experience presented live at the show.

Before we get into all the cool details you can expect to find at booth #3352 please mark your calendar for our kick off party at KBIS:

Beignets & Bubbly at KBIS Booth 3352

Friday April 19, 2013

About the QueX Technology
Technology integrator QueX is working with a collaborative group of hardware and software makers including Monster Media, Go Tour, Planar and Modenus to create a platform that will connect physical and virtual channels in a new concept called the QueX Experiential Showroom.  This new level of product engagement will help design professionals connect their customers more efficiently, resulting in more immediate decision making.

About the presentations

On the KBIS show floor attendees will

• Interact with products on multi touch display screens
• Take a virtual tour of luxury homes brought to life by Luxe Magazine and GoTour
• See a Modenus curated collection of products, up close via touch screen
• Experience how the technology will create a collaborative design environment in the showroom
• Video connectivity by Teliris will allow attendees a glimpse of how virtual interaction can work
• See how 8 design pros work through a project and bring the technology to life in the bath, kitchen, outdoor living and loft living spaces

The designers

Eight well regarded design professionals have been selected to interpret various spaces for a range of generational lifestyles.  Each will bring their personal design style, love of particular products and brands, and functional considerations to life using an advanced technology that allows them to interact with their clients in more engaging ways.

	Cheryl Kees Clendenon – Gen X Bath Owner and lead designer of In Detail Interiors and creator of be, a new business venture, Cheryl has been creating a buzz in the Gulf Coast design community for over 14 years. As the name implies, Cheryl’s sharp attention to detail is just one of the many perks that In Detail clients receive as part of a unique team design approach.  Cheryl’s name is becoming more recognizable nationally, whether she is working for an out-of-state client, or joining international design tours, sitting on design councils or writing for a 3 year old design blog “Details and Design”.
	Andie Day – Boomer Bath Andie Day is principal of Andie Day LLC, an Orange county and Los Angeles -based full-service interior design firm committed to creating homes that enhance peoples’ lives at every stage of life. Our Design for Life® philosophy is built around the idea that your home should grow and evolve parallel to your changing needs, expectations and goals. From newlywed to new parent, retiree to independent senior, interior design should have a lifecycle that reflects your own. Andie writes Lifestyle, the blog and participates on a number of manufacturer design councils.
	Meredith Heron – GenX Loft/Kitchen Meredith Heron is an interior designer and television host whose work is an eclectic conversation with color, pattern and texture. Heron’s obsession is color. Whether layering hues inspired by Roman church doors, or the ombre of Fall leaves in the rain, she combines it with sumptuous, mosaics of pattern, the clean lines of Regency or Louis XVI-inspired furnishing and modern accessories to create rooms that feel glamorous, feminine and familiar. Even in monochromatic spaces, her attention to texture and detail reflect a well-travelled and convivial design vocabulary, spoken in luxurious and personal, spaces made for play. On television, Meredith’s no-nonsense edge, great sense of humor, and her sincere desire to inspire, make her popular with audiences. She spent a season on HGTV’s Love By Design in Canada and Date With Design in the US; hosted HGTV and Fine Living’s Design Match and was a series regular on Restaurant Makeover for the Food Network. A knowledgeable and irreverent guest expert, she’s also been featured on lifestyle programs like Steven & Chris and House & Home.
	Corey Klassen – Millennial Loft/Kitchen For the last seven years Corey has built a boutique practice that is focused on the direct needs of the client. His broad depth of creative experience and specialty in kitchens and bathrooms finds him addressing user function at every stage. By listening to his clients Corey creates a positive design experience with his down to earth attitude and broad depth of technical design expertise. With a design aesthetic that is sophisticated, sustainable and life-cycle driven, he understands that we must be able to go from farm to table in the most creative of ways. Corey is an NKBA-Certified Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer (AKBD), Instructor, Kitchen & Bath Design Diploma (Dipl. KBD), Vancouver Community College, an NKBA Accredited Program, VP Professional Development, NKBA BC Chapter, and has been published in numerous design and shelter media outlets.
	Tyler Wisler – Millenial Outdoor Living Space Shortly after graduating from Marymount University with his degree in Interior Design, Tyler joined the New York firm of Michael Braverman Design, Inc, where he worked with a wide range of clients, satisfying their individual budgets, styles, and requirements. Recently, Tyler was given the amazing opportunity to be a part of the phenomenal competition series, “DESIGN STAR,” on HGTV, where Tyler showcased his talents both as a designer and as a television personality. He has since been featured on the NBC makeover show, “George to the Rescue,” and filmed several news segments as a Design Expert. Recognizing his keen eye, the mega online retailer, OpenSky, asked Tyler to come aboard as a permanent Taste Maker.
	Carmen Christensen – Gen X Outdoor Living As a registered Interior Designer, with a Bachelor’s Degree, from the prestigious Ringling School of Art & Design, Carmen has worked in the Design industry for over 20 years and has earned the respect and recognition of her clients in addition to many builders and Interior Designers.   As a professional member of ASID, Carmen is actively involved in the Florida West Coast chapter.   Carmen’s work has been showcased in numerous show houses and published in multiple magazines.   Being a member of the NKBA, National Kitchen and Bath Association, Carmen keeps up to date on current trends and events in the Kitchen and Bath Industry.
	Susan Serra – Boomer Kitchen President, Susan Serra Associates, Inc. since 1991 (Kitchen/Bath Design Firm), Susan is a CKD and Certified Aging in Place Specialist.  She is a regular speaker and “go to” resource for HGTV, Better Homes & Gardens, Oprah, and a number of other media outlets. She is an active blogger serving on a number of blogger councils and contributing to digital platforms like Houzz and Cultivate.  Her work has been published in a variety of media outlets including the Hearst and Meredith publications as well as the Washington Post and the LA Times. Her award winning designs have been recognized by NARI as well as the NKBA.  Susan has regularly participated as a judge for industry design and product events including Best of KBIS.
	Lori Gilder – GenX Kitchen Lori Gilder is an award winning Architectural Interior Designer to Hollywood’s elite and is dedicated to providing her long list of clients with a unique set of design standards and expert guidance throughout the home renovation process.  Lori has been a featured winner on HGTV’s “Designers’ Challenge”, has appeared as a guest designer on “Designing For The Sexes”, and is asked regularly to contribute to HGTV.com.  Her work has also been published in various design publications such as California Homes, Spaces Magazine and Distinctive Kitchen Solutions just to name a few.  Lori has designed a multitude of residential and commercial projects throughout the U.S, Canada and Mexico.  Homeowners throughout North America turn to Lori’s newsletter DESIGN LINE,and her blog http://www.diaryofarenovation.com/ to help them move from the typical stress and anxiety of the redesign process to a place of excitement and joy.  Lori is known for her expertise in designing and creating luxury home environments that are more comfortable, more satisfying and more rewarding.

