Hosted yearly by The International Housewares Association, The Inspired Home Show is the pivotal event of the housewares industry.
The Inspired Home Show (IHS) is held in Chicago every March in the cavernous and elegant McCormick Place convention center. For this year’s show, held March 2-4, I traveled from New Hampshire and was joined by one of our editorial scouts, Betsy Bacon, who had come from Pennsylvania. Hosted by The International Housewares Association, The Inspired Home Show is the pivotal event of the housewares industry. Betsy and I were eager to see what’s new from our favorite brands, and learn what great new companies and products are entering the marketplace.
On the first morning of the show we met with Lynne Woulfe, the PR Coordinator for the International Housewares Association (IHA), who oversaw a room dedicated to a sampling of new products. Her enthusiasm for the products was so infectious we coveted nearly everything we saw, from a set of reusable silicone liners for stand mixing bowls, to a gorgeous enameled cast iron bread oven.
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}The biggest trend: Making things easier in the kitchen.
There was so much to love at the show, and what caught our attention were products that were both functional and fun to use. Picnic Time aprons have hooks, rings, lots of deep pockets, and even a magnet embedded in the fabric to hold a small tool like a beer opener. An ingenious funnel by Olipac allows refilling of a bottle that automatically stops when the vessel is full – no more overflowing olive oil containers! Cospro electric pepper and salt mills recharge on a pad that can also be used to recharge mobile phones and other devices. And DMT offers a compact countertop knife sharpener that can adjusted in a single motion to sharpen nearly any style and edge of blade.
Party fun for adults and kids.
A Jelly Shots mold can be used for any gelatin-based treat, with or without alcohol in it. What’s so clever about this mold is that it provides an easy way to lift the shots after they are chilled. For the littlest littles, Zoku makes small round molds for ice pops that are easy to eat without a sticky mess.
For children of any age and adults with a sense of whimsy, Sophistiplate has the most charming paper place settings you can imagine, including plastic cutlery, that will make you want to plan an elegant dress-up luncheon for your preteen or a spring brunch for your book group. Seasonal themes add to the fun.
With an iSi whipped cream dispenser, you can add gorgeous toppings and garnishes to sweet or savory foods, and concoct a fancy cocktail or mocktail out of a few simple ingredients.
Bread. Because you can never have too much sourdough.
No one is tired of baking bread yet, and why would they be when there are new products that make it so easy? The Tramontina bread oven is enameled cast iron with a shallow base and high domed cloche to ensure a crusty loaf every time. Sourhouse makes jars for sourdough starter, and a DoughBed with a warming mat for proofing dough. Nordic Ware has just introduced a Simply Sourdough Complete Bread Baking Kit, and their bread pans include designs for braided loaves and sourdough bundt loaves.
Materials both beautiful and practical.
Stainless steel bowls, imported by dmw, treated with a scratch-and-flake-resistant coating process called PVD, will have a luminous gold shimmer that can last for many years.
Resin, made in many colors, can be used as serving ware for cold
foods only. It can have a strong resemblence to carved stone, and makes attractive cake stands, salad bowls, and platters. Widgeteer had a variety of shapes and sizes.
Fante’s
Seeing the brand name of an iconic family-owned kitchen shop from the Italian Market in Philadelphia, on a full line of products, was an exciting discovery for those of us who have shopped at the trusted original brick and mortar shop for decades.
Not forgetting furry friends…
If your loved ones include a furry pal, it’s always fun to discover something that will bring pleasure to their life and yours. Like most cats, my furry friend Henri likes to snuggle in a warm cushioned space. The kitty in the Mon Chateau bed shown below is a lifesize pillow, but shows what a sweet space it would make for a feline or small doggie.
Betsy, who has a pup at home, fell in love with the leash from Dexas that has a detachable ball so you’re never without one. It also comes with a collapsible cup (not pictured) that attaches to the leash, so your furry one can have a drink during all that play.
After playtime in the park, a bath may be needed. A lush highly-absorbent towel from Farberware with built-in mitts will make bathtime a lot less messy, catching that water before it gets enthusiastically shaken all over the bathroom – and you.
What’s new in small appliances.
Consumers are thinking in terms of what is practical, economical, and versatile, and small appliances reflect that. Nuwave’s small toaster oven is also an airfryer. The Nuwave countertop induction burner comes in several styles, and is highly portable. Its two-burner model is ideal for a small space, or as a complement to a large one.
And your next large(ish) appliance…
Kimchi Mama will make its debut in the USA in June. Designed for fermenting kimchi and storing it virtually indefinitely in its temperature-controlled compartments, it can be used for fermenting of all kinds, not just kimchi. Its adjustable temperatures can be set for wine storage, for use as a standard refrigerator, or for use as a freezer. In Korea, some families have several. We can understand why. 
