Samsung Chef Collection Brings Smart Technology and Beautiful Design to Premium Built-In Home Appliance Category

New Line Redefines the Modern Kitchen and Simplifies Daily Lives

Samsung Electronics America, Inc., the number one selling brand of major appliances, announced its new Chef Collection line of premium built-in appliances. Merging elegant design and industry leading technology, the newly redesigned line of Chef Collection was unveiled at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC) in San Diego.




With Chef Collection, Samsung brings its most innovative and popular home appliance features to the premium built-in category, reflecting its deep consumer insights and industry expertise. For the first time, Samsung is introducing two new fully integrated built-in refrigerators, including the industry’s first 42” Built-In 4-Door Flex model. The line also includes signature features that only Samsung offers in a full suite of kitchen appliances that includes wall ovens, cook tops, Pro ranges, and dishwashers. All models are Wi-Fi-enabled, offering modern functionality and convenience to consumers.

“As homes have become more modern, we felt it was important to give people more choices when selecting premium appliances that complement their elevated sense of style,” said John Herrington, Senior Vice President, General Manager of Home Appliances, Samsung Electronics America. “With the reimagined Chef Collection, we’ve integrated our best and brightest innovations and design details in a premium built-in platform that meets the needs and priorities of modern families and fits how they live their lives.”

The New Samsung Chef Collection Line

Samsung Chef Collection seeks to redefine and modernize the home, with advanced features that don’t just complement modern kitchens, they enhance the overall look and functionality of the space. It is available in Samsung’s exclusive matte black stainless steel – a soft brushed metal finish, as well as stainless steel. The line is also panel-ready so the look of the appliances can adapt to changes in design preferences over time. Other Chef Collection highlights include:

Refrigeration

• An industry first, the fully integrated 42” Samsung Chef Collection Built-in 4-Door Flex Refrigerator with FlexZone™ compartment that easily transitions from fridge to freezer at the touch of a button

• 36” Samsung Chef Collection Built-In includes Metal Cooling stainless steel interior and TwinCooling™ to keep food fresher, longer

• The Wi-Fi-enabled built-in models feature Samsung’s View Inside cameras so consumers can see its contents from anywhere on their smart phones

• Frame LED lighting (1) that illuminates what’s within, and hidden electronic controls to give a truly seamless look

• A Chef Pantry compartment in each model that can be set to three different temperature options to handle various food preservation needs

Cooking

• 30” Samsung Chef Collection Wall Ovens, available in single, double, and the industry’s largest capacity microwave combo (2) configurations, feature Steam Cook technology and Flex Duo™ design in which a removable Smart Divider splits the bottom oven cavity into two to create three independent ovens

• 30” and 36” Samsung Chef Collection Cooktops, available in gas and induction, offer power, precision and seamless design. A powerful 22K BTU Dual Power brass burner on the gas cooktop goes from high and hot to a true simmer. Virtual Flame Technology™ on the induction cooktop gives the real feel and visual glow of a flame. It also features a large FlexZone™ cooking surface for maximum efficiency

• Bluetooth-enabled 30” and 36” Samsung Chef Collection Range Hoods automatically turn on with the Pro Range or Cooktop, and change fan speed with the Heat Sensing feature, which automatically adjusts based on the heat being generated from below

• The 30” Samsung Chef Collection Pro Range offers 5.8 cu ft. capacity with 22K Dual Power brass burner and dual convection oven, and bold LED-illuminated knob design

Dishwasher

• The Samsung Chef Collection Dishwasher with Samsung’s exclusive WaterWall™ technology delivers a powerful, streaming wall of water for corner to corner cleaning, and a Chef Mode that provides concentrated cleaning power on heavily-soiled pots and pans. The AutoRelease™ Door opens automatically to circulate air and improve overall drying by as much as 35% (3)

The complete line of new Chef Collection built-in appliances will be available later this year.

Wi-Fi Capabilities Throughout

Samsung Chef Collection reflects the aspirations of a new generation of state-of-the-art homeowners who not only prefer a beautiful look in their kitchen but also appreciate having the latest innovation in their homes. By making the appliances Wi-Fi-enabled, for example, Chef Collection gives consumers peace of mind that the stove isn’t still simmering while they are out of the house, and that the dishwasher cycle has been started after a big night of entertaining. Now, all of this can be controlled from a smart phone, bringing necessary smart technology to the built-in category.

“As my career has flourished over the past year, I need to be as efficient as possible and make every moment count,” said Candice Kumai, leading wellness expert, chef and author. “This is especially true when it comes to the kitchen. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in bed and realized that I didn’t start the dishwasher. Or, I’ve been in the middle of a fitness class and wondered, ‘Did I turn off the oven?’ I feel like Samsung created Chef Collection with people like me in mind.”

