Day One
We arrived to the historic Burg Trendelburg Hotel in Trendelburg Germany. The charm and lush grounds were the first thing I noticed. Each of the 22 rooms this stunning castle has to offer are all a little bit different. One of the guests opened their wardrobe to hang their clothes only to find instead of hangers it led to their connected washroom. Think Narnia! Once we were settled, we were able to tour the castle grounds with none other than a knight tour guide. We learned some German history and the importance of the numbers 3,5,7, and 12 to the German culture. The tour was followed by a delicious 4 course meal prepared in the hotel’s kitchen. The food was so fresh and robust. I went to sleep with the windows open to a peaceful breeze.
The following morning we were treated to a wonderful breakfast and one last look at the breathtaking grounds. Right before we got on the bus a VERY pregnant cat graced us with her presence and I jumped on the opportunity to give her all the lovins.
We then made our way to the Bora Showroom. You cannot miss Bora’s building. The general shape and appearance are a sight to behold. The atmosphere and hospitality this company had to offer were outstanding. The guided tour of what appliances they have to offer and the differences between what we are accustomed to in the states and what they design were so interesting! All of the appliances were sleek, smart, and well thought out. Appliances tend to be smaller than what we are used to. Our 30” wall ovens are replaced with 24” wall ovens. The downdrafts they had to offer were quiet, user friendly, and above all else easy to clean! My favorite appliance I saw was their steam/convection oven. Every aspect of this product was thoroughly thought out and it shows.
Day Two
Our next stop on the trip was Nobilia. If you’ve been following us for awhile then you will know that Debbie also had the opportunity to visit Germany with the NKBA for last years German Haus Fair. She loved Nobilia, and all that they had to offer.
Nobilia had the biggest showroom I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. Not only did we get to tour the showroom and see their product they also took us on a tour of their manufacturing plant.
It is always cool to see how each manufacturer makes their cabinetry.
I was excited to see the different ways European design varies from what we are use to seeing. The first thing I noticed was the use of high pressure laminate countertops. There was a lot of dark kitchenettes with sleek clean lines, and hidden organizational storage. Interior cabinet lighting was something almost every display had. I’m talking, lighted drawers, bases, walls, under cabinet, in cabinet, all around.
Another trend I saw a lot of was pink! We saw not one, not two, but three full pink kitchens! I loved their use of color with simple sleek design.
Day Three
Started out with a tour of the Hettich Showroom. Hettich makes more than just cabinet hardware. The organization options, and truly amazing glides and hardware they showed us were some of my favorite things I saw during my trip.
This is where I learned that some places in Europe still take their kitchens with them when they move. We are talking, cabinets, countertops and appliances when they move into their next house. Smaller vignettes are more standard for this application so every single centimeter counts.
After leaving Hettich we arrived at Area 30. This is a more traditional trade show. There were some brands I knew and some I was going to be learning about for the first time!
Part of the goal for this trip was global connect. To connect European design, and products with the designers in the states. It was so fun to meet different brands, and reps and to hear how many of them wanted to or were going to be headed to KBIS next year. Many were interested in what we needed from them to use their products in America.
House4Kitchen was our last stop for day three. Their showroom displayed more sleek and beautiful designs. My biggest take away from this showroom was their use of light. They had a wall, dedicated to their samples and how different lighting would reflect your selection. Something as simple as this can make all the difference in your finished product.
Day Four
Offered my favorite showroom we had seen on this trip, Bauteam. Bauteam is an American owned German Cabinetry manufacturer. They have perfected the german design, with American standards.
Bauteam realized that though Americans love the look of European Design, we sometimes differ on the material used to achieve said design. They allow you to choose from different box constructions such as a marine grade plywood we all know and love.
I loved seeing the different ways they used the Cosentino products on and around their cabinetry. Cosentino is well known for their quartz brand Silestone, along with their other countertop materials such as Sensa, Dekton and Scalea.
I learned a lot, saw a lot, and ate a lot! However, my favorite part of trips like this are the people I get to share it with. The NKBA selects a small, but diverse group of designers to go on this trip. Learning and listening to the different backgrounds, design styles, and opinions was more than inspiring.
I would like to thank the NKBA team, and all of the sponsors who made this trip possible for us. It’s not everyday a small town kitchen and bath designer gets to go to Germany and tour their beautiful showrooms, and historic castles!
Until my next adventure. Thank you for reading. If you have any questions, or simply want to know more about German design please don’t hesitate to reach out.
-Your Friendly Kitchen and Bath Designer, Megan Reed
