JULIE SCHUSTER

Everything in life is interconnected. Few of us want success just for the sake of it. We also want to feel good about what we do, the energy that we give out, and the good feelings that come with it. Part of all of this is the underlying knowledge that we are at the top of our game. We've done the legwork and earned whatever accolades and success that are coming our way.

I always say to anyone who has asked for words of wisdom from me, that there are no shortcuts. Wisdom and confidence must be earned; not bestowed by any other means. And that is where NKBA Manhattan comes into the picture.

Our chapter meetings, and the other community offerings that one can enjoy through active participation with us, aren't just for fun. The opportunities to hear about industry innovation, new product offerings, and immersion into areas like lighting, home technology, and more, only strengthen what we all bring to the table in our work and our lives. If you are engaged in ANY part of the design community, then there is so much of

Every Thursday, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

MIELE ESPRESSO BREAK

Miele New York Experience Center

A&D Building, 9th floor

Miele invites you to drop by for a delicious pick-me-up at Coffee Thursday Afternoons—coffee presentation and tasting.

Learn more about Miele coffee machines here.

May 11, 2023 - June 6, 2023

KIPS BAY DECORATOR SHOW HOUSE NEW YORK

337 Riverside Drive at 106th Street, New York City

Tuesdays & Thursdays: 10 AM - 8 PM

MWFSS: 10 AM - 4 PM

No entry 1/2 hour before closing

The highly anticipated Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House is back for its 48th year and has claimed the historic River Mansion at 337 Riverside Drive at West 106th Street as its location. The Show House will be open to the public for one month, beginning Thursday, May 11th, 2023. The Show House doubles as the nation’s leading design event of the year benefiting the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. Read more here.

May 18 - May 25, 2023

NYCxDESIGN

New York City’s Annual Design Week returns May 18–25 with Exhibitions, Public Installations, and Trade Fairs. Here’s what to look out for:

Anchored by trade fairs ICFF, WantedDesign, and Lightfair, this year's Festival offers something for everyone—from the casual design enthusiast to the serious professional. “Highlighting the strength of New York’s creative economy, the Festival is once again tapping the industry’s brightest minds to create brilliant activations across the city,” says Ilene Shaw, Executive Director of NYCxDESIGN. "This organization has produced 10 successful years of unparalleled inspiration and innovation; the Festival has helped establish New York as a premier design destination.”

Programming includes neighborhood activations, open studios, and crowd favorites like the ever-popular DIFFA by Design. Immerse yourself in the creative spirit of New York City’s design community. For more information about everything that’s happening during the NYCxDESIGN Festival and to RSVP for the events, visit festival.nycxdesign.org.

May 20 through May 23, 2023

EXPERIENCE TRADITIONS AT THE IFDA JAPAN FAIR

Part of the NYCxDESIGN Festival

IFDA is delighted to have NKBA members meet and network with professional colleagues from Japan who will be sharing their passions, talents, and techniques. Whether it is exploring architectural restoration, learning the nuances of the art of tea, viewing how traditional pottery is still made today, hearing about Japanese Biophilia interpretations, or delving into the history of Chinoiserie and seeing the new versions—this is a Fair not to be missed. Be sure to sign up for our Arigato Tomodachi • Thank You Friends Farewell Party, taking place at our wonderful host, Cosentino. Wear a kimono for a festive feeling, as there will be many moments to cherish that night—memories you won’t want to miss.

To find out more or to RSVP, go to: https://ifda.com/event/japan-fair/. As a courtesy, NKBA members may RSVP at the IFDA member rate for all the Japan Fair events. Give us your NKBA membership number in the IFDA fields on the RSVP and click on the IFDA Members option.  

May 21 - May 23, 2023

MAY DESIGN MONTH IN NYC WITH ICFF & LIGHTFAIR AT THE JAVITS CENTER

Two shows for the price of one! May 21-25, ICFF will co-locate with LightFair at the Javits Center. Learn more about the perks of this co-location and register today for both events here. Some of the biggest names in architectural and commercial lighting will be exhibiting at LightFair—and qualified ICFF attendees will receive free access to the LightFair show floor on May 23rd.

Tuesday, May 23, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM

MIELE PROFESSIONAL LAUNDRY LUNCH & LEARN

Miele New York Experience Center

A&D Building, 9th floor

Miele has been the industry standard for residential dishwashers since 1929. You are very familiar with their quality, but are you aware that they also have a Professional Division that makes products that meet commercial demands?

Miele invites you to their Experience Center for a “Lunch & Learn” on both professional dishwashers and laundry units that can be used in both domestic and commercial settings. Imagine dishwashers 2.5 times faster than domestic models. Washers that have a 25-minute express wash cycle. And all made for heavy-duty loads, and operated for multiple daily cycles.

Registration is limited. Sign up now for a guaranteed luncheon seat. Email with questions or to RSVP.

