Katty Pien has been named the new Chief Marketing Officer of LIXIL Americas, the division under which kitchen and bath brands American Standard, DXV and GROHE
operate. In this position, Pien is tasked with designing the overall
marketing strategy that carries out the vision of LIXIL to pioneer water
and housing products that make better homes a reality for everyone,
everywhere. Pien brings more than 20 years of global marketing expertise
to this position, with achievements encompassing strategic planning,
brand portfolio management, and the creation of award-winning integrated
consumer marketing campaigns. She will report to LIXIL Americas Chief
Executive Officer and President Steven Delarge. Pien has been recognized
with various distinctions during her career that include a 2009 Cannes
Lion Award from the Cannes International Festival of Creativity, a 2009
Gold Clio, a 2009 Gold Effie, and being named an AdAge Top 50 Marketer
in 2008. Pien holds an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of
Business and a B.S. in operations research and industrial engineering
from Cornell University.
The House of Rohl opened its first Studio in North America. Located in LuxeHome (suite #135) on the first floor of Chicago's historic Merchandise Mart,
the House of Rohl Studio highlights its diverse global brands, Riobel,
Perrin & Rowe, Shaws, ROHL and Victoria + Albert. The House of Rohl
Studio establishes a unified U.S. presence for these brands from across
the globe - Riobel from Montreal, Perrin & Rowe and Shaws from
England, Victoria + Albert from England and South Africa, and ROHL from
the United States and Western Europe. The new Studio includes nearly
1,800 square feet of design inspiration for the kitchen and bath. Its
boutique jewel-box setting was designed by the award-winning design firm
Valerio Dewalt Train Associates. During the past two years, the
acquisitions of Riobel, Perrin & Rowe, Shaws, ROHL, and Victoria +
Albert, by Fortune Brands Global Plumbing Group, has established a
luxury collection of faucets, fixtures, fittings, and accessories.
Uniquely positioned to offer a full range of styles - from modern to
traditional, the House of Rohl offers an assortment of specially crafted
products - each with its own story of family heritage, place of origin,
and specialized manufacturing philosophy.
The AXOR brand announced the AXOR Uno collection.
Designed in collaboration with world-renowned Stuttgart-based design
studio Phoenix Design, the AXOR Uno collection implements the
uncompromising design principles of the original Purist movement. Two
precisely shaped cylinders join together at a right angle, complemented
with gently rounded spouts and handles. The precise contours and raised
proportions of the taps are rendered in the spirit of the golden ratio
and add a sleek and elegant stylistic appeal. The AXOR Uno collection is
available in chrome or brushed nickel and in 13 special order AXOR
FinishPlus colors including brushed red gold. Offering a variety of
options for personal preference in height and style, AXOR Uno products
tout a minimalist zero handle, which turns the faucet on and off, and
from cold to hot via a lateral twist. It is also available with the
hansgrohe Select feature integrated into the handle, which can be
engaged with the forearm, elbow, etc. Particularly suited for use in
small washbasins, the AXOR Uno Single-Hole Faucet with Zero Handle
boasts unparalleled performance in a small space, while the AXOR Uno
Single-Hole Faucet with Zero Handle, Tall allows for enough space to
meet every day needs. The AXOR Uno Select Single-Hole Faucet offers the
perfect middle ground in terms of height and also comes with or without a
pop-up drain. A wall-mount single hole faucet, the AXOR UNO Select
Wall-Mounted Faucet Trim, offers a stylish, sleek look.
Just because it's not shiny doesn't mean it's dull. This soft feel and satin finish on MrSteam SteamShower Controls and SteamHeads will compliment bath designs that now include match matte black shower
fixtures. Showrooms, distributors and designers asked that MrSteam
bring back this classic finish, so of course they did. And now that
their iTempoPlus® Control and iTempo® Control are both available in
Matte Black with matching SteamHeads, there are 10 designer finishes for
your customers to choose from. Please keep the suggestions and requests
coming!
Victoria + Albert unveiled a stunning new line of stainless steel faucets known as Soriano.
