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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 | 37 Kitchens P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y G R A SS C A N A DA ; H Ä F EL E C A N A DA To maintain the popular sleek look, and maxi- mize space in downsized footprints, Grass Canada products offer thinner profiles in both cabinets and drawers, with soft close mechanics high on the list of must-haves. "While some builders still install regular cabinets, it costs more to bring those prod- ucts in because they are no longer the standard. Soft close is," he adds. Pavlov also notes that having quality hardware pays off in the long run, avoiding costly replace- ments of failed units. "This is a topic I often discuss with manufacturers in that the overall cost of having someone replace a $3 hinge far exceeds the decision to install better quality hardware the first time." With a wide range of drawers, slides, hinges, flaps, and interior accessories, Grass Canada can outfit any kitchen with top-of-the-line products that create the success behind the grand designs. The Revego system from Blum addresses the trend where more people are combining their kitchen, dining, living, and working areas into one contemporary open-plan space. With increasing urbanisation and more densely populated metropol- itan areas, living spaces of the future are also likely to be smaller. "The pocket systems from Blum open up brand-new opportunities," says Lucy Traetto, mar- keting representative. "The ability to quickly open up complete living areas when you need them, and simply close them off again, helps to create a homely atmosphere. This brings completely new design pos- sibilities for rooms, both big and small." The kitchen workspace, home office, or laundry room is now easily accessible. To close off the space, the user simply presses the door to release it from the pocket and then presses it again to elegantly con- ceal the entire area. When they are closed, the fully opening doors conceal the furniture units, includ- ing their pockets, making Revego the ideal solution for the multifunctional use of space. Traetto notes the smart fixed-width cabinet solution can also be easily incorporated into plans featuring standard cabinets: pocket widths are 100 millimetres (mm) for the single door Revego uno and 150 mm for the double door Revego duo. "When it comes to design, the solution offers plenty of room for manoeuvre," she says. "The single doors can be 450- to 900-mm wide, and the double doors can be 450- to 750-mm wide, as well as 1,800- to 2,500-mm high. The pocket systems can also be produced and pre-assembled by the manufacturer for delivery to the place of installation." FUNCTIONAL ACCESSORIES The team at Häfele often sees trends that start in Europe make their way to North America, especially in the kitchen. With innovative kitchen customiza- tions like lighting systems that enhance ambiance and usability, as well as cabinetry storage solutions that are just as functional as they are beautiful. Answering the call for elevated aesthetics in beautiful kitchen spaces, the Vauth-Sagel by Häfele line of kitchen accessories and modular systems are now available in Canada in a Walnut finish. From pull-out pantry systems, clever corner cabinet solu- tions, and integrated storage, these solutions make the spaces in our kitchen that are usually the most cluttered and dysfunctional, more chic and well- organized, all while maximizing the value of space. "Häfele is thrilled to introduce these products to our Canadian customers," says Victor Ayoub, direc- tor of marketing, Häfele Canada. "We continuously seek to innovate and provide customizable solutions and empower our customers to personalize their spaces according to their unique design preferences and functional needs. Our products are crafted to facilitate this customization to ensure every space reflects the lifestyle of the end-user." Häfele's fifth generation Loox Lighting systems further enhance kitchen spaces by delineating areas, creating ambiance, and adding purposeful lighting for kitchen use. "There is also the custom- ization element of Loox Lighting, as it allows users to adjust brightness, colour, and placement to perfectly suit their design vision and functionality needs." OUTDOOR LIVING Richelieu offers products to create a fully functional outdoor kitchen, with stainless steel hardware and weatherproof, polymer panels and kitchen accessories. "Enjoying the outdoor living trend means people are looking for ways to expand their patios and decks, creating extended living spaces," says Thelma Vigil, project, digital strategy and social media manager. "Remodellers, architects, and designers have many ways to expand clients' outdoor lifestyle creating everything from a simple barbecue kitchen island to a fully functional outdoor kitchen area." With a variety of self-closing hinges, full exten- sion ball bearing slides, folding brackets, and hooks, screws, and decorative hardware that will not rust, Richelieu offers everything needed to build the per- fect outdoor kitchen. "Complementary products such as cabinet levellers are handy for adjusting cabinet heights for drainage and providing more structure and stability," says Vigil. "Polymer kitchen accessories allow you to organize space and maxi- mize storage according to each project's needs. Not only are they cut to size to fit all types of drawers, but they are also sturdy and have a long-life span." SUPERIOR SUBSTR ATES Having quality substrates for kitchen tile instal- lation is critical for a professional finish. "Schluter-Ditra and Ditra -XL are specifically designed for ceramic and stone tile installations," says Tod Valickis, global product manager, Schluter Systems (Canada) Inc. "These products provide uncoupling to prevent cracked tile and grout." He explains that as they are made of polyethyl- ene, Ditra and Ditra -XL serve as a waterproofing layer that protects moisture-sensitive substrates, such as plywood/OSB. "Free-space on the underside of the matting provides a route for excess mois- ture and vapour to prevent damage to the tile layer above. Ditra and Ditra -XL perform all these func- tions, while still providing adequate support/load distribution for the tile covering." Additionally, Schluter-Deco-SG is a decorative profile featuring a ½-inch 9⁄16-inch-wide channel that provides a shadow gap between tile courses or other wall covering. "The profile may also be used as a support channel for glass walls. The ½-inch-wide channel accommodates glass walls up to a thickness of 3⁄8-inch, and the 9⁄16-inch-wide channel accommo- dates glass walls up to a thickness of ½-inch. A Soft-close Vionaro drawer system. Loox Lighting system.

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