JESSICA MEDEIROS

What do designer handbags and high-end bathroom fixtures have in common? Jessica Medeiros, who majored in Communications and Psychology at the University of Arizona, has been wildly successful at selling both—the former during her time at New York–based designer Rebecca Minkoff and the latter now as a luxury sales specialist at Brooklyn-based upscale plumbing and fixtures showroom Kurrent, owned by Thirty Under 30 alumnus Jack Bernstein. Since joining the sales team in July 2020, Jessica has been especially successful in high-end residential sales, bringing in over $2.5 million. Her favorite part of her job? “Getting to use the creative side of my brain and being able to design really unique bathrooms for customers,” she says. And one of her latest projects—the exclusive new 8,000-square-foot Maxwell Social private club in Manhattan, which she collaborated on with founder David Litwak to curate luxurious fixtures—ranks among her favorites, alongside a family home in Brooklyn. “Although designing kitchens and bathrooms is extremely fun, working with people who are kind and appreciative makes all the hard work worth it,” she explains. Jessica describes her personality as “empathetic” and her personal design style as “eclectic,” noting, “I love using colors and mixing modern and traditional styles together. I also love mixing busy and contrasting prints!” A wannabe fashionista, she began honing her creative vision at age 11 when she was allowed to design her bedroom from scratch and chose bubble-gum pink walls, a giant white sleigh bed with matching white furniture, and zebra-print bedding.

IS BEKO LOOKING FOR YOU?

Beko is hiring a part-time merchandiser in the Long Island and NY Metro areas. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to learn sales and get a start in the industry. This position is part-time with the intent to become a full-time Area Sales manager. For more information, contact Emily Buehrle at Beko. emily.buehrle@beko.com. 630-200-0408. 

BEKO’S HARVESTFRESH FRIDGE NAMED DESIGNBITES’ “BRAND WITH THE BIGGEST BITE” WINNER

Beko is the NKBA’s 2023 DesignBites “Brand with the Biggest Bite” winner for its HarvestFresh refrigerator technology. This “speed dating for brands” initiative showcases the latest innovations and coolest designs for the kitchen and bath marketplace. Ten brands, including one “wild card” brand from NKBA’s pre-show product preview series, vie for the title of Brand with the Biggest Bite, and real-time audience voting determines the People’s Pick. Read the full story in Connected Design.

HARVESTfresh™ Inspired by Nature, Powered by Light. Beko new refrigeration technology, HarvestFresh", preserves vitamins in fruits and vegetables for longer in a unique crisper drawer. HarvestFresh 3-color technology simulates the 24-hour daily sun cycle as it rises (blue) reaches peak (green), and sets into nighttime (red). This preserves vitamins in fruits and vegetables for longer* so you can enjoy a healthier lifestyle with more nutritious meals than ever with precise humidity and temperature controls. Your produce will remain fresh for up to 30 days.**

RIVERSO TWO-WAY DRAWER SLIDE FROM HÄFELE

Meet the Riverso Two-Way Drawer Slide from Häfele—a “Best of KBIS 2023” nominee. With

this dynamic, full-extension, synchronized two-way drawer slide, users get complete opening access from both sides of an island, peninsula, room divider, or other stand-alone cabinetry unit.



That means the drawer, and all items stored inside, are easily accessible from two sides or areas of a room—saving time and increasing efficiency for all.

Riverso also features integrated soft close and offers a weight capacity of 88 lbs. It’s available in three slide lengths and can be paired with Tipmatic push-to-open hardware on one side, allowing the drawer to be opened without a handle. It’s ideal for kitchen and closet islands, shop counters, healthcare storage, room dividers, and more.

MIELE TO OPEN NEW PRODUCTION PLANT IN THE U.S.

We at Miele are continuing to expand our production capacities around the world and are currently looking for a site in the U.S. As the eighth production site outside Germany, the new plant will initially manufacture ovens and range cookers for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Production is scheduled to start at the end of 2024, with 150 employees by the end of 2025.

We here at Miele USA are excited and honored that the U.S. has been selected for this expansion. We are eager for the opportunity to be responsible for producing and distributing our German-engineered and crafted appliances here for the North American market. This new facility will greatly benefit our customers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. A decision on the exact location in the U.S. will be made over the coming months. So, stay tuned!

LAUNDRY ROOM LOVE WITH PLATO WOODWORK

We seem to spend more time in our laundry rooms than we’d prefer, so we might as well make it a space we enjoy! Whether your design taste is ultra contemporary, traditional or mountain modern, Plato Woodwork has the perfect product for you to make the most organized, beautiful space. Here’s to making chores a little more enjoyable! For more information, or to locate a dealer, contact Linda Fitzpatrick, Linda@Legendsalesgroup.com

ENTER THE SUB-ZERO KITCHEN DESIGN CONTEST

The Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) 2022-2023 is LIVE and ready for your submissions! Enter for your chance to gain recognition, build your business, and elevate your career. In this blind contest, judges evaluate all qualifying entries based on best functional and aesthetic use of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and overall kitchen design. Deadline forentries is January 31, 2024. See all contest rules and start your entry TODAY!