Built with Installers in Mind

Knowing that installation time and repair work are major pain points for installers, Samsung set out to make the process easier than ever with Samsung Chef Collection. Less cumbersome packaging solutions and time-saving features like pre-drilled holes and easy leveling make installation faster. Installers can run Wi-Fi-enabled, remote diagnostic checks to ensure the appliance is functioning properly and help reduce repeat visits for repairs.

Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovative leader in consumer electronics, mobile devices and enterprise solutions. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA is pushing beyond the limits of today’s technology and providing consumers and organizations with a portfolio of groundbreaking products in appliances, home entertainment, Internet of Things, mobile computing, smartphones, virtual reality, wireless infrastructure and wearables, in addition to offering leading content and services related to mobile payments, 360-degree VR video, customer support and more. Samsung is a pioneering leader in smartphones and HDTVs in the U.S. and one of America’s fastest growing home appliance brands. To discover more about Samsung, please visit www.samsung.com

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(1) Built In refrigerator models only
(2) Among leading brands (Q4 2016 Traqline Report)
(3) Compared to conventional Samsung dishwashers

All images courtesy of SAMSUNG

IBEROSTAR Opens Its Exclusive Designer Hotel in Portals Nous

Designed by Marcel Wanders, the new five-star IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Portals Nous is situated in one of Majorca’s most exclusive areas.

The facilities at the new hotel include Astir, a gourmet restaurant and the only one on the island to serve El Capricho meat, the finest in the world. Guests at the hotel will enjoy a butler service endorsed by the prestigious British Butler Guild, as well as an extensive ‘menu’ of special services.

IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts opened its newest hotel, the IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Portals Nous, boasting a prime beachfront location in one of Majorca’s most exclusive areas. This grand luxury five-star hotel is the first establishment in the Mediterranean to be included in The Grand Collection, the company’s premium category, combining impeccable designer architecture with the most innovative and personalized services.

The 66 rooms include four double penthouses with a private terrace and jacuzzi, and five unique themed suites, all designed by Marcel Wanders.

The accommodation options include two Naughty Suites for those wishing to live out their most secret fantasies, and a Stargazer Suite, where guests will have the chance to travel far beyond the stars in a unique adventure into outer space. The fun-filled facilities in the Games Suite feature a pinball machine, table football, video game console and even a putting green on the terrace. In turn, the Heritage Suite has been designed with lovers of art and antiques in mind, whilst the Spa Suite is the ideal choice for those in search of total rest and relaxation. All in all, a fabulous range of one-of-a-kind rooms.

The hotel stands in a prime location set against a stunning backdrop, and meticulous attention has been paid to every detail of the interior design. Five-star hotel standards are guaranteed thanks to the butler service endorsed by the prestigious British Butler Guild, including a fabulous ‘menu’ of special services.

The chain’s painstaking attention to even the smallest detail is also reflected in the hotel’s gastronomy options. The IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Portals Nous has four spaces serving locally sourced organic products including the Astir Gourmet Restaurant, the Selini Lobby Bar and the Dom Pérignon Champagne Bar. Guests will also be able to take advantage of the Guest Experience offering unlimited personalized services such as getting a table at any of the island’s restaurants without having to give a thought to waiting lists, access to a personal shopper, or even making a last-minute booking for a helicopter or boat. Nothing is beyond the reach of guests staying at the IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Portals Nous.

IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts is a resort hotel chain based in Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain), founded by the Fluxà family in 1986. IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts is an integral part of GRUPO IBEROSTAR, one of the main Spanish tourist companies with over 60 years of experience, which currently has 100 hotels of 4 and 5 stars in 17 countries around the world.

For more information, please visit: www.IBEROSTAR.com

All images courtesy of IBEROSTAR

PPG 2018 Color of the Year: PPG1043-7 Black Flame

Start 2018 by dressing your home in the new neutral PPG 2018 Color of the Year, PPG1043-7 Black Flame 

According to PPG color experts, this statement-making black, infused with an undertone of the deepest indigo, evokes the privacy, hope and classic modernism that many consumers crave today. Embodying the spirit of a tailored tuxedo or a little black dress, it is dressed-up, coveted, unapologetic and – most importantly – timeless.



What is Black Flame?

