The association’s March theme is focused on outdoor living, as part of the webinar series that enhances members’ expertise and allows them to strive toward and maintain certification.

By Dianne M. Pogoda

 

The NKBA Professional Development Team continues to offer its free webinar series for members and nonmembers. Each month, NKBA offers three 60-minute webinars, each of which features a presentation by an expert in the specific subject matter, delivered via a virtual platform. The free sessions offer the attending participants 0.1 CEU per event.

The sessions are organized by theme, with two webinars offered at 12 noon (Eastern time) and one at 3 p.m. (Eastern time) to conveniently accommodate West Coast attendees. Participants must engage in 80 percent of the sessions to receive CEU credit.

March’s theme is all about outdoor spaces, including kitchens, which are growing exponentially in popularity. These three webinars are free of charge.

First up, on March 15 at noon (ET), is “Feng Shui for Your Outdoor Room Design,” taught by DeAnna Radaj, owner of DeAnna on Design/Design LEAN. In this new class, learn how to implement Feng Shui and its nine Life Areas into outdoor room designs to make maximum impact and increase energy, or “chi,” into the client’s space.

Attendees will learn to utilize color, shape, the furniture space plan and Mother Nature herself to create an ideal space for entertaining, relaxing or increasing a home’s square footage. Implementing principles of this 5,000-year-old philosophy can increase beauty and home value for clients.

After the session, attendees will be able to explain some introductory Feng Shui history, terms and applications; determine how to increase energy (chi) into the space, and describe how Feng Shui can positively impact a space by properly placing an outdoor kitchen (fire) or an outdoor shower (water) for maximum impact.

On March 20 at noon (ET), award-winning designer Kerrie Kelly of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab will present “Design It! Connecting the Interior Aesthetic to the Outdoors.”

Kelly, an award-winning interior designer, author, member of the NKBA and ASID and a representative and speaker for Livable Design Initiatives, will discuss how to integrate the softer side of outdoor design. Touch points include how to properly fold design elements into outdoor living areas such as rugs, lighting, furniture and accents to elevate the look and feel of the outdoor entertainment, lounge, dining and intimate seating areas. Attendees will also learn how to determine which design elements work for a variety of outdoor areas and why, and establish a comfort level to discuss outdoor design spaces with clients.

Finally, “Outdoor Kitchens: Making Them Beautiful and Functional” will be taught by Devin Turner, vice president of sales for Lynx Grills Inc., on March 22 at 3 p.m. (ET). Turner will illustrate the evolution of the outdoor space from a grill on the patio a decade age to engaging spaces for entertaining and creating memorable culinary experiences for guests. This means bigger, more elaborate outdoor spaces. In this webinar, designers will learn how to guide clients from plan to purchase for their outdoor kitchen project; develop the correct questions to ask about the client’s home, lifestyle and motivation for building a new outdoor space, and how to apply the concepts learned and specify the correct equipment for projects.

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For the remainder of the year, April features tile and stone webinars, such as choices based on application, location and maintenance; in May, lighting experts will discuss different technologies and choices for task and area lighting, while June’s sessions will explore the use of color in design schemes and its effect on mood and environment.

In July, catch up on the latest ideas for incorporating and maximizing storage when planning cabinetry; August features sessions for designers to raise their game in construction and building. September will cover all aspects of Universal Design, a topic that is of particular interest to professionals aiming to satisfy the needs of homeowners regardless of physical abilities, and those wishing to remodel their present homes so they may age in place.

As part of NKBA’s National Kitchen and Bath Month, the featured webinars for October will be focused on gearing up for remodeling season. With many homeowners getting ready for the holidays, webinars will include specific aspects of kitchen and bath renovation. November will explore sustainability in design, with particular attention to the environmental impact of design, installation of particular systems in the home, as well as processes involved in manufacturing various products. December’s sessions will discuss decorative plumbing and hardware, reflecting trends for both bath and kitchen.

NKBA encourages designers and other pros to take advantage of these opportunities to enhance their expertise, which can be passed on to their clients. It’s convenient, since the webinars are all online and offered at different times. For more information, click on www.nkba.org.