This contemporary collection of Italian-made fixtures is the result of
another successful collaboration with design powerhouse Meneghello
Paolelli Associati. Their singular inspiration for Soriano came from the
Boolean world of coding logic, which is reflected in the "1s" and "0s"
that are the essence of each faucet. The finished look is brilliant in
its simplicity, with the spout, lever and base of each piece defined by
one shape, creating a sleek silhouette that is a decidedly modern
addition to any luxurious bathroom. Made from stainless steel, the
faucets are beautifully finished in a brushed stainless steel as well.
Victoria + Albert makes it easy to create a cohesive bathroom space by
offering four different Soriano configurations, all designed to
perfectly complement its own line of sinks, tubs and vanities.
- The Soriano 9 is a three-hole basin mixer with adjustable aerator that brings a gleaming sophistication to the sink area.
- The Soriano 14 is a natural fit for freestanding tubs with its floor-mounted design and handheld shower attach-ment.
- Featuring a "monoblock" design, the Soriano 16 is a deck-mounted basin mixer with a single handle, closely echoing the Soriano 19 with its lower level design profile. Both bring a stylish flair to the bathroom with their bold lines and graceful curves.
- The
Soriano collection also comprises a concealed shower collection, a new
configuration for Victoria + Albert for 2018. The concealed collection
allows the consumer to mix and match with different components to find
the perfect combination for their bathroom. Concealed shower
applications are notable for their clean, minimal aesthetic, a look
commonly seen in luxurious hotels.
GRAFF has added a striking new sink to its ever-growing portfolio of wash basins. Appropriately named Sublime,
the sink offers a crisp, geometric basin made to enhance modern
bathroom suites in either countertop of vanity mounts. Seemingly simple
in its construction and truly thoughtful in its materiality, Sublime is
the type of design that makes you stop, stare, and question why it
hadn't existed previously. Blending a contemporary aesthetic with
durability built by material sourced in the Dolomite Mountain range, the
Sublime sink is a timeless design made to last through every and any
trend - from maximalism to minimalism... and rowdy guests. Sublime
matches the needs of high-traffic zones with the design requisites of an
elevated, luxury space.
Indulge in the quality and comfort of the new S6032 shower base from the Americh
Designers Series Collection. A wide range of sizes and customizable
threshold locations, guarantee boundless opportunities to incorporate
your personal style and design. Americh uses the finest materials
available to ensure durability and ease of care. Hand- crafted in the
USA, the S6032 shower base is available in the threshold locations of
ST, DT, TT and FS.
Inspired by a centuries-old Milan opera house, BainUltra's™ new Scala™ tub
offers a wonderful sense of ease and refinement that results in an
extraordinary bathing experience that soothes and restores the body,
mind and spirit. Scala is a contemporary version of the traditional
clawfoot tub, featuring modern metal feet, elongated oval silhouette,
and optional metal armrests available in different colors that
coordinate perfectly with the feet. With a minimalist outer shell and a
host of available therapy options, the Scala tub is 72" long by 42" wide
and features a spacious bathing well that easily accommodates two
bathers. Crafted of durable acrylic, this stunning tub has a flowing
seamless appearance with gentle curves and wider front and rear decks.
Scala is available in a gorgeous glossy white or striking UltraVelour
matte finish. The chunky metal feet and coordinating armrests are
offered in eight different finishes, including new options for satin
brass, matte black and black chrome. The tub is available in the
Thermomasseur category as well as a soaker to which you can add
BainUltra's new chromatherapy Illuzio® and Thermotherapy. BainUltra's
incredible new Illuzio chromatherapy system features LED lights embedded
within the structure of the bath that are imperceptible when not in
operation. The colored lights glow through the tub's acrylic shell to
provide therapeutic benefits and a beautiful visual effect. Another
option available is the popular Warmtouchshell® heating zones that heats
the tub from within, helping to provide a subtle yet relaxing heat for
the bather.