“Black Flame acts like a black curtain, allowing your other décor elements to take center stage,” said Dee Schlotter, PPG senior color marketing manager. “It’s a fantastic blend of black and indigo, two classic hues. Black creates the silence we crave in an information-heavy world, while the indigo offers possibility and a deep hopefulness. The blend of two colors makes it incredibly versatile – use it on a statement wall, with a matte finish on a ceiling, with high gloss on a naturally-lit staircase, on cabinets, interior and exterior doors and in many more places. The versatile hue can also provide strength and a modern luxe vibe to spaces with a lot of whites, blush pinks and soft pastels.”

Choosing the Right Color

Black Flame was unanimously selected by PPG’s more than 20 color stylists from around the world, specializing in industries such as consumer electronics, architectural, automotive and aerospace. These experts study consumer insights, building material trends, décor trends and more to select a color forecast that is reflective of current consumer attitudes.

“We’re already seeing retailers reinventing the classic black hue in the form of building materials such as wood flooring, black tile, cabinets and window frames, as well as matte black appliances and décor items,” Schlotter noted.

“Black is often referred to as the absence of color, but it also signifies a rebirth. It has the unique ability to take away weakness in a space and allow for regeneration to make it even stronger,” she said. “Our societal craving for privacy is the catalyst to being tracked by technology, overworked and pressured to overshare via social media. PPG’s research showed some consumers want to balance this social obligation by hiding portions of their personal life from the public eye, which are reflected in their home décor and paint color preferences.”

See for Yourself

To try Black Flame, or any of the 2018 Global Color Trends hues on your walls, use PPG’s new online virtual room painter tool before visiting a paint store or lifting a brush. The tool offers advanced technology to apply any color to an uploaded photo of your own space, browse designer color collections and more.

Trendsetter Interiors Editors tried PPG’s online virtual room painter tool and here’s our selection of home design images using PPG 2018 Color of the Year, PPG1043-7 Black Flame.

Living Room

Kitchen

Dining Room

Bedroom

Bathroom

Exterior

For more information please visit:

PPG Paints
www.ppgpaints.com

Stanton Williams’ €48.8 Million Transformation of Musée d'arts de Nantes

Stanton Williams’ €48.8 million transformation and extension of the Musée d'arts de Nantes opened to the public on Friday, 23 June 2017

The Musée d'arts de Nantes opened to the public on 23 June after a major transformation by British-based architecture practice Stanton Williams. Following an inauguration ceremony led by the Mayor of Nantes and France’s Minister of Culture, the museum will once again become an integral element of Nantes’ civic fabric. For this landmark cultural project, Stanton Williams has updated the historical site – an exemplary expression of the city’s civic and cultural pride and one of the largest Fine Arts Museums in France outside Paris - adding a contemporary layer to an exceptional accumulation of historical monuments.  

This new design blends a finely tailored museography around the collection with contemporary architecture - transforming the introverted image of the former Musée des Beaux-Arts into a vibrant, democratic and welcoming contemporary space that is open to the city and its people and visitors. The Musée d’arts de Nantes incorporates several key extension buildings to the original 19th Century ‘Palais’ and 17th Century Oratory Chapel, where a multi-channel video installation by artist Bill Viola has been rehoused. The addition of 4,000 sqm space will allow the Musée to exhibit its growing contemporary collection of artworks.

An auditorium, library, new educational facilities, archive, and external sculpture court have also been created.  A fully integrated landscape design will lead the way to the museum from the surrounding Place de Oratoire and Botanical Gardens, creating new access routes and enhancing the museum’s renewed central role in the urban fabric of the area. 

The new ‘Cube’ extension is connected to the Palais by a spacious gallery spanning the Cours Dupré. It boasts contemporary galleries on four floors, which are linked by wide gaps that allow natural light to enter the building and connect the galleries in visual terms. Openings to the outside present the cityscape as another artwork – offering a reversed extension of space; it carries the imprints of the pedestrians, cyclists, and cars, as they journey around.

The staircase on the south side of the extension consists of a suspended curtain wall made of marble and translucent laminated glass. It provides a counterpoint to the existing monumental staircase in the Palais and references the time when alabaster and marble were used in order to draw natural light into Medieval churches whilst protecting precious artworks within.

The bridges and landings behind the facade are new public routes that allow visitors to navigate the complex trajectory of the collections, spanning from ancient art to contemporary with unique art installations.  

"These are not only additional square metres, but a distinct cultural action. With this Musée d’Art we are inventing something that has not been done before. Experiment, dare, propose. To make it live!" 

