Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Lenova's PermaClean Apron Front Ledge Sink Honored by Interior Design Magazine

The 12th annual Best of Year Awards has named the PermaClean Apron Front Ledge sink from Lenova as an Honoree. Sponsored by Interior Design magazine, the BoY Awards honor the most significant work of the year and recognize designers, architects and manufacturers from around the globe. Winners, selected from nearly 2,300 submissions, were named in 113 categories. As part of Lenova's popular Apron Front Collection, this sink offers a modern interpretation of a classic look with sleek lines and a graceful 10" bowed front. It's available in a single or double bowl configuration, with a low divider in the double-bowl layout to accommodate large pots with long handles. One of the most notable aspects of the sink is its engineered platform ledge that allows it to easily convert to a food prep center when accessorized with an optional stainless steel colander, roll-up grid drainer, and bamboo cutting board. The sink also features Lenova's PermaClean drain system - a seamless design that eliminates unsightly drain lines and creates a smooth high-end look that is more sanitary and includes removable splash guards and strainer baskets.

Top Knobs Introduces Their Lynwood Collection

Inspired by the designs found in mid-century modern neighborhoods across the United States, Top Knobs introduces the Lynwood Collection of decorative hardware. This collection of knobs, pulls, cup pulls, and backplates mimics the minimalistic shapes found in furniture and architectural styles from the mid 1930s to the mid 1960s. Mid-century minimalism at its finest, the Lynwood Collection includes 306 pieces in seven series. Highlights include two appliance pull shapes and rectangular backplates featuring open backs. Each Lynwood piece is available in six trending finishes: Ash Gray (AG), Flat Black (BLK), brushed satin nickel (BSN), Honey Bronze (HB), polished chrome (PC) and polished nickel (PN). Lynwood Collection details:
  • Seven series: Kinney, Hollin, Crestview, Allendale, Kentfield, Marion and Hillmont
  • 2 appliance pull shapes
  • 5 pull shapes
  • 1 cup pull in 3 ¾" and 5 1/16" sizes
  • 4 knobs in four series. Sizes range from 1" to 1 1/2"
  • 2 decorative back plates for knobs and pulls

BLANCO's ARTURA Faucet Honored by This Old House Magazine

BLANCO's ATURA® faucet was honored by This Old House magazine as one of the top 100 Best New Home Products.  The BLANCO ATURA® offers a high performance dual spray and is available in a standard 2.2 GPM as well as a 1.5 CALGREEN water-saving model. Featuring an attractive high arc and solid brass body, the ATURA® is the perfect fit for any style kitchen or budget. This Old House is the number one multi-platform home brand providing trusted information and expert advice, and is best known for its award-winning television shows This Old House and Ask This Old House. The BLANCO ATURA® faucet is available in a pull-down spray as well as a bar faucet model and comes in both polished chrome and stainless finish.

Metal Style Bouvet Expands Their Multipoint Collection

Metal Style Bouvet enlarged the company's multipoint collection. The LaForge collection has ten models in two finishes for multipoint escutcheons.  Metal Style Bouvet new model 4035 (Laprade) and model 4100 (Richelieu, and pictured) levers come in an 8mm square to fit most multipoint system specifications, and both levers can be matched with the rounded (1253) and the rectangular (1252) escutcheons from the LaForge collection. They are available in both black and pewter finishes, and an array of different functions is offered including a reverse setting (lever positioned lower on the escutcheon) which is compatible with Marvin Windows and Doors systems.

THG Announces Two New Hires - Emily Smith and Jonathat Britt

THG® Paris announced two new hires: a Northeast regional manager, Emily Smith, and a manager of A&D development, Jonathan Britt. Smith is responsible for developing business relationships with THG Paris' dealer and distribution network in the Northeast, providing support such as leading regular showroom and dealer training and serving as an official source to assist with project needs. Prior to joining THG Paris, Smith worked as a specifications representative for Wilsonart, where she was responsible for driving specification of Wilsonart product lines in Manhattan and Westchester County. Smith also served as a plumbing sales and design consultant at Simon's Hardware & Bath.

In his new position as manager of A&D development, Britt is responsible for building and strengthening relationships with Northeast architects and design firms. Before joining THG Paris, Britt handled sales and sales operations at Italian luxury furnishings house Nella Vetrina.