The tubular lines and minimalist style of the new C2 Collection from Wetstyle
create a hip, modern look for an urban environment. Thanks to its sleek
structure, C2 features a small, uncluttered footprint, making it ideal
for small bathrooms. The base of the console unit (24 and 30 inches) is
made of matte black stainless steel rungs and can be equipped with an
optional storage drawer in natural walnut. In addition to being
practical, the drawer adds contrast and a touch of warmth. A matching
mirror (19 inches) with a walnut shelf and free-standing towel rack (22
inches) complete the collection.
in2aqua GmbH,
a Stuttgart Germany based manufacturer of innovative, technologically
advanced, high quality decorative plumbing faucets, is now expanding its
successful European faucet brand throughout the United States. The
in2aqua faucet line was established in 2014 by founder and managing
director Chris Marshall, with decades of successful management and
marketing experience in European faucet manufacturing with Hansgrohe,
KWC, and Hansa. Unique features include PVD+™ Kerox plasma coated
greaseless ceramic disc technology, which lasts 10 times longer than
standard ceramic discs; a proprietary all-brass M-Lock™ collar that
holds the faucet's valve cartridge in place; the in2itiv™ rough-in
mounting system, awarded the Innovation Prize for "Architecture +
Technology" by AIT during the 2015 ISH show in Frankfurt, Germany;
premier internal components such as Fluehs valves and Neoperl aerators;
and a GO PRO limited lifetime warranty. All in2aqua products are
sustainable, environmentally responsible, and meet stringent
environmental standards. The Lifestyles kitchen and bath collection is
available in three designs; EDGE, STYLE and CLASSIC,
with each representing different lifestyles and character. From modern
to transitional to traditional, in2aqua offers a faucet design for
essentially everyone. The Urban collection, now popular in Europe, will
be available in U.S. showrooms in late 2018.
The Hastings Tile & Bath
team is growing! They've hired Kerry Kennedy for their customer service
department. Kerry comes to Hastings Tile & Bath with 18 years of
experience in customer service in various industries. At Hastings, Kerry
will handle all customer service and sales orders. When asked to tell
our readers a bit about herself, Kerry responded, "I love helping
customers and keeping them happy. I was interested in Hastings Tile
& Bath since I have never worked in this type of field before. I was
excited to learn a whole new aspect of this type of work."
ICERA released its newly redesigned Palermo II 1.0 GPF toilet
that uses just one gallon of water per flush, thereby earning its
designation as an ultra high-efficiency toilet (UHET). The Palmero has
been recently updated with a new contemporary look, creating a sleek
exterior style that compements the smart plumbing technology on the
inside. It's a perfect choice for sophisticated bathrooms where form and
function are equally prized. This two-piece Palermo toilet is
ADA-compliant with a chair-height bowl that is compact and an elongated
bowl for maximum comfort. This model includes Silent-Close quick-release
seat and cover, and has been factory flush-tested to ensure optimum
performance. Crafted of vitreous china, the toilet is available in a
white or balsa glaze and with a choice of five beautiful metal finishes
on the tank lever and hardware, and comes with their EcoQUATTRO™
flushing system with high-performance gravity-assisted flushes. The
Palmero II also includes an oversized 3" flush valve, a fully glazed 2
1/8" internal trapway, and a large 9"x7" water surface area with
optimized jets for an exceptionally clean bowl.
Turnstyle Designs have developed a beautiful and very contemporary new plated finish, Matte Black Chrome.
A series of closely guarded processes produce an incredibly solid,
deep, matte black finish that is now available on all Turnstyles brass
parts . Black finishing has grown and grown in popularity across many
products in the design industry, from faucets to lighting and by popular
demand from clients Turnstyle have now introduced the finish to their
collections of already 10 different metal finishes. The finish is
incredibly durable, suitable for interior or exterior applications.
LACAVA announced that they have introduced five new finishes to their Zoom electronic faucet collection.
The finishes include brushed and polished nickel, matte black, brushed
gold, and their brand new finish, Titanium. To view more information you
can visit them at LACAVA.com.
BLANCO recently introduced the BLANCO QUATRUS® R15 Single Bowl Dual Mount sink.