- Jean-Louis Jossic, joint culture delegate of the Ville de Nantes

In keeping with the grand Beaux-Arts architecture of the Musée, a consistent palette of materials has been applied through the renovated spaces. This creates the impression that the museum is one monolithic volume - carved out of a single block of stone. In the museum’s existing Patio area, a site-specific installation comprising 350km of translucent silicone threads by Susanna Fritscher, frames the remarkable architecture of the newly renovated space whilst bathing in its natural light. The natural light of the nearby Atlantic is integral to the redesign, and the new museum experience. The existing glass roof that used to light the galleries has been replaced by complex superimposed layers of glass, innovative stretched fabrics and modular stores. The result is a ‘passing clouds’ effect that retains and optimises natural light and emphasises the new focus on openness and connects the visitors with their environment.

In response to an all-encompassing brief, Stanton Williams has collaborated with Cartlidge Levene to redesign and develop Musée d’arts de Nantes’ overall visual identity. This includes bespoke design of the lobby, café, museum shop, cloakroom and reception, and the overall formulation of a clear visual identity, which unites the museum’s exterior and interior, and creates a holistic and meditative museum experience that will have a lasting impression on visitors.

Patrick Richard, Director at Stanton Williams, leading this project, says: “We are grateful to the city of Nantes for entrusting us to transform and extend the City's Museum of Art, as well as designing the exhibition spaces for their exceptional and valuable art collections, providing flexible galleries for temporary art installations. We have also had the unique opportunity to transform the main street leading to the museum and, alongside graphic designers Cartlidge Levene, create the graphic identity and signage for the Museum. The new Museum has been conceived around the existing collections; creating an intimate dialogue between art and architecture that firmly embeds the new Museum within the distinctive historical setting of the city.”

As part of the inaugural exhibition programme at the new Musée d’arts de Nantes, Stanton Williams has curated an exhibition that details the processes involved in the making of a significant public museum. Located in the Salle Blanche, L'épopée d'un Projet 2009-2017 will run for six months from the official opening. The exhibition allows visitors to immerse themselves in the project by covering the entire eight year period of planning and construction through the display of development models from the competition stage, to information about the methodologies and museography involved.  The exhibition will also include previously unseen photographs of the construction process, which reveal the complex aspects of the transformation.

"Stanton Williams, won the competition for the renovation and expansion of the Musée des beaux-arts in Nantes because of the high quality of their architectural design, working with great professionalism and availability with the entire team museum. All aspects of the project were studied, analysed and finalised with great professionalism taking into account the many constraints and consultants. Stanton Williams’ knowledge of working within the constraints of the museum and their respect of the existing building make this project a key element of the cultural policy of the city of Nantes."  

- Blandine Chavanne, Former Director, Musée d’arts de Nantes

Two films feature in the exhibition; the first documents the entire design process behind the new museum and includes sketches, drawings and model making; the second film, by producer and artist Ben Cullen Williams, uses the method of  time-lapse film to capture the journey of light as it travels through the museum.  

On the occasion of the opening, French publishers Archibooks launched a dedicated monograph on Stanton Williams’ transformation as part of their new series: L'esprit du Lieu. The book introduces the many facets of the building for the first time. In extensive texts, Stanton Williams, the Mayor of Nantes Johanna Rolland, the Director of the Musée d'arts de Nantes Sophie Levy and consultants Max Fordham and Artelia will describe the concept as well as the content-related and artistic aspects of this new museum. Archival imagery and numerous illustrations complete this overview.

Project Details:

Key Values

Contract value: 48.8 M€ (tax-free)

Key Dates:

Appointed: 2009

Start on site: 2014

Completion: Spring 2017

Building Details:

Location: Nantes, France

Size: New Building: 4,000m2

Renovation (Palais): 13,000m2

Total: 17,000m2

Nantes Information:

Client: Ville de Nantes and Nantes Métropole

Under ex-Mayor of Nantes: Jean-Marc Ayrault (also ex-Prime Minister, is now Minister of Foreign Affairs)

Mayor at appointment: Jean-Marc Ayrault (1989-2012)

Interim Mayor: Patrick Rimbert (2012-2014)

Current Mayor: Johanna Rolland (2014-present)

Musée d’arts de Nantes:

Director: Sophie Lévy

Previous Director: Blandine Chavanne

Project Team

Contractor: Bouygues Bâtiment Grand Ouest

Cost Consultant: ARTELIA

Structural & Envelope Engineer: RFR& SEPIA

Services Engineer: Max Fordham & GEFI

Fire Safety: Casso & Associés

Signage/Graphics: Cartlidge Levene

Approved inspector & CDM Coordinator: VERITAS

OPC: E2CT

For more information please visit Stanton Williams - www.stantonwilliams.com

All images courtesy of Stanton Williams. Photography: Hufton+Crow, Stefano Graziani, Jack Hobhouse