I had kicked off the new decade by attending the premier Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas as one of the fifteen 2020 DesignHound Influencers. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to view the trade show through a different lens by experiencing private tours, discovering new brands, and learning about recently launched products. Through this experience, I was introduced to two European brands which I am excited to share more about in this post.

It is to no surprise that Europeans have inspired American interiors, architecture, fashion, and even our cars in some way. European brands have emerged into the US market in many different categories, but what makes European brands different than American brands? Keep reading to find out!

principles of design: FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION

While European products are on the pulse of design trends, it goes beyond aesthetics in which that form always follows function. Every product is well-thought and fully realized from the function to the finest details.

One brand that is making an impression in the industry is Nobilia, a German company which manufactures high-quality modern cabinetry designs at an affordable price point. Nobilia is emerging into the American market and has increased demand worldwide.

Nobilia approaches cabinetry design with the outlook that it is “kitchen furniture”. What that means is that their cabinets are on adjustable feet to level cabinetry and installers never have to use a box of wood shims ever again — finally. With Nobilia cabinetry and countertops, you also have the ability to take your kitchens with you to your next home when you move, as you would with your other household items and furniture.

Nobilia excels at customization and attention to detail with innovations to cabinet design and ergonomic details which include varying heights for comfort, optimized storage solutions, LED interior and undermount lighting, and motorized cabinet hinge mechanisms which are activated by a tap of a button (ON LEFT: Watch the video of me testing the cabinet mechanism).

In addition to Nobilia, another company that focuses on form is Compac: The Surfaces Company. Compac is the leading surfaces company in Spain known for its high-quality materials and production of marble and quartz.

What sets Compac apart from other surface companies is their designs and collaborations with artists. If you have been following the DesignHounds on social media, than you may have seen the infamous tub photo that we were raving about. With something that beautiful, how could you not share it? The tub was designed in collaboration with artist, Arik Levy. What makes this tub unique is that it was carved from a solid mass where 84% of the stone was removed revealing a beautiful sculptural tub that resembles the movement of water if it were to overflow the tub.

Both Nobilia and Compac not only focus on the principles of great design which is that form follows function, as well as sustainability and manufacturing with ecosystem in mind.

ECO-FOCUSED MANUFACTURING + SUSTAINABILITY

Compac was Founded in 1975, as the first Spanish company specializing in the manufacture and distribution of marble and quartz surfaces. Compac has been pioneering in sustainability for decades and learned how to grow their company and deliver high-quality materials, innovative designs, while making eco-conscious decisions and sustainable solutions.

Compac was awarded the “Best in Sustainability” at KBIS 2020 which recognized their launch of surfaces composed of recycled materials, use of renewable energies in production and manufacturing of its materials, recycling the water used in the process, and manufacturing designs with organic biodegradable plant-based resins.

Yes, you read that correctly — surfaces made with plant-based resins which have a higher heat-resistance than standard poly resins that are often found in man-made surfaces.

The sustainable trajectory of Compac has lead them to develop eco-friendly solutions in their manufacturing process as well as ways to offset CO2 emissions resulting in reforesting over 30,000+ native trees. Compac also has systems in place to collect and store rainwater for use in its manufacturing process, in addition to reusing 95 percent of the water used during production — outstanding!

In regards to cabinetry manufacturing, Nobilia’s factory produces over 3,000 complete and assembled kitchens every day! Nobila is Europe’s largest kitchen manufacturer and has been distributing cabinets for more than 70 years.

While Nobilia produces thousands of full kitchens daily, they value sustainability and have achieved countless environmental certifications.

Nobilia’s dedication to the environment is demonstrated by only sourcing wood that is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources. For every tree that is felled, a new tree is planted and the habitats of indigenous plants and animals is maintained. Because of this, Nobilia has received the quality seal from the world’s largest forest protection organization, PEFC, for their sustainable forest management efforts. Nobilia is the world’s first kitchen manufacturer to receive this endorsement.

Nobilia has also been awarded the “Golden M” which is recognized both, nationally and internationally, as one of the most important certificates of quality awarded according to the absolute strictest criteria. This award ensures consumers that the products are first-class quality, tested for safety, well-crafted, environmentally friendly, and do not contain any substances that are hazardous to health.

As stated on Nobilia’s website, “From receipt of goods to production and to delivery – Nobilia has installed a sophisticated control system for all process steps, to guarantee the high quality of every single kitchen. In addition to the testing stations, up to 21 complete fitted kitchens are put through the paces of a quality audit every day. Quality, environment and energy have been core to our company philosophy since our very beginning. Every single Nobilia kitchen meets the stringent international quality, environment and energy guidelines.”

As a designer, I am excited to be exposed to brands like Compac and Nobilia which blend fashion-forward design and quality with forward-thinking environmental solutions. It means that I am able to create beautiful designs for client’s with products and materials that are safe for their household and our environment.

If you would like to know more about Compac surfaces or Nobilia, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me or comment below with any questions that you may have.