Saturday, December 16, 2017

AD Waters is Fiora Products' Exclusive N.A. Distributor

Fiora products are being distributed and marketed in the US and Canada by AD Waters. Fiora is the only manufacturer of complete bathroom collections produced with a single material, Fiora's cornerstone product innovation SILEXPOL - a proprietary material comprised of polyurethane and minerals. All shower bases, wall panels, countertops and sinks are produced with SILEXPOL, which is easy to maintain and provides more warmth and safety properties - including a level 3 non-slip certification - than porcelain, acrylic, enamel steel and solid surface materials. Among the brand's newest introductions to the North American market are:
  • Fiora Shower Bases - A series of textured shower bases designed for a high-end aesthetic and everyday comfort and safety. The easy-to-install series can be installed above the floor or flushed to the floor, for a more discreet look and/or for an ADA-compliant design. 
  • Fontana (pictured) - the Fontana sink collection is comprised of two sink models and four wall-mounted integrated countertops. The top and sides of the sinks are finished in a slate texture while the washbasins interiors offer smooth surface finish. All sinks are available in the same eight colors as the shower bases. 
  • Making Mini Vanity - the Making Mini vanity features an elegant slate texture finish and is offered in the eight color options of the shower bases. The accompanying sink is offered in a standard matte white and can be color coordinated to match the rest of the vanity.  

Stone Forest's Calma Tub Receives 2017 Interior Design BoY Award

Stone Forest® received an Interior Design magazine 2017 Best of Year Awards. This year, the Best of Year Awards celebrated its 12th anniversary and had 2,016 entries from 38 different countries in 130 product and project categories. Stone Forest's Calma bathtub was named the winner in the Bath Fixtures category. The Calma tub is an excellent example of Stone Forest's expertise in creating something beautiful from natural products. The Calma bathtub is hand-carved from a single block of Limestone or Marquina Taupe, providing a gentle oval-shaped elegant respite. The soft lines of this freestanding tub create a simple yet sophisticated design. The sculptural quality of the stone makes the tub an exquisite piece of art that becomes the focus piece of any bath. The soft and sculptural lines of the Calma tub combine to create a simple yet sophisticated design.

MrSteam's New Lexington Collection Towel Warmers

With wider bars to extend the warmth on towels, the new Lexington Collection towel warmers from MrSteam are perfect enhancements for contemporary spa bathrooms. Made of high-quality stainless steel in polished or brushed stainless finishes, the five wall-mounted models of the Lexington Collection come standard with a digital timer allowing for convenient pre-start and automatic shutoff. What other styles attempt to conceal, the Lexington Collection's industrial design daringly puts on display. With tubing and slats, these pieces fit equally well in urban, contemporary and loft style settings, turning bold structural elements into showpieces. Lexington Collection towel warmer styles are available in heights ranging from 24 inches to 41 inches with MSRP based on size and finish. All models carry a two-year warranty and are cULus-Listed.

McAlpine & Company Honored with Herald's Scottish Family Business Award

The top family firms in Scotland were recently honored at the sixth Herald's Scottish Family Business Awards 2017 in association with Business Gateway. The Scottish Family Business of the Year (Large) was won by Glasgow plumbing firm McAlpine & Company (parent company of Mountain Plumbing Products), and there were even more honors for McAlpine & Company with company director Kenneth Graham McAlpine taking the Outstanding Contribution award.  The event was attended by over 350 guests who gathered at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow to hear from keynote speaker James Macsween, managing director and owner at Macsween of Edinburgh, and this year's judging panel was chaired by Ian McConnell, business editor of The Herald. (Pictured from left to right are Robert, Graham, Kenneth, John and Ross McAlpine from McAlpine and Company Ltd.)

Sunday, December 10, 2017

GROHE's New GrohTherm SmartControl

Immersing oneself in a new dimension of showering is what the GROHE SmartControl is all about. The "Push, Turn, Shower" experience has become even more multifaceted, thanks to a new model and combination options being added to this line of smart shower controls. The expanded range includes a concealed behind-the-wall model that offers an innovative universal rough-in valve for more efficient installation. This concealed GrohTherm SmartControl trim features the same expert water temperature and flow rate control as the on-the-wall version, while offering the option of having up to three shower outlets running through a single wall plate. This feature is exclusive to GROHE, part of LIXIL, as most competitors require an additional wall plate to accommodate three water outlets. Plus, the GrohTherm SmartControl trims are available in stylish white. As a result, the intuitive push-and-turn control system offers an even greater variety of design options - for the perfect shower experience every time.

John Weinstein Named Franz Viegener's Corporate Director N.A.

