Although a self-described “modernist at heart,” John Gidding, star of HGTV’s Curb Appeal: The Block,
likes to take an organic approach to his design work. Not only does he
enjoy creating spaces with “curvilinear lines and anthropomorphic
shapes that mimic the bodies moving around them,” but this
Ivy-League-educated architect also confesses a fondness for natural
materials, such as wood and stone. In kitchens and bathrooms, these
materials perfectly complement “beautiful austere steel fixtures and
accessories,” and he tries to incorporate them when- and wherever
possible.
Being a modernist, however, Gidding favors a streamlined aesthetic in his kitchen designs,
which “should be almost clinically clean—both literally and with regard
to the lines the eye follows.” Similarly, he tends to choose kitchen
products that “have taken their function to the highest level
possible,” so “there is very little superfluous ornamentation or
decoration, which is the look I love in a kitchen.” One such product is
Gaggenau’s
BS 270/271 Combination Steam and Convection Oven (below), which Gidding
owns and loves for its “aluminum details and crisp knobs,” as well as
its ability to plumb directly to a water source. The oven also allows
Gidding to set the humidity level during cooking, which in turn enables
him “to conjure up some of the most delicious meals I’ve ever had the
pleasure of serving.”
Nespresso’s
Le Cube coffee maker (below) gets his nod for being a “study in design
perfection.” Available in arctic white, aluminum, titanium and red, the
stylishly compact unit not only boasts fuss-free good looks, but also
makes a mean cup of coffee, which is why many of Gidding’s clients have
received it as a parting gift.
Of course, what’s a kitchen without cabinetry? Although Gidding is a fan of Poggenpohl and SieMatic,
his “newest love” is Italy’s SCIC and, in particular, its System 30
collection (below). A versatile line, it’s equally at home in both
large and small kitchens, as it can be hidden behind a set of
“seamlessly sliding doors,” he said. “Most importantly, you can get the
doors in silver or 24k plated gold.”
While Gidding’s kitchens may incline toward the industrial, his bathrooms
are another story. Here, whimsy and character combine to create
personalized spaces that heighten the bathing and cleansing experience
for his clients—a strategy reflected in his favorite products. Topping
his list is Il Bagno Alessi, which was designed by Stefano Giovannoni
for Laufen
(below) and whose sensuous forms “were a real eye-opener to the
industry” when the line was first introduced. As Gidding noted, “The
repressed shame we have in Western society for the functions of a
toilet had translated for too long into wallflower designs for toilets
that are inconspicuous and reserved.”
Another favorite is Droog’s
Heat Wave radiator (below), which reinterprets what is typically a
strictly functional product as a decorative element. “I love putting
radiators in bathrooms,” Gidding said. “People put towels on them and
for the right space, they can be incredibly evocative.”
