Makers of Housewares Ready to Put a Lot of Color Into Kitchens

It was cold and gray outside Chicago's McCormick Place convention center last week. But you wouldn't know it from all the color inside.

This year's International Housewares Show was a cacophony of color, as manufacturers seem to have decided that brighter and bolder shades are the way to attract consumers in a recessionary year.

KitchenAid introduced a new shade of green, pear, which is available throughout the product line, including mixers, food processors and blenders.

Adding to its classic black products, Oxo introduced silicon spatulas in spring-bright colors.

Prepara introduced its line of chef's tools against a white backdrop. The orange and black one-handed garlic crushers (which don't require you to peel the cloves) popped out against the display. The green trim of the Power Plant hydroponic garden matched the lush foliage that spilled out over the top.

Over at Zak Designs, polycarbonate and melamine dishware and nesting bowls in bright colors, including orange, green and sky blue, were on display. The company also showcased a speckled line called Confetti, made out of recycled materials.

At the show, green wasn't just a color but a hot design trend, too. Manufacturers tried to do everything they could to show that they're eco-friendly.

Lisa Casey Weiss, a spokeswoman for the International Housewares Association, which manages the show, said she has seen a dramatic increase in the number of products that feature recycled materials, are multi-functional and use renewable resources.

For example, bamboo has taken center stage for many manufacturers. A renewable resource, it turned up on cutting boards and on the handles of kitchen utensils.

Outset, which owns the charcoal company Kingsford, introduced the Verde series, a line of barbecue tools made from sustainable materials, including the packaging. The stainless steel is recycled and the bamboo in the handles is farm-raised. The set includes a spatula, locking tongs, fork and grill brush.

Hamilton Beach redesigned its blender so that the glass bowl fits upside down over the base. That allows the company to save about 20 percent on the packaging materials, spokesman Steve Cummings said.

In addition, the company is redirecting 1.5 million pounds of scrap per year to a "handicapped-staffed recycling center with a zero landfill policy."