Italians love to eat, so it should come as no surprise that they are also passionate about their kitchens. Italian architect and designer Antonio Cittero has made it his mission to bring warmth and professionalism to the kitchen, making it the social epicenter of the home.
FLORIDA FIND
Out-of-this-world furnishings in a one-stop shop From the unassuming exterior, you might not guess that Imoderni is a chic, loft-like showroom filled with home furnishings from eight Italian manufacturers specializing in luxury brands. In fact, Imoderni co-founder Neil Somerfield likens the experience of stepping through the door to an episode of the BBC series Doctor Who.
South Florida businessman Dave Weinberg is delighted to be revving up interest in the flush -- as in bathroom plumbing. Weinberg is enthusiastic about a fresh product that he says provides significant water savings without the expense and hassles of installing a whole new dual-flush toilet. Dual-flush toilets are in vogue as eco-friendly fixtures that waste less water. Users select either a full-volume flush -- when necessary -- or partial-volume flush, which is sufficient in most situations.
If you haven't seen the light after visiting Ashley Hennings' store in Pinecrest, chances are you never will. At Light Bulbs Unlimited on South Dixie Highway and 124th Street, Hennings runs a light bulb emporium with thousands of bulbs of every conceivable shape, size, color, wattage and use.
Visitors to the European Art Gallery are encouraged to touch the art. Three-dimensional works by artist Irmaly Brackin combine layers of resin, enamel, glass and metallic acrylics, framed in glass beads and marbles. The granddaughter of the famous German expressionist painter Hans Grohs, Brackin creates art that is sophisticated and full of texture and depth.
Combining exotic woods with metal can be tricky, but Verna Design International in Doral approaches the task with talent, craftsmanship and decades of experience.
Two South Florida women have created a virtual Little Green House -- an online business selling eco-friendly products for activities ranging from walking the dog to remodeling the kitchen.
Debbie Kavanaugh makes it her business to find out what's going on in other people's backyards. She's owner/manager of Backyards by Design, a South Dade store that sells outdoor furniture and accessories with a personal twist.
Customers navigating to Robbie Bell's home pottery studio in Fort Lauderdale need only look for the black-and-white speckled cocker spaniels lolling in the driveway to know they have arrived.
Wohen Julie Galvin Weilbacher teaches a class in mosaic art, she throws the materials in a pile on a table and lets the students choose what they want.
With plenty of outdoorsy people, the Sunshine State is a perfect place to sell decorative shade structures with an exotic tropical flair.
Steven Mellini sells ''furniture for the bath.'' His contemporary vanities are designed in Italy under the brand name Priele, crafted in hardwoods in Thailand, and topped with tempered glass sinks from Germany.
Most curious shoppers who wander into Ikenga in Fort Lauderdale to check out the unique African art collection marvel at the craftsmanship and historical significance of the pieces.
Imagine a ''rug'' that never needs to be sent out for cleaning. Or walls that will never require paint. Stairs that will never need resurfacing.
Artist Joe Orsini lives in a dollhouse-like wooden home in the heart of Coconut Grove. The interior could be his business card: the trunk that serves as a coffee table once belonged to his girlfriend's family and was hand-painted by the artist and turned into a one-of-a-kind piece, three hand-painted panels behind the sofa create the illusion of a big city backdrop, and many of his paintings adorn the walls. The result is a warm, colorful and cozy living room.
SHOPPING
Mauricio Gomez enrolled in Florida International University's school of hospitality and tourism management to be groomed for his family's hotel business in Colombia. But, as they say, a funny thing happened on the way to the Marriott.
If you're an animal lover, Woody Neilsen's Pet Gallery is going to draw you in when you look in the window and spot a $1,400 fur piano that's a feline scratching post and plays Memories from the Broadway musical Cats.
Ricki Kaneti discovered a new kind of massage while being treated for a back ailment at her chiropractor's office. It's a device called the SpaCapsule.
