While in New York for BlogtourNYC, I was lucky enough to be invited to Poggenpohl's showroom to discover the hottest new kitchen trends and products. A visit accompanied by an extremely tasty brunch, with the most amazing strawberry smoothie I have ever tasted. Now before I get distracted by thoughts of NYC food delights, let me tell you about my favourite top news from three of the biggest names in kitchen design.

Poggenpohl have been beautifully designing kitchens for 120 years, and so I think we can safely say that they know what they're doing. They are famous for constantly reinterpreting current trends, and mixing them with a quality that ensures long lasting beauty. Their new range of finishes includes some gorgeous wood effects, and my personal favourite, +ARTESIO, in a white glass finish, as seen in the New York showroom. The ultimate in kitchen luxury don't you think? This would be wonderful accompanied by previously blogged Miele white glass units.

Photo credit: Poggenpohl

Blanco:

Blanco is another company that has stood the test of time, having first appeared in 1925. Its one of those brand names that everybody recognises as linked with luxury. The newest product from Blanco is the SILGRANIT II sink, gorgeous in this very dark grey (Cinder). I love the matt finish, with angles that have probably been created by very clever engineers for ingenious reasons to do with water flow, but to most us, well they're just super pretty. There's something about this sink that just makes you want to touch it. See - even the nice Blanco lady can't help it.

Photo credit: Zoe Brewer

Silestone:

Its all about neutrals for worktops according to Lorenzo, Silestone's VP of Marketing, and they have plenty of choice in that department. What impressed me most is the fact that they use a separate machine in their factory for creating their white workshop, White Zeus Extreme, thus ensuring that it's untainted by any other colour and therefore is the brightest white worktop in the world. This is fantastic information to me. I can't tell you how many "white" worktop samples I have, and how many hours I have spent looking at them in different lights, trying to decide which the whitest. Thank you Lorenzo!

Photo credit: Silestone

With all these neutrals, around the lovely Silestone had kept something special to show me too. Although neutrals are the most popular choice, they DO also have a brights range, with a pink option called Magenta Energy. Ooh love them for that! While I wouldn't suggest a pink worktop to clients in most cases, there are times when it's right. When someone can carry it off. So here's a (not very big) secret... while my entire kitchen is (almost) white, I do have just a little island unit worktop of pink sparkle! The Silestone Magenta Energy featured in last month's Instyle magazine, so I'm clearly I'm not along in considering pink in the kitchen. Just a little bit.