BlogTour is an international concept with bloggers from around the world, getting together for 5 design filled days, exploring cities and sharing their passion for everything from decor to architecture to a life well lived with their peers and audiences at home.

So what’s in store for this group? Have a look.

Day 1:

Brunch with Blanco, Poggenpohl and Cosentino. BlogTour will meet up with members of leading shelter magazines and NY based blogs to learn all about newest designs, styles, finishes and technologies at Poggenpohl’s Park Avenue Showroom – all whilst enjoying a beautifully presented brunch.

We will then take a leisurely stroll down the Avenue – a word to the weather Gods here: “You’ve never let us down on BlogTour so please don’t start now” – for a visit to Michael Aram’s where, the talented designer himself will take us on a tour of his studio and share the inspiration and passion that define his gorgeous collections.

For the afternoon, BlogTour and a selection of local bloggers will be whisked away on a tour of Luxury properties, courtesy of Corcoran Real Estate and Miele. Where we’re headed is being kept a secret but we will say that the views will be stunning.

To end the day, we’ll see what Miele is cooking up in their A&D Building showroom where they’ve invited us for a fabulous dinner. You’ll have to stay tuned for more on what’s being served up, knowing our bloggers there won’t be a shortage of pictures, tweets and video clips to help you turn green with envy share our enjoyment.

Day 2:

A full day at the AD Home Design Show beginning with the NOT-TO-BE-MISSED Marys & Mimosas event. This year the event is sponsored by Sub-Zero Wolf who will be drawing one lucky winner who will receive a private cocktail and gourmet dinner party for 10 at Sub-Zero Wolf’s Manhattan showroom. Regardless of who wins, I hope it’s very clear that they mean for 9 people plus the humble writer of this blog (Veronika Miller, you can find me on Twitter as @modenus).

Photo courtesy of www.architecturaldigest.com

The afternoon will be filled with select media tours, our fun “Design Find” photo contest where one lucky winner will get to join BlogTour in LA this coming October and a tour of DIFFA’s Dining by Design tabletop displays. None other than Barry Dixon, who’s created a space for Arteriors, will be guiding us through the space, sharing his own design concept and explaining what he loves about the numerous other creations.

Day 3:

Two full days and we’re still going strong? Absolutely! BlogTour can sleep once they’re on their planes home, in the meantime it’s design, design, design.

Image via Design-Milk

We begin the day with a visit to Vicente Wolf’s studio where Vicente himself will talk about his own design inspiration and where we will, undoubtedly, have to time to explore his own incredible collection and shop to our heart’s content.

After our celebrity morning, we will, once again, be whisked away for an office tour of two big names in digital media: Bespoke Global and Fab.com will allow us to meet their team, tour the offices and learn more about their vision and goals.

We’ll end the day with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at Central Kitchen and Bath with our friends from Mr. Steam who are launching their new iSteam collection. Steamy!

Day 4:

Yes, by now you get the idea – BlogTour never sleeps. We gave the team Friday night off but we’re sure to see them back in full force for a visit to Decor NYC where owner Bruce Tilley will tour us through, what is arguably, NYC’s finest collection of luxury consignment gallery.

Next up, we leave the Island!

Yes, a walk across Brooklyn bridge is a must and we have ordered especially nice weather for perfect photo opps.

photo via fineartamerica.com

What will we do once we get to the other side?

Did you expect anything other than more design? Why? A walking tour of a selection of design studios in Dumbo who will all be part of re-launched Brooklyn Designs in May 2013.

More about the exciting re-launch in another post but for this tour we will visit Chris Coleman, Casa Kids, Mark Jupiter and Eric Manigian.

And because a great tour needs the best possible finale – our farewell party will be on The Manhattan with dinner, drinks, good friends and great views of this amazing city. The event is sponsored by Mr. Steam and Modenus, which is a recipe for a fabulous time.

Please join us on Twitter at #blogtourNYC to follow the tour – and if you are by now green with envy and want to join one of our next tours – leave us a comment and let us know why you think you should go.

Very special thanks to all of our sponsors!