Vlaze in the USA (KBIS 2022) – a new home from home
We’ve just landed back in the UK after spending a wonderful week in the US where we attended the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show 2022 in Orlando, Florida. It was exciting to debut Vlaze Adapt and we were genuinely overwhelmed by the positive response. Read on to hear about our wonderful adventure and why Vlaze has found a perfect new home.
Our unit featured on the Fire Magic booth – a leader in premium outdoor cooking, cooling and storage solutions who have been crafting products in the USA for 85 years. It was a real pleasure to work closely with a brand and team that so aligns with our own. Situated in the outdoor living section, we exhibited the vibrant Vlaze Adapt kitchen in Ochre which featured Fire Magic’s drop-in Legacy grill and stainless-steel fridge. Day 1 was super busy with the eye-catching unit getting much attention, not only due to its stunning Vlaze Ochre finish – a perfect match for the sunshine state – but also its clean, sleek lines and impeccable design.
NKBA Talk
On day 2 we were invited by the NKBA to give a talk on our kitchens, colour trends the benefits of porcelain (aka vitreous) enamel and Vlaze’s provenance.
VLAZE ADAPT kitchens are designed and made in Britain by our company A.J Wells & Sons. Drawing on 50 years of engineering expertise we are also the manufacturers of the iconic signage for the London Underground and the Paris Metro. The exceptional porcelain enamel surface of VLAZE is the same finish that is used on these signage and cladding products (although our units are a different colour!) It is a luxurious, durable finish that withstands all types of weather – designed to last and made to be beautiful.
Vlaze was established to focus on vitreous enamel for the living environment. Debuting enamel fireplace and heatshields for stove surrounds in collaboration with Charnwood. Vlaze has grown from strength to strength, undertaking various commissions for restaurants, hotels and residential projects with a range of designers and architects including Thomas Heatherwick, Tom Dixon, the Soho House Group and Yinka Ilori.
In 2020 the Vlaze Adapt range of indoor/outdoor modular kitchens was launched across the globe. Despite the challenging intervening two years, we remained determined to bring Vlaze Adapt to the US, and we were delighted to share it with you at KBIS 2022. Judging by the response it was well worth the wait!
Top 10 Design Hound pick
The cherry on top for this wonderful week was being recognised by the show’s famous ‘Design Hounds’. The Design Hounds are a group of renowned bloggers, influencers and interior designers that each rate their top ten products at the show. We were honoured to receive 3 accolades for our Ochre Adapt unit with Fire Magic Grills.
We would like to take this chance to thank Miya Interiors, JDuce Design and Amberleaf Inc for choosing us and for all your support. It was wonderful to meet you all!
So many highlights
Our trip incorporated so many highlights, including Miami Beach sunrises/sunsets, feeling the love at Noa Café, all the while being surrounded by wonderful architecture that gave us confidence Vlaze Adapt would be well received.
The trip also included a visit to the Design District in Miami visiting our friends at MONIOMI Design. MONIOMI have been revamping and transforming the ways we live, with beauty always at the forefront.
“…it is our purpose to live beautiful. This goes beyond any facade; it is the way something is built, used, and sensed coming together in that cohesive “aha-ness”. It is being immersed in beauty but seeking it at the same time and carrying it whilst doing it… “
We certainly echo those sentiments, and it was great to see where they work and to share ideas and stories.
We feel blessed to have had such a fantastic experience in the US with so many high points, none more so than the wonderful people we met along the way. Thank you to all who stopped by to visit our Vlaze Adapt outdoor kitchen – it was a pleasure to meet you! To the teams that made it all happen at KBIS and of course, Fire Magic Grills, thank you for your hospitality and good times. We’ll see you soon – such an exciting future ahead!