Design Details “The Bathroom
Turns High-tech” Nancy Barsotti
Just like flowers, design shows with new products pop-up all
over the country in the spring.
The Kitchen and Bath Show
in Chicago was full of the latest trends particularly in the bathroom category. The manufacturers are pushing larger and more
statement-making bathrooms as part of a home’s décor.
Vanity cabinets are increasingly like furniture and the new
look is wall mounted and “floating” cabinetry.
The manufacturers have finally “got-it” on cabinet interiors. Most have pullout drawers including soft
closures with night LED illumination, trash bins and storage compartments. Capuano’s
even had Bluetooth capability.
Although many manufacturers exhibited wood finishes as well
as laminates and many decorative door designs, there was no mistaking that
white is still the number one finish choice in bathrooms. But for those who like a pop of color, Kohler introduced four new colors by
Jonathan Adler – Piccadilly yellow, Greenwich green, Palermo blue and Annapolis
Navy. Personally I think baths and
powder rooms are a great way to use color and express your own style – whether
it’s white, neutral or colorful.
My favorite sink is Axor’s
“Bouroullec” which is comprised of a rectangular washbasin with soft,
rounded corners and integral smaller plateaus arranged around the sink at
varying heights. These can hold the
faucet, soap or other personal care items.
A freestanding bathtub, placed in the middle of a room (a
large one to be sure) is the luxury trend.
Companies like Lacava, Wetstyle and
Axor show them in very organic shapes and sizes. They definitely make a glamorous statement.
Kohler’s latest
twist is “VibrAcoustic” so that you
can play music, news and podcasts by plugging your phone, tablet or MP3 player
into the bath. If that isn’t enough of a
sensory experience, Rohl’s sleek
showerhead offers “chromotherapy” with ten “full emotion” color shades that
change gradually.
Even the old “medicine cabinet” can now house a mini television
screen so you can watch the morning news as you get ready for the day.
Showers keep getting larger too – accommodating built-in
seats, and more and more shower systems with multi-heads. All have automatic temperature and
flow-control settings to allow every user to have their own pre-set preferences
at the touch of a button.
One area of the shower that is getting some much-needed
attention is the shower floor. For years
I have tried to get contractors and builders to use barrier-free shower pans,
eliminating the curb that one must step over.
A Florida company, Tile Redi
has the answer with its extensive line of leak-proof pans, ready for tile. To dress-up the look, Tile Redi and also Infinity
Drain showed grate frames ready for tile or simple channels that almost
disappear into the floor while whisking away the water.
Speaking of floors, when you are renovating add heating
under the ceramic tile. One of the best
suppliers is Warmly Yours, known for
their superior energy efficiency, array of products and their customer service.
You might ask, “What happened to water conservation?” Well the toilet manufacturers like Toto with their dual flush and now 1-G Double Cyclone model, which uses
only one gallon of water per flush, handle that.
The other big trend is concealed tank toilets. Geberit
is one of the industry leaders with their wall-hung toilets and contemporary
designs. They offer carefree maintenance
and gone is the task of cleaning around the base of a standard toilet.
If you need a space-saving basin for a powder room, you are
sure to find the perfect fit from Hastings
large selection of distinctive shapes.
Many of these new products are beautiful, functional with a
touch of whimsy and definitely high-tech.
Despite the manufacturers’ claims of
transforming our bathrooms into relaxing spa-like spaces, I sometimes feel they
are making it stressful. Just think of
the manuals one has to read to make them all work properly.
Next month’s column will feature the latest kitchen trends.
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