Kitchen & Bath Design News

MAY 2014

Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.

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May 2014 ForResidentialPros.com | 39 The Skylar Collection of bath fttings from Newport Brass/ Brasstech refects a very modern design theme, with its components taking the form of cubes and rectangles. The collection features widespread and wall-mounted faucets for the lavatory and tub as well as several shower and tub trim set designs. The pieces meet WaterSense and CAL Green low-fow requirements, and are ADA compliant. Skylar is available in 27 fnishes. Circle No. 187 on Product Card For its new washbasins in the Kartell bath collection, Laufen has designed a hidden drain outlet with a hidden overfow, making it possible to stop the water in the basin using a stopper assembly without worrying about the water overfowing. Additionally, water drains out via a linear channel at the back of the washbasin, which is concealed by the cantilevering design of the basin ledge. Circle No. 185 on Product Card Native Trails has introduced NativeStone concrete sinks. Constructed using a mixture of jute fber and cement, these sinks weigh approximately 40 percent less than sinks made using standard concrete. The NativeStone collection includes kitchen, bar/prep and lavatory sinks. Each sink is stain, scratch and crack resistant, and is impervious to water, oils, acids and food. NativeStone is available in three sleek fnishes: Ash (shown), Slate and Pearl. Circle No. 186 on Product Card Houzer's Opus Lavatory sinks are made from stainless steel and are available as vessel, topmount and undermount in oval and conical shapes. The company also ofers Hammerwerks copper sinks for a rustic feel, in round or elliptical, as well as drop-in or undermount. Circle No. 189 on Product Card Kallista introduces the Per Se collection of lav faucets, which includes a basin set and single-control faucet. Paying homage to the design of the 1950s and 1960s, Per Se features a squared, geometric form, softened by a gentle rounding of corners, and ultra-thin shape. Per Se is available in Polished Chrome, Nickel Silver and Brushed Nickel Kallista living fnishes. Circle No. 192 on Product Card The Ottavo pedestal sink by LACAVA is a free-standing white porcelain column lavatory without an overfow. Measuring 17-1/4" in diameter and 33" in height, the sink features one faucet hole and plumbing outlet to the wall. As part of the Ottavo collection, this monoblock pedestal sink provides a design approach that is basic in both form and function. Circle No. 191 on Product Card DIVA, California Faucets' new faucet series, includes low- and high-spout and single-hole lavatory faucets. DIVA was designed in Italy and is handcrafted in California from high-grade, solid brass. DIVA is available in more than 30 artisan fnishes. Circle No. 190 on Product Card The Artos Italian Designer Collection from Westover has added the Kascade line of bath faucets. The contemporary style features an open spout that creates a waterfall efect. The line includes a wide variety of models for the sink, tub and shower. Circle No. 193 on Product Card Grohe's Parkfeld bath faucet draws design inspiration from the shapes found in nature. The faucet lever has a fuid form that is reminiscent of the shape and curves of a leaf, while the bottom of the faucet resembles the shape of a water droplet. The use of repetitive concentric rings acts as a transition detail. Finishes for the faucet include Brushed Nickel and Chrome. Circle No. 194 on Product Card Elan Vital from Watermark Designs is a bath faucet that combines the utilitarian aesthetic of industrial design with customizable capabilities. Elan's lever handles are reminiscent of commercial ball valves, though any of the company's 130-handle designs can be paired with the faucet. Circle No. 188 on Product Card cent or more. This allows for faucets that exceed expectations while delivering conservation to the homeowner. These same high-tech tools allow for advances in form, ergonomics and material use that let us create designs that were not possible only a few years ago." Touch-free technology, increasingly evident at the kitchen water station, is beginning to see increased interest for the bath- room. Lord cites his frm's Touch 2 0 Technology, noting that it is "highly responsive, reliable and widely accepted by today's consumer who uses touch technology to interact with smart phones, ATM machines, tablets, computers, printers and other devices on a daily basis." He believes, "As consumers gain more positive experiences with touch-activated products, the demand for touch-activated faucets will continue to grow. " Taft agrees there is great utility in hands-free technology, particularly as it relates to hygiene. However, he is not convinced that this technology works well enough for the residential bath. "Clearly, hands-free continues to grow in commercial settings, but personally I have yet to see hands-free technology that works as it needs to in a home setting," he says. "Whoever fgures that one out will have truly innovated." Technology can be used to improve the water experience in other ways as well. For instance, Ng points to Axor faucets that separate temperature and volume controls into separate knobs, as well as faucets designed specifcally to ensure a "waterfall" efect that fows as a fat sheet. Technology is also coming into play with sink materials, which can open up an entirely new world of design possibilities, according to Korneluk. GREEN CONCERNS Based in California, which has some of the strictest codes in the country, it's not surprising that Rohl cites water conservation as a top priority. He states, "We believe strongly in water manage- ment and were one of the frst companies in the industry to have a fully compliant range of products that meet California water usage standards, which are some of the strictest in the country." Taft believes that "most people strongly support water con- servation, but balk if it signifcantly impacts the experience of their bathroom refuge. With bath faucets, it's easy to handle, as the experience of a lower-fow bath faucet is not that noticeable." Lord concurs: "Consumers want to make smarter water choices in order to maintain high environmental standards and save money. Luckily, there are a large number of bathroom fau- cets available that meet the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense standards." However, not everyone sees consumers as being fully on board with the water conservation trend. At American Standard, Uhl admits, "Surveys tell us the consumer believes in conserva- tion but thinks it would be good for someone else to be doing it." And Ng sees bath faucets that ofer water savings as a low priority for many consumers. She explains, "It is unfortunate that saving water via the bath faucet has not been an important concern with customers, because it is actually the easiest place to save water. While low-fow kitchen faucets and showerheads may cause users to spend longer time flling pots or getting shampoo out of their hair, the bathroom faucet is the best place to lower the fow rate without any noticeable impact." The green trend is also impacting sink choices, with some consumers specifcally seeking products that are environ- mentally friendly. According to Howard, "Sustainability is becoming an important consideration as homeowners decide on materials for their bathroom, including the sink. In this regard, the material choice is key, whether recycled material or otherwise sus- tainably made." KBD_34-39_PTR.indd 39 4/15/14 1:48 PM

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