Franz Viegener Premium Collection has appointed John Weinstein Corporate Director, North America. Following a successful career owning retail stores in Philadelphia, acting as director for several plumbing showrooms then running his own manufacturer's representative agency, John became President of Xync Brands' Ryvyr, a manufacturer of bath furniture and fixtures. Xync Brands was acquired by Elk Group International in 2016 and hired Weinstein as both President of Ryvyr as well as Northeast Divisional VP for Dimond Home and Lighting, Sterling, GuildMaster and Pomeroy. While maintaining the basic marketing principles of Franz Viegener; partnering with extremely high quality dealers and a restricted e-com tactic, Weinstein will be developing new business protocols and strategies to grow organically. The national sales team will be increased to further support the dealer base and other initiatives including bringing the Franz Viegener name to the design community.

Watermark Designs' Awarded Interior Designs' 2017 BoY Award

Watermark Designs has been named a recipient of Interior Design magazine's 2017 Best of Year Awards for the second year in a row. The Best of Year Awards is a global design awards program dedicated to the year's leading products and projects and is the most highly regarded awards program in the industry. This year, the Best of Year Awards celebrated its 12th anniversary and had 2,016 entries from 38 different countries in 130 product and project categories. Watermark Designs' Elements kitchen faucet was named the winner in the Kitchen Fittings category. Watermark's Elements faucet offers the ability to play with color, form and texture in the creation of a unique design statement by giving the consumer an endless possibility of more than 300,000 faucet choice combinations. Elements is comprised of 14 handle styles, called Covers, and every Cover has a Base with 24 finish options and two options for Inserts. The decorative Inserts are offered in two styles: Bridge style and Scallop style, and both the Insert and Base are available in Watermark Designs' 24 finishes. 

Sunday, December 3, 2017

MTI Baths' New Boutique Collection Tops with Palmer Legs

MTI Baths has teamed up with Palmer Industries, a domestic manufacturer of metal console leg systems, to offer a new bath vanity collection. The new Boutique Collection Tops with Palmer® Legs combine the vintage charm of a classic open-framework console with the benefit of modern fixtures. As stylish as it is functional, the integrated sink top is made from MTI's signature one-piece SculpureStone® material. This material is non-porous, stain, mold and mildew-resistant, making cleaning and maintenance easy. The Boutique Collection Tops with Palmer® Legs come in two styles: Traditional with a round or oval sink; Cove edge treatment and tapered foot console legs; or Modern with a rectangular sink and studio console legs. Offered in lengths of 24", 36" or 68", the 24" and 36" accommodate a single bowl, the 68" two bowls. The tops are available in a matte or gloss finish. The Palmer console leg system is fabricated from solid brass tubing and components. All leg fittings are precision machined, from solid rod, producing an exceptional fit and finish not possible with casting. The console legs are available in six standard finishes, architectural grade, polished and plated to perfection. Custom finishes are available.

 

Hansgrohe and Duravit Featured at the National Building Museum

Hansgrohe and Duravit were selected to be featured in "Making Room: Housing for a Changing America", running from November 18, 2017 to September 16, 2018, an exciting new exhibition at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. At its centerpiece is a 1,000 square foot house called "The Open House," designed by Italian architect Pierliugi Colombo/Clei. The configurable space utilizes smart technology, movable walls, and multifunctional furniture to meet the needs of the housing population of today and tomorrow. During the exhibit's run, the Open House will be transformed to feature modern living environments for a range of age demographics: roommates, an extended family, and a retired couple with a live-in caregiver. The hansgrohe, AXOR and Duravit products will remain throughout the exhibit's conversions, demonstrating the functional agility, flexibility and performance of the bath and shower products. To meet the needs of a diverse demographic and lifestyle, the hansgrohe products that were selected for the exhibition's bathroom/shower areas include the Raindance Select S 120 AIR 3-Jet Handshower, Talis Select S 80 and Talis Select E 80 Single-Hole Faucets and iBox Universal Plus, as well as robe hooks and other bath and shower accessories. Additionally, the kitchen features the AXOR Citterio Select Collection.  Duravit products selected included the OpenSpace B Shower Screen and ME by Starck toilet.
 

Top Knobs' New Hopewell Bath Collection in Flat Black Finish

Sleek and sophisticated, the new Top Knobs Hopewell Bath Collection in Flat Black finish adds on-trend style, function and personality to any bathroom. The matte look and feel of the Flat Black finish alongside the soft, rounded edges of the decorative hardware results in a modern style made to fit any bathroom design. The Hopewell Bath Collection includes double and single towel bars, single hooks, bath tissue holders, tissue hooks and towel rings for a wide range of functional bath accessories. In addition to Flat Black, the ten product collection is also available in brushed satin nickel, oil rubbed bronze, polished chrome and polished nickel finishes. All Top Knobs products come with a proprietary sealed finish and a lifetime warranty.