KITCHEN BATH INDUSTRY SHOW 2011 (KBIS)

Filed under Accessible Product, Bathrooms, New in the Showroom by on May 2, 2011 at 4:53 pm {no comments}

This year KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, was held at the Convention Center in Las Vegas. While this year’s show was lightly attended compared to recent years there where still many interesting things to see. Here are some highlights.

 AMERICAN STANDARD

This was a chance to see many of their new bathing products first hand. The new seated

AMS Seated Shower

 shower is, I think, a great alternative to a standard pan or tub. It is an easy retrofit and offers security and flexibility for anyone looking for a safer shower.

 Door tubs also offer a secure bathing option but are limited by slow draining which may require the bather to sit for 10 minutes or more while the tub drains so the door can be opened. To solve this AMS has introduced their “quick drain” system which clears the water in 3-5 minutes. We were able to see this demonstrated and it does work as described.

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AMS FunBath Fire Engine

Also this year AMS introduced what they are calling the “Fun Bath”. The Fun Time Bath fits over a standard bathtub and transforms it into a safe and fun bathing experience for parents and children. It raises the bathing well allowing parents to bath children without bending over plus, the designs of fire engines, castles and cartoon characters are fun for kids.

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 JASON INTERNATIONAL

Jason introduced two products this year. Their zero threshold shower base features a linear drain and seat and can retrofit into an existing shower space.

 The really exciting introduction was of Microsilk. Microsilk is a totally new creation for hydrotherapy. To quote Jason, Microsilk is “all about the bubbles”, a cloud of oxygen rich bubbles enters you pores and lifts out dirt and impurities. We will be bringing Microsilk to the American Canyon showroom in the coming weeks.

MicroSilk by Jason

 ROHL

Rohl introduced several new products. Although they are not known primarily for bath

Perrin & Rowe Victorian and Deco Toilets

 fixtures Rohl does offer several fine bath pieces. To this collection they have added two new toilets, “Victorian” and “Deco” by Perrin & Rowe. There are handcrafted in Stoke-on-Trent, Englan, a place well known for fine china.

 Farmhouse kitchen sinks have been a specialty of Rohl for a long time. This year they have introduced two new models. One features a thinner edge which may be preferred for a more transitional design. The second is a Shaws double bowl model with a casement face.

Rohl Viaggio in Old Iron

 “Old Iron” is a new finish loosely based on a pewter but with a deeper charcoal look.

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TOTO

This year Toto has expanded the collection of toilets using the “Double Cyclone” technology. The “Legato” and “Aimes” 1 piece toilets are actually very similar, differing only the style of trip lever.

Toto Legato 1pc Dbl Cyclone Toilet

Toto Aimes 1pc Dbl Cyclone Toilet

 Toto is also introducing two new dual flush models; one uses a side-mount trip lever rather than the typical top mounted dual push button system. The second is more basic price-point product.

 The Toto Aquia dual flush wall hung toilet has been very popular but difficult to get. We are told that Toto is currently in the process of moving  production of this product to one of their Atlanta, GA plants. Toto currently produces all of its one piece toilets in the United States and will continue to move production to the Americas.

Aquia Wall Hung Toilet

 AMEREC STEAM

They are the first steam company to come out with a water proof music system that operates independently of the steam system. The system allows one to mount the docking station inside the shower (or outside) and is operated with a remote. The system supports up to 8 speakers. Amerec plans to release this product in June 2011.

 NATIVE TRAILS

NT has always been a company focused on sustainability. This year they are bringing out their “Vintners Collection”. These vanities are made from wine stain oak staves which have been colored by the Chardonnay or Cabernet wines in which they have been soaked for years. There is also a wall-hung “Bordeaux” vanity made from reclaimed barrels which have been disassembled and sealed. Finished with a copper or stone countertop these are unique pieces.