Featuring a transitional, yet geometric design with a lustrous,
easy-to-clean satin finish, the QUATRUS R15 personifies the art of
living within the kitchen. Custom accessories can be integrated within
the sink to save counter space including a colander, cutting board,
magnetic sink caddy and more. With a generous R15 radius and dual mount
option, the BLANCO QUATRUS R15 Single Bowl offers designers flexibility
in not only the installation (drop in or undermount), but also to blend
easily with both contemporary and transitional kitchen styles. The
Single Bowl Dual Mount sink is one of ten different model options within
the QUATRUS R15 Collection. BLANCO QUATRUS® R15 Single Bowl Dual Mount
details are as follows:
- 18 Gauge Stainless SteelDual Mount
- Bowl depth: 9"
- Dimensions: 33"l x 22"w
- Optional Custom Accessories include:
- Workstation
- Ash Compound Cutting Board
- Stainless Steel Colander
- Glass Cutting Board
- Magnetic Sink Caddy
DXV,
part of LIXIL, expands its elegant Wyatt bath fixture collection with a
new two-piece, high-efficiency VorMax toilet. A celebration of the
architectural style of neoclassical design, the new Wyatt toilet
highlights a sculptural confidence that is designed to complement the
existing Wyatt collection and is well-suited for upscale hospitality
settings. The Wyatt two-piece elongated toilet
leverages the innovative VorMax flushing system, which has been
independently verified to clean the bowl two times better than
conventional toilets. It uses only 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf) to
powerfully scour every square inch of the bowl, even the hard-to-reach
spots under the rim. This WaterSense-certified, high-efficiency toilet
is offered in canvas white, with the trip lever available in polished
chrome, brushed nickel or polished nickel. The choice of right or
left-hand configurations provides ADA-compliance.
Zitta presents a brand-new industrial inspired shower line - the Materia
(this time with the correct image). The industrial look of the 1920s
combined with modern aesthetic and high-end hardware creates a truly
distinctive bathroom décor. The Materia collection introduces a matte
black framed shower door and is offered in many different
configurations, such as alcove or corner installation to suit your
needs. The pivot door allows for a wide opening providing ease of use
even in a small alcove. As are all the Zitta doors and panels, the
Materia is easily maintained thanks to the ZittaClean treatment.
Complete the room with the classic design of the black Issa
freestanding bathtub. Comfortable high back, high immersion point and
clean lines are everything that this bathtub is known for. This new
Issa design kept all the best features while adding an interesting
exterior finish. The matte black skirt adds a touch of flair and
elegance to this timeless soaker.
Delight yourself in the quality and comfort of a new channel drain shower base from the Americh
Designer Series Collection. A wide range of sizes and customizable
threshold locations, guarantee boundless opportunities to incorporate
your personal style and design. Americh uses the finest materials
available to ensure durability and ease of care. Handcrafted in the USA,
from their hands to your home.
Duravit launched two brand-new collections at the recently concluded ICFF Show in NYC:
- Their Brioso line of furniture (pictured). A
reference to the Italian word for "lively," Brioso integrates playful,
monochromatic handles onto the furniture. The vanities and cabinets have
the crisp geometry and the clean lines for which Duravit is best known,
and each piece is available in a rich palette of colors ranging from
classic to contemporary. Brioso is designed with users in mind and is
complemented by many of Duravit's best-selling ceramics.
- Duravit's second new collection for 2018 comes from a collaboration with longtime design partner Kurt Merki Jr. - the XSquare collection
is a modern approach to bathroom furniture with striking design at its
core. XSquare's angular chrome profile accentuates the edges of the
vanities and adds a touch of industrial aesthetic. Complete with
mirrors, mirror-cabinet solutions, and storage cabinets, XSquare
presents a design-savvy, stand-out collection - true to the Duravit
signature.
MTI Bath's new sensory therapy uses the power of tiny bubbles to gently cleanse and exfoliate the skin. Microbubbles technology
super-saturates the water with up to 50% more dissolved oxygen than
regular water, turning the bath water a milky white through the infusion
of billions of tiny oxygen-rich bubbles the size of the head of a pin.
The result is a warm, relaxing soak that improves the skin and soothes
mind and body. This new sensory therapy option is available on most
Designer drop-in or Sculpted Finish® soaking or air bath tubs.
