As featured in kbbcollective.com
Today (Saturday) has been a very strange day. Many of the show attendees, as well as exhibitors, realize now that they will not be able to go home as planned. Most of Europe is “blocked,” as volcanic ash from Iceland has shut down airports everywhere until further notice.
Nevertheless, the show must go on. Today, the collection of stands I visited included Pedini and Alno, two brands that are well-established in the U. S.; Mobalpa and Torcetti, which are less known in the American market; and two smaller unknown companies on these shores: Kvanum and L’Ottocento.
One of Germany’s better known brands, Alno, along with Wellmann and a handful of other “sister companies,” is part of the Alno Group, which is one of the largest kitchen manufacturers in the world. Nevertheless, the rumor on the show floor was that, like a few other major kitchen players, the company has been experiencing some financial difficulties lately. The recent pull-out of Alno USA from the American market may have been an early sign.
Regardless, Alno still had a very generous-sized stand at Eurocucina this year, which offered one very unusual display: a kitchen shaped like a boat! Let’s hope its boat stays afloat…
By comparison, Pedini is a much smaller company that has grown despite the global recession. Its stand was double the size of that in 2008, and the company has just completed construction on a new factory that will significantly increase its production capacity. It has also added new showrooms around the world, as well as two in the U.S.-one in New York and one in Los Angeles.
In addition to displaying popular models, which have been expanded with new options, colors and finishes,
the stand showed Magika (below), a new budget-driven model.
Torchetti and Mobalpa are two brands that do not exist in the United States (as far as I know), but I wanted to share them with you because both exhibited some unique ideas: Torchetti’s striking design island
and Mobalpa’s concept kitchen, which consisted of an induction cooktop built into a Corian top.
L’Ottocento is a small Italian company that produces more traditional-style kitchens, which I feel, would appeal to American designers both in aesthetics and design ideas.
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Kvanum has been the only Swedish manufacturer to ever show at Eurocucina, according to the company. And interestingly enough, it actually has a small showroom in San Francisco. Do its designs look familiar?
Hey KitchenGuy, great pics. What did you think of the Pedini Magika line? I talked with a Pedini rep here in the States today and he said they haven’t even sent out price lists yet. He was talking it up as being a great line for the price. What are your thoughts based on what you saw at the show?
Andrew
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The Magika line is simply great – Pedini did it again – the best bang for the buck anywhere!
kitchenguy
I in Eurocucine 2010 in Milano and I thinf that It is the best in de world
Fantastic! My dealer received the price list last week and we’re pricing everything out with Magika. Thank you for all the help. This site has been very helpful. If you send me an email I’ll send you pictures when it is done.
Hey Guy Great!!!!!
These are nice kitchen design i like this all….
Mobalpa has a great success in foreing markets and it’s french design should be present in the Us market.
Pingback: european-kitchen-design.com » Pedini - Moving Pictures.
Hey KitchenGuy – excellent blog! I just found (and bookmarked) this site. As a designer, I love stuff like this – cutting edge design, whatever the subject matter! just wanted to say Hi. Thanks, Sue.
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Thanks, Sue.
kitchenguy
Hi,
I’ve had the pleasure of attending the Eurocucina show two years ago and it a real treat for kitchen lovers. It’s quite overwhelming when you go in first but then you just get lost in it all. It’s amazing.
How about Kvanum? I’ve actually never heard about them but I will be keeping an eye on them from now on. Fabulous stuff from them.
By the way, love the blog. I have a kitchen website here in Ireland and I love looking around other sites for inspiration and news. Keep up the good work! Colin.
I think the Mobalpa kitchen is fabulous. The island unit is so simple yet so effective, especially with the slanted ends and breakfast bar.
Wow! The kitchen designs are very elegant and classic looking. I dream of having one someday. Though, it looks quite expensive.. I know it will be a good investment. 😉
I really liked what i saw and especially the L’Ottocento kitchen sink. It looks marvelous. Thanks for sharing to those not able to attend!
ALNO AG has NOT pulled out of the US market. Please get your facts straight before printing misinformation.
The distribution group in Boston failed. The US dealers are still working with AlnoAG and importing kitchens and doing well.
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Dear Fred,
I did not say that Alno AG pulled out of the US market but rather Alno USA, which was the group in Boston… My facts are streight!
Also, since you got me going on this subject, if the Alno dealers are doing so well, how come just about every one of them took on another line…?
Good luck!
kitchenguy
Taking on another line does not mean that your doing poorly does it?? What it means is that you would like to add to the line you have and offer other door styles which you the company you represent may not carry at this time. The same reason that most euro showrooms also show traditional doors from other companies. SieMatic developed the BeauArts line for this very reason.
this is a wonderful post
Thanks.
hey kichens guy.excellent blog.wow.