Cabernet Vanity by Native Trails

Bordeaux Wall Vanity by Native Trails

Many of these products will be appearing in our showroom over the next few months. For information please feel free to call or email. We are happy to tell you more.

Steam Rooms at Home

Filed under Bathrooms by on April 9, 2010 at 6:07 pm {no comments}

One of the trends in bath design has been to create the bath as a home spa, a place to relax and retreat from a hectic life. Often this meant adding a whirlpool or hydrotherapy tub but we are seeing a change. Time, space and water are all limited resources so we look for ways to relax without a big tub.

Steam rooms at home are replacing tubs for many people. All that is required is a space (small or large), a steam generator and a little time. Really.

A steam room does not have to be elaborate although there are a few design rules necessary for success. You will want a seating area. If it is a bench you’ll want to make sure that there is a slight slope to it so that water does not pool. You will also want to make sure the ceiling is sloped. As steam makes contact with the ceiling it condenses into water droplets and a slope prevents these from “raining” on the bather. You should also try to not have the low point of the ceiling at either the wall where the seat is or at the glass. If it is at the seat wall you will find water draining down against the seated person’s back. If it is against the glass it will run down that.

You will also need a steam door. This door will go all the way to the ceiling in order to keep the steam inside the shower. A bath fan is also recommended although this does not need to be located within the shower itself (once you are done with steam turn on the cold water for a moment and that will pull most of the steam out of the air immediately).

Once you have you steam bath created you can add a music system and lights for chromatherapy. There are also systems available for aromatherapy including systems that inject scent into the steam itself. A variety of control options allow control of temperature, time, music, light and scent.

Perhaps the most important thing is to size the generator properly. Too small and the room will never heat properly. Too large and you will find the unit cycles off and on too often and the temperature will be difficult to control.

There is a new collection of generators that offer what is called “proportional steam”. The system incorporates multiple heating elements that work together to maintain steam production evenly, much like simmering a pot on the stove. This creates a much quieter and constant steam experience.

Properly designed an in-home steam room can be used for years of enjoyment!

Steam Rooms

Filed under Bathrooms by on March 25, 2010 at 12:37 pm {no comments}

I’m not sure steam rooms are replacing spa tubs these days but they might come close. Chromatherapy, aromatherapy, in room music and heat fans can make a steam room a true sanctuary.

When shopping for steam there are three things to consider – the generator, the control and accessories. The generator is pretty simple. A heating element in water powers up to produce steam, which is piped into the steam room space. A sensor in the shower monitors the temperature and shuts the generator off when it’s too hot and turns it on when it get too cool. Care must be taken to size the generator properly to avoid a common problem called “cycling” in which the generator turns on/off, on/off constantly.

Some companies are addressing this problem with multi-element generators which bring the water up to full steam and then lower the heat to keep simmering, much like a pot on the stove. The idea is to keep the steam to a steady flow thus keeping a constant temperature and quite operation.

To create a full spa effect one can add “chromatherapy” and “aromatherapy” options. Chromatherapy includes one or more light fixtures which can be set to different colors to influence different moods, relaxing, energized, soothing and such. Aromatherapy is added in one of two ways. Simplest is a small well on top of the steam head to which drops of essential oils can be placed. Injection systems allow oils to be mixed with the steam before it enters the space filling the room with fragrance.

The steam control can make a big difference in the enjoyment of your steam shower, especially if you choice to add music and additional therapies. Of course you want to be able to control on/off and temperature from within the shower but what about lighting? Low/high/on/off. And the aromatherapy. What about music? Are you happy to have sound piped in at one volume or would you like to be able to adjust volume and what song is playing? And wouldn’t it be nice to have the whole unit turn on with just the settings that you or your partner like without having to adjust everything every time? How about being able to turn the unit on by remote when you walk into the house? The proper control allows you the mix of features you want for full enjoyment.

All this may sound expensive but a good steam system usually adds only about 10% to the cost of an average bath remodel. And it could be so worth it!

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