Shoppers looking for form and function in kitchen and bath products will find themselves immersed in the possibilities.
But life preservers aren’t necessary. This is a positive deluge; one where consumers can catch the wave of benefits.
Do you want a pedestal lavatory that you can install without rounding up a helper? Do you dream of creating a kitchen that fits your personality? Whatever your wish, there are products that work as good as they look.
At last month’s Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Atlanta, manufacturers were pouring it on about products that illustrate form and function.
A sleek oval bathroom mirror reflects opportunity for design continuity throughout the home. Suspended seats float next to a kitchen island or bar while adding a permanent look of organization. New prototype washing machines, spinoffs of European versions, are coming to America to save water and energy. And what’s more functional than antibacterial tile? A Japanese company has introduced it for commercial use.
Here’s a guide to some products that best illustrate form and function to make wading through the possibilities a little easier on your next shopping trip.
– The good news for do-it-yourselfers is that bathroom fixtures are becoming more installation-friendly. Here are two products that can pair up on a remodeling job.
Dallas-based Eljer Industries separates the pedestal lavatory in its Century Collection into three pieces (pedestal, skirt and drop-in sink), making installation easier and faster.
The three-piece design allows an installer to work above the sink more often than below. An opening in the skirt gives a clear view when leveling and attaching to the wall. The space also comes in handy when mounting the faucet. To finish the job, the self-rimming sink is dropped into the skirt.
Time is money, so consumers save either way — whether they do the job themselves or hire a professional.
The lavatory ($390 in white) is vitreous china. A matching toilet, bidet and whirlpool are available in 17 colors. To find the retailer nearest you, call 407-2600.
In late June, Delta Faucet Co. starts selling an installation-friendly line of bathroom faucets called Innovations (starting at $130).
“Consumers today want style in addition to function in everything they buy,” says Kristen Bishop, an assistant product manager for Delta. “This is really designed for the do-it-yourself remodeler who wants a step up.”
Responding to the desire for style, Delta has hidden the hardware that keeps its faucets together. None of the company’s new faucets have exposed screws.
As for the Innovations line, a slew of handles and finishes allow for 444 possible combinations, Bishop says.
“We feel it’s the most easily customized line in the industry,” she says. It includes center-set, mini-widespread, widespread and Roman-tub faucets.
Delta’s mini-widespread faucets are ideal for do-it-yourselfers who want a new look for their standard bathroom sinks. A patented installation aid called Quick-Snap holds the valve and the rest of the faucet in place, simplifying the process to a one-person job.
To find a retailer, call 1-800-345-3358.
– Toto Kiki USA, a Japanese-owned company, considers function its paramount role, says Phil Klement, regional sales manager for the Southwest. “We’re doing something to enhance the quality of the bathroom environment.”
Toto is introducing American consumers to a combination ergonomic toilet seat/bidet called Zoe ($600) that fits standard toilets.
Think of it as a high-tech bidet that does not require floor space or complex installation. A wireless remote control operates a stream of warm water that can be adjusted to a desired level. Zoe is powered by 110-volt household current, and other features include a cushioned, heated seat and an air-freshening device.
To find a local retailer, call 1-800-877-1541.
– Robern, a producer of innovative cabinet and lighting systems, incorporates halogen and high-efficiency fluorescent bulbs with its bathroom cabinets. One of the company’s latest options is a pair of mirrored halogen sconces that can connect to standard dimmers.
Used with or without a Robern cabinet, the 3 1/2-inch-wide sconces offer 9-inch-tall vertical lighting (150 watts) in a frosted-glass tube. The tube is centered on a 30-inch ($400) or 40-inch ($480) mirrored sconce.
To find a retailer, call 1-800-877-2376.
– If you’re searching for modern bath accessories, a collection called :USE “Tools for Civilization” is the answer. This group of bath accessories, decorative window hardware, mirrors, consoles, wine racks, drawer pulls, hooks and lighting could dress up the entire house, carrying a familiar theme throughout.
An extended oval is the singular aesthetic that appears in every piece of the collection. For example, the polished-chrome mirror pictured at left ($150) is an oval, as are the glass shelf and wall mounts.
Nearly every :USE accessory is available in polished chrome; selected others come in black, white, satin silver and gold.
Pieces of the collection start at $15.
– Individuality is coming to a kitchen near you. Here are two examples:
“People are finally seeing the importance of the kitchen,” says Melinda Meadows, display designer for Wellborn Cabinet Inc. “Even though it scares people, they want to personalize their kitchens. It scares a lot of people in the way of resale value.”
But personalization can be done with great success, she says.
“People want to see color again.” And that’s a great way to add personality.
“Pewter on pine” is a new favorite of Meadows. That’s the name she has given to a blue wash applied to pine cabinetry.
Just as hot is the trend of adding pewter pulls, knobs and hinges to natural pine, she says.
Anyone looking to add color in a kitchen should check out Blue Creek professional-style appliances by Jenn-Air.
The colored faces of these stainless-steel appliances (ranges, cook tops, wall ovens, refrigerators and dishwashers) are tinted in five brilliant colors: jade green, sapphire blue, copper, champagne gold or Bordeaux red.
The appliances are available through interior designers, certified kitchen designers and architects. For a free brochure, call 1-800-244-1491.
– A clean, organized look becomes a permanent characteristic of kitchens with Pivotal Suspension Seating. The seating system is suited to islands, bars, fixed and portable tables, desks and vanity areas.
All support frames — designed to hold about 450 pounds — attach to the floor. Suspended seats placed around a newly constructed island or bar can be concealed behind the back panel of cabinets. In an existing setting, a step is required to cover the support legs at the base.
A self-closing feature automatically returns the chair to its orderly position when no one’s seated.
