Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.
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7 DRAWER ORGANIZER Häfele America has added to its popular Fineline organiza- tion system with the introduc- tion of Fineline Move, which offers a flexible solution to the age-old problem of organi- zation within drawers and cabinets in kitchens as well as bathrooms and other spaces. The updated line offers a great- er selection of modular trays, dividers, boxes, baskets and holders to support wider and deeper drawer sizes as well as organization solutions for stationary and pull-out pantry shelving. Organizational products are gaining in popularity because of television shows such as those seen on HGTV and websites such as Pinterest and Houzz, says Scott Kaminski, marketing, communications and public relations manager. "Our Fineline Move products are simple and smart," he continues. "The system of trays, dividers, boxes and holders comes in a variety of sizes and is entirely modular to accommodate practically anything. They are entirely flexible and can be used horizontally or vertically. Even the voids create additional storage so no space is wasted." Products designed for deep drawers also include handles so the boxes and their contents can easily be lifted out and taken to their destination. "Deep drawers are rapidly replacing base cabinet doors," he continues. "Our handled boxes are also ideal for entertaining. Instead of having to take out all the contents of the drawer, such as cutlery or bowls, etc., you can simply lift out the box." Circle No. 161 on Product Card 8 CAFECOUNTERTOPS CafeCountertops provides solid hardwood tops in oversized lengths, including pieces over 16 ft., available in all woods. Fourteen popular woods are offered, including: Black Walnut, Iroko, African Teak, European Cherry, Wenge and the exclusive Dark Chocolate Beech. "Traditionally, wood tops were most common in formal and ornate designs, where fancy edge profiles and end-grain construction were prevalent," says Sam Rochat, president. "But in 2016, the trend has been to bypass expensive construction methods in favor of greater surface area, both in island and in perimeter applications." CafeCountertops' "Euro-Star" construction enables the company to manu- facture countertops over 16 ft. in length with no field joints, according to the company. "With Euro-Star, it's not just that the boards can be assembled into these giant countertops, but also that the Scandinavian design of Euro-Star is the strongest and most warp- and crack-resistant way to build a wood coun- tertop," Rochat continues. One striking trend in wood countertops in recent years is the readiness of designers and homeowners to look beyond maple, Rochat adds. "While black Walnut has been the most popular wood, we've also noticed a significant interest in lesser-known woods such as Iroko, which has the warm brown color tones of Walnut but with a slightly lighter color tone that is more likely to complement other finishes like existing hardwood floors," he says. "Regardless of the wood chosen, designers prefer a low-satin, nearly-matte finish." Circle No. 162 on Product Card 9 WATER-SAVING SHOWERHEAD TOTO's Aero Rain Showers offer the firm's patented Aero- Jet+ air-injection technology to increase the volume of water in each droplet by innovatively drawing air in through the top of the showerhead and pumping it into the water droplets, enlarg- ing and increasing their volume, which generates a balanced spray for optimum water distribution and full body coverage. "Bathers feel as if they are being encased in far more warm water than they are actually using, making their experience extremely pleasurable while reducing water consumption," says Lenora Campos, senior manager, public relations. "To further enhance their showering experience, at intervals, Aero- Jet+ generates invigorating short bursts of pulsating water. "The U.S. is a shower culture," she continues. "Americans love to wake up with a revitalizing shower, or relax in the evening with a hot shower that washes the day away. In fact, showering accounts for nearly 17% of overall water use in the home. Today, however, more and more architects, designers and homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their water footprint, which saves water, energy and money on water bills. This is especially true of areas that experience drought conditions like California. Air-injection show- erheads like the Aero Rain Shower offer the opportunity to reduce water consumption while still enjoying a luxurious showering experience." Aero Rain Showers flow at a planet-friendly 2.5 or 2.0 gallons per minute (gpm), and are available in Classic and Modern designs. They offer 8" and 12" diameter spray faces, and may be mounted from the ceiling or wall. Circle No. 163 on Product Card 10 WHOLE-HOUSE VENTILATION SOLUTION The SelectCycler System from Panasonic Eco Solutions is a whole-house mechanical ventilation solution that combines the best parts of central and exhaust fan ventilation to provide a cost-effective, energy-efficient solution for supply or balanced ventilation. "Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is driving homeowners' interest in healthy homes, and mechanical ventilation is the key to enabling good IAQ," says Patricia Monks, product manager, Panasonic Eco Solutions North America. "By combining the best parts of both central fan integrated ventilation and ex- haust fan ventilation, the SelectCycler is fully integrated into a home's existing HVAC system to create the most cost-effective and energy-effi- cient whole house ventilation solution available." The SelectCycler System will continue to increase in popularity as home builders continue to look for low-cost, whole-house ventilation solu- tions that help them meet code, while minimizing the impact to their HERS Index (a measure of a home's energy efficiency), the firm notes. Circle No. 164 on Product Card 46 Kitchen & Bath Design News • December 2016 MOST-ASKED-ABOUT PRODUCTS