Microbubbles adds an extraordinary sensory element to the bathing
experience. For health and beauty, Microbubbles offers a warm, soothing
bath that actually detoxifies pores and envelops the body in extra
oxygen, leaving it cleansed, exfoliated, moisturized and hydrated. The
oxygenated water gently polishes the skin to leave the user feeling
exceptionally smooth and refreshed. Additionally, as countless tiny
bubbles pop, they release energy that helps to keep the bath water hot
and the bather's body temperature warm.
The beauty of its simple lines is what makes Stratos from Hastings Tile & Bath
a fresh modular approach to vanity design. With side cabinets,
underneath storage, drawers that can be aligned or offset to the left or
right or floating just above the floor, Stratos is linear perfection.
Stratos' cabinets are available in 35 matte or glossy colors or three
beautiful wood laminate finishes, while its solid surface countertop is
available in three matte or six glossy finishes. Stratos is ideal if you
want to keep it simply beautiful.
Watermark's™ new Elements collection
is ratcheting up how faucet choices are determined. With innumerable
combinations and a website/configurator designed to help visualize
multiple combinations, Elements can be custom-designed into more than
380,000 variations. The collection offers architects and bath designers
the ability to play with color, form and texture to create a unique
design statement. Elements is comprised of 14 handle styles, called
Covers which are grouped into four material categories: Raw, Rock,
Lumber and Forged. Every Cover has a Base with 24 finish options and two
options for Inserts. The decorative Inserts are offered in Bridge and
Scallop styles. Both the Insert and Base are available in Watermark
Designs' 24 finishes. The Inserts are snapped and held into place using
Watermark's patent pending rare earth magnets. The Elements collection
also includes a new handle style called Guilloche. Guilloche is a
decorative technique in which a very precise, intricate and repetitive
pattern is mechanically engraved into an underlying material via engine
turning, which uses a machine of the same name, also called a rose
engine lathe. Examples of Guilloche are seen on fine timepieces and,
most famously, the Faberge eggs designed in the 1880s for Russian
royalty.
The elegantly-refined Crystal Vintage knobs from Nostalgic Warehouse
exude the beauty of crystal, but in a traditional design. With three
variations to choose from, these unique new knobs feature raised
embellishments that are exquisitely beautiful. Each transmits a sense of
luxury and opulence balanced by classic good looks. All three of the
Vintage Crystal knobs are notable for their wonderful intricacy and
attention to detail. The Crystal Victorian knob reinterprets classic
old-world design with a lovely sparkle and depth. The beautiful Crystal
Egg & Dart knob makes use of a repeating border detail and a floral
crown center, while the Crystal Meadows knob is influenced by the Greek
Revival era. The crystal allows sunlight and the finish of the backplate
to reflect through the knob. Crafted from lead-free crystal and paired
with high-quality solid forged brass backplates, Vintage Crystal knobs
are exceedingly durable and suitable for high-traffic areas. All are
available in a variety of configurations for locking and non-locking
use, including single and double dummy sets and mortise sets. They are
perfect for restoration projects and easy to install on modern,
pre-drilled doors.
Zitta presents a brand-new industrial inspired shower line - the Materia.
The industrial look of the 1920s combined with modern aesthetic and
high-end hardware creates a truly distinctive bathroom décor. The
Materia collection introduces a matte black framed shower door and is
offered in many different configurations, such as alcove or corner
installation to suit your needs. The pivot door allows for a wide
opening providing ease of use even in a small alcove. As are all the
Zitta doors and panels, the Materia is easily maintained thanks to the
ZittaClean treatment. Complete the room with the classic design of the
black Issa freestanding bathtub. Comfortable high back, high immersion
point and clean lines are everything that this bathtub is known for.
This new Issa design kept all the best features while adding an
interesting exterior finish. The matte black skirt adds a touch of
flair and elegance to this timeless soaker.
The spacious rectangular forms of the new Verge sink from Stone Forest
features a thin walled profile and the subtle patterns of honed antique
gray limestone and Italian Carrara marble. Top off the Verge sink with
the console or utilize as a wall mount or stand-alone vessel sink.
