BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (April 27, 2009) – National Kitchen & Bath Association Hall of Fame Designer, Fu-Tung Cheng, has designed a kitchen for inspiration to designers during the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show 2009. On display at the Jenn-Air brand booth, the sleek, contemporary kitchen features a Jenn-Air brand appliance suite in the unique Oiled Bronze finish, one of Cheng’s famous customized concrete countertops, a fabric-formed concrete wiffle wall, as well as Elements, Cheng’s new cabinet line by Tonusa. “Jenn-Air brand’s clean, polished Oiled Bronze finish is a beautiful fit for this kitchen’s style and the expressive use of concrete. The timeless association of bronze and sculpture is iconic in our collective minds; however, I love the idea that in this Jenn-Air kitchen the association is turned on it’s head – the sculpture here is concrete, while the machined appliances are bronzed – the style, nonetheless, is quality,” said Fu-Tung Cheng. “I wanted this design to push the edges without approaching extremes, contrast the spectrum of materials, natural and man-made, from Manzanita to Plyboo, and temper the bronzed machines with sculpted earth.” Jenn-Air brand Oiled Bronze combines the traditionalism of bronze sculpture with the polished look of stainless steel accents to create a richly hued finish for kitchen appliances. This exclusive process achieves the warm oiled bronze appearance by incorporating multiple layers of copper and bronze highlights. The result is a look that incorporates well in contemporary, as well as traditional kitchens. Fu-Tung Cheng, designer, best-selling author, and speaker is internationally known for his sophisticated design and innovative use of materials in the home. He is one of today’s top experts on residential, commercial and product design and speaks to trade and consumer audiences on the importance of timeless design, balancing luxury and conscience, and how craftsmanship informs design. He brings to audiences a practitioner’s view to creating green, timeless design. Cheng heads three companies in Berkeley, Calif.: Cheng Design, Cheng Products and Cheng Concrete. He designs exclusive branded product lines for manufacturers such as Zephyr, Elkay, and Tonusa as well as his own kitchen hoods and Geocrete(TM) brand of concrete products. The Geocrete(TM) product line includes countertops, kitchen islands, fireplaces, water features and commissioned concrete pieces. His architectural design work ranges from full-scale homes and kitchen and bath renovations to hospitality, commercial and retail store design. About Whirlpool Corporation Whirlpool Corporation works to exceed client expectations with appliances that help design professionals create homes of distinction. The company’s The Inside Advantage(TM) Program offers Powerful Brands, Innovative Products, Targeted Services and Consumer Insight to support building and design professionals. Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $19 billion, more than 70,000 employees and 68 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. For more information on Whirlpool Corporation and its offerings for building and design professionals, visit insideadvantage.com or call 